Behind The Contract

CHAPTER FOUR

Lucien

The glass walls of my office reflected my restless pacing back and forth. A knock sounded on the door, before I could answer it opened slightly. “Mr. Smith.”

I turned. Daniel, my personal assistant stepped inside. He held a tablet close to his chest like it carried something fragile, his shoulders looked tense avoiding my eyes for a second before walking towards me. That alone told me something is wrong.

“What is it?” I asked.

He stopped in front of my desk and handed the tablet to me. “I just received an official message from the international partners.”

“What message?” I replied, glancing at the screen of the tablet.

“They're…” he hesitated. “They're withdrawing from the agreement.”

For a moment, the words didn't register.

“The company said they can't move forward with the deal because of the recent scandal involving your father.”

I stared at the screen but the words on it blurred for a moment before my eyes focused. “Due to recent development involving Mr. Hart Smith, Horizons International Holding has decided to withdraw from all negotiations and terminate the pending international partnership with Smith Group.”

My jaw tightened at the words.

“They cited the fraud investigation,” Daniel continued.

The tablet felt heavier as I dropped it on the table. “No,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my hand over my face and pace again. “This can't be happening.”

The horizon deal was supposed to expand the company into Europe. My mother had dreamed about it before she died and I’d spent three years making it happen and now, it has collapsed because of my father–his fraud, corruption and bribery rumors.

“This company was stable before he came back,” I said, clenching my fists. Daniel stayed silent standing near the desk, before either of us could speak, the office door opened quickly.

“Mr. Lucien,” Claire, my secretary, stepped in looking nervous.

I turned to her. “What now?”

“The board of directors is holding a meeting in the conference room.”

“So?” I asked frowning. “That's normal.”

“The meeting started twenty minutes ago.” She said, shaking her head slowly.

The words hung in the air, board meetings do not happen without the president. A burn of anger spread through my chest.

“Who called for the meeting?” I asked.

“Mr. Hart Smith, your father.”

For a moment, I stood still. Then I grabbed my jacket from the chair. “Thank you,” I said flatly.

Claire and Daniel stepped aside as I walked out. The hallway seemed longer than usual, the employees lowered their heads as I passed. No one met my eyes, that alone told me everything–they already knew. The boardroom doors stood at the end of the hallway.

The room fell silent immediately I pushed open the door. The long polished table stretched across the room, surrounded by the executive who had worked with my mother for decades, men and women I’d always trusted and respected.

My eyes moved to the head of the table and there he was–My father. He sat in the president’s chair like he belonged there, his posture relaxed. My anger flared instantly.

“What is going on here?” I asked but no one answered instead they stared at the table. I walked further into the room looking directly at my father. “Care to explain why there's a board meeting happening without the president of the company.”

He slowly leaned back in his chair. “We're discussing the future of Smith Group.”

“You don't get to discuss anything without the president present.” I replied. A few board members shifted uncomfortably, my father glanced around the table before looking back at me.

“The board has authority in these matters,” he replied calmly. “We are deliberating whether you should remain as the president or if leadership should be transferred.”

The words slammed into me like a punch.

“You're joking,” I said. I slammed my hands on the table heavily, the anger inside me exploded. “You're trying to take the company that belongs to me. Do you even realize what you've done?” I shouted but he didn't respond. “We just lost our biggest international partner! The deal is dead.”

The executives flinched at my words, murmurs filled the room.

“They backed out this morning. Do you know why?” I continued, my face looked onto my father. “Because of you, your fraud investigation has destroyed the company's reputation.”

No one dared to speak.

“That deal was worth hundreds of millions. Two years of negotiations are gone!” My voice echoed off the walls. “And now you're sitting here trying to steal the company my mother left for me.”

My father's expression didn't change after all my words, he stood up slowly and the rest of the board members followed his lead and stepped out of the room one by one.

“You're emotional,” he whispered as he walked past me towards the door.

“You ruined everything,” I said, turning towards him.

He paused for a moment, then shrugged slightly. “Business requires stronger leadership,” he said walking out

I stood in the room alone, staring at the empty chairs around the table. The company that was built by my mother and trusted to me is about to slip out of my hands.

*****

Kelly

The door slammed harder than I meant it to. My fingers were still trembling when I let go of the handle. The weight of my suitcase dragged behind me, its wheels scraping loudly against the floor as I stepped into Sarah’s living room. Everything inside me felt like it was collapsing at once.

“Kelly?” Sarah’s voice came from the kitchen, but I didn’t answer because I couldn’t.

I let go of the suitcase and sank onto the couch, my chest tightening as the tears I had been holding back finally spilled over. My hands covered my face, but it didn’t stop the sobs from breaking through.

Her footsteps hurried toward me. “Hey, what happened?” she asked, kneeling in front of me.

I shook my head at first, trying to steady myself. But the words forced their way out anyway.

“They threw me out,” I choked.

Sarah’s brows pulled together. “Who?”

“My uncle and his wife” My voice cracked again. “They said I don’t belong there anymore.”

“What do you mean you don’t belong?” she asked, her tone sharpening with disbelief.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to say it. “They said I was adopted and don't have rights to any of my parents’ assets,” I said, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. “And the worst part?” I laughed bitterly through tears. “Everything they’re fighting over is frozen. So they kicked me out for nothing.”

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then Sarah pulled me into her arms. “It’s okay,” she whispered, gently stroking my hair. “You’re not alone. You hear me?”

I leaned into her, letting her warmth steady me, even though everything still felt like it was spinning.

After a while, she pulled back slightly, her hands resting on my shoulders. “Is there anyone who can help? A lawyer? Someone your parents trusted?”

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, shaking my head. “There is no one. My dad’s lawyer who could help and handle everything has resigned from his firm and relocated with his family. I tried contacting…” I stopped, something flickered in my mind. “Where’s my bag?” I asked quickly, already rising to my feet.

I rushed over to the door, dropping to my knees beside it. My hands dug through the contents, pushing aside clothes, my wallet, random things I didn’t even remember packing.

“Come on,” I muttered under my breath.

“What are you looking for?” Sarah asked, watching me but I didn’t answer.

Then my fingers brushed against something firm and I slowly pulled it out–a white card. I stared at the card, written boldly–Smith Group and underneath it was a name–Lucien Smith.

“I think this person can help me,” I whispered, staring at the card.

Sarah stepped closer. “Who is it?”

I turned the card over, my heart suddenly pounding for a completely different reason.

“I know someone who might be of help.”