My Sweet Seduction

Planning a Boardroom Coup

Chapter 8

Emma’s POV

I went straight back to my condo after they finished their dinner. I parked my car and immediately ordered an Uber. I changed the code on the front and back doors, and grabbed the bag I had packed in Chattanooga. I had already added all of the paperwork from my safe into the duffel bag. I also checked the safe and made sure that all my jewelry was accounted for before leaving. Knowing that Brett and Noel couldn’t use my condo as their little love nest anymore made me happy.

I was headed to my grandparents’ home. I didn’t know exactly what I planned to do next, so I really needed their advice. I knew I was going to fire Brett. I couldn’t keep him as my CFO knowing what he had been planning to do. What kind of jerk tries to seduce me to steal my company away? I wished him and Noel a lifetime together, but it won’t be a happy one. I can guarantee him that. They really deserved to be together. They’re the lowest of the low as far as I was concerned.

I already knew I was going to hear a lecture. My mother and grandfather had been very vocal about not liking Brett at all. He reminded my mother of my father from the first time they met. She didn’t try to hide her dislike either. I defended him, but only my grandmother, Eleora, was polite to him. That’s why he didn’t like to come around them. We spent more time with his family, but they felt the same way about me. They have made no secret of the fact that they didn’t approve of me for Brett. Apparently, discomfort only mattered when Brett was the one who was uncomfortable. He couldn't care less how bad they made me feel each time I saw them.

When I told my family back in September that I was opening a third location, they were thrilled to hear it. When I told them where it would be, my grandfather became even happier. He and my grandmother immediately flew to Chattanooga the next week to look for a vacation home there. They had been toying with the idea of going somewhere where things moved a little slower.

My grandfather loved to fish and wanted to be near the water. He found a property near Chattanooga, in a place called Jasper Falls. He had the old home and dock torn down to be replaced. He had plans for their new home being designed before they had even left town. My grandmother was thrilled about their new home and was excited to see it completed.

My family was proud of what I’d accomplished, and their opinions were the ones that truly mattered to me. Brett's opinion used to matter, until I found out it was all a lie. I loved my family to the moon and back. I majored in business and accounting to ensure my business ran well. I admit that my trust issues played a part in the accounting portion. Knowing that Brett was helping Noel conspire to take everything I’ve worked so hard for away from me was infuriating. There was no way that I was going to stand by and allow that to happen.

Her mother was the one who had caused this whole mess to begin with. So I can’t wrap my head around why Noel was acting like I was the one who needed to be punished. They were clearly delusional and twisting everything around to make themselves feel better about what they were doing. I was a baby when it all went down. My father and Joan were the ones at fault here, but Noel has been a snotty, spoiled brat every single time I saw her.

I know she acted that way because her mother encouraged it. Joan blamed my mother and me for the lean years they suffered. Whenever I complained about how Noel treated me, I was blamed for being the one at fault. I was the older sister, and needed to be more understanding, more patient. Dad always took Noel's side, because he wasn't going to make Joan angry. Eventually, I stopped wanting to go to see him. What was the point?

The Uber pulled up to the gated community where my family lived, and the guard waved the car through after he saw me in the back seat. I came here often enough that he recognized me. I didn’t know whether I was hoping they were all at home or just my grandmother. I rang the doorbell as the Uber took off.

My mother answered the door and was clearly surprised to see me. I hadn’t told them I was coming. She took one look at my face and held her arms out. I dropped my bag to the ground and rushed into her arms. I felt like I could breathe again now that I was home.

“Come in, honey. It’s too cold to stand on the porch,” she told me.

“What happened?” my grandfather, Edwin, asked from somewhere behind her.

“I’m sure it’s that Fiancé of hers who proposed without giving her a ring. I guess she finally realized he wasn’t worthy of her,” my mother replied over her shoulder.

Her comment only made me cry harder. She was right. I had been so happy when Brett asked me to marry him. I’ve been engaged for three years with no proof of the engagement at all. I had been so happy when we first got together. I had been ignored my first two years of college because I was plus-sized. Apparently, that meant I wasn't as desirable as the other women on campus.

I accepted it, as I was busy with my studies, but sometimes, late at night, I wanted to find someone who would love me. Someone who would show me that true love actually existed. A love like my grandparents still shared. Mom's marriage ended badly, but I knew that she was still holding out hope of finding the man of her dreams. I wanted that for her as well, but at that moment, I was pretty sure she would end up finding it before I did.

“Andrea, you’re acting just like your father, and only upsetting her more. She came here for help, not to upset her even more,” my grandmother snapped out. She walked around Mom, wrapping her arm around my waist, and led me towards the living room. “Emmie, you know that you're always safe with us. Whatever happened, we will help you get through it. Don’t cry over that man; he isn’t worth it. Your mother and grandfather were right about him. He didn’t realize what a treasure you are, and I promise you that it’s his loss.”

She sat next to me, with my mother and grandfather sitting on the sofa across from us. It was hard to face them to tell them what happened, but after Gigi spoke, they both eased up on me. Brett was a problem, but he wasn’t the entire problem. They stayed silent while I told them about Noel and Brett being engaged.

“Did he give her a ring?” my mother asked.

I already knew that question was coming. “He did,” I answered.

“I didn’t ask that question to hurt you, Emma. I just wanted to make the point that when something or someone is important enough, effort will always be made. That doesn’t mean you weren’t worth the effort, Emma, you definitely are. He just didn’t see your value clearly. I fell for a charmer myself. I gave him everything I had to give, and look at how he repaid me. He still feels no remorse for what he did. He still thinks I should have just accepted that he would have a woman on the side. I couldn’t accept that, and Joan knew it. Her miscalculation was thinking he was a self-made man. She’s still bitter about me making him pay that loan back early,” my mother advised.

“Oh, it’s not just Joan that believes that we needed to be punished for what you did when you divorced Dad,” I responded before telling them what they were planning to do to me.

My grandfather was furious and picked up his phone to make a call. “Gregory, how much stock do we own in Thompson Financial?”

He waited about a minute, listening to what he was being told. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I knew something was about to go down, and I highly doubt that Dad will like what's about to happen.

“Gregory, I want you to grab 5 more shares to get us up to forty percent, and then call for a board meeting to be held. It’s time Halton learns what happens when he decides to come after our family again. I want him replaced as the CEO of Thompson Financial in two-week’s time,” my grandfather ground out before hanging up the phone and noticing that we were all looking at him.

“What? He didn’t appreciate that we gave him an opportunity to rebuild his company. I wanted to ruin him back then, but I refrained from it because Andrea wanted to handle everything on her own. But I won’t stand by and allow that pompous jerk to come after my granddaughter. I wanted to burn his company down after he dared to touch Emma, which is when I started to buy shares. Who does he think he is? It’s well past time for Halton to get a reality check. This whole thing started because he was bold enough to think that he had achieved the level of success he had on his own. He forgot you were the one who got that company up and running, Andrea. That’s why he still hasn’t managed to get back to where he was, and he never will. It’s time for Halton to learn a hard lesson about what happens when you strike at someone you should have left alone,” my grandfather ground out.

"Dad, I just happen to own ten percent of the shares for Thompson Financial myself. I had the same thought as you. So it looks like we own half the shares of his company between us if Gregory can get someone to sell their shares to him. I will be happy to sign my over to you if you want," my mother advised.

"No, you need to keep them, Andrea. I think it will do Halton good to see you come in there with me when he gets voted out as CEO of his own company. That is going to really sting. I can't wait for the board meeting now. It's been a long time since I pulled a move like this. He's only got himself and Joan to blame for what's to come. That viper was the one to talk him into coming after Emma. I think she believed that since she finally managed to force Emma out, we were no longer a threat. She underestimated us, and I can't wait to see how this plays out. Halton won't be destitute, but Joan won't be able to accept the fact that Halton is about to be humiliated in front of the whole city. I doubt their marriage will be able to survive his demotion," my grandfather said with a laugh.

I felt comforted as my mother and grandfather discussed the finer points of their coup. My grandmother squeezed my hand to show her support as she gave a low chuckle at their discussion. They wanted to help me without me even having to ask. I could feel their love for me in their immediate defense. I believe Noel and her family were in for a big surprise.