Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
News of Lianna’s abrupt resignation exploded within hours, and Konni’s schedule filled with emergency calls and meetings with project owners who either wanted to cancel their contracts or wanted proof the company wasn’t going under.
Determined to shoulder my share of the burden and prove everyone wrong, I pored over the approved projects lists, refining styles, branding, or innovation wherever the budget allowed. The client’s praise of my proposed revisions wasn’t enough to sway the public’s opinion of Steele Corp, though.
At home, the only place Konni had any peace, he and his mom swore the current crisis wasn’t that serious, pointing out that Steele had survived for almost two centuries, and that “a foundation that old doesn’t crack.”
However, their confidence wasn’t shared by the stockholders, who continued to pressure Konni while he juggled everything.
By mid-week, over half of the upset clients had been calmed, and we finally got some good news—Konni’s investigators found footage of a nearby car registered to someone with a lengthy criminal record.
I was relieved we had a lead on the arsonist, but who had hired him?
Dad? Hestian? Lianna? Or the person behind Mom’s job losses?
I doubted someone content to financially torment Mom for years would suddenly decide on murder.
Meanwhile, unlike Konni, I fully believed Lianna was capable of unaliving me. The rage in her eyes didn’t lie.
Thankfully, the investigators called with another update on Friday.
A large deposit had been made to the car owner’s account days before the fire.
That, along with the car’s proximity at the time of the fire and the owner’s physical similarities to the bird feeder footage, was enough for an arrest warrant.
The police had the man in custody an hour later, and Konni contacted Garth to send out a press release with the latest, correct information about our house fire and who was actually involved.
I knew clearing my name would help quiet the hate hurting the company. But it also showed everyone that I was important enough to Steele’s CEO to issue a press release. Which was probably why the press release was quickly overshadowed by breaking news.
Stonestocks Drop Steele Corp Investments
I read the article, fighting not to roll my eyes at the cited reason. The Stonestocks had “lost faith in the CEO and the company's recent direction.” More like Lianna was still trying to throw her weight around to cause problems for Konni.
Setting my tablet aside, I got up and walked around Konni’s desk.
He stopped typing to watch me. The tension in his shoulders vanished as I nudged his chair back, and gold began to fill his gaze. I sat on his lap, looping an arm around his shoulders, and he hummed his approval before hugging me close.
“Are you regretting letting her go?” I asked.
His arms wrapped around me. “Not even a little. Actually, I should send the Stonestocks a thank you note for pushing you to the point that you’re willing to give me open door hugs.”
I gave him a look. “I’m being serious, Konni. You spent all week calming clients, and now it’s going to start all over again with the Stonestock investment news. How long can this keep up before the company is in trouble?”
He reached out and pressed a button on his office phone. I listened to it ring.
“Baby, this is a treat,” his mom said happily. “You rarely call me from the office anymore.”
“I need your help.”
“With what?”
“Convincing Sophia that the Stonestocks’ investment withdrawal isn’t the end of the world for Steele Corp or us.”
“They did what?” his mom demanded, sounding angry.
I mentally cringed.
“Check the news,” I said. “The man who set the fire was arrested. We released a PR statement to clear my name, but right after that, the Stonestocks announced they’re withdrawing their investments because they’ve lost faith in Konni and the direction of the company.”
“Che palle,” she mumbled before clicking her tongue. “Their investment was a favor to them, not to us, Sophia. If they want to withdraw it, so be it. We can invest our own money back into the company to keep more of the profit. In fact…”
Her voice became slightly muffled. “Abbye, you still have that card Konni gave you, right? We need to go make some investments in your name.”
Mom said something in the background before Kaya came back.
“Please don’t worry about this, Sophia. I promise, this is nothing but media drama because they have nothing better to report on right now.
It’ll be forgotten in no time. Steele Corp’s stocks are still making an insane amount of money, and the shareholders complaining are people who will never be happy with the money they have.
I'd better go before your mom’s arm gets tired stirring the sauce. See you both soon.”
She hung up, and Konni kissed my head.
“Feel better?” he asked.
I didn’t. Steele Corp, Konni, and his mom were still being dragged through the mud with me because of Lianna and who knew who else.
Konni started to rumble and nuzzle me. “I have a meeting with a shareholder in three minutes. You’re welcome to stay right where—”
I was off his lap and listening to his chuckle as I went to pick up my tablet. “I’ll fill a fresh carafe of water for you.”
“Bomir can do it,” he said.
I nodded and walked out. Bomir was already headed to the break area.
Since last week, I hadn’t been allowed to go anywhere alone. It didn’t matter that Lianna was gone. She’d already proven that she had deep connections here through the shareholders who were complaining.
“Mrs. Steele isn’t wrong,” Edi said when I sat at my desk.
“About what?”
“All of it. Steele Corp doesn’t need investments.
It has a stable financial supply chain. Here…
there’s a report you can look at that will help you see the bigger picture.
” He motioned for me to watch over his shoulder as he turned back to his desk.
“Because of Steele Corp’s consistent growth, anyone who owns stock rarely sells.
So, the Stonestocks’ withdrawal of investments will be their loss and someone else’s gain. ”
He pulled up a report that had numbers that stunned me.
“Billions?” I said, leaning closer because I doubted what my eyes were seeing.
“Yeah. And this is the quarterly report. Look at the report for this week.” He pulled it up. New projects were being signed, and projected revenue remained higher than the previous quarter.
“Obviously, these numbers could be used to correct public opinion about Steele Corp’s supposed financial crisis, but what news outlet would want to report on that? Misery and doom are more interesting and clickable than facts most of the time.”
“So you’re telling me not to worry?” I asked as a man turned the corner with Bomir.
“I am.”
I nodded and watched the man enter Konni’s office. His jovial and enthusiastic greeting put me more at ease than the numbers.
As I turned back to my own work, I realized Edi was right. No one wanted facts. They wanted the drama and the dirt, and if I wanted to change the narrative, I needed to give the media something more interesting.
And I knew exactly what would make the headlines.
But was I ready?
I thought of everything Konni was doing and his mom’s unwavering support and I had my answer.
For the rest of the afternoon, my plan grew. By the end of the day, I was committed. Butterflies danced in my stomach as Konni opened the car door for me.
“Are you still upset about the article?” he asked when he got in.
“No. Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“I’ll tell you at dinner.”
I knew, if I told him first, it would sidetrack the whole evening, and we didn’t have time for that. Actually, I wasn’t sure how much time we had. Hopefully, an evening wouldn’t make a difference, but only his Mom could confirm that.
He didn’t ask again, but did steer me straight into the kitchen as soon as we were home.
“Is dinner done? Sophia has news and won’t share until dinner,” he called.
“Table’s set. Sit down. I’ll bring the manicotti,” his mom said.
I sat across from Mom. She studied me for a moment and then huffed a small laugh.
Could she seriously tell what I was going to say with just a glance? I narrowed my eyes at her. She smirked, then shifted her attention to Kaya as she set an impressive tray of manicotti on the table.
The aroma wrapped around me, and I eagerly held out my plate. It tasted even better than it smelled.
I waited until Konni had a mouthful, then said, “I think we should move forward with the welcome party. I’m ready to come out as Konni’s mate.”
His mom’s excited scream drowned out the sound of his choking.
“You did that on purpose,” Mom accused as Kaya hurried away with her phone.
Flashing her a grin, I reached out and patted Konni’s back.
He grabbed his drink and took a large gulp. A second later, I was caught up in his arms as he alternated between light coughing and making me promises that I wouldn’t regret accepting him as my mate.
“I know I said you had plenty of time, but that’s changed,” I heard Kaya say. “Can you be home tomorrow? I think I can pull this off in twenty-four hours.”
I pushed my way out of Konni’s arms in a panic.
“Not twenty-four hours, Mom,” Konni said. “Or Sophia will change her mind.”
Kaya met my wide-eyed gaze and quickly said, “Your future daughter-in-law just saved you. Work harder. I’ll let you know when we have a date. I love you too.”
She hung up and sat down, leaning forward eagerly. “How soon can we announce it?”
I glanced at Mom, who gave me a “serves you right” look.
“Actually, I was hoping we could do a phased approach,” I said. “Instead of an abrupt announcement that would only feed the belief I’m social climbing, I want to create an irresistible Cinderella story of two people falling in love because a misunderstanding drew them together.”
Kaya’s eyes gleamed. “Tell me what you have in mind.”