The sharp ringing of Anna's phone pierced the silence, waking her up from her deep slumber. She groaned loudly, turned with eyes still closed, and grabbed her phone from the bedside.
When she glanced down at the screen, Ciara, her assistant's name, flashed across the screen.
Anna raised a brow in question and picked up immediately.
"Miss Lorenzo, you need to come back to the company now!"
Anna's brows furrowed, and her heart jolted forward in panic.
It was unlike Ciara to use such a tone with her. Ciara's tone was always professional and soft. Not this commanding and urgent.
Finally, Anna found her voice. "What's the matter this time, Ciara? Did something happen at the—"
"Miss Sophie," Ciara cried out, interrupting Anna, who sat upright immediately with curiosity. "It's Ms. Sophie and Mrs. Lorenzo."
Anna scrambled out of bed quickly and stood up. "What the hell have they done, Ciara?"
"They are having an urgent meeting with the board members right now!" she announced, and a wave of anger poured through Anna.
"Why the hell would they do that without me? Who the hell—"
"They are about to vote you out as the acting CEO of the company. Sophie is being voted too. You need to come now!"
The phone went dead and Anna's mouth hung open in shock.
She rushed to the closet, pulled out the first clothes her hands landed on, wore them immediately, and rushed to the bathroom to wash her face and mouth. As soon as she was back in the bedroom, she grabbed her phone and bag and hurried out.
"Anna?" Aidan's voice made her realize he was still home. She had thought he must have left for work.
He appeared in front of her and noticed she was trembling. "What happened? I thought you said you wouldn't go to work today. Did something happen at the company?"
She nodded, her eyes watering with unshed tears threatening to spill. "Sophie and Kathryn are about to vote me out."
She clamped her hand around her mouth, panicking.
Something tugged at Aidan's heart when he realized she was panicking. He held her hands firmly. "Calm down, Anna! Breathe in and out. Do that again."
She obeyed him. She breathed in and out, and she felt better.
Aidan pulled her into a hug. "I want you to remain calm. I'll drive you there now, and I assure you, there is nothing they can do to pull you out as the CEO, okay?"
When she didn't say a word, he moved away from the hug and saw that she wasn't convinced. Her mind was elsewhere.
He let go and grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter. "Let's go."
They both hurried out, taking the staircase two at a time. By the time they were downstairs, they were both breathless, but that didn't stop Anna from jumping into his car.
Aidan ignited the car engine into action quickly and drove off.
Anna was breathing heavily, and Aidan found himself wrapping a hand around her.
He had seen this coming. Aidan knew they were going to do everything they could to stop Anna from getting the company, but they had no idea who they were dealing with.
Apparently, the lawyer was already working for Kathryn, considering how she was so sure he wouldn't come for his appointment, which he didn't. He hadn't been picking up Anna's calls either, but that wasn't a problem.
This was a legal issue that could be directed to court, and Aidan knew the lawyer understood what was at stake.
He was ready to get himself fully involved in Anna's business. That was the least he could do for her.
In the space of four days, Anna had been through a lot, and he couldn't deny the sympathy and possessiveness coursing through him right now.
"Anna?"
The whole ride had been in silence until they got to the company.
As soon as the car halted, Aidan jumped out and got Anna's door. He led her toward the entrance.
If the meeting wasn't a secret one, there would be reporters waiting outside already to know the result of the vote. But there were no reporters outside.
The majority carried the vote. If Kathryn was doing this, then she must have spoken to half of the board members so they could vote Anna out as the acting CEO.
As an acting CEO, Anna had less power, and she could be voted out easily or replaced. Aidan already knew where this was going.
The lobby was filled with employees, and their presence became a subject of attention.
He hastened his step, guiding Anna with him to the lift. When they entered the elevator, he pressed the button to the floor where the meeting would be held.
The conference room, of course.
Anna met his eyes, and for a moment, he thought she was going to ask him how he knew the floor, but she didn't.
A sigh of relief left his lips.
She looked so sad, he wished he could erase it all.
"Aidan," she called, and he stiffened before turning to face her. "What should I do? What am I supposed to do now?"
He moved closer and hugged her petite frame to himself again, getting so used to doing that. "Everything is going to be fine, trust me, okay?"
She shook her head, looking like she was on the verge of crying again. "You don't understand. This is all I've got to my name. The house, the cars, everything is theirs already. And they want to take this from me again. The company is what remains of my father. What if they've voted me out already?"
She was shaking her head vigorously as she spoke, so Aidan wrapped her head between his palms, making their eyes lock.
"I just told you to keep calm, didn't I?"
Her mouth opened and then closed again.
He turned back to check the floor number. They were on the 7th floor, and the conference room was on the 10th.
He shifted his attention back to Anna, his hands still holding her chin. "Whatever the case may be, you'll get the company today. Your father's condition that you get married to gain ownership will override whatever silly stunts they may be pulling."
"What about Kevin? He's not picking up, he's—"
"He is just your father's lawyer, nothing more. He has no right to do that. It's against his work ethics. Besides, give me his contact information."
She didn't look convinced. "What about the board? I'm sure she already bought half of the board members with money and I've been so busy with other things, and complacent to see this coming. I've been hell-bent on doing what will make me get the company instead of being active to know what was actually going on."
She was right.
As an acting CEO, she could be accused of failing to perform her duties, or not performing well, and that was the only thing they could hold against her.
Aidan was about to say something when the elevator dinged open.
"We're here." He let go of her face and grabbed her left hand before walking out of the elevator.
He couldn't even care less right now if any of his actions were suspicious, as he made his way straight to the conference room.
He was too scared for her. They had met and gotten married because of this company. That showed how much it meant to her, and the only good thing he could do for her now was protect her and the company.
The conference room came into view, but Anna suddenly halted, making him stop in his tracks too.
He turned to her. "What's the matter?"
She pointed past him, and he snapped his head back to see five armed police officers coming toward them.
"We have been instructed to escort you out, Miss Lorenzo."