65__The Ultimatum

65__The Ultimatum
Erin’s hands were tightly clutched together, her entire body tense and trembling as she tried her best to keep her composure.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she said softly.

The Chairman looked at her. “I am very disappointed, Erin. Very.”

She lowered her gaze, her sight blurring with tears.

The heavy silence of the office was splintered by the sound of the most careless scoff Erin had ever heard.
Slowly, she turned to look at Braden.

He stood beside her, arms crossed over his chest as he looked calmly at his grandfather. “Just what are you so disappointed over?”

Erin’s eyes popped wide open, her hand automatically reaching for his arm before she caught herself and returned it to her side.

“How dare you even ask me that?” his grandfather questioned, visibly getting angrier. “I’ve put all my faith in you and given you the chances of a lifetime, Braden! Both of you! You took my trust and used it to… to…” Failing for words, he gestured angrily at the photos. “Did you think I wouldn’t know?! The way you two got that contract was the lowest thing I’ve ever seen! Using the weaknesses of Theo’s unreliable son to scam the island out of their hands! I gave you time to come clean about it and you never did. That’s when I knew I’d have to keep a close eye on you both.” His gaze went to Erin. “I expected better from you, Erin!”

Braden was mildly surprised. “You knew?”

“Of course, I knew! I got a call from Theo the second he found out his idiot son had signed away the island. I had to fix your mess, I had to pay him three times the price for that island to make sure our relationship wasn’t ruined! He had already signed it away to the Choi Group, he’d had to pay damages for breach of contract, it was a mess!”

Erin tightly bit her bottom lip. “We’re really sorry.”

“You should be.”

Braden sighed, rolling his eyes. “Okay, fine, so we used our own tricks to get the contract. In the end, we got it, that’s all that matters.”

“That isn’t all that matters, Braden, you should know better!” the Chairman said exasperatedly, pounding a fist on his table. “We have ethics and morals in this business. How could you taint the Stone name that way?”

Pressing his lips together, Braden shrugged. “Okay, I admit it. I fucked up with that, that’s my bad. So, I’m sorry. grandpa, but only for that.”

Julius’s silver brows drew together. “What do you mean ‘only for that’?!”

“I’m not sorry for anything else.”

“Braden…” Erin said. She felt like her heart would beat out of her chest. Why wouldn’t he stop talking? He’d make everything worse for himself.

“No, no, Erin!” the Chairman sad, his eyes growing darker with anger. “Let him talk! It seems my grandson never cares about crossing any lines. This time, Braden, I won’t let you get away with anything.”

“Do what you want, grandpa,” Braden said. He nodded at the photos. “Those pics? They’re real. Erin and I… we’re together.”

“Braden!” Panic exploded in Erin’s heart and she looked desperately up at him. “Stop.”

“No,” he said calmly. He took her hand and held it even though she struggled to pull it away. “I love Erin, grandpa.”

Erin froze. Wide-eyed and pale, she stared into space, unable to believe her ears.

“You…” The Chairman was just as deep in disbelief. “You what?”

Braden looked at her and, like she was drawn to him, Erin found herself turning to face him. There wasn’t an ounce of her panic reflected in his eyes, he was completely calm whilst she fretted.
“I love her.”

A short huff of air parted her lips, her wide eyes glassy as she stared at him. “Braden…”

“I love you, Erin. I have for… a long time.”

“What in the hell are you doing, Braden?!” the Chairman roared. “Are you out of your mind?!”

“I’m in my right mind, grandpa,” Braden told him, looking at his grandfather coolly.

“You think I’m going to allow this? You think I’m going to sit by and watch it happen?” Braden clenched his jaw in silence and Julius scoffed. “Have you forgotten? She’s the daughter of a servant, she’s nothing more than your unworthy competition, you hate her, you despise her, she disgusts you, have you FORGOTTEN?! The way you treated her!”

The office shook with the Chairman’s loud shouts and Erin’s hand had tightened in Braden’s, her heart pounding in the small confines of her ribcage. She couldn’t do this. She wanted to run away so badly.

“All your words, Braden!" the Chairman continued, his face red with anger. “That’s how you felt about her and now, suddenly, you love her?”

Braden was silent.

Julius released a trembling breath. “Erin is forbidden from any kind of relationship with you. You’re insane, but I know she’s not, she’ll do what I say.”

Braden raised his gaze then, not bothering to hide the trembling rage in his eyes. “Erin isn’t your possession! She doesn’t have to do what you say.”

“Oh, really?” demanded Julius. “Do you think you’re any better off than her? You will obey my every word, Braden.”

“Like hell!”

“You’ll listen to my every word or so help me God!”

“Well, God better help you then cause I’m not your little puppet!”

“Stone Holdings!”

Braden froze, the determination in his eyes splintering to make way for the surprise he failed to hide. It couldn’t be what he suspected. There was no way his grandfather would go as far as using the company to threaten him.

“Stone Holdings,” the Chairman repeated. “Don’t you want the position you’ve worked all your life for? You two will end this immediately, Braden. I don’t even want to repeat myself.”

“Or what?”

“Or you can kiss your inheritance goodbye! You won’t get a cent from me and you can go and live like your father! It was my fault for expecting any more from you, I overestimated you!”

“Sir.” Erin raised her head, daring to speak. “I don’t… I don’t think it’s fair to say that. Braden’s always worked so hard.”

“How dare you defend him?” the Chairman demanded. “Since when have you become as insolent as him, Erin?! You were the good example!”

Braden scoffed, looking disgusted. “Oh, please! Good example, good example, you were just pressuring her to be perfect. Do you have any real idea how hard we’ve worked?” He stepped forward, pointing at his chest. “You have any idea how hard I’ve worked? I did everything you wanted me to, grandpa. I grew up forbidden from doing more than half the things other kids my age could do, and I took it! You had me living every single day under pressure and strain and I took that! I had anxiety, depression, insomnia, I had fucking anger issues, all from the stress of living up to your expectations, and I fucking took it!”

His grandfather glared at him. “It was for your good—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit! You were using me, grandpa! For your company cause you don’t want any of those greedy bastards to take it after you die! So, you forced me into a form that fit your expectations. Some days, I mistook it for affection. I thought you had my best interests at heart, I told Erin you’d never try to separate me from her because I love her.”

Grey eyes narrowed at him. “Rubbish! You don’t love her. That isn’t what love is, that’s merely your bodily lusts taking over—”

“I love her!” Braden shouted, rushing forward until Erin’s hand gripped his arm. “I’m going to be with her, whether you like it or not!”

“You’d never!” Julius laughed bitterly. “I know you too well, boy. There’s nothing you wouldn’t sacrifice for your inheritance, you’re obsessed with it!”

Braden was shaking with fury, his face redder than Erin had ever seen. “That’s where you’re wrong, grandpa,” he muttered tightly. “The fact that I’ve always done everything for you yet you won’t even do this one thing for me… says a lot. You’re right. I would do anything for my inheritance. But it’s not my inheritance I’m obsessed with, it’s not my inheritance I would sacrifice everything for.” He paused. “It’s Erin.”

The Chairman’s eyes narrowed. “What the devil are you trying to say?”

Braden smiled coldly. “What else? Keep your goddamn money, grandpa. I don’t need it.”

Grabbing Erin’s hand, he marched to the door.

“Come back here, Braden!” his grandfather shouted.

Without a single glance back, Braden threw open the door and marched into the hallway, nearly colliding with Stephanie and Alicia.

“What the hell’s happening?” asked Stephanie, watching as Braden silently marched away, Erin in tow.

Her mother looked terrified, her eyes wide in a pale face that now seemed even more aged to Erin. “Erin! Sweetheart, what’s happening?!”

“I’ll explain later, mom, I’m so sorry!”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Braden muttered as they left the hallway.

“Braden,” she said, trying to slow him down. “Wait, you need to calm down.”

“We’re leaving!” he shouted.

“What are you talking about? We can’t leave, we need to sort this mess out—"

He turned on her. “You don’t wanna be with me?”

Erin huffed in bafflement. “I… I do. Of course, I do!”

“Then come with me, Erin. I’m sick of it all. I’m tired of living like a hamster on a fucking wheel just to impress the old man, I’m sick of it. I’ve worked my ass off, Erin, you know that.”

“Of course!” He looked so pained, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around him as she looked up into his wounded expression. “I know, babe, I do.”

“We’ve both worked so hard, but he can’t let us be happy? Over what? My inheritance? Fuck that!”

He took her hand again and led her off into the house.
They reached his bedroom and Braden threw the door open, releasing her hand to march into his dressing room.
“Grab my bags, Erin. We’ll pick yours up on the way out.”

She was beyond flustered by the turn of things. “Braden, wait! I know you’re angry, but you need to think this through.”

He stalked past her, getting his bags himself. "There’s nothing to think through.”

“You can’t give up your inheritance for me!”

He looked at her, his gaze so fiery, it chilled her skin. “Yes, the fuck I can! And that’s exactly what I’m doing.” He dropped the bags and marched over to her, taking her face in his hands. “Erin, I’m crazy about you. I have never loved another girl; do you know that? All my life. Only you. It’ll always only be you, Erin. I’ll give everything up for you.”

Her hands covered his, eyes glimmering with tears that reflected the desperation on his face. “But Braden… what if you regret it?”

“I won’t.” He smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. “So, come with me.”

He turned away, dragging his bags forward and heading into his dressing room.
Erin stood there, confused as to what to do. She couldn’t let him do this. He loved his grandfather and he loved the company, he would never be able to live without both, regardless of how angry he was. He’d resent her later. He’d blame her for making him lose everything.

Braden came out, dumping an armful of clothes into the bags and snapping them shut.

“Braden, wait, we really can’t do this! Let’s talk to the Chairman again—”

“He won’t change his mind. We have to show him that we really love each other.”

“But leaving won’t do that—”

“Yes, it will!” he shouted. “It’s the only way! It’s either this or we end up separated forever, he’ll make sure of that.”

She sighed. “But how do you know that? Maybe—”

“Because that’s what he did to my parents!”

Erin’s expression fell, her eyes widening. “W… what?”

Braden looked at her, breathing heavily as he fought to control his anger. “That’s… that’s what he did to my parents. My mother kept me a secret but, of course, the mighty Julius Stone found out. He gave my father two choices. Us or the money. My father loved my mother, Erin. He loved her so much that losing her has ruined him. Still, even though he loved her so much, he chose the money over being with mom and I.”

Erin was struck silent by shock. She’d never known anything about this, she had no idea what to say. “Braden…”

“I think that’s when mom brought me here. I don’t know why she left me here.” He shook his head. “If only my father had chosen us, everything would have been okay. We wouldn’t have had the money, but we would’ve been happy.”

Silently, Erin wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

His arms encircled her and he sighed tiredly. “I won’t make the same mistake, Erin. I’m choosing you, no matter what. With our skills, we’ll be okay. We’ll be better than okay; we’ll build an empire twice as big as the Stone empire.”

She shut her eyes tightly, her tears soaking into his shirt. “I’m sorry, Braden. It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have let things get this bad. I should’ve protected you.”

“Stop that. Just come with me.”

She looked at him, shaking her head. “But we can’t. Your grandfather loves you to death, this might kill him.”

“Erin—”

“Looking at his reaction, I can tell he’s just being emotional. He just needs time, Braden.”

“Are you coming with me or not?!”

She bit her bottom lip, wanting so desperately to abandon everything for him the way he was willing to do for her. But Erin couldn’t. She had responsibilities that, unlike Braden, she just couldn’t afford to ignore. She couldn’t leave her mother alone, she couldn’t just walk out. She had to fix her mess.

Braden scoffed angrily at her silence, his blue eyes filling with hurt. “Fine. I’ll leave without you. I guess… the money means more to you than I do.”

“No, come on, don’t say that…” Erin watched him grab his bags. “Braden. Braden, please!”

Silently, he turned for the door and marched out without a single glance back.

Frozen with shock, Erin stood there and looked at the empty doorway as her heart broke. “Braden…”