Chapter 10 10

The sleek, glass-encased boardroom buzzed with anticipation as the morning sun poured through floor-to ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on the polished mahogany table. Ethan Hatton stood at the head of the room, his charcoal gray suit crisply tailored to perfection and a shield against the brewing chaos, exuding an air of confidence, yet his heart fluttered with nervousness. Before him sat a group of potential investors, with their eyes sharp and calculating, their expressions guarded.

Their presence alone commanded respect, an assembly of power and wealth that Ethan had been associated with all his life. He stared at them, although his eyes were fixed anywhere but them. He knew he had to bag this deal, he knew that securing their financial backing would bring Hatton Tech startup to unimaginable heights and he needed to be the brain behind it, but their terms were far more intricate than he needed them to be. The room fell into a hushed silence as the lead investor, Mr. Thompson, leaned forward, his piercing gaze locked onto Ethan's. A wry smile played at the corners of his mouth, betraying the weight of the proposition he was about to present.

"Ethan" Mr. Thompson began, his voice carrying an air of authority "We recognize your potential, your vision and your undeniable talent. But we've been through this before, we usually require a certain level of commitment from our partners" A ripple of anticipation coursed through the room as Mr. Thompson's gaze locked onto Ethan's. "Marriage, Ethan. We believe that personal stability and commitment are integral to success in the business world. Until you are married, we cannot fully commit our resources to your venture" The weight of their demand settled heavily upon Ethan's shoulder, but that was why he had called the meeting, to possibly sway their minds away from wedding and focus on the brilliant ideas of Hatton Tech. The room fell into a pregnant silence as Ethan grappled with the words. The investors watched him intently, their eyes searching for signs of acquiescence or defiance but Ethan kept is expressions neutral, although his mind raced. He looked expectantly into their eyes and spoke, his voice tinged with a mix of determination and trepidation

"Gentlemen, I appreciate your belief in my potential. I understand the value of personal stability, but I cannot rush into something as profound as marriage solely for the sake of business. I need time to find a partner who shares my dreams and aspirations"

"Ethan, we appreciate your dedication and the potential of your venture. However, our commitment remains contingent upon your marital status" Ethan's jaw tightened, his eyes darting to the window as he caught a glimpse of an approaching storm. He had hoped that his passion and expertise would be enough to secure the necessary funding, but their demand for matrimony kept throwing a wrench on his plans. He squared his shoulders, mustering the strength to respond.

"Gentlemen, I understand the importance of personal stability, but my focus lies solely on the success of my business. Marriage should not be a prerequisite for financial support" A murmur rumbled through the room, but before Ethan could further assert his position, the door swung open with a force that startled even the most composed of them.

Standing in the doorway, his eyes smoldering with an unsettling mix of anger and bitterness was Ethan's brother, Jackson Hatton. Jackson was dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, exuding an air of calculated refinement. His stoic expression concealed a deep-seated resentment that had been festering over Ethan's statement that he had overhead. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he locked eyes with his brother, a mixture of apprehension and confusion clouding his features. What was Jackson doing here? Jackson was not one to be found in these kind of settings, he had shown no interest in the family's business, so why now of all times?

"Apologies for the interruption, gentlemen" Jackson sneered, he had a sly smirk on his face, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to witness firsthand the spectacle my dear brother's desperate attempts to secure your precious investment" The room suddenly fell into an uneasy silence as the investors regarded Jackson with a mixture of curiosity and caution. "As most of you should know, I'm Jackson Hatton, the youngest Hatton son" Ethan's jaw tightened, a mix of anger and apprehension coursing through his veins. "What the hell do you think you're doing Jackson?" he whispered to him, "What do you think?" Jackson stared him down "I'm doing exactly what children do brother" Jackson moved past him, his movements deliberate. He took a seat with an air of entitlement, his eyes never leaving Ethan's

"Gentlemen, I must apologize for the disruption once again. My intention is simply to shed some light on the true nature of my brother's character"

"Jackson, this is neither the time nor the place for your silly games. This is an important business meeting" Jackson dismissed Ethan with a dismissive wave of his hand "This is not a game. You see, these esteemed investors need to know the truth about your past failures in fumbling contract deals" The investors leaned forward, their expressions a blend of intrigue and incredulity. They were accustomed to dealing with high-stakes situations, but the brewing familial conflict added an unexpected layer of complexity.

"Jackson!" Ethan warned, his voiced laced with venom but Jackson ignored him turning back to the team of investors "Lest I remind how Ethan here fumbled a thirty billion dollar contract so who's to say he's not going to fumble yours" In that moment, Ethan charged towards Jackson pulling him up by the arm and dragging him out of the board room

"Excuse me gentlemen, just a moment please" he said to the team of investors before pulling Jackson out.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Jackson, what is wrong with you" Ethan yelled, shoving Jackson by the shoulder "Huh? What was that all about? Shouldn't you be gallivanting somewhere instead of trying to ruin my life"

"See that's the problem Ethan, you're always looking down on me. You don't think I'm good enough for anything especially the company" Jackson retorted, the look of anger and resentment etched on his face.

"When you pull stunts like this, I think that's a pretty valid conclusion" Ethan told him. "Oh you think you're so high and mighty Ethan?"

"What the hell are you on about Jackson? Look kid, I don't know what sort of resentment you're building within yourself but I don't have time for this, I have to go back in there and repair the damage you just caused. Go home or whatever it is you spend your day doing" Ethan said turning to leave when Jackson's words stopped him halfway. "I'm going to ruin you Ethan, every single thing you sweat to achieve, I'm going to take it all in the blink of an eye" his voiced laced with venom and his eyes darkening in anger Ethan mouth fell open in a bid to say something but no words, but then his phone buzzed in his pockets and only important messages got through during a meeting. He fished his phone out to view the message and his mouth fell open instantly. Damn!!