Chapter 57- David Kingsley
It took a week for the Wentworth group’s stock price to hike up. Luckily, Aaron bought about 30% of the shares and gave them to Tessa and the children. Tessa got 15% while the triplets had 5% shares each.
It was over the weekend when Aaron visited them and gave Tessa the documents. He said, Keep these safe. You are now a major shareholder in the Wentworth group so you need to attend the meeting on Monday. The ones who sold the shares found out I bought them and now they are asking me to sell them back to them at double the price. But I don’t need such. unloyal people. This was a good opportunity to weed out the bad seeds in the company.”
Tessa’s hand felt heavy as she held the legal documents that Aaron gave her. She found herself shaking her head, saying, “Aaron… this is”
“Sshhh. Don’t reject it, please. There’s no reason for me to have so many shares in the company when I have a woman and children to share them with,” Aaron proclaimed.
“I feel bad that I haven’t given you anything so far…” Tessa said, biting her lower lip.
Aaron smiled and claimed, “Your love is all I need. But… if you want to get me something. Buy me boxers. The ones I own have overstayed their welcome.”
Tessa’s face flushed and she averted Aaron’s gaze. She replied, “I’ll get you some when I go shopping for the kids.”
Aaron felt like he was on cloud nine. Excitement crept into him when he thought about Tessa meticulously choosing boxers for him. Could this be what married life feels like? He couldn’t
wait!
He nodded and said, “I’ll be waiting. I love them in black, grey or white.”
“Don’t you need the shareholders who left though? Maybe you should sell the shares back to them,” Tessa suggested after a brief silence.
“Trust me… all I need are the ones who stuck with us when the company was in trouble. You only know who your true friends are when things go down south for you. Tell me, has that stalker contacted you lately?”
Tessa shook her head and responded, “No, they haven’t. But I often feel a chill on my back as if someone is following me. However, when I look back, I don’t see anyone.”
“I think the stalker and the one who hacked into our system are the same person. I’m planning to set a trap for him. We shall catch him and make him pay, I promise,” Aaron declared.
“I hope so. I’m also tired of having bodyguards following me around. But I understand it’s for my safety,” Tessa then glanced at Aaron and said, “I passed through the mall and found that it
was almost ready. They built it really fast.”
Aaron nodded and responded, “Of course. We have the money and the manpower. I can’t wait to see what you do with it. You have the potential to become the most wealthy and powerful woman in the City.”
“I think I’m already wealthy with all these gifts you’ve been showering me with… but I intend to grow my own company and measure my wealth from there first,” Tessa remarked and Aaron nodded, pecking her lips.
He then went ahead to the living room to play with the kids who squealed happily when they saw him.
“Daddy!”
Reagan looked at his father and pouted.
Aaron noticed that his little prince was in a bad mood. He went down on his haunches and asked, “Hey, buddy! What’s wrong?”
“Daddy, aren’t you tired of coming and going all the time?” Reagan asked, stunning Aaron with his question. “I thought you made Mommy forgive you. Why haven’t you come to live with us? Don’t families live together?”
Aaron’s heart clenched. He noticed how Reagan’s eyes were blurry with tears and realised how their current arrangement was affecting the kids. He ruffled Reagan’s hair and said, “It’s because our huge house is not yet ready. In a month, you, your sisters and your mother will live with me in our family villa.”
“Promise?” Reagan said.
“I promise.”
Willa smiled and chimed in, “You have to pinky promise, Daddy.”
Aaron chuckled and locked his pinky finger with Reagan’s, saying, “We will live together soon but I need your help with something.”
He leaned over and whispered in Reagan’s ears, making his eyes light up.
“Wow! Yes, I’ll do it,” Reagan responded excitedly.
He got down from the couch and went into the kitchen where Tessa was cooking and said, Mommy since we are closing school soon, can we spend our holiday at Grandpa’s mansion?”
Tessa glanced at her son. She wasn’t comfortable with being away from her kids but she knew they had to bond with their grandfather and father too. “Ok. But I’ll come to see you regularly.”
“Yay! Thank you, Mommy!” Reagan exclaimed and then rushed back to the living room and gave his father a thumbs up, whispering, “Daddy, she agreed.”
2/5
“Great job, son! High five!” Aaron praised and the father and son did a high five.
“Me too, Daddy. High five!” Willa said and Nia joined in.
The living room was filled with hearty giggles from the kids and Aaron smiled at this. He needed the kids for something he was planning that’s why he asked Reagan to ask his mother if they could spend their holiday with him.
His stomach fluttered when he thought about what he was planning to do.
The weekend ended as quickly as it came. More like in a blink of an eye. The weather was warm and slightly windy.
Aaron alighted from his car, donning a three-piece striped navy suit. He walked around the car and opened the door before sticking his hand forward for Tessa to grab.
“Thank you, babe,” Tessa said, placing her hand in his and getting down from the car.
She was in nude 12 cm pointy stiletto heels and a peach suit. Peach pants and a peach statement -making jacket. There was a white shirt beneath the jacket and her silky hair was pulled into at slick high ponytail.
Aaron smiled and laced their fingers before leading her into the Wentworth company building. The couple immediately grabbed the employees’ attention and they couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
“They make a good couple. Is she escorting him to work now?”
“No. Didn’t you hear? Mr Wentworth made Tessa Hilton one of the major shareholders of the company and now she’s here to attend the meeting.”
“Wow! Some people are just lucky.”
“Or loved. I wish I can meet my own soulmate who would love me like that.”
Tessa tightened her hold on Aaron’s hand after they got into the elevator and he glanced at her, asking, “Are you okay? You don’t need to be nervous. I’m here.”
“I can’t help it… my stomach keeps twisting and knotting. I feel like I’m going for an interview,” Tessa replied.
Aaron laughed and said, “When last did you attend an interview? Are you forgetting you’re your own boss now? Don’t worry… the shareholders don’t bite. And you have the highest shares, second to mine. You have nothing to fear.”
When they arrived at the conference room, the shareholders stood and welcomed Aaron as he led Tessa to sit at the head of the table.
“Mr Wentworth, why is your girlfriend attending the shareholders’ meeting?” One of the
Chapter 57-David Kingsley
shareholders, an old man of Asian descent asked.
Aaron narrowed his eyes at the man who had spoken and responded curtly, “Do you think I’m unreasonable? She’s part of this meeting because she owns 15% of the company’s shares.”
There was a rumble of murmurs among the shareholders but Aaron hit the table with his palm. “If you had sold your shares too, I would have bought them and given them to her.” He then glanced at Nora who was standing by the side and ordered her, “Bring Tessa a cup of hot chocolate. It’s freezing in here.”
Nora clenched her hands into fists and gritted her teeth, anger rippling through her. She glared at Tessa and said silently, ‘Who does she think she is? She was once an assistant just
like me.’
She felt aggrieved that she had to serve someone who was once like her. However, she knew she would deal with her soon with the plan she had in place.
Since Tessa would pay sooner or later, Nora begrudgingly accepted the order, “Yes, Sir.”
Aaron didn’t respond but he glanced at Tessa and winked at her, causing her face to burn.
He had asked Nora to make hot chocolate for Tessa on purpose. He wanted to put her in her place and if she came back to her senses, she might get to keep her job.
The meeting commenced. They talked about the recent crisis that they had faced and thanked Aaron for reacting quickly.
“We stayed because we had faith in your skills to turn things around and you didn’t. disappoint. For that, I would like to invest an additional two billion dollars in the smart TV project I know you’re aiming for something new so it will definitely be a success,” A woman.
in her mid-fifties said.
She was one of the company shareholders who had shares above 5%.
Aaron nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Miss Brown Your investment will be tripled in a few years. Indeed, I decided to design the smart TV myself so it will be one of a kind and very expensive.”
The shareholders at the table all nodded in approval with huge smiles on their faces. They knew expensive products meant more profits for them.
“Well, I guess it’s time we welcomed your woman to the shareholders’ team. Welcome, Miss Hilton,” one of the shareholders remarked and Tessa smiled at him.
“Thank you,” she replied.
“So are you two going to get married soon?” Someone asked and Tessa’s face flushed.
Aaron draped an arm around Tessa’s shoulders and said, “Of course. I’m going to marry her.”
“Have you already proposed? Tell us, Miss Hilton. How did our CEO propose to you?”
Tessa’s blush deepened. She shyly replied, “He hasn’t proposed yet.”
Aaron arched an eyebrow, “Are you complaining that I’m taking too long, love? Will you accept when I propose?”
“I’m not complaining… as for whether I’ll accept or not. Why don’t you find out yourself?” Tessa responded while looking into his eyes.
Aaron’s heart soared as he caught the hints in Tessa’s words. ‘She wants me to propose!’
He smiled, grabbed her hand and kissed the top part, saying, “I’ll surprise you.”
The shareholders cleared their throats. Miss Brown smiled and proposed, “I think that’s our cue to leave-“}
“Wait!” Nora suddenly yelled and everyone turned to look at her. “I don’t think anyone should leave just yet. The CEO of Royal Electronics is having an interview right now and his product looks similar to our new smart TV.”
Aaron frowned and narrowed his eyes at Nora wondering what she was up to. A sense of unease crept into him and settled in his stomach.
Nora quickly set up the TV on the wall and increased the volume.
There was a man speaking to some reporters on the news. He was tall and had chocolate-dark skin with a neat brush cut. The man was none other than David Kingsley, the CEO of Royal Electronics.
Flames of fury danced in Aaron’s eyes when he noticed the product that David was promoting was actually his. He designed that smart Tv. He could recognise it in his sleep!
He hit his palm on the table and yelled, “What the hell is happening here? There’s a mole in the Company?”
Nora smiled inwardly and quickly said. “I don’t think so, sir. How come this happened a few days after Miss Hilton spent time in your office?”
