Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
We have Mr Vincent, our French silent investor with eleven per cent of the shares. We only met him a few times at the beginning but never after that. He’s a private man and barely comes to England anymore. We could offer him more of our shares for investment, but Layla and I are leaving that as a last resort. She and I own forty-five per cent each and we already used twenty per cent each to cover our last loan.
Sweat covers my back, gluing my shirt to my skin, and there’s nothing I can do to make it stop. It’s like my body is being pushed back to that flight or fight mode.
No. This is different. I’ll never go back to those times.
“I must say.” Ethan neatly closes Layla’s organised plan. “I’m impressed. And I’m rarely impressed.”
Both Layla and I release a breath at the same time.
“Thank you.” Layla smiles.
“I’m kind of surprised Agnus here didn’t snatch you as soon as you were out of university. He gathered the best of the best in our marketing department, and they could use a tip or two from you.”
Layla grins. “That’s because I’d already started my own company.”
“My miss.” Agnus nods.
“Aurora.” Ethan faces me.
“Yes?”
“I believe the two of you complement each other really well. The designs are unique and Layla needs to get out of the box to find your special customers.”
“I believe so, yes.” That’s why Layla and I rarely have any disagreements. We’re not rivals; we complete each other.
“Let me ask you something.” Ethan stares between the two of us. “What made you start designing watches?”
I could give him the generic answer I always give. Like how it’s my passion and my art, and while it is, that’s not the entire truth.
Ethan is the type who can detect a lie and I don’t want to seem dishonest in front of him at such a sensitive time. He might take it as disrespect and that’s the last thing I want. So I go the vulnerable route.
Because the situation we’re in requires we become vulnerable. “When I was a child, my sister bought me a present. My first watch. I loved it so much, and since I didn’t have such pretty things, I hid it and studied it at night when I was about to go to sleep. Then I started thinking about how it was made and why it was made like that. It became my passion, and over time, I realised that was what I wanted to do.
“Whenever I sit down to design, I recall the awe I felt when I looked at my first watch. I recall my sister and the happiness she brought me, and I strive to recreate that sensation. I want people to feel happy when they receive one of my watches.”
“The art of time,” Agnus recites our slogan.
“Exactly.”
Layla touches my arm and I smile, trying not to get caught up in the memories.
“Your sister is…” Ethan trails off. “Alicia, I suppose.”
My eyes widen. He knows, too? “But…how?”
“It wasn’t that hard. Except for the eye colour, you’re a carbon copy of her, Aurora.”
I knew Ethan and Jonathan shared a history, a bloody one at that, but I never thought Ethan was an acquaintance of Alicia’s.
Everything starts to fall into place. My gaze trails to Agnus. “Is that why you approached me?”
“I’d say we approached each other.” Agnus remains completely unaffected.
Layla and I exchange a worried glance before I focus back on Ethan. “Does this mean you never intended to invest?”
“I have thought about it. I believe that your company can have a bright future.”
“Really?” Layla and I say at the same time.
“Absolutely. I’ll pay the bank’s debt and provide a budget to boost the new product’s launch. Agnus will send you the contract and details about how we perceive our partnership.” He stands. “Until then.”
A wide grin curves my lips as I shake his hand. “Thank you so much.”
“We won’t disappoint you.” Layla shakes his hand next.
“I have no doubt.”
I clear my throat. “Would you have invested if you hadn’t figured out I’m related to Alicia?”
Layla pokes me in a reprimanding kind of way. I know what she’s thinking — that we already got the deal, so why bother ask that? However, I need to know. Call it my worth or pride or whatever.
“Probably, but it would’ve been too late by the time your file landed on my desk. Let’s say your acquaintance with Alicia, and also with Jonathan, quickened the process.”
“Jonathan?” I ask low. What does he have to do with this?
It’s taken me everything not to think about him today. There’s always that small voice in my mind telling me I poked the lion and he’ll come after me.
I know it’s paranoia, but I can’t stop thinking about it.
Damn him. I was doing just fine before meeting him again. Which was my fault for barging into his son’s wedding, but it’s not like I had a choice.