Chapter Twenty-Four #2
I relate to him about putting on a front and how taxing it can be, having grown up in the same world. “There is an expiry date to pretending to get along with them.”
“When?”
“Until the next shareholders’ meeting. Once we secure your position, you can work on electing a new board. You must have shares in the company.”
“I have the second most shares after my father.” His jaw tightens as he replies, “Had I gotten married, I would’ve gotten my late grandfather’s shares as per his will, making me the majority shareholder. I never would’ve gotten stuck in this problem.”
“Is this why you became fake-engaged to Iris?” I gasp, making his hand drop and his warmth vanish.
I watch his features grow cold and harsh. A shutter going down like every time I’ve stirred the topic of his ex-fiancée.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re right,” I say, sensing he’d grow more distant if I don’t drop the topic. “I think your best bet is to buy out members who are willing to sell.”
“My father would see it coming from a mile away.”
Rakesh Singhania is the root cause of all the problems in Nathan’s life. My dad is extremely controlling as well, but his takes the cake. Yet again, a burden we have in common.
“There’s another option to stop board members from voting you out.”
“What’s that?” Nathan asks, his intrigue piqued.
“Bring a lucrative deal to the table that they can’t refuse.
They don’t really care about the public’s perception of you, except maybe for a few.
Ultimately, what they want the most is to increase their wealth.
You should invest in something big that’ll shoot up the share prices of Singhania and Sons.
I think I read an article mentioning you were working on a merger last year in New York. ”
“I was.” He crosses his arms, staring at me looking impressed. “It fell through because I suggested buying the company. Of course, the shareholders turned me down because of my father.”
“Can you negotiate a better deal if they’re still willing to sell?”
“Of course,” he says, his voice ruthless.
“Not everyone is as loyal to your father as you may think. If you could convince four more board members to vote in your favor, your father can’t do anything.”
Nathan mulls my suggestion over, a calculative glint in his eyes, as he weighs the pros and cons. “We will need to be discreet. Last year, my father kept butting in at every turn while I negotiated with them. It was a miracle I got the founder to agree to sell in the first place.”
A sneaky smile creeps up my lips. Nathan takes notice, his heated gaze lingering on my mouth a little too long.
“Don’t worry about him. I’ll keep him distracted,” I say. “I’ll also come up with perfect excuses for you to travel to New York.”
There are tons of charities and events we can attend, so it’ll appear to Rakesh that I am doing it to fix his son’s public image. He won’t have a clue what we’re up to for real.
“As long as it doesn’t involve you being alone with him,” reiterates Nathan in a commanding tone. As if it’s more important to him than the deal.
His protectiveness bursts in my chest with warmth. “Okay.”
Nodding, he moves toward the couch where his jacket is draped. “Sounds like we have a plan.”
“There’s one more thing.” He pauses, gazing up at me expectantly. “I got you a membership at the Royal Oasis Country Club. Sanjay Sharma [RK13]is a member there and goes golfing every weekend. You will go and play with him. He can be swayed to vote for you.”
Surprise, then dark amusement, flickers in his gray eyes. “I think you’re phrasing the last sentence wrongly.”
“No. You heard it right.”
“I don’t take orders, angel.”
“That was true till this morning, but no longer is that the case[RK14]. As your publicist, you will listen to me from time to time when I make decisions that are in your best interest.”
I believe him when he says he respects me, but a part of me did let him walk all over me because I was distracted by his beauty and sex appeal. Men like him smell nerves like blood in shark-infested waters.
Radha’s advice from her welcome speech when I joined her company years ago echoes in my head.
“When you work with powerful people, especially men, they forget you’re their partner, not their employee.
A slip like that will hinder your job quality.
Instead of being intimidated, you need to remind them firmly that you’re an equal and not back down until they accept it. ”
Reminding Nathan of the same is pertinent.
I hold my stance as he approaches me with a panther-like gait. Once again trapping me against the island, he lowers his head to speak over my mouth. “What if I don’t know how to play golf?”
“Then you’ll have lunch with him.” I smirk. “Either way, you’re not getting out of meeting him.”
“Another order?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.” He bites off a smile, looking irresistible. “You win. I’ll see him.”
Good boy. Whoa, where did that come from? I mutter in a rush, “Great.”
He doesn’t lean back, letting his lips hover over mine until my breaths grow shallow. The temptation to ask him for a secret hookup arrangement floats to the surface. The lustful hunger on his face matches mine, feeding me the hope he’ll say yes if I just ask him.
Seconds stretch into a minute as neither of us pulls away, ending the wicked torture. A tilt of my chin and I can kiss him. Taste him. Sink into him.
Be brave, Arya.
A moment before I can, his head suddenly snaps to the ground. I follow his gaze, fighting back laughter at the sight of Pihu climbing up his leg.
“Oh my god,” I chuckle. “She likes you.”
Nathan grabs her mid-climb, earning a hiss from her, and lifts her between us. “I think you’re wrong.”
“That’s ’cause you ruined her fun.” I scratch behind her soft ear. “Isn’t that right, cutie-pie?”
She purrs, leaning into my palm. I smile at her reaction, falling for her more whenever she does this.
My throat hitches when I look up, catching Nathan studying me softly and unabashedly. My lips part, causing his intoxicating scent to fill my lungs. I slip my hand lower, grazing his wrist where he holds Pihu protectively.
The three of us standing so close in a circle, cozy like a little family, does strange things to my slowly healing heart.
“Nathan,” I whisper, swaying closer to him.
“I am bad for you, Ari.”
His low admission─a sad warning─stutters my heartbeat.
I don’t care… is on the tip of my tongue, but before I can utter it to him, he’s passing Pihu to me and stepping back.
“I’ll let you know how the meeting with Sanjay goes,” he says in his business tone.
Leaving me stranded in my kitchen, he turns around and disappears down the hall. A few seconds later, I hear the door open and shut.
I stare at the empty spot where he was standing, wondering who broke him so badly to believe he’s bad for other people.
And how I wish to prove him wrong.