Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Ambush & Our First Staged Public Kiss
The 50th floor of the Reed Tower in downtown Chicago was a fortress of glass,
steel, and ruthless ambition. When Graham and I stepped out of the private
executive elevator, the entire floor went dead silent.
Forty pairs of eyes swung toward us. Secretaries froze with papers in their
hands; junior vice presidents stared with open mouths. And standing at the end
of the corridor, outside the boardroom doors, was Marcus Reed, flanked by his
high-powered legal team.
Marcus was fifty-five, sharp-featured, and wore an arrogant smirk that made my
skin crawl.
“Graham,” Marcus called out smoothly, stepping forward with his arms spread.
“You’re late. The board has already gathered to execute the transfer of voting
shares. We assumed you were still stuck in Las Vegas dealing with… certain
personnel complications.”
Marcus’s eyes shifted to me, dark and malicious. He clearly expected me to be
behind bars in Nevada, terrified and humiliated.
Instead, Graham slid his hand effortlessly around my waist, pulling me flush
against his side. The warmth of his body was an anchor in the storm.
“No complications, Marcus,” Graham said, his voice ringing through the corridor
with absolute authority. “Just a brief detour to celebrate our marriage.”
A collective gasp echoed across the floor. Marcus’s smirk instantly vanished,
replaced by an ugly, twitching rage.
“Marriage?” Marcus sneered. “This is a pathetic, desperate sham! Avery King is
your secretary! You think the board is going to accept a drive-thru Vegas stunt
as a legitimate fulfillment of your grandfather’s trust?”
Graham didn’t blink. “Avery has been my partner in every sense of the word. And
the legal documents were filed and verified by the Cook County probate court two
hours ago. My fifty-one percent is permanently secured.”
“I don’t buy it for a second,” Marcus snapped, stepping closer, his voice
dropping into a venomous hiss. “You’ve never loved anyone in your miserable
life, Graham. You’re using this little girl to keep your throne. She’s just a
hired body.”
Before I could react, Graham moved.
He cupped the side of my neck with his warm, large hand, tilting my face upward,
and brought his lips down onto mine.
The kiss wasn’t a polite, rehearsed peck. It was commanding, fierce, and
breathless. His fingers tangled gently into my hair, pulling me closer until I
could feel the rapid thump of his heart against my chest. For a terrifying,
intoxicating second, the entire boardroom corridor faded into darkness. My hands
instinctively found their way to the lapels of his suit jacket, gripping the
expensive fabric as I kissed him back.
When Graham finally pulled away, his breathing was slightly uneven, his eyes
blazing with an emotion that looked dangerously real.
He turned his head toward his stunned uncle, his voice dripping with icy
contempt.
“Speak about my wife like that again, Marcus, and I won’t just take your voting
May you like
rights. I’ll strip your name from every foundation in this city. Now get out of
my boardroom.”
