Love Bred by Hatred

Episode4

Colton's POV

Five years later

"We lost another deal to SnM." My secretary announced this as she walked into my office dressed in her usual seductive dresses that showed her curves in the right places. "They secured both the supply contract and the sole ambassador contract for their fashion line."

She placed several files on my table alongside my usual morning coffee, bending just enough to make me see her cleavages before continuing her reports on the project from the previous day.

"Apparently our representative lost the bid in a moment of carelessness, and that allowed our competitors to have the upper hand in the bid. So, SnM will be the one supplying Watson's for the next three years, according to the contract."

"Tch, how many times has it been?" I asked with a long sigh as I adjusted my tie. "We've lost four out of five big deals and contracts to them in the past six months! Not only the ones with Watson but also with other big companies." I gritted out in frustration.

"Do we have a mole in the company? Is there anyone giving away our strategies and plans?" Hearing my question, Kate rolled her eyes and pursed her lips as she shifted on her foot without replying.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I massaged my nose bridge and stood up. "And you are still yet to find the identity of the person that owns SnM?" I asked.

"From our findings, SnM is a start-up company, and it's only three years old. We obtained information that a couple, who once worked for Grayson before its bankruptcy, owns it." She began as she sorted through the files to get the ones that belonged to SnM's investigation.

"There is also a rumor that says that SnM is a branch owned by Stark Wilson, the illegitimate son of the Wilson family. It is said that Stark is trying to cut off ties with Wilson and remove himself from the ongoing war between the heirs. Either way, we haven't found the real owners of the SnM company," she explained calmly as she handed me the files.

Her fingers brushed over mine, and usually I'd get aroused by it, which would lead to some sinful sounds and sweaty bodies, but right now the only thing I could focus on was the impending doom my company was facing with the emergence of the mysterious SnM company.

I read through the files with furrowed brows and tense shoulders. Somehow, a three-year-old company shrouded in mystery was able to push my company, which has a history spanning over five decades, into a corner, and no matter how much we looked, we couldn't find those involved.

If the company is truly related to the Wilsons, illegitimate or not, there will be a lot of trouble to come. Wilson's family and Anderson's family have always been in an unspoken conflict.

We compete for everything, from business to social life, and for several decades, the balance has never broken with no one having the upper hand. But if we continue like this, Wilson will be declared the winner.

I can't have that.

Not when I have just gotten the seat of the chairman.

"Alright. Keep looking into the company and report to me any small details you find. Don't overdo anything. You can employ external hands to join you for the investigation," I instructed carefully. "If we are dealing with Wilson, then will we have to prepare?"

"Noted, I'll work on that right away," she replied with a bow.

"Do I have any important meetings to attend today?" I asked, moving on to the day's activities. "No, you don't. You asked me to cancel the meetings you have today because you have an engagement with your family. Do you need me to fix something for you?" She asked curiously, and I shook my head.

"No, my wife and kids will be here soon. I'll handle the files and be off for the day. Look into this for me. I suspect someone is messing with the funds from the finance department, so I need you to look into it starting from a year ago," I instructed as I handed her the USB device.

"Your wife's cousin is in charge of the finance department; are you sure you need me to look into it?" She asked with a worried expression, and I pursed my lips before giving a nod.

"Yes, continue to look into it. I don't care who is in charge or who is involved." I replied, and she walked away with an extra swing of her waist.

I looked through the files she had brought and immediately started working on them according to their importance.

Once I was done, I placed the signed one on the table and the left-overs into my drawer. As I pulled open the drawer, the brown envelope that reminded me of a day I could never forget lay in it.

I've always known she was a woman full of ego and pride, and some part of me had hope she'd reject it, which she did.

Was I sorry for the step I took?

Did I regret it?

Have I ever wished I had done things differently?

That would be a story for another day—a day far in the future. For now, I'm content that I got everything I wanted, even though it's the main thing that gives me the biggest headaches of my life.

My thoughts were interrupted as the door of my office flung open, revealing my handsome and beautiful children, followed by Vivienne.

"Did we come at the wrong time?" She asked with a tight smile as she sat opposite me with her legs crossed.

"Of course not; I was just finishing with the documents. Have you all decided? Where do you want to go?" I asked, and the kids jumped in excitement!

"The planetarium!"

"No! I want to visit the Ice Palace!"

"There is no need for argument; we will visit the planetarium and the ice cream palace. Is that alright with you two?" I asked dotingly, and they both screamed in excitement.

"Yes!"