CHAPTER 56 - One Vote Down

Luca orders a ride to the restaurant, and we arrive in no time, as it’s not far from the hotel. We get there ten minutes early and settle at our reserved table, waiting for Garnier. Even though I try to convince Luca to sit at another table and watch from a distance like Baron and Victor, he insists on staying with me to monitor the conversation closely.

I glance at my watch, noting it’s exactly 7 p.m. “He should be here any minute now,” I murmur.

“He’s here,” Luca says, and I look up to see a middle-aged man walking toward us.

As he approaches our table, I stand up to greet him. “Good evening, Mr. Garnier.”

A wide smile spreads across his face. “Pleasure to meet you,” he says, extending his hand.

I shake his hand with a firm grip. “The pleasure is mine.”

His gaze shifts to Luca. “And who might this be?”

“My P.A.,” I quickly answer with a lie. Because how could I explain why I’ve brought my lawyer to a meeting like this?

I catch Luca smirking as he stands up and offers his hand. “Good evening, Garnier.”

“Good evening,” Mr. Garnier replies, shaking Luca’s hand briefly before taking his seat. “Let’s proceed.”

A waiter approaches to take our order, but Mr. Garnier waves him off, explaining that he doesn’t like to eat while discussing business. He insists food can come after the conversation, so we dive right in.

“Ms. Hastings, please be brief in explaining why you’re here,” He begins. From his direct tone and demeanor, it’s clear he’s a principled man. I decided not to reveal the reason for this meeting before coming here, fearing he would dismiss me outright before hearing me out.

Taking a sharp breath, I begin. “As you know, some board members have called for my impeachment, claiming I’m incompetent and—”

“But are you?” he cuts me off, his tone challenging.

I shake my head firmly. “Their reasons are flimsy and shouldn’t even be considered. I was drugged in my office, sir—I am the victim here. That’s why I strongly believe this is an injustice against me.”

His face takes on a thoughtful expression before he turns to Luca. “Do you agree with her?”

“One hundred percent,” Luca answers confidently. “She’s just taken up the role. How can anyone decide if she’s competent or not when she hasn’t even had a full week in the office? It makes no sense.”

Hearing Luca’s defense fills me with pride and gratitude. Mr. Garnier shifts his gaze back to me. “So, what exactly do you want from me? Why are you here?”

“As you can see—”

He interrupts again, “Please, no beating around the bush. Get straight to the point.”

I do just that. “I’d like your support in the form of a vote in my favor when the time comes.”

He nods thoughtfully. “I agree with you. This seems like an injustice against you. From what I’ve observed, those trying to remove you from your position likely have their own selfish interests and should not be allowed to succeed.”

“So…?” I press, hopeful.

“My vote is yours,” he announces, and I break into a wide smile. This is going far smoother than I’d anticipated.

“Thank you very much, sir,” I say, practically beaming.

“No need to thank me. I’m simply doing the right thing.” With that, he pushes his chair back and stands up. “I’ll take my leave now.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay and eat?” I ask, standing as well.

He shakes his head. “My wife prepared dinner, and I want to leave enough room to enjoy it.”

A question flickers through my mind—if he wasn’t planning on eating, why did he ask us to meet at a restaurant? But, of course, I keep this to myself and offer him a polite smile.

Extending my hand, I shake his again. “Thank you for meeting with me.”

He nods, offering a friendly smile. “Have a safe trip back to New York.” He glances at Luca, giving him a slight nod before turning to leave.

As soon as he’s out of earshot, Luca grins and gives me a playful clap. “Congratulations, Miss Hastings. You’ve secured one vote.”

“One vote down,” I say, a wave of relief and gratitude washing over me. It feels amazing to see my plan of meeting the shareholders in person actually paying off.

I glance over at Victor and Baron, who are already digging into a plate of pasta. I smile and wave at them, and they wave back, looking like they’re thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Luca signals the waiter, and she comes over to take our order.

“What would you like to eat, sir?” she asks, looking at Luca expectantly.

“A medium-rare steak and a glass of orange juice,” he replies.

She turns to me. “And for you, ma’am?”

“I’ll have the same, thank you,” I say with a warm smile.

“Alright, I’ll be right back with your order.” She disappears, returning shortly with our meals and a smile. “Enjoy your dinner,” she says before leaving us again.

We eat in silence for a while, but Luca finally breaks it. “So, what do you want to do after dinner?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Go back to the hotel?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to walk around a bit?” He sips his orange juice. “This is a beautiful country.”

His suggestion catches me by surprise, but it actually sounds like a good idea. “Alright,” I agree.

After we finish dinner, we stroll along the sidewalk. My feet ache slightly from the six-inch heels I’m wearing, but it’s manageable for now. We walk in comfortable silence, exchanging occasional glances while Baron and Victor follow a few steps behind. The evening air is perfect—not too hot, not too cold.

“Thank you for doing this with me,” I say, breaking the quiet. “It means a lot to have your support. Somehow, having you at the table gave me the confidence to explain myself clearly. Your input really made a difference.”

“You can thank me with a big cone of ice cream,” he teases, grinning.

I stop and turn to face him, a wide smile spreading across my lips. “I could give you more than that,” I reply playfully.

“Hey! Watch it!” he suddenly exclaims, his arm shooting out to grab mine as he pulls me close. The unexpected intensity of his tug causes me to lose my balance, and I nearly stumble, but Luca quickly wraps an arm around my waist, steadying me.

A fast riding bicycle had almost hit me, but he managed to save me.

Our faces are so close that I can feel his warm breath on mine. As I stare into his eyes, my chest begins to hammer against my ribcage. He doesn’t tear his gaze off me, the look of desire in his eyes matching mine. I don’t know how or why, but I suddenly feel an irresistible urge to press my lips to his.

“Ivory…” He breathes.