Chapter 65: Let's Share

Adani's POV

We were heading towards Parriston's Industries and Technology in Ricardo's car.

Upon arrival, we were immediately swarmed with the company's employees and news reporters.

"Mr. Parriston, may I have a word?" several reporters asked as we exited the vehicle. Smoke cleared a path for us to follow until we reached the entrance and entered the building.

Ricardo led me towards the elevator. Getting to the top floor, we exited and walked in the direction of his office where Mrs. Parriston was sorted yelling into her phone.

"I'll call you right back and you better be on that flight!" she finished as we walked into the room.

"You've really done it," Ricardo started. He pulled a chair out for me to sit in but I wanted to remain standing.

"Why are you two here?" Mrs. Parriston asked.

"You know why. I want the company back," he answered.

"You cannot have it back after you quit, Ricardo. This isn't a playground where you can stop playing a game then rejoin when you're bored from the sandbox!"

"Then I'm just going to have to take it from you."

"You and what army?"

"I'm glad that you asked," Ricardo said. Within a few more seconds, a gentleman walked through the doors holding an expensive looking briefcase and a folder in the other hand.

"Mother, let me introduce you to Max
Mc.Kenzie. My bull-shark lawyer."

Mrs. Parriston looked cornered and threatened by the lawyer's introduction. She extended her hand for a shake but was ignored.

"Let's skip the pleasantries and get right into business," Max spoke with authority. He handed a document to Mrs. Parriston, her eyes going wide as she read on.

"This is absurd!" she snapped. She tore into the paper before throwing it at her son, "Am I supposed to believe this?"

"You were too busy with another man to realize dad planned ahead.. and it's a good thing that he did because look at what you did to your own son."

"Ricardo.."

"You don't have a fifty percent say when it comes to this company. Whatever you thought was rolled over to you, it wasn't. Rockett's testimony to Max was heard and her vote would be recasted. Dad's twenty-five percent would be rolled over to Adani."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, Ricardo?!" Mrs. Parriston screamed from across the room. She approached him with lightning speed, "She isn't your wife! She cannot get any shares in this company!"

"Yes. She can," Max corrected, "All we need is her signature. The paperwork is right here."

"You stay out of this!" she barked at him. Max eyed her then handed me a document and a pen.

Mrs. Parriston attempted to snatch it but Ricardo held her at bay. I took that time to glance over the contract and read the highlighted information before signing.

"She knows nothing about this company and you just gave a quarter of it away to her!" she shouted again.

"Mind your throat, Mrs. Parriston," I advised with a smirk.

"You were to leave and get the hell away from my son after I shared The Parristons history with you, you stupid girl!" she yelled again.

"You thought wrong."

"Oh have I, because I'm well aware you're no longer residing at the mansion and your wedding is cancelled."

"Are you also aware that your son loves me and I marry him right here, right now," I responded.

"Would you?" Ricardo asked looking at me with a hopeful smile.

"I wouldn't want to pop that vein on her head," I replied which made Max chuckle.

"I'm here!" a voice said coming into the room. Rockett was present and dressed sharply in a business attire. She walked towards Max who readied another document and a pen. She signed without hesitation.

"I'm still not going to vote in your favor, Ricardo," Mrs. Parriston said as she took in her daughter. Rockett turned towards her with a smirk before it turned into a hiss.

"Mother, that's fine by me because your vote doesn't matter anymore. Matter of fact, you can't vote against me."

"Yes. Yes, I can."

"No. No, you cannot," Max interrupted.

"Why not?" she questioned.

"Your shares have been terminated."

"What! That cannot be!"

"Yes. Dad was very specific. Annually, the shares must be relinquish then restored due to a vote of confidence. This helps gives or take shares away from a holder. That being said, yours have been taken away and it has been given to this woman."

In walked my mom.

My heart warmed as she stood next to me with a satisfying smile.

"Alexis? Tell me you're joking," Mrs. Parriston said with with rage. Her face was tomato red now.

"Hello Corrine," mom greeted. Mrs. Parriston took a step back, throwing her back against the wall to steady herself.

"And now, Rockett, Miss. Prime, my beautiful fianceé and myself is going to relinquish five percent each of our shares, making it twenty.. and we're going to give it to," Ricardo announced then paused. He looked at his mom. She was so much relieved that she stood her straighter, adjusted her suit, put on a smile and stepped towards him.

"We're going to give it to Adonna. Making her an equal shareholder," Ricardo finished.

Mrs. Parriston fell to the floor.

"My own blood!" She cried.

"Mother! Get up and stop embarrassing yourself like this," Rockett said to her, "Now you know what it feels like to have your own blood go against you. Just remember, you threw the first punch."

Adonna walked into the room with a smile and came over to hug me before she and mom signed their documents.

"Miss. Prime and Adonna, a total of five point five million is awaiting to be deposited into your banking accounts. I would also need your signatures for such transactions," Max said to them both. Their eyes popped as they accepted the pens and signed again.

Rockett and Ricardo smiled as mom and Adonna pulled them into hugs.

"Thank you," I said to him.

"It's the least I could do. I spoke with my grandfather and he confirmed what Mother said. I know this doesn't erase history but I hope it's a start of making things better for our families."

"And for the last order of business for the morning. Yay or nay to have Mr. Ricardo Parriston restored as CEO," Max said, "Any Nays?"

No hands went up.

"Yay?"

Every hand went up.

"The yays have it," Max said. He handed Ricardo another document and he signed it with a smile.

"I'll make the announcement and I'll take my leave. Always a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Parriston. Good-day everyone," Max said and took his leave from the office.

Within a minute, cheers erupted outside and the employees filed back into the building and gathered on the ground floor.

"Looks like I have an announcement to make and bonuses to payout," Ricardo said. He kissed my forehead then took his leave. I followed behind him and Adonna and mom behind me. Rockett stayed behind to gather her mother.

Ricardo confirmed he was the CEO again and that the annual payment would reach each employee's account within several hours. When the crowd thinned out because everyone was heading back to their work station, Penelope appeared.

"What the hell is going on here?" she asked.

"You're fired. And you can tell Kaleb the same damn thing," Ricardo told her. She looked like she was slapped in the face but she went away without a word.

"Adani, I love you," he said again and turned towards me.

"And I love you," I responded.

"Do you still need some time to process?" he asked.

"I do but I can promise you one thing."

"What's that?"

"I'll be coming back to you," I answered. I grabbed and pulled him into a kiss. Some employees cheered and clapped as our lips met and the kiss deepened.

"You wouldn't be kissing for long," Mrs. Parriston said. She appeared behind us looking a mess.

"What is your problem now?" mom asked her.

"Those shares would have to be split again," Mrs. Parriston said with a chuckle.

"You're not getting any," Ricardo said.

"Oh, they're not for me, Ricky. They're for him."

We looked towards the entrance. Penelope stood there, looking tall. Directly in front of her, stood a little boy.

"Ricardo. Meet little Ricci. Your son."