Chapter 4 4

CHAPTER 4

Belle walked into the office, still reeling from her lunch date with Adam. Emma looked up from her desk, a curious expression on her face.

"Soooooo, how did it go?" Emma asked, raising an eyebrow.

Belle sighed, flopping down into her chair. "It was more of an intense meeting compared to a date."

"An intense meeting? Tell me everything." Emma replied curiously.

Belle hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Emma's eager expression put her at ease, and she launched into a detailed account of her lunch date with Adam.

Emma listened intently, her expression growing increasingly skeptical. When Belle finished speaking, Emma shook her head.

"So in summary, a random guy is offering to get married to you in exchange for 25% of the company's shares, and on the condition that you guys will sign a contract since it's a loveless marriage?"

"Correct."

"Please tell me you are not considering accepting that offer?"

"I am Emma, it's the only way."

"Belle, you can't be serious," Emma said, her voice laced with concern. "You're considering marrying a stranger just to keep your job?"

"Keep my job? No Emma. I'm doing this to protect my parent's company, my parent's sweat; or the company ends up getting in greedy hands."

"There has to be another way, this is just madness. Your parents wouldn't want you to do this, you know."

Belle nodded, "I know it sounds crazy Emma, but I don't have a lot of other options. And Adam's offer is...tempting."

Emma's eyes widened in horror. "Tempting? Belle, he's asking you to give up 25% of your company's shares! And marry him, just like that!"

"It's not that bad Emma"

"It is! Even major stakeholders who have worked for the company tirelessly for years alongside your parents have at most 5%! And you want to give out 25% just like that?"

Belle shrugged, trying to downplay the risks. "I know it's a lot to ask Emma, but I really don't have a lot of other choices. And Adam seems...confident. Like he knows what he's doing."

"Wait a minute, I thought Adam was a successful businessman; so why is he after the Bailison group."

"He basically just wants more for himself, nothing serious." Belle explained

"Wow Belle! So the same company you are preventing from falling into greedy hands is the same one you are offering to another on a platter of gold."

"It's not the same thing. And Incase you've forgotten, I'm your boss and my decision stands."

Emma shook her head, her expression unyielding. "I don't trust him. And I don't think you should either."

Belle sighed, feeling a sense of frustration. Why couldn't Emma just understand her perspective?

"Anyways, I think my mind is made up. We have a wedding to plan and it's in two days."

* * * * * *

Adam sat in his dimly lit office, sipping a glass of scotch as he stared out the window. He has just gotten a text from Belle confirming her agreement to the contract, and he couldn't help but feel satisfied.

He had gotten what he wanted, and now it was time to put his plan into action. Adam had a hidden agenda, one that he has been working towards for years.

"Bruno," he called out from his office.

"Yes boss" one of his men responded while rushing to his desk.

"My wedding is in two days, send as much help as possible to the Bailison group to offer assistance."

"What? Wedding?" Bruno asked, looking confused.

"Do as I say." Adam commanded. "And tell Rufus to report to my office immediately."

"Yes boss."

Rufus was Adam's secretary, confidant, and the only person who knew how much he had been hunting down Belle's parents and company for the past ten years.

As Adam sat in his office, he couldn't help but think about his past. He had grown up struggling, the son of a former senior staff at Bailison group who was murdered unjustly for reasons he doesn't know till date.

"Good evening boss, you called me." Rufus greeted, distracting Adam's thought.

"Have you gone through the email I sent you?"

"A contract marriage? 25% shares? May I ask why you are going this far, boss?" Rufus queried out of concern.

"When did you start questioning my decisions Rufus?"

"I thought you were just after her parents, I'm really wondering why you are going after her."

"Have I ever told you the story of how I lost my dad?"

"No sir, but if it solves my curiosity then I don't mind hearing it."

"My dad was the first secretary to Reginald Bailison. He was one of those members of staff who had watched the company grow from scratch."

"Your father worked for the Bailison group? You've never mentioned it."

"He worked tirelessly day and night by the side of Reginald, one would think he was the co-owner of the company but he was just doing his job righteously."

At this point, Adam and Rufus were both seated. Rufus was paying rapt attention; curious of what made Adam this way.

"My dad worked to the point that he started neglecting his duties as a father just to please his boss. I didn't take offense, I understood perfectly and even supported my dad; after all we were both living a perfect life thanks to his job."

"But he ended up getting fired?" Rufus queried.

"He ended up getting killed, Rufus. I still remember that day like it was this morning. My dad was preparing for work and I was preparing for school; suddenly, within 80 seconds, two masked men barged into the house and shot my dad with a silent gun. 7:06am, 10th of July, 1999; still feels like a dream." Adam explained calmly.

"Wow! Your dad was murdered? I'm shocked to be honest. But I still don't see how it correlates with the Bailison group."

"One of those men had the Bailison group tag. They didn't see me cause I was upstairs, but I saw them clearly. It happened so fast that I couldn't even utter a word, I was just feeling shock all over my body."

"And I'm guessing you didn't mention the tag to the police."

"I was scared, Rufus, I was so scared that they would come for me if I ever mentioned it. You happen to be the first person and probably the last person I'm telling this to." He chuckled.

"Adam..." Rufus called out, trying to comfort him.

"I was just 7 years old. I basically grew up from one relative's house to another. All those years, all I knew was that the Bailison group ordered that murder and I was going to pay them back." Adam concluded.

"So why does it have to affect Belle?"

"The company was after my father but it affected me unknowingly to them.That's the same way I'm going after the company, and it's going to affect Belle but I don't really give a fuck. I'm not after Belle, I'm after the company. But the only way to get that is by going through her."

Rufus couldn't help but agree with his boss. Adam had made his intentions clear to him and he felt satisfied with Adam's plan.

"Message understood sir. What do you want me to do for you?"