Chapter 18.

Liam.
"Hey mom, I heard you asked to see me." I greeted, taking a seat beside her and I'm quick to notice that she had a very serious look on her face.
"Yes I did and what I have to say to you is very important son but you may not like what I'm about to tell you," she replied nervously and her tone scares me a little.
"You're scaring me mom, what is it?" I ask worriedly, she sighs.
"As you may have noticed, the fabrics that were used for the upcoming collection cost us a lot including the other expenses and that has taken a toll on us financially…," she said and I chimed in.
"What's the problem mom? Get to the point," I asked impatiently, noticing that the stress lines on her forehead are more visible and her eyes look tired.
"Various shareholders have been complaining about how terrible our financial situation is because they had suggested we use cheaper fabrics for our next collection but you know doing that will only make us lose more buyers and that would be much more detrimental for our company but after a lot of apologizing and buttering up, we were able to calm all of them to be patient with us. All of them except that bastard Garrison,"
"That bastard is so adamant and you know he has always wanted to take over the company. He even threatened to sell his shares to an outsider," she explained and I immediately clench my fists in anger at the thought of Edward Garrison, my father's worst enemy.
He and my dad had several disagreements regarding how to run the company since Garrison was what you'd call a brutal and despicable businessman and his ways of doing things are just risky and dumb.
He's a greedy person but luckily he never had his way in getting more shares cause my dad never allowed it.
"So what's the issue here mom, what does he want?" I asked nonchalantly, believing it's probably the usual.
"He wants to withdraw his shares and sell them cheap to another company which would ruin everything your father and I worked for all these years!" She replied shakily with tears in her eyes and Lord knew, I was furious at this point.
"He can't do that to us!" I yelled to my mom's face but she just sits there on the verge of tears.
"You know if he goes through with that idea, we are finished mom. Not only is the whole of New York gonna ridicule us, we're gonna lose our shareholders to the other company and then what? We'll serve another company in our own company? I'd rather be six feet under than allow that to happen," I blurted out in rage as different images of that misfortune started to play out in my head.
"He gave us a condition Liam and that's exactly where I'm getting at!" She yells a little and urges me to sit back down to listen to what 'conditions' the bastard set up.
"What did he say?" I ask, tapping my palms impatiently.
"He says he won't sell his shares unless you do what he wants," she replies and I hiss.
"I don't recall ever having a proper conversation with that man so what the hell would he want from me?" I wondered out loud, obviously displeased.
"Unfortunately son, he wants you to bear the burden of marrying his daughter Hannah," the minute she voiced out the name Hannah, I cringe in disgust.
Hannah Lucia Garrison is nothing but a waste of space on earth. She's a complete dumbo with nothing but bazillion specs of dust living in that place she calls a brain.
Unfortunately we went out back in eighth grade but that was definitely when my hormones still had developmental issues. I'll admit that yes she's a pretty, hot model, tall with purple hair or sometimes red that made her look normal but she was definitely not normal. She's absolutely crazy.
"You know I'm not gonna agree to that nonsense, right? Hannah and I can never be an item. She's too obnoxious and empty headed for my liking and I have zero interest in her so to wrap it up, he can drive straight to hell with his offer!" I hissed and stood up abruptly, getting ready to leave but her next words stopped me.
"You don't have to marry her!" she yelled and immediately bolted up to stand with me face to face.
Now that I look up at her closely she looks tired, almost like she hasn't slept properly in days and her face looks so pale, it made me feel bad for snapping at her.
"Listen son, you can just pretend to like her for about three months until the new collection is out and Garrison would have no reason to sell his shares. It'd just be like dating another hot model that works for us. It's just that simple my boy!" She explained using her right hand to cup my cheek and I sighed.
As much as I love my mom, I just can not leave Gabriella hanging like that just when things start going well between us.
"I can't do it mom, I'm finally getting together with the girl I like and I can't afford to screw things up with her." I tell her and her face falls immediately like I had just made her feel worse. It wasn't my intention but I'm not gonna give in to her.
"Is it because of her?" She asked suddenly, this time she looked pissed.
"I know you're seeing Rebecca's daughter!" She screamed and I rolled my eyes at her knowing where this was going.
My mom and Gabriella's mom are not exactly what you'd call friends. They've never had any one on one confrontation but according to mom, Rebecca is a snake that pretends to be your friend when it suits her and stabs you in the back when she feels you're no longer useful.
"We're not official yet but I really like her and I think you and I both know that's not the only reason I'm refusing or have you forgotten what Hannah did to Jessie? If Jess finds out you're trying to set us up 'temporarily' I can assure you she'll never speak to you ever again," I reminded her and she scoffed.
"What the hell does your sister know? That brat and I will deal with that issue when the time comes but this is business Liam, and in this business, there's nothing like sympathy and consideration, you either get the job done or you get the hell out!" She snapped harshly, not really surprising me since I already knew how harsh my mom gets especially when it comes to 'business'.
"I'm still not gonna compromise my relationship with Gaby for the sake of the company." I tell her straightforwardly.
"Are you listening to yourself son? Imagine when thirty percent of our company shares get sold and then the rest of them decide to sell theirs too, what's gonna be left of us? "We'll share power with another company and look like fools to the world and all for what? All for that woman who won't face the shame our family will have to face."
"It's just three months Liam, you can ask her to wait for you till it's all done. Mind you, I'm not in support of your relationship with that woman but I'll be quiet on that for now. I just need you to make the right decision for the company's sake. It's what we've been through son, they're sacrifices we make to get what we want so you can't avoid yours!" She hisses and walks out of her room leaving me in a tight corner.
Gabriella.
"What!" Martin screams, immediately glaring daggers at me like I'd just made the worst mistake of my life.
"Why the hell are you staring at me like I grew a horn on my head?" I asked, frowning a little and he slaps his forehead harshly, something he does when I do something wrong but this time I did no wrong.
"When are you finally gonna start using your head to think and not your heart?" He snapped at me and I had to check his temperature to be sure he wasn't delusional or maybe drunk on fruit juice since that's the only thing he has had since I arrived home.
"What's your problem Martin? I tell you the good news and you're talking like I've done something wrong. What the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped at him angrily, earning a dry laugh from him.
"How could you sign papers without the presence of a lawyer or a third party as a witness?" He asks and he seems to have relaxed a bit although he's obviously still angry for no reason.
"So that's it? You're being this dramatic all because I signed the papers in a hurry without consulting you? You're not my father Martin!" I replied harshly and he got up and left without saying another word, leaving me completely stunned and confused.
•••••
Martin.
"Hello," I greeted the receptionist politely and she quickly looked up at me.
"Oh, hello there sir, what can I do for you?" She smiled flirtatiously and I almost rolled my eyes but did otherwise to avoid getting kicked out.
"I'm here to see Miss Gabrielle Johansson, is she available?" I respond very quickly, not very comfortable to be here.
"Sir, you are?" She asks and I contemplate on whether or not I should tell her it's me.
"Tell her it's Martin Deville." I answered back, deciding to just let her know.
"Hold on a second, I'll speak with her secretary to confirm if she's available." She replies and with that, I zone out of her conversation with Elle's secretary that lasted longer than I expected.
"Her office is on…," She's about to describe but I cut her off quickly.
"I'm very well aware of where her office is." I cut her off and immediately walked away from her getting very irritated with how obvious she was being.
I walk straight into Elle's office not bothering to act polite by knocking or whatever since I'm pretty sure she already saw me coming.
"Good afternoon Martin! I see you're still as irritating as ever." She welcomed me with a fake smile on her face and I scoffed at how typical she was being.
"Come up with a new line Gabrielle, the same old nonsense is starting to get irritating and I see you're finally on that seat. The seat you had to steal since you're incapable of earning it on your own. Your sorry self is way too unintelligent to keep up with anything," I hissed back and she frowned, hiding her anger with a fake giggle.
"The only reason I haven't kicked you out yet is because I know you're unfortunately one of my shareholders, isn't that right you fool?" She hissed, wearing her ugly smirk that made me wish she didn't look like my best friend. I knew she'd end up finding out about my shares but I could care less.
"I won't ask you how you found out but if you tell Gabriella anything, I'll make sure you and Elite go straight to hell, you feel me?" I threatened and she started laughing.
"I thought you call her your best friend and yet you go behind her back and buy twenty percent of the company she so dearly wants. Don't you think you're one sneaky bastard Martin Deville?" She questioned with a sly smirk and I rolled my eyes.
"Give me the papers Gabriella signed and be quick about it, I don't have all day!" I spat out, getting straight to the point.
"Did she ask you to come get them?" she asked.
"That is absolutely none of your business. Now give me what I want and stop wasting my time," I replied quickly and she opened her drawers and pulled out some papers, handing them to me.
"Here you go, it's all good and I didn't do anything to harm her. I only wanted to help my sister after all," she added and I had to laugh.
"Gabrielle dear, save that crappy story for Ella and any other fool that would buy that sad tale but not me. I'm not buying it and let me warn you, if anything happens to my friend, I'll kill you. I swear!" I warned her and got up to leave as soon as possible but she stopped me.
"Wait a second, does Gabriella know?" She asked suddenly and I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, observing the amusement in her eyes as it irritates me.
"Don't play dump Martin. I know very well that you're madly in love with my sister or did you think I would not notice?" She says and I deadpan.