Book To Read
Chapter 23
A week later , it was time for the meeting with the board of directors and investors for Hatton Tech startup. The past week was supposed to be Ethan’s honeymoon with Emily but they had spent it doing everything but that. While Ethan had thrown himself into creating pitches for securing the business contracts, Emily had spent hers shopping for herself and new pieces for the penthouse, also trying waiting or trying to figure out the strange person that kept calling claiming to be her mother.
Although they had been a few delicate moments, between herself and Ethan it was still hard to figure the chemistry because Ethan was the hardest person to read. He was both hot and cold, sweet but distant at the same time and now she understood just a little bit, why he had been unable to get someone to marry him. He had just one thing on his mind and that was the business.
“Big contract today?” She asked him while she sipped her coffee, flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine she picked at a boutique, her now expensive bathrobe flowing to the floor, the circles through which her life had turned still a surprise to her but she planned to enjoy it, to eat it all up before it got snatched from her, because she knew her position was threatened.
“Yes” Ethan said simply, knotting his tie and trying to put all his things together. “When I’m back, we could go out to celebrate at the fanciest restaurant in New York City. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good” she smiled at him.
Later on, Ethan Hatton walked through the glass motion sensors doors of his company, his heart beating with anticipation and excitement. He did it, he finally did it. He was going to get the contract that’ll push him to global heights and get the trust of his father to make him the sole heir of all Hatton companies in America.
Ethan walked into the board room, the board of directors and investors already seated while he walked to the head of the round large oak table. He nodded his head at the sea of gentlemen and smiled.
“Can we begin?” He asked but immediately, his assistant Jeremy who stood beside him whispered into his ears.
“We can’t start until the highest shareholder is here” Jeremy said
“Highest? I thought Mr. Joseph here……” Ethan wanted to say
“Yes but someone else upped it, buying 10% shares….”
“10%?!” Ethan’s mouth fell open “Who?”
Jeremy was about to respond when the door flew open, and Jackson Hatton walked in, his head held up high and his hand dipped in the pockets of his sleek Calvin Klein suit. He ginger hair sleeked back and a smile playing at the corner of his lips, he knew exactly what he was doing. He had secretly bought those shares before the wedding, knowing Ethan wouldn’t have time to look into it. So, as the highest shareholder, he had the most say and in fact the final say. Hatton Tech startup was indeed going to start today but maybe not smoothly.
“Apologies for my lateness gentlemen” he said taking his seat and the end of the table, opposite Ethan, wih Ethan shooting daggers into his eyes.
“Can we begin” he said after he sat.
The meeting went on with Ethan pitching his ideas and goals for the company, then there was Jackson countering every single thing Ethan said and Ethan fumed. His rage rising within him, but he had to keep his emotions in check and stay composed or else Jackson’s wins and he would rather die before that could happen.
“Excuse me, Mr. Hatton” Jackson interrupted while Ethan was speaking. “What happens when Hatton tech fails? How can you insure our investment?”
Ethan fumed, he knew where Jackson was driving at.
“I can assure you that’s not going to happen, Hatton tech is futuristic” Ethan replied wishing Jackson would keep it at that, but of course Jackson wasn’t done.
“But you’ve had history of failed business attempts, how do your investors trust you? Last I heard, you lost 30 billion…..”
That was it, Ethan was fed up. Jackson was never going to let him live that up.
“I believe everyone has a chance at redemption, so if we can please move on Jackson” Ethan said, staring straight into his brother, a silent communication passing between them oblivious to the other investors seated with them. Jackson smirked knowing he had hit the perfect nerve.
This was going to be fun.
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The air was crisp, tight and cold as the late November wind blew against her face as she gallivanted through the streets of New York City, she stopped by a cafe, thirsty for a drink and it was still a big surprise when people recognized her, asking to take her pictures and even sign autographs. How did she go from a lowly nobody to a billionaire’s wife in a split second. She found her way to a seat, situated at the far end of a corner that ensured her privacy. She ordered a large Cappuccino and some fries to keep her company while she fished out her new MacBook to study for her GED exams, since she never finished high school. She needed to go back to college if she wanted to be something and not just Emily Hatton, billionaire’s wife.
Suddenly, she came across the topic Pythagoras Theorem, she studied the familiarity of the word, a certain memory nagging at the back of her head but she couldn’t let it through, her brain wouldn’t let her no matter how much she struggled, like it was locked and the key missing.
“Let it through, Emily. Let it through” she said to herself staring hard at the word, but then she realized it wasn’t the word that was familiar, it was the triangle drawn underneath. Slowly she let the memories flow, it was blank at first then she saw herself seated on the floor, she was a young child, her hair tied up in pigtails, pencils in hand as she drew shapes on a blank paper. Circles, squares then a triangle and that was when the screaming began.
It was a woman’s voice, then a man’s voice followed, harsh words thrown at each other and she had to concentrate on getting the triangle drawn correctly, but the loud voices where messing with her head.
“You silly piece of shit, why don’t you ever listen to me” the man’s voice thundered, piercing through little Emily’s thoughts.
“Emily! Emily’s gonna hear, stop!” The scream came frantic followed by a loud crash and she shook in fear.
“Please stop!” The pleading followed but little Emily focused on her triangle trying to ignore the chaos around her. When she finally got it, she dropped the pencil and walked out of the room towards the direction of the noise and the moment she stepped out, a flying object hit her square in the head, throwing her back to the floor and the pain doubling in the second. She saw the familiar color of blood drip from her head, unto her palms and on the floor. Dizziness followed, she heard a woman scream her name
“Emily!!!”
Blankness followed
When Emily came to at the cafe, still staring hard at the triangle, tears had gathered at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall. Was that her mother screaming her name?
Immediately her phone buzzed, and a text came through from a strange number.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“I’ll tell you everything Emily, the truth. Meet at the park tomorrow by 6, and I’ll tell you everything”. Love, mum