The Merger

Chapter 2

(Jennifer’s POV)

"Thanks for the ride!" I say softly, trying not to let Andrew's captivating green eyes distract me. But knowing he's Ben's best friend, I can't help but feel cautious about him.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Jennie. Would it be possible for me to get your number? Maybe we could go out to dinner Sunday night?" he asks with kindness in his voice, flashing a charming smile. My heart flutters, but I can't ignore my reservations. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that would be a good idea. I see the kind of company you keep, and that only brings into question the content of your character. Birds of a feather flock together," I reply, trying to remain firm in my decision.

The smile on his face falters, and his eyes reveal a hint of hurt. "I am not Benjamin. But in time, you will know that," he responds, holding my hand as if pleading for a chance.

"I hope to see you soon," he adds, softly stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. His touch sends a pleasant shiver down my spine.

"Goodnight, Mr. Simms," I say softly, managing a polite farewell before stepping out of the car and closing the door behind me.

Walking up to the house, I notice Elizabeth's car parked in the driveway. Unlocking the door, I enter and find her sitting on the couch, engrossed in reruns of "Survivor." I kick off my shoes and toss my purse on the kitchen counter before settling down on the couch beside her.

"Hey, Lizzie, you okay?" I inquire sincerely.

"Yeah, girl, I'm not sweating that douchebag," she replies nonchalantly. "I don't care what he says about me. I have raised Astor Cosmetics higher than any woman in this industry could imagine doing, even higher than what he has done for his company," she continues, her voice wavering slightly.

"I know, hun. You don't have to prove yourself to me; I was there through it all," I say gently, reminding her of our journey together.

"I know that it's not what he said that upset you; I know it was the uptight comment," I address the issue she's been wrestling with long before Ben's comments.

"Am I uptight, Jen?" Elizabeth asks, uncertainty evident in her voice. I can see she's contemplated this question long before tonight.

"I don't think you're uptight, Liz. I think you're logical and careful. You don't want to get hurt again after what Henry did to you," I offer my perspective, providing support and understanding.

She smiles softly, appreciating my reassurance. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, girl," I say, hugging her before heading upstairs.

As I make my way to my room, I can't help but hope that Elizabeth will find the strength to stand up for herself and resist the pressure from her parents. She deserves happiness on her own terms, not according to their business-driven agenda. I know that no matter what, I'll be by her side, supporting her through it all.

(Elizabeth’s POV)

After Jen went to bed, I turned off the TV and laid on the sofa, unable to stop replaying what that jerk Benjamin had said to me and what Jen had mentioned about Henry. Henry was my ex-boyfriend, and we had been together for five years. I had even envisioned marrying him someday.

(Flashback - 2 years ago)

I invited Henry to my family reunion, and there, I discovered my cousin Amanda with her two-year-old daughter Kimmy. Amanda and I had always been close since childhood. I knew she had a boyfriend who was also Kimmy's father, but I hadn’t met him yet. She had always mentioned he was busy with work, and I trusted her.

During the reunion, as I was introducing Henry to my extended family, little Kimmy ran over to us, screaming, "Daddy! Daddy!" Henry froze upon seeing her, but she kept tugging on his pants leg, insisting, "Daddy up." The entire reunion fell into an awkward silence, and everyone's eyes were fixed on us. In shock, Amanda rushed over to us.

"Henry, why is Amanda’s baby calling you daddy?" I asked, my heart pounding.

He didn't respond immediately; instead, he stared at the floor. But Amanda's eyes filled with sadness, and she spoke up, "Henry is her father, Liz."

Those words shattered me. The man I loved, who had professed love for me and spoke of a future together, had been cheating on me with my cousin. And Amanda, my own flesh and blood, knew that I was dating Henry, but she still betrayed me and had an affair with him, even bearing his child.

"Liz, please listen. I didn’t mean to hurt you," Amanda pleaded, but I couldn't contain my anger or tears. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face, the shock reverberating through the entire family. I was so embarrassed and hurt that I left without another word. I never spoke to Amanda or Henry again and avoided any family gathering they were attending. Amanda tried reaching out to me, but I refused to respond. How could she betray me like that?

Shaking off the painful memories, I pulled the fleece throw blanket off the back of the sofa to cover myself. "I never want to see this Benjamin guy again," I vowed to myself.

(Monday Morning)

(Elizabeth’s POV)

Standing at the podium in the building auditorium, I waited for all the employees to sit down. Even Mom and Dad were present. I had something important to address. I tapped the microphone, signaling for everyone’s attention. The murmuring subsided, and all eyes were fixed on me.

"Good morning, staff. As you all know, I am the president of Astor Cosmetics Incorporated. It has come to my attention that a significant number of my employees do not respect me as their boss, likely due to me being a woman. From now on, anyone disrespecting me or any other member of our team will be terminated immediately. At Astor, we are a family-owned business, and to function efficiently, we need to respect and trust each other. I will not tolerate discrimination, disrespect, or any untrustworthy behavior. You will respect me as your boss or you can leave!" I asserted sternly. I could see some employees visibly shocked by my strong words, but I kept my resolve. I glanced at my mom, who was beaming with pride, and Jen, who nodded approvingly.

"That will be all. Get back to work now!" I dismissed the staff, urging them to return to their tasks.

"Elizabeth, I am proud of you for standing up for yourself. It’s a significant step, especially considering you've had difficulty standing up to your parents," Jen complimented me.

"Thanks, Jen," I replied, playfully teasing her. As we left the auditorium, my mom pulled me aside.

"Liz, I’m sorry about Friday night at the house. I didn’t know Benjamin would behave that way," my mom apologized.

"It's not your fault, Mom. I've decided I won't go through with this merger. I can't stand Benjamin Baldwin," I asserted my decision.

"Honey, you will go through with the merger; it'll be beneficial for the company. Just give Ben a chance to apologize," my mom insisted, but I resisted.

"But, Mom, I..." I started to argue.

"But nothing!" She cut me off firmly, leaving me with a stern look as she walked away.

Returning to my office, I began working on the pile of paperwork for our upcoming product launch. The office had been unusually quiet, but I didn't let it distract me. Suddenly, there was a soft knock on my door.

"Come in!" I called out without looking up from my desk. The door creaked open, and then I heard the lock turning. Confused, I looked up and saw none other than Benjamin Baldwin standing near the door. Annoyance surged within me as I took off my glasses and glared at him.

"You? What the hell do you want?" I asked, visibly irritated. He responded with a smug smile.

"I came to apologize to you," he claimed insincerely. I stood up and walked around my desk, poking my finger into his chest.

"I don’t want your fake-ass apology. I want nothing to do with you. You're a disgusting person, and I could never see myself doing business with you or being your wife, no matter how much money it would make me! I'd rather die," I yelled at him, unable to hold back my anger.

He stared at me for a moment, his blue eyes seemingly filled with questions. I assumed he'd turn and leave, but instead, he stepped closer to me, his face mere inches from mine. I could feel his breath on my nose, sending shivers down my spine.

"You should come to my house tonight so we can talk," he said huskily. I scrunched my face, trying to hide any curiosity.

"What?" I questioned.

He flashed a folded paper with an address, ushering it into my hand. "See you there, Eliza," he said, brushing his thumb across my cheek before vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.

I scoffed, thinking, "Who does this guy think he is? James Dean?" Nevertheless, his words left me intrigued, and I couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to talk about.

(Ben’s POV)

After sharing my address with Eliza, I closed her office door behind me, aware of the lingering flirty glances from some of her employees. I shrugged off their attention, my focus singular and resolute. Why was this woman not as easily swayed as the others? I couldn't help but wonder. With a determined stride, I stepped away from her door, deep in thought about this intriguing challenge.

However, my contemplations were abruptly interrupted by the appearance of a man a few years older than me. He carried a bouquet of flowers, an unmistakable sign of a romantic gesture. Who was this newcomer, and what did he want with Eliza? Had he not been informed about the impending merger?

"Excuse me," he said, his voice polite yet carrying an air of self-assuredness.

"Who are you?" I retorted, my tone dripping with condescension.

"I should be asking you the same question," he responded, his expression far from impressed.

"I am Benjamin Baldwin, President of Baldwin Enterprises. Now, who might you be?" I asserted, my status emphasized.

"Oh, you're THAT Benjamin," he remarked, a trace of recognition in his voice. "Well, I'm Stephen Pierre, CEO of Floral Face Inc." His nonchalant introduction held a weight of significance – this was Stephen Pierre, the billionaire entrepreneur.

"What brings a successful man like yourself HERE?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by my implied skepticism. "What do you mean by 'here'? Elizabeth runs a thriving company, not some small-scale cosmetics business peddling roll-on lip balm like your Baldwin Enterprises."

His pointed jab caught me off guard, momentarily leaving me at a loss for words. "I'll have you know that Baldwin Enterprises is a multi-million-dollar company!" I retorted, defensive.

He waved off my protest dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, save the logistics. I'm not here to engage in a quarrel with you. I've come to see Elizabeth; we have some pressing matters to attend to," he stated, his eyes revealing a hint of longing.

It was becoming apparent that he held more than just a casual interest in Eliza. I found myself internally analyzing the situation. Was Eliza playing a game of cat and mouse, or did she genuinely reciprocate this man's feelings? Perhaps he was one of her admirers, complicating matters further. I realized that my previous assessment of her as merely uptight had been a gross oversimplification. Clearly, she had her share of admirers, and I needed to delve deeper into the dynamics between her and this intriguing newcomer.

As Stephen's intent lingered in the air, I made a mental note to uncover more about his relationship with Eliza. After all, the more I learned, the better equipped I'd be to navigate this complex web of emotions and connections.

(Elizabeth’s POV)

Sitting in my office, I contemplated an early lunch when a soft knock at the door startled me. "Come in," I called, curious about the visitor. A smile broke across my face as Stephen walked in, exuding his usual charm.

"Good afternoon, Elizabeth," he greeted, his warm smile instantly putting me at ease.

"Good afternoon. What brings you here today?" I gestured toward the guest chair beside my desk, inviting him to take a seat.

His hand held a delicate arrangement of blue daisies, my favorite flowers. A blush crept onto my cheeks as I accepted the gift, feeling a surge of appreciation. "Thank you, Mr. Pierre. These are absolutely lovely." I placed the bouquet in a vase by the window, ensuring they would receive the attention they deserved later.

As I arranged the flowers, Stephen approached me, his fingers gently encircling mine. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I looked up to meet his gaze, his eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that caught me off guard.

"Elizabeth, you don't have to go through with this merger," he began softly, his words carrying a weight of sincerity. "You can walk away from your family's company and join me at Floral Face."

I paused, struck by the earnestness in his voice. "Stephen, I appreciate your concern, but becoming the CEO of Astor Cosmetics is a goal I've set my sights on. Leaving my family's legacy behind isn't a decision I can make lightly."

"But think about it," he insisted, his gaze unwavering. "Do you truly want to marry someone you don't love, who doesn't love you in return? I'm not asking you to marry me now, but give me a chance, Elizabeth. I care deeply about you, and I believe we could have something meaningful."

His vulnerability caught me off guard, and I turned away momentarily to gather my thoughts. Stephen Pierre was a seasoned entrepreneur, much older than me, and his feelings for me were evident. My parents' concerns about the age difference were well-founded, but there was something undeniable about the connection we shared.

"Stephen, you're a wonderful friend and colleague," I began, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "But I can't go against my parents' wishes. Their plan for this merger isn't just about business; it's about family ties and allegiance."

Disapproval clouded his expression, and I averted my gaze. My emotions were complicated, a mixture of curiosity about Benjamin Baldwin and a lingering connection with Stephen. The scars from my past relationship with Henry had left me wary of romantic entanglements, a sentiment Stephen seemed to understand.

He gently lifted my chin, his touch tender. "Elizabeth, I understand your predicament, and I won't push you. Your happiness matters to me. I'll give you time to sort through your feelings, but know this: I won't let you be forced into a marriage that doesn't make you happy. I'll speak to your father about my intentions."

His sincerity left me speechless, my heart caught between conflicting emotions. Could Stephen truly have feelings for me, strong enough to challenge my parents' plans? Our shared history was marked by friendship and a deep respect, but could it evolve into something more?

"I'm flattered, Stephen, truly," I responded, my voice reflecting my genuine appreciation. "But my heart is still healing from past wounds. I need time to understand my own feelings before making any decisions."

He nodded, his eyes conveying understanding and patience. "Take all the time you need. For now, I'll respect your path and be here when you're ready."

As he pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek, I felt a mixture of emotions, a blend of gratitude and curiosity. Stephen's departure left me on the couch in my office, my mind racing with contemplation.

Just as I tried to steady my thoughts, my phone pinged, a message from my mother demanding my attention. "The Charity banquet is in two days. We've invited the Baldwins, Benjamin included. Maybe you should personally invite him." A winking emoji punctuated her message, leaving me flustered.

The idea of spending an evening with Benjamin, especially after his embarrassing behavior at Friday night's dinner, was far from appealing. If I were to navigate this forced merger and potential public appearances with him, I needed to set some ground rules. With a sigh, I retrieved the crumpled paper from my blazer pocket. "47 Clemons Drive" – it seemed I would be venturing to his house tonight, after all.