Gregory laughed, and soon, the other members of Eliza's family present also began to laugh. They could not possibly believe Alrik would be able to do something like that. After all, they had always known him as a pauper. And even though Eliza managed to get a highly coveted meeting with Crestview Group, they still didn't believe she could also achieve that as well. So they laughed.
But Eliza didn't care. She trusted her husband, and the document in front of her was real. The shares had been signed over to her, and all she would need to authorise it was her own signature. Then it would become official, and a board meeting would be called. She could decide to take over as CEO, or remain a silent shareholder and let someone else remain in the CEO position. She immediately decided that she had enough of being delegated to the shadows. Her oldest brother, Francis, was the official CEO of the company, but not anymore. It was her time to take over.
She considered going after her grandfather's position as Chairman of the board, or maybe her father's position as Vice Chairman. But those were battles for another time.
"It doesn't matter what you believe. What matters is that it's true. I have the documents in my hand to prove it. The same way you never believed I could get a meeting with the Crestview Group, but I eventually did." Eliza replied with a smile on her face as she tossed the document on the table, and jumped to give Alrik a tight hug.
He caught her, and chuckled as he held her in his embrace. He loved to see her smile, and this was just a small reward compared to all he had prepared for her for her loyalty and love to him despite all the challenges they had faced. He suddenly remembered the nightmare he had about her death, and held her tighter. It was just a dream right? He would never let that happen. Besides, they were leaving her family's house soon, to a more secure location. He vowed to protect her with his life.
"What is this nonsense? You think you can fool me with a fake document?" Henry yelled after reading the document Eliza had thrown down.
He passed the file to the other men of the Pratt family, and they were all in as much shock as he was. The document looked legitimate, and as chairman of the board, Henry Pratt knew there had been sales of shares to various new investors. So how could Alrik possibly have gotten hold of this much shares? They were sold off to different people. And if he had seen anything related to Alrik, he would have never authorised the sales. How could a pauper even get the amount of money needed to purchase so many shares?
"Like my wife rightfully said, it doesn't matter if you believe it or not. You can keep that copy by the way. I have Eliza's copy waiting in the car downstairs. It will be notarised as soon she signs it. Then we'll see if it's legitimate or not when you face the rest of your board members, Mr Chairman." Alrik said with a smirk, and carried Eliza bridal style out of the meeting room.
She giggled as they stepped out. She tapped Alrik when they passed by the desk of the secretary who had been rude to her earlier. He understood her unspoken words, and stopped by the rude secretary's table, but didn't set his wife down. She remained comfortable in his arms as she began to speak.
"I hope you heard all that. This company will be mine soon."
The rude secretary began to tremble, but she still tried to put on a brave face.
"T.there's no way Mr Henry will a.alllow that. You're just b.bluffing." She stuttered, and put her trembling hands behind her back to hide them.
But she couldn't hide her face that was flushed with embarrassment and anxiety. Eliza just laughed.
"I guess we all just have to wait and see. I'll enjoy proving you all wrong."
Alrik walked away with her when she was done speaking to the rude secretary. Even after getting into the elevator, and exiting in the crowded downstairs lobby, he didn't set her down. She didn't care that they were being stared at and people were still whispering. She felt at peace in her husband's arms.
"Alrik, how…" She began to speak as soon as they got into the car he had hired to drive them to the office, and now back home.
"Don't ask me that yet. It's not time for you to know. But soon, very soon. I promise." He said with a smile, and she sighed.
"Okay, Alrik. I trust you. I really do. But I can only take so much without knowing the whole truth. Don't take too long, okay?" She kissed his cheek, and he nodded.
They were driven back home, but were stopped at the gate.
"You're not allowed inside." One of the guards said as their car stopped.
"What do you mean? Do you not recognise me? We left the house this morning. I'm Eliza P…"
"I know who you are. But I have my orders, and so do the rest of the guards. Sir Henry has ordered that you not be allowed into his house." The guard replied, and Eliza scoffed.
"I expected this to happen, but not so soon. They couldn't even let me get home first, and have a nice meal before trying to throw us out." She shook her head as she stepped out of the car with Alrik by her side. "As if that will change anything. The company still belongs to me now, and the partnership deal with Crestview will not happen without me. What would throwing me out achieve exactly?"
"Maybe it will make you come back to your senses, Eliza." Her mother said as she stepped out of the gate. "Your father told me what happened. I can't believe you and your retard husband would try to defraud us this way. Trying to steal the company shares through illegal means. Did you really think you would get away with it?"