Senator Alex was shocked, his heart pounded in his chest.
The voice of the president telling him not to defy any of the young master quest played in his memory
Giving up his granddaughter to a man as dangerous as Leon wouldn't be an easy decision
The old man tried "My granddaughter already has a suitor for marriage-"
"I'm not asking. I'm stating" Leon's voice cut through like ice
"Why?" He asked respectfully
Leon tilted his head to Jake
"Marrying into a prominent Zyrai family gives him a legitimate identity and protection" Jake paused "Marriage becomes the perfect disguise to keep him safe while he stays here-not the villa you offered"
"I am here for revenge, to take back everything that belonged to my family-we have a deal?"
Senator Alex knew this was a deal with the devil, but he made an oath to his wife, till death do us part
Finding his wife was important
"She…will be yours" his lips trembled as he whispered
"Your wife would be found and returned within 72 hours-I have other business to attend to"
Leon strolled passed the senator to one of the SUVs.
Without asking, he and Jake got in.
The SUV screeched as Jake tore out of the compound, while the helicopter lifted into the sky.
The old man knew his family's future was sealed.
***
"On the news this morning, Mayor Christo was found dead in his hotel room, Legacy hotel, late last night…"
"Turn that up" Tara instructed her assistant, who increased the television volume
"…Investigators say the cause was a gunshot wound"
Tara's chest tightened, the same hotel she had been at last night with Alfredo
The same one she was in the morning when snipper shot.
She never knew the Mayor, but a chill ran down her spine. That could have been her.
"Ma'am, the stakeholders are waiting" her assistant cut in softly
Tara nodded, taking in a deep breath.
One night changed the course of everything.
Alfredo now held half of her company.
He had tricked her into signing a binding document disguised as a temporary partnership deal
How could she be so blinded as to trust a competitor for a truce!
Tara walked into the boardroom, and all eyes were fixed on her.
Alfredo was already sitting in her father's old chair, legs crossed and a little smirk on his face.
"Miss CEO, shall we proceed?" Alfredo spoke first
Just last night, he had ordered his men to search the whole hotel for Tara but they couldn't find her.
The Aphrodisiac poison he put in her drink was so they could spend the night together, but his plans didn't work
It has always been his fantasy to have the uptight CEO in his bed.
"Good Morning, everyone" Tara faked a smile. On no ground would she let Alfredo think he had won
"Let's cut the pleasantries." Alfredo stood to his feet, instructing his secretary to share the paper "You signed, Miss CEO, half of this company belongs to me now."
Gasp echoed in the room
The legal counsel glanced through the paper, unbelieving that Tara could do such
Everyone in the meeting was shocked to hear that.
They turned to Tara for an explanation, but her tongue was shut, this was not how she wanted to break the news.
Alfredo waved the signed document like a weapon
"Miss CEO, do you perhaps deny that it isn't your signature?"
Her signature was boldly signed on the merger proposal.
Alfredo walked closer to Tara
Oh, how much Tara wanted to explode, but things could get really ugly.
Like her father advised, when he called, she had to play Alfredo cards while planning a plan B
"No" Tara replied slowly
"Good" Alfredo leaned in to whisper in her ears, saying mockingly "Brilliant of you to sign away fifty percent while drunk, Tara. Such a visionary move."
Tara was determined not to allow Alfredo get to her.
"Read it aloud, remind everyone how generous you are." Alfredo said loudly
"In the next three years, there would be a return of 100% per annum, the company profit would be split" Tara read from the paper
It was the first time she was reading the clause of the deal. Half of her company gone?
Some of the board members nod reluctantly, and others whisper
With the prowess of the economic market, Tara knew the deal was only profitable on paper.
Her family name would vanish from the market in one month if Alfredo took half of it.
From a merger, he swallows up the company like a big fish.
"With all due respect, Miss Tara should resign" one of the board members injected
"Yes!" Another added
"The company cannot afford sentimentality."
"We have two CEO, which doesn't make sense"
"Miss Tara has handled the affairs of the company well, in the past years" another defended
"Signing off fifty percent? That means She don't want the profit and future of this company, stakeholders inclusive."
Cold anger boiled inside of Tara
"Alfredo has proven leadership in considerably planning the future of this enterprise."
"Yes!" others exclaimed
Alfredo smirked. He had successfully made the board members turn against their CEO
"This is the company my father started with a tiny shop-Now this is my company!" Tara finally broke out
Alfredo slams the contract shut
"You want to stay CEO? Prove your worth. Raise 500 million in thirty days. Otherwise, this company becomes mine."
Her mind raced. Alfredo had always been cunning, but this was personal.
Her heart sank. Five hundred million in thirty days? Impossible
There had to be a way out
And then it hit her. Zayn Fisher.
The billionaire. His wealth, his influence.
If she married him, she could secure at least half the money she needed to pay Alfredo back.
Enough to regain hundred percent control of the company.
It was a gamble, but at least it was a choice she could make.
Marriage to the arrogant Billionaire Zayn.
She was never one to fall in love, but for her company she has to force it.
Her heart sank with the thought, but desperation made her think clearly.
Thirty days, five hundred million? Maybe Zayn is the only way to keep the company alive.
It felt like the wall was closing in on her, but she braced herself.
Tara lifted her chin. "This company is mine. I'll raise the money, and when I do, you'll regret ever doubting me"
Alfredo leans forward, his smirk wicked
"Tick-tock, Tara. Thirty days, and I bury your family name forever."
***
Leon stood in the hospital room, silently watching
"Isabella Vorenne" he whispered
It took him five hours to find the senator's wife in a hospital.
Two months ago, she had been in a car accident.
Unidentified, she had lain in a coma, fighting for her life while her husband believed she was kidnapped.
"I have informed the old man we found his wife" Jake walked in to see his boss calm
Leon was damn good at his job, he could find anyone, rescue anyone or destroy anyone.
A flash of the dream he had crossed his mind, it was time to get to the main business, why he was back in Zyrai
"His granddaughter?"
"He arranged a meeting already" Jake responded
Killing Christo last night, in the hotel room was only the beginning.
Everyone who was involved in betraying his family five years ago would pay with their lives!
"The marriage has to hold" Leon's jaw tightened