CHAPTER 2
1120 Words
Victoria’s Pov
The next morning, I walked into the board meeting that was supposed to save everything.
The investors were f*****g restless, their voices buzzing through the door before I could
walk in. I said a little prayer and walked into the room.
I launched my presentation, pitching Hale enterprises as if my life depended on it, well it
did.
And just when I thought I had their attention, the door to my boardroom opened and Julian
walked in.
“Apologies for the interruption, gentlemen.” He said smoothly, though he didn't sound the
least bit apologetic. “I thought, I would stop by and present a better alternative.”
The investors' ears perked up like vultures.
I slammed my pen hard against the table, and all eyes turned to me, “You are not on the
agenda, Saint Clair.”
He smirked, “Then consider me a surprise guest.” He handed out folders to each
investor. His offer was already printed and bound, “Gentlemen, what Miss. Hale might be
offering could be admirable, but what I'm offering is f*****g irresistible. There are
larger returns, lower risk, and the stability of the biggest tech company in the country.’’
The room buzzed with excitement.
I stood at the corner, I was f*****g embarrassed, I needed to do something, or else, “this
is my meeting, Julian. You have no right….”
“No, Victoria,” he cut me off, his voice low and commanding, “I have every right because while you have been scrambling, I have been planning and I don't play games I
can’t win.”
The investors exchange looks between themselves, murmuring. My stomach sank as I
realized they were slipping through my fingers, again.
Julian turned to me, his blue eyes gleaming with triumph, “Time’s up…”
I ran…..
By the time I got back to my office, I was shaking, full of rage, felt so humiliated and I
was so f*****g scared.
These feelings all tangled inside me.
I slammed the door hard and began my pacing.
A light knock came seconds later, “Go away!” I snapped.
The door opened anyway, with Julian strolling in. His hands were in his pockets, looking
entirely too pleased with himself.
“You f*****g son of a b***h,” I spat, picking u a vase and throwing it directly at him but
he was quick to dodge. The vase hit the wall and broke.
‘Whoa!” He looked surprised but still had that smirk on his face.
“Do you enjoy humiliating me?” I asked, so angry that I wanted to kill him where he
stood.
“Ya, I do..” he kept smiling, “but…. It's nothing personal. It is just business .”
“Business?” I laughed bitterly. “You destroyed my company, ruined my reputation, and
now you expect me to….to… just marry?”
“Yes.” His tone was so f*****g casual, but his eyes were as cold as steel, “sign the
contract, and everything you lost today would be restored…..” he checked the watch on his
wrist, “......let’s say, by tomorrow. The investors, your fuckighn capital, heck you
would be having f*****g stability, all of it.”
I stood, facing him, “If I don't?” I asked
“Then Hale becomes part of the business history.”
I stared at him, every instinct screaming for me to throw him out, call security but
another part of me, the part that knew he wasn't bluffing and he would crumble my
fucking company, hesitated.
And he saw it
“Think carefully, Victoria," he murmured, leaning closer. “You have everything to lose……
and what do you gain? Me.”
I met his gaze, my heart beating fast and before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “If I
sign this contract,” I said slowly, “there will be rules…”
His lips curled into a smile, “I wouldn't expect anything less.”
I drew a breath, ready to list my conditions, when the intercom buzzed. I picked it as my
assistant’s panicked voice crackled through.
“Miss. Hale, you need to turn on the news, like right now.”
I grabbed the remote on the table, flicking through the TV screen on the wall. Finally got
to the news channel and my blood ran cold.
The headline screamed at me in bold letters.
VICTORIA HALE–GOLD DIGGER OR GENIUS?
I stared at the woman who was delivering the news as she continued to deliver the rest of
the news.
1st Newscaster: Miss Hale has been desperate, trying everything to get ahead of the
famous CEO Saint Clair. With all failed attempts, she had decided to use what she had to
get what she wanted.
What are they talking about? This was not true?
“f**k I am going to sue them.”
2nd Newscaster: I'm not surprised there, Rita. She is trying everything not to lose but we all ……..
The television went off.
“f**k, no, put it back on…” I turned to see the remote with Julian.
“I don't think that should be part of your worries,” he said.
“Are you serious right now? My name is being tarnished” then the realization hit me,
“did you do this?”
He said nothing which practically confirmed everything, “you…”
“I can make it stop, all of it. Just do as I had said and all your problems are gone.”
I glared at him, “Get the f**k out”
“You still have two days..”
“OUT!!!!!!”
The door slammed behind him, but the damage he had done was already there. My chest
hammered against my ribs as if it were trying to escape.
Two days. I had two days to sign away everything or watch Hale die a slow, humiliating
death.
I forced my hands to stay steady and reached for the remote, flipping the TV back on.
The screen filled with the same anchor, but the headline had changed, and this time my
stomach dropped hard enough to make me dizzy.
THEY FOUND OUT WHO SHE'S SLEEPING WITH — AN 80 YEAR-OLD BILLIONAIRE.
Beneath it, the headline ran his name and age.
There was an old photograph of him grinning beside the text. The man had silver hair, an
ivory cane, and eyes like cold coins. The anchor’s voice was clinical, almost cruel.
“Sources say Miss Victoria Hale was seen entering the private residence of Harrison
Whitmore, an eighty-year-old industrial magnate, late last night. Questions remain about
the nature of their relationship…”
My throat closed.
- Writer
