Chapter 26 CHAPTER 26
Roman’s POV
The offer from Rosaleen became more and more tempting as the day wore off. Evelyn Moon had refused to show up or respond to my message. I laughed gently, playing with my tie. I was in the office today, not for anything official. I was going to make sure she crawled back to me, begging.
I looked through the information I had gathered about Rosaleen Blackwood. Something was quite unclear to me. She was a very successful Models agent in Milan, why was she back in New York and struggling to be Alpha Micheal’s wife after leaving this city for five years? She once dated the son of a wealthy businessman there. I tapped on the table as I read through the report. I had to be very careful in dealing with her. I needed that insurance more than ever. If she ever tried to switch on me, I would have something to push her to the ground.
I pressed the intercom button on my desk and waited for Mara. She rushed in a few seconds later.
“I want you to increase our stake for Moon’s Enterprises,” I said to her.
She looked perplexed. “By how much, sir?”
The bidding for the company was a closed bidding. I had no idea how much the other companies were bidding.
“Which big company is also on the bidding list?” I asked.
“Sterling.”
Sterling was big. To ensure we bidded them out, I had to make sure I placed an insane amount of money. I would explain my actions to the board later.
“Double our offer,” I said.
“Sir,” she stammered.
"You heard me right, Mara. Double it. Also get me Lucas immediately.”
She nodded sharply and walked out of the office. This was going to be my biggest move in the company. I’ve been dubbed as the silent CEO for too long. It was time for me to also make moves, and to ensure my moves went smoothly, my partner as well as the board must never find out what I was doing until it was done. Lucas was the man for that job.
I met Xavier and Madeline later in the office lounge.
“I really want to help your family, ma’am,” I said to Madeline. “I could pull the plug and watch the other companies put in scrap for what your family has built for decades, but I know what hard work is.”
I looked at Xavier. "That is why I have come up with an offer. To ensure that you still have a little bit of what is yours, I am willing to co-own the company with Xavier.”
Madeline gasped in delight and a smile spread on Xavier’s face. It was always too easy to get through greedy people.
“The only problem right now is that Evelyn has more shares in the company than Xavier and she has refused to sell them off. I need those shares added to Xavier, so we can own the company jointly.”
Xavier leaned back. “Evelyn has reached out to me that she wants to keep the company. Why don’t you just co-own it with her? I don’t like the stress of being CEO.”
I laughed. “Xavier, don’t be fooled. Evelyn has Greywood. She is a shareholder in that company as a result of being Micheal’s wife. Do you want to give her this too? And own nothing?”
Madeline agreed with me. I rose up to my feet. "I am only willing to co-own the company with you, Xavier. If you agree to this, I have raised my stake in this by a hundred percent.”
“Wait,” Madeline called out. “We accept your offer. I’ll talk to Evelyn. She’ll come around.”
“I’ll be waiting for your call,” I said, walking out.
The new intern was in my office. She was sorting a number of files when I heard a crashing sound. I had just stepped in and she was trembling.
‘’I’m so sorry," she cried, bending over the pieces of an artifact I had gotten during my trip to Italy. “I’m so clumsy. Please forgive me.”
I was about to lecture her on how that artifact was more costly than anything she'd ever earn during her time here or outside here when she raised her head and I stopped. I recognised her. I didn't know her name but I had seen her a couple of times with Evelyn Moon.
“You,” I said, stepping forward. "I know you.”
She bowed her head. “Yes, sir. I didn't think you’d recognise me.”
“Is that your plan? Your friend sent you here to spy on me, huh?”
She fell on her knees.”No, please. I could never do that. Evelyn Moon and I are not friends anymore. I was trying to sort the files Mara asked me to sort. It was an accident, please.”
I loved desperate people. They were so easy to use.
I sat down on my seat. “Come here,” I said and gestured to the seat in front. “Sit.”
She hesitated.
“Sit,” I repeated.
She mumbled a thank you.
“You see, Jolene, you have stepped on the wrong toes in your first week here.” Her eyelids batted nervously and beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. “How do you remedy this?”
She raised her eyes to me, trembling. She was that pretty but she had potential. “What do you mean?”
Dull too.
“You have to fix this,” I said, glancing at the broken artifact on the floor. I leaned forward, leaning on my elbow. “Do you know what I want?”
She shook her head, still trembling.
"Look at me,” I said.
Her eyes met mine and struggled to maintain eye contact. “I want dirt, Jolene. Dirt on Evelyn Moon. Anything and everything you can get.”
Shock gradually replaced the fear in her eyes.
“I - I -”
“That’s the only way, Jolene. If you want to make it in the corporate world. Or else, I will ruin you before your career begins. Am I clear?”
She nodded.
“Good.” I leaned back. “When do I get what’s due to me?”
She pushed her phone towards me. “Now, sir.”