Chapter 51 Defending Emma
Alexander's POV:
The purple Ferrari slowly pulled away from the mansion gates, disappearing into the morning traffic. I watched it go, feeling an unfamiliar tug in my chest.
"Mrs. Sterling is quite lively, like a child," Bill remarked beside me, a hint of amusement in his voice. "No wonder you've changed so much, sir."
I turned to look at him, and he immediately took a step back, his smile faltering.
"Changed?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Bill nodded cautiously. "Mr. Sterling, you smile more in a single day now than you used to in an entire year."
"What time is today's meeting?" I asked, heading toward my car.
Bill checked his watch as he slid into the driver's seat. "The meeting is at ten, sir. We still have an hour."
I sat in the back, pulling out my tablet to review the meeting documents.
---
An hour later, I walked into Sterling Group's main conference room. The tension was palpable as I entered—all twelve board members sat rigidly in their chairs, exchanging glances.
"Since everyone insisted on calling this emergency board meeting, let's get straight to the point," I said, taking my seat at the head of the table.
"Mr. Sterling, is it true that you're married? The announcement you made on social media?" George Sutton, one of our major shareholders, leaned forward with a frown.
"Why?" My voice dropped several degrees in temperature.
"Mr. Sterling, you're well aware of Sterling Group's position in the market," George continued, his brow furrowed with disapproval. "As the CEO, your sudden marriage—especially to someone like Emma North from the North family—has significant implications. This affects Sterling Group considerably."
"Indeed, since you posted that announcement, our stock has dropped by a concerning percentage, as you must know," another board member chimed in.
"Someone like Emma North? What kind of person is she exactly?" My gaze sharpened as I fixed my eyes on George.
"Everyone in New York's upper circles knows about the second North daughter's reputation—drinking, clubbing, fighting. While the North family is certainly prestigious, her reputation does nothing to help Sterling Group!" George flinched under my stare but pressed on.
"Indeed," I replied with a cold smile. "My wife is certainly spirited. The drinking, clubbing, and fighting you mentioned—those three things actually involve your son, Mr. Sutton."
"What?" George blurted out.
"What do you mean, Mr. Sterling?"
"How does this involve Mr. Sutton's son?"
The room erupted in confused murmurs.
"If my wife hadn't been drinking at that club, the girl your son drugged would have been sexually assaulted," I stated calmly. "My wife intervened. Yes, she threw two punches at your son. Afterward, she willingly went to the police station and paid your family $60,000 in compensation. Isn't that correct?"
The conference room instantly buzzed with shocked conversations.
"What kind of behavior is this?!"
"If that's the case, this North girl might be impulsive, but she did the right thing."
"Why weren't we informed about this?"
Bill Green, seated in the assistant's position, pulled up the police report and settlement documents from that day, projecting them onto the side screen.
"Mr. Sutton, which do you think has a greater impact on Sterling Group—Mrs. Sterling's drinking, clubbing, and fighting, or your son's sexual harassment and drugging of women?" Bill added fuel to the fire.
"Mr. Sutton, please explain this issue!"
"Yes, this settlement clearly shows Emma North paid Jason Sutton $60,000. Your son attempted to drug and assault someone, yet still profited $60,000."
"Mr. Sutton, I'm curious—how did you manage to keep this quiet?" The question came from Ethan Davis, one of our oldest board members.
"The North girl certainly has a reputation, but from what I understand, she pays compensation when due and conducts her affairs openly. If the North family wanted to suppress these incidents, none of us board members would know about her. But your son's actions, Mr. Sutton, are far worse than anything the North daughter has done. Why was the board never informed?" Ethan's pointed questions redirected the entire focus of the meeting.
"Mr. Davis is right. Compared to this, your son's actions have a much more significant impact on Sterling Group!"
George, caught completely off-guard by my knowledge of the incident, fumbled for words.
---
"Regarding questions about my wife," I stood up, commanding the room's attention, "I, Alexander Sterling, will only say this once. Emma North, as the North family's second daughter, holds more shares in North Enterprises than any individual in this room holds in Sterling Group—possibly more than all of you combined. My marriage to her represents a powerful alliance that can only benefit Sterling Group's growth. Setting aside shares, the woman I choose to marry is not subject to anyone's criticism. She is the properly wedded wife of the Sterling family, with the blessing of both the Sterling and North patriarchs. Before anyone attempts to slander her, consider whether you have the standing or right to disparage both the Sterling and North families."
I paused, letting my words sink in. The room had fallen completely silent.
"Mr. Sutton," Bill spoke up, "as a Sterling Group board member, your collusion with former board member Matthew Sterling to manipulate our stock prices has been fully documented by our legal department. Since you went to such lengths to arrange this meeting, consider this a warning: all evidence will be submitted to the FBI. I suggest you prepare accordingly—whether that means crafting alibis or planning your escape, time is running short."
Bill turned to address the other board members, "If any of you were misled into making poor decisions, you can speak with me privately afterward. Admit the truth and surrender your Sterling Group shares, and the company will consider the matter closed. I believe everyone here understands the capabilities of our legal department. The nearly two thousand pages of evidence on my computer took our team just over two weeks to compile."
During Bill's speech, the conference room grew so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
---
After the meeting, I approached Ethan Davis. "Mr. Davis, I have a rare 1980 Barolo from Italy. Would you care to sample it with me?"
"I'd be delighted. Let's retire to your office for a glass," Ethan replied with a knowing smile.
In my office, with just the two of us present, I opened the bottle myself and poured two glasses, handing one to Ethan.
"Alexander, how have you found managing Sterling Group these past six months?" Ethan asked after taking an appreciative sip.
"I've managed well, thanks largely to your guidance, Mr. Davis," I replied respectfully.
"Hardly guidance. Your father and I go back decades," he said warmly. "My father stood alongside your grandfather when Sterling Group was just beginning. The Morgan family has witnessed Sterling Group's journey from nothing to its peak glory."
He continued reminiscing, then added with a hint of sadness, "When Matthew took over Sterling Group in recent years, I thought the company wouldn't outlast this seventy-year-old man. Thankfully, your father was decisive enough to put you in charge. These past six months, I've seen Sterling Group reclaiming its former glory. This old man can rest easy now, whenever my time comes."
"You'll live to be a hundred years old, Mr. Davis," I assured him, pouring him another glass.
"Was marrying the North girl your idea or your father's?" Ethan asked, his eyes sharp despite his age.
"My father and her parents made the introduction, but the decision to marry was entirely mine," I explained.
"Your father has excellent judgment, and you certainly know how to seize an opportunity," Ethan nodded approvingly. "Emma's reputation in society isn't the best, but from what I've gathered, she's a good-hearted girl. Her troubles always have solid reasoning behind them—she just prefers to make her point with her fists rather than words. And from what I've learned, Miss North is hardly just a socialite with nothing better to do."
"Mr. Davis certainly has keen insight," I acknowledged.
"The Sterling and North alliance is indeed powerful. The North family has a more harmonious atmosphere than the Sterling family—less scheming. As her husband, you must take care of the North girl within the Sterling family. Don't let her suffer." He paused, then added with a chuckle, "Though I doubt the North girl is one to suffer quietly."
We exchanged knowing smiles as I raised my glass in a silent toast.