The Merger

Chapter 4

(Elizabeth’s POV)

As the clock's hands inch towards five o'clock, I fidget on the sofa while Jennifer applies the final touches to her red lips in front of the mirror. Her blonde hair is elegantly coiled into a bun, and her black off-shoulder dress fits her like a glove. I'm taken aback by her level of dressing up – she usually doesn't go all out like this, but tonight seems different.

"Why the special attire tonight?" I inquire, curiosity getting the best of me.

"Just felt like looking nice," she dismisses nonchalantly.

"Oh, come on! Who's the lucky guy from the office?" I nudge, playfully raising an eyebrow.

"Nobody, seriously," she retorts, cheeks blushing a faint pink.

"Spill it!" I insist.

"Alright, fine. It's Andrew," she confesses, averting her gaze.

"Andrew? Ben's buddy? Now that's unexpected," I quip.

"I told him I wasn't interested – birds of a feather, you know. But he's actually quite interesting. Smart, funny... We have a lot in common. I'm just wary of wasting my time," she rambles.

"Give it a shot. You deserve to be happy, Jen. Besides, if he's the right one for you, it's a surefire way to escape the arranged marriage fate my parents are plotting for me," I advise, hoping she considers it.

"Enough about me. Look at you, stunning!" Jennifer exclaims, breaking into my thoughts. My curly brown hair is elegantly pinned up, framing my face with a pearl hair clip nestled to the side. I'm wearing a royal blue silk dress that plunges into a V-neckline, with a daring high thigh slit – a look I'm quite used to pulling off.

"Thanks, Jen. Tried my best," I chuckle. She's about to reply when the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it," I volunteer, rushing to the door. As I swing it open, there stands Benjamin looking incredibly dapper. His dark brown hair is slicked into a neat man bun, and his once unruly beard has been tamed to perfection. To my surprise, he's wearing a blue slim-fit suit with a black tie – it's as though we planned to match.

"Are you going to stare all night or let us in?" he smirks.

I shake my head, breaking out of my trance.

"Who's 'us'?" I ask.

"Hey, girl!" Andrew chimes in, his voice a bit higher than usual. Suppressing a laugh, I give Andrew and then Ben a playful eye roll.

"Come on in, we're just about ready." Andrew breezes past me and heads into the living room, but Ben lingers, still looking at me.

"What's caught your attention?" I inquire, slightly bemused.

"You look divine," he rasps, a slight flush creeping onto my cheeks.

"Thank you, Mr. Baldwin," I respond, a coy smile forming.

"It's small," he states, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

"Excuse me?" I'm puzzled.

"Your house. It's smaller than I expected," he explains.

"I believe in the beauty of simplicity. Jen and I manage the house ourselves – no housekeepers. It keeps things grounded," I explain.

"Would you want to live at my house?" he throws the idea out there.

"Who said anything about moving in with you?" I retort, perhaps more curtly than intended.

"You're to be my wife, aren't you?" he asserts.

"I'm not so sure about that yet," I counter. The atmosphere tightens, and his smirk vanishes, replaced with a frown.

"Let's go or we'll be late," he suggests, the arrogance returning to his voice. I turn to gather Jennifer and Andrew, realizing they've been listening to our conversation the whole time. A knowing look passes between Jennifer and me as I lead them all towards the door.

"Uber, anyone? I plan on getting a bit tipsy tonight," Jennifer giggles. Andrew's eyes widen comically, and Ben stands there, smirking.

"I've arranged transportation," Ben interjects, just as a sleek black limousine pulls up in front of my house.

"Perfect, let's roll!" Jennifer exclaims, linking her arm with Andrew's and practically dragging him towards the limo. Her carefree personality brings a smile to my face, and I shake my head in amusement. Adjusting my dress, I prepare to step into the limo, and to my surprise, Ben assists me inside.

"Thank you," I murmur.

"You're welcome," he replies, his voice firm but lacking his earlier arrogance. My thoughts wander briefly, wondering if I misunderstood him. The limo ride to the charity banquet is mostly quiet, save for Jennifer and Andrew's hushed conversations. Upon arrival, the driver opens the door, and we step onto the red carpet that leads into the grand hall.

The banquet hall is breathtakingly adorned with black, white, and gold décor – a testament to my mother's impeccable taste. I can't help but think she always outdoes herself with these events. Ben walks alongside me, and I'm acutely aware of the attention we draw due to the recent merger news. He takes my hand, his grip firm, and I can feel eyes following us. I follow his gaze to see Stephen, engrossed in conversation near the beverage table. But there's something else – a redhead by his side. The scene puzzles me, but Ben's grip on my hand remains unwavering.

"Recognize someone?" I break the silence.

"I see two people I'd rather avoid," he retorts.

"Let's grab a drink," I suggest.

"Sure," he agrees, guiding me towards the drink table. As we approach, Stephen and the redhead come into view.

Stephen's voice drips with a sultry edge, ignoring the woman he had been engaged with earlier.

"Well, well, Lizzie. You're looking stunning tonight," he purrs, his gaze unsettling. I muster a polite response, masking my unease.

"Thank you, Stephen." Ben's reaction is swift, a scoff escaping him, adding an undercurrent of tension.

"Hey, Benji, didn't expect to see you here," a high-pitched voice interjects, diverting our attention. Suddenly, the redhead clings to Ben, legs coiling around his waist, revealing more than appropriate. Gasps ripple through the room, and Ben's eyes widen in disbelief at the audacious display.

"Deriah, control yourself. You're embarrassing us in front of our guests," Ben growls, his grip firm as he separates her from him in one fluid motion. The abruptness of his action leaves me momentarily stunned.

"Who's this?" I inquire, a mix of surprise and curiosity coloring my tone.

"Hi, I'm Deriah—Ben's girlfriend," she utters, nearly causing Stephen to choke on his drink as the realization dawns.

"Oh," I respond, a hint of skepticism in my voice.

"Ex," Ben interjects, his tone a low growl.

"Excuse me?" Stephen mutters.

"She's my ex, and she's rather imaginative," Ben retorts dryly, his words laced with a sharp wit.

"Benji, come on. We both know you still have feelings for me," Deriah squeals, her declaration shattering the air around us. An electric mix of emotions sparks, leaving me grappling with this unexpected revelation.

"See, Elizabeth? I warned you he's not right for you," Stephen chimes in, his condescension thickening the atmosphere.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ben steps closer to Stephen, their confrontation intensifying.

"It means Lizzie deserves better. Someone like me," Stephen sneers, his disdain palpable.

"Perhaps you should search for a woman your age in a retirement home, Stephen, and leave the young women alone," Ben counters, a hint of venom in his voice. Deriah's shock is evident.

"Benji, are you really with this prissy woman?" Deriah scrutinizes me, her gaze lingering judgmentally. Frustration ignites within me, and I break my silence.

"Listen, Diarrhea —or whatever your name is—I am the President of this company. This is MY banquet. Disrespect me or disrupt this event again, and I'll have you escorted out before you can find your next wealthy target to latch onto," I retort, downing my champagne and discarding the glass. Ben's approving smirk doesn't go unnoticed, nor does Stephen's disdainful glare.

"Of course, you find entertainment in Lizzie shedding her delicate facade, much like your own messy existence," Stephen sneers, gesturing toward Ben with a knowing smirk. My response is unyielding.

"Stephen, whether with or without a man, I'm fully capable of managing myself. I won't allow anyone to tarnish my reputation, not even you," I assert, grabbing a shot of whiskey and tossing it back defiantly. The glass lands with a resounding thud on the table as I turn away from the chaos.

Determined to salvage the evening, I ascend the stage to address the audience. As gratitude pours forth to our donors, a sudden commotion erupts behind me, shattering the veneer of decorum.

"What's happening?" My father's voice booms through the microphone, exasperation palpable. My mother echoes the sentiment, summoning security to intervene.

Stepping off the stage, I stride purposefully toward the escalating turmoil. Security grapples with Ben and Andrew, struggling to contain the altercation. Despite their efforts, the chaos persists. Jennifer emerges from the fray, dragging Deriah by her hair.

"Jennifer, explain," I demand, my anger mirroring the chaos around us.

"This woman badmouthed you during your speech and threw her drink at me, only it missed me and landed on Ben. Ben mistook Stephen for the culprit, leading to a brawl. Andrew tried to intervene, but this psycho grabbed my arm, so I had to handle her," Jennifer recounts, her voice edged with frustration.

My fury intensifies. "Remove her from the premises," I command, my tone laced with venom. Security promptly ushers Deriah away as she threatens vengeance.

Focusing on Stephen, who has broken free from security's grip, I brace for another confrontation.

"You're not marrying Lizzie. I won't allow it," Stephen declares vehemently.

"She's not yours, you delusional fool," Ben snaps, his exasperation palpable.

"She's mine now, and we will be married soon enough," Ben bellows, Stephen lunges toward Ben once more. I step between them, blocking his path.

"Enough!" My voice resounds, my finger jabbing into Stephen's chest. Ignoring his furious glare, I pivot to address him directly.

"And you," I say, my tone dripping with disdain, "You've disgraced yourself beyond measure. A distinguished businessman reduced to this behavior at a charity event? Both you and Ben have tainted an evening my parents and I tirelessly organized."

Collecting my resolve, I raise my chin defiantly. "I thank our donors, but this event is over. I ask everyone to leave immediately. Such behavior tarnishes our company's reputation and undermines the causes we champion. I reject violence and indecorum in all forms." With that final declaration, I turn on my heel, walking away without sparing anyone in the hall a second glance. Stepping outside, I call an uber and it arrives within a few minutes.

(Jennifer’s POV)

As chaos engulfed the aftermath of Liz's fiery confrontation, I found myself both bewildered and determined. While Liz's wrath might have been partially directed at me, I couldn't allow that red-headed troublemaker to escape unscathed after her insults and attempted drink-throwing. However, I couldn't shake the worry that my job might be on the line—Mr. and Mrs. Astor and numerous colleagues were witnesses to the chaos. The once-grand hall had dwindled to a near-empty space, and I occupied a table, delicately dabbing at the smudged makeup on my face with a hand mirror.

A chuckle interrupts my thoughts as Andrew approaches the table, his presence bringing a measure of comfort. Seating himself next to me, he gazes earnestly.

"Hey there, Rocky. You sure lit up the place," he remarks, a hint of amusement in his voice. I giggle, a mix of relief and uncertainty washing over me.

"I suppose you could say that. And I wouldn't blame you if you've had enough of me after this crazy scene," I quip, a self-deprecating grin forming.

"Whoa, hold on. Hot as hell is an understatement. I'm even more intrigued with you now," Andrew counters, his words and genuine smile easing my anxiety. He leans in closer, our eyes locking.

"Listen, Jennie, I'm not cut from the same cloth as these stuffy elites. Sure, Ben's my best friend, but I'm not a carbon copy. I'm drawn to your down-to-earth charm, your humor, your fiery spirit, and your undeniable beauty. I want to date you, Jennifer. So, what do you say? Will you give me a chance?" His earnest plea resonates, and a mix of fear and hope surges through me, causing my hand to tremble. Andrew notices and gently steadies my hand, his touch a reassuring anchor.

"Are you afraid of getting close?" he whispers, his concern genuine. Words escape me momentarily, swallowed by a tide of unwelcome doubts.

"Hey, Jenny, I once heard a line in a movie—'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.' It's true. Life is unpredictable, but just like that box of chocolates, I believe life could be so much sweeter if I could share it with you." His smile warms my heart, and he uses his finger to lift my chin gently.

"Okay," I respond softly, the weight of uncertainty gradually lifting as I surrender to the possibilities.

"Woo hoo!" Andrew exclaims, his excitement contagious. He pulls me into his arms, and a whirlwind of joy propels me as he twirls me around. In an exuberant display of affection, he presses his lips to mine, igniting a spark of passion between us. Laughter and giddy giggles fill the air as he holds me close, his soft black hair brushing against my fingertips.

Amidst our lighthearted exchange, Andrew proposes an impromptu escapade. "Hey?"

"Yes, hun?"

"Let's ditch this place and grab a bite. My treat."

"No, it's on me," I counter playfully, setting the tone for our newfound connection. Before I can react, he hoists me over his shoulder and strides confidently toward the side exit, our laughter echoing.

“I’m going to have the valet order us a cab.” He says and disappears around the corner.

Seated on a bench, I await Andrew's return. My gaze inadvertently lands on a bloodied Stephen, his voice venomous as he furiously communicates over the phone.

"I want everything on this guy. Now! I Don't care if you're on vacation, dig up his dirt—exes, tickets, his company's records. I want to crush him, destroy him. And that red-headed w***e will help me do it," Stephen's chilling words send a shiver down my spine. I quickly whip out my phone, discreetly recording the conversation for Liz's benefit.

"Just do it, damn it!" he yells, the rage evident. Hanging up, he slides his phone into his pocket and speeds away in his car. With the evidence secured, I send Liz the damning video, knowing that despite our current rift, this revelation could be crucial.

Before long, Andrew returns, his smile radiant as he reaches out his hand to me.

"Ready to go, Jen?"

"Yeah, let's go," I respond, a genuine smile playing on my lips as I take his hand, our connection solidifying amidst the chaos.