"How is that even possible? Surely someone would have known, or discovered it by now. And why live such a modest life like how you were when we first met? From the estimated timeline, even then, your company was doing well to an extent. At least enough to live a better life." She said, and he smiled.
"I was trying to lay low at first. I just felt like I didn’t want the disgrace that was wrongfully forced on me to follow me to the new life I started. Then I just got used to the anonymity after moving cities. Back when I was with my family, we were given preferential treatment at almost every place we entered. I was being monitored like an ant under a magnifying glass. And how fast rumours can spread."
’But, you’re still going to be exposed to all of that when everyone finds out your true identity, both for being a Zerdon, and for being Crestview CEO. Or do you plan to conceal your identity forever? If so, then all of this would be harder to explain. People will start to wonder where you got money from and all that. Might make the scrutiny worse actually." She replied.
"Well, it can’t be helped. Because I don’t plan to remain hidden. I will announce my identity soon. But I don’t mind all the negative things that will follow like the lack of privacy, simply because I have you now. Being with you makes everything else more bearable. Plus, I want to flaunt my beautiful wife, and make her the envy of the nation. That can’t happen unless everyone knows they can’t mess with you anymore." He said and she blushed, just as Amaya returned with their refreshments.
"Wow, this is freshly squeezed pineapple juice." She said as she took a sip. "It has no artificial taste. It’s delicious."
"What did you expect? Store bought, artificial flavoured juice? Not anymore. Only the best for my Queen." He chuckled.
"So what now? What’s your plan?" She asked.
"Well, first, we have to legitimise your claim to your family company. Tomorrow, we’ll meet the lawyers, and kick start the process. Your family will obviously protest, but there’s nothing they can do. Everything was legally done. Then I need to visit my family. After all of this, I will reveal my identity to everyone."
"Why hide from your family? Shouldn’t you want to rub it in their faces that despite them not having your back, you succeeded more than they have in business?" She asked with a frown. Check latest chapters at novel•fire.net
"That’s true. But first, I must begin investigating. I need to know for sure which of them was involved in my accident. And through that, I must locate a lost family heirloom."
"The legendary Zerdon family sword. I’m sure you’ve heard of it." He said and she nodded.
"Eveyrone probably has. The sword that slayed the first beast. Most people assume it was just a myth though, because of the magical powers some stories claim it once possessed."
"I keep seeing it in my dreams. I have a feeling it’s important somehow. If not for anything, at least it would prove my innocence. As for magical powers, even if it had them once, it doesn’t now. It’s just a status symbol."
"Wait. Was that what you were falsely accused of stealing?"
"Yes. I have an idea who was responsible for its disappearance, but I need solid proof. If I can find it, and return it to its rightful place, then I’ll clear my name. I know that as soon as I go public with my identity, they will try to use that accusation against me."
"It doesn’t matter. We’ll find a way to clear your name."
The next morning, after getting dressed, they were both driven to work in an expensive Rolls Royce. Alrik had initially wanted to order custom made designer suits for them both, but Eliza advised him not to. At least until he officially announced his identity. Taking a Rolls Royce was a compromise between the both of them.
When they arrived at her family’s company, now hers, they were stopped from entering by armed men. It seemed they had hired new security specifically to keep Alrik and Eliza out of the building. Instead of causing a scene, Alrik immediately called Gaya, and she arranged an impromptu meeting.
When Henry Pratt was informed that executives from Crestview Group were on their way to the company, he immediately ordered Eliza be allowed into the company. He knew the executives would refuse to talk business if Eliza wasn’t there. That was their most important condition. Eliza refused to go in without Alrik, so her grandfather had no choice but to allow her in with Alrik.
Instead of heading to the meeting room, Eliza headed straight for the board room. She knew that the members of the board would have been called already to discuss her new status, and probably plans to kick her out. They already did the work for her. Now she didn’t need to start sending memos for a board meeting since they were already present.
’Ladies and gentlemen of the board, I believe by now you must be aware of the situation. Though, I’m sure my family has spun all sorts of lies against me and my husband, but..."
"Lies? What lies? We all know that those shares were illegally obtained. There’s no other way..."
"Let me speak! I don’t appreciate being so rudely interrupted, Mr Blake." She snapped at the man who had interrupted her, and he huffed.
She already knew he would be one of those who opposed her. He was firmly in her grandfather’s pockets.
"As I was saying, these are just lies. I have documents, duly signed, which prove the legitimacy of the share transfer. It has already been notarised, and my lawyers are downstairs waiting in my car, should there be any problems." As she spoke, she passed the papers round the table for them to read.
They began to murmur among themselves, but none of them spoke up, because they didn’t have a valid argument against her.
"What are you doing in here?" Gregory barged in suddenly. "You’re supposed to be in the other meeting room, waiting for the Crestview Group executives. They’re on their way. We must not lose this partnership."
"I’ll be there soon, father. After all, I’m the reason they’re coming here in the first place. But I needed to make sure things are settled on this end, so I could have everything ready for the meeting."
She yelped as her father suddenly grabbed her arm hard. "Don’t you dare mention a word of this share transfer nonsense to them, else I will..."
Alrik didn’t give him a chance to complete the threat, he immediately stepped forward to free Elisa.
"Get your hands off my wife!"