The billionaire's second chance

The glass doors of Glance Corporation swung open. Maya Lin walked in. She had been preparing for this meeting for two days. She had studied all the numbers. Practiced what she would say. This was her chance to make a good impression and get the contract. She took a breath and walked up to the reception desk. The lady behind the desk looked up. Smiled. "Maya Lin?" she asked. "Yes that's me " Maya said. "I'm here to see the executive board. I have a meeting at nine." The receptionist handed her a security badge. "You're in time. Mr. Bennett is waiting for you. But be careful things are a bit tense there today." Maya walked to the elevator. Pressed the button for the forty-second floor. When the doors opened she saw a lot of people running around. They all looked very busy. Stressed. Liam Bennett came up to her. Smiled. "Maya thank goodness you're here. We need your help." "Morning Liam " Maya said. "You look like you've been up all night." Liam laughed. "I feel like I've been up for days. We have a lot of problems here. The merger with the Sterling Group is not going well.. Our new CEO is not making things easy." Mayas eyes widened. "The new CEO? I didn't know who that was." Liam leaned in close. "His name is Ethan Rhodes. He's the son of the CEO. He's very smart. Hes also very tough." Maya felt a run down her spine. Ethan Rhodes. She hadn't heard that name in a time. They walked to the boardroom and Liam opened the door. Maya saw a lot of people sitting around a table.. At the end of the table she saw him. Ethan Rhodes. He was standing with his back to the room looking out the window. Maya felt like she had been punched in the gut. She hadn't seen him in seven years. The man turned around. Mayas heart stopped. He looked different. His eyes were still the same. Ethans gaze swept the room. Landed on her. For a moment Maya thought she saw a flicker of recognition.. Then his face went blank. Liam introduced her to the board members. Ethan didn't. Offer his hand. He just sat down. Said, "You have ten minutes to convince me why I shouldn't cancel your contract. Begin." Maya stood up. Started her presentation. She tried to focus on the numbers and the strategy. She couldn't help sneaking glances at Ethan. He looked so different from the boy she used to know. When she finished the room was silent. Ethan leaned forward. Said, "A soul? You think a company needs a soul?" Maya felt her temper flare up. "Yes I do. A company needs to show its side. Otherwise people won't care about it." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I don't think that's how it works Ms. Lin. The market responds to power and stability not charity." Maya stood her ground. "The market responds to people, Mr. Rhodes.. People care about more, than just making money." The room fell silent again. Maya felt like she had said much.. She couldn't help it. She had to stand up for what she believed in.. She had to show Ethan that she wasn't the same girl he had left behind. The board members all took a breath at the same time. Nobody ever spoke to Ethan Rhodes like that. Liam looked at them with an expression like he did not know what was going on. He could feel the feelings between the CEO and the consultant. Ethans face got tight. He was really angry. For a moment he did not look like the man Maya loved. He looked like an dangerous person. "The presentation is over " Ethan said suddenly standing up. "The board will talk about it for five minutes. Everybody leave the room." Maya quickly left the boardroom. She walked fast down the hall until she found a place near the emergency stairs. She leaned against the window and covered her eyes. She was breathing hard. "Why did you not tell me?" she whispered to herself. A tear fell down her cheek. Ethan was a billionaire. When they were in college he did not tell her. He made her think they were struggling together. It was all a lie. When he left her it hurt a lot. Now she found out that everything he told her was not true. It felt like he betrayed her again. "Maya." She. Took her hands away from her face. Ethan was standing in the doorway. The doors had closed quietly behind him. He was not standing straight as he was before. He looked at her face. Saw that she was crying. "Go away Ethan " Maya said, her voice shaking. She tried to walk past him. He blocked her way. "We need to talk " he said, his voice. Rough. "Talk? Now you want to talk?" Maya laughed,. It was not a happy laugh. "You left me seven years ago. You did not say anything to me. I thought you were dead. I thought I did something.. Now I find out you are the CEO of Glance Corp? You lied to me about who you were every day." "I did not lie about how I felt about you " Ethan said, his voice cracking. He took a step closer to her. "You do not understand, Maya. I could not tell you. My father—" "I do not care about your father " Maya said, her voice hurting. "You hurt me Ethan. It took me years to feel better. I am here to do my job and get the money I need. That is it. Do not talk to me about the past." Ethan looked at her his face showing that he was sorry and that he still had feelings for her. The silence between them was heavy. Then the doors opened. Liam Bennett was standing there looking pale and scared. "Ethan we have a problem " he said. "You need to see this." Ethan immediately changed back to his CEO self. His face got hard. "What is it Liam? The board is still talking." "It does not matter " Liam said, giving Ethan a tablet. "Noah Sterling just told the press something. He got a copy of your fathers will. He said that Glance Corp is doing something wrong. He wants to hurt our company before the board can vote." Maya watched as Ethan read the tablet. He got really pale. His jaw got tight. "What did he say?" Ethan asked, his voice low and angry. Liam looked at Maya back at Ethan. "Noah said that Glance Corp is doing something and that the only way the board will say yes to the merger is if you, Ethan show that you have a stable life. He said you need to be married. The press is talking about it. The board is going to vote against you if you do not say you are getting married in the twenty-four hours." Ethans breath caught. He looked at Maya, his eyes locked on hers. Maya felt scared. Ethan was looking at her like he wanted something from her. "Ethan?" Maya asked, taking a step back. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Ethan walked closer to her. "Liam tell the press we are having a meeting, in one hour." "One hour?" Liam said. "Ethan what are you going to tell them? You do not have a wife." Ethan looked at Maya. "I will have one " he said, his voice low. "Maya you are going to marry me."