“Burn those who burned me!”

bChapter /b24

-Aaron’s POV:

After the greeting formalities everyone took their seats. There was an awkward pause before Thomas nervously spoke.

“Chairman Michaels, let me ifirst /iisay /iijust /iihow /iihonored /iiI /iam to ifinally /imeet iyou/ii! /iiI /iiappreciate /iiyour /iiholding /iiof /ithis meeting todayi./i”

Aaron looked at Thomas with a slightly smug re, he couldn’t believe Rabena was almost forced to spend the rest of her life with this fool. Listening to him talk was starting to burn his ears.

i“/iI’m also id /iyou were impressed iwith /iproposal-”

Before he could finish, Aaron interjected.

“Well to be honest iMr. /iiLockwood/i, I ididn’t /iihave /iimuch /iiinterest /iiin /iiworking /iiwith /iiyou/ii, /iihowever/i, ithe /iiproposal /iwas iindeed /iimost /iiimpressive/i. iEspecially /iithe /ipart about ithe /iiexpansion /iiusing /iiCrest’s /iireal /iiestate /iidevelopments/ii./ii” /i

That information shocked Thomas, he wasn’t aware Danielle had also incorporated Crest Real Estate into the proposal as well. Aaron noticed the shocked look on his face and concluded that Thomas had not read the proposal.

‘iFool/i.‘

Speaking in a condescending tone, Aaron decided to set the first part of his n in motion.

“Mr. iLockwood/ii, /iiyou /iilook /iias /iiif /iiyou /iiweren’t /iiaware /iiof /ithat, idid /iiyou /inot aid in ithe /icreation of ithis /iiproposal/i?”

Thomas instantly panicked, he knew he should have read that proposal! ‘Why did it to have to be so many pages!‘ Thomas secretly fumed, he couldn’t blow this deal.

“Actuallyi, /iI did assist iin /iits creation, ibut /iiI /iwasn’t aware Danielle ialso /iincluded iher /ifather’s business into iit/i, though I’m not surprised considering-”

Before he could finish, Aaron held up his hand, both he and Vincent had puzzled looks on their faces, though secretly, they both knew who she was,

“I’m sorry Mr. Lockwood, who is Daniellei?/i”

Thomas had both a shocked and confused look on his face. How could they not know who she was, she was the one that set all of this into motion. fne250 Content originallyes from find?novel/fne250

i“/iiForgive /ime Chairman Michaels, did iI /imisunderstand something. It sounds like you asked who Danielle is.”

i“/iiThat’s /iiexactly /iwhat I’m asking. I have no idea iwho /ithat is.”

Thomas began to panic; he wasn’t sure what was going on or why he was ying at not knowing Danielle. Was he trying to back out of the deal?

i“/iChairman is this some type of jokei. /iNow I don’t understand iwhat’s /igoing on, but Danielle doesn’t deserve-”

i“/iiMr. /iLockwood, I assure you I have no iidea /iwho a Danielle is. This proposal was inot /iwritten or presented by

iher/ii./ii” /i

Thomas brows furrowed that was impossible. He’d known for a fact that Danielle was the one that brokered this meeting.

i“/iiChairman/ii, /iplease forgive imy /iconfusion, but I was told iby /iyour iassistant /ithat Ms. Danielle Crest presented a business proposal for a partnership with Lockwood Corp and MGT. Corp.”

Aaron couldn’t help butugh, the fact he thought Danielle Crest would be responsible for brokering a deal between him and Convington’s most elite businessman when his own WIFE was from Convington proved just how ridiculous he and that family were. Aaron scoffed and let out a slight sigh, it was time to wrap this meeting up.

i“/iiMr. /iiLockwood/ii, /iI’m not isure /iwho Danielle Crest is, but ithis /iproposal was created iby /iiRabena /iiCrest/i. iSo /iiperhaps /iiyou /iweren’t ithe /iperson ishe /iwas referring too so there’s no need-”

Thomas held his hands up in a panic. He had no idea Rabena was the one that set this up but suddenly that all made sense. She had studied economics and international business while in college and she was also from Covington. But how did Rabena know Aaron Michaels? There was no way a lowly foster daughter could have been connected to someone like him. Thomas decided to save those questions forter, what was now important was to save this deal.

i“/iChairman iMichaels /iiplease /iiwait /ione minutei! /iiMy /iiapologies /iifor /iibeing /iiignorant/ii! /iI iwasn’t /iiaware /iithat /iiRabena /iiset /iithis /iideal /iiup/ii! /iiShe /iiusually /iidoesn’t /iitake /iiinterest /iiin /iibusiness /iimatters /iiwith /iimy /iipany/ii, /iso iI /iihad /ino iidea/ii./ii” /i

Aaron raised an eyebrow unconvinced. ‘It’s not that you were unaware, you just didn’t care to ask her and thought little of her.‘ Putting on his best corporate smile, both Aaron and Vincent stood up and began to

leaveb. /b

i“/iiWell/i, iI’m /iiafraid /iithis /imeeting ihas /iireached /iiit’s /iiend /iiMr. /iiLockwood/ii, /iiyou /iisee/i, I ionly /iiagreed /ito ithis /imeeting ias /ia icourtesy /iito /iiRabena /iifor creating /iithis /iiproposal/i. biIf /i/biyou’re /ino ilonger /iconnected ito /iiher /iiI /isee no reason to-”

i“/iShe’s my iwife/ibi!/i/bi” /i

The words flew out of Thomas‘ mouth before he could catch himself.

‘iShit/ii! /iiWhy /iidid /iI just isay /iithat/ii! /iIt doesn’t matteri! /iI can’t take it back now and he’s about to leave!” 2

Thomas stared at Aaron in a panic hoping what he said worked. Aaron, with a slight smile on his face turned back around and faced Thomas. Vincent held his head down in an attempt to mask his chuckle.

i“/iiRabena /iiCrest is /iYOUR iwife/ii?/i”

Aaron emphasized on YOUR in an attempt to make sure Thomas rified his lie.

“Yes! We’ve been married for over a year! I’ve known and loved her since she was 15 years old. Our families are actually longtime friends.”

Thomas tried his best to sell his story without revealing any signs of deception. He just needed to close this deal! He’d figure the rest outter.

Aaron couldn’t help but sneer to himself. ‘Just how disgusting are these people.‘ Giving a sardonic smile, Aaron began to speak.

“Hmm. iI /iwasn’t aware iyou /iiwere /iiRabena’s /iihusband/ii, /iso I’ll itell /iiyou /iiwhat /iiLockwood/i. iI’m /iihosting /iimy /iiannual /icharity iauction /iball iin /iiBanton /iithis /iiyear/ii. /iiIt /iitakes /iice /iithis /iing iFriday/ii. /iiI’ll /iisend /iian /iiinvitation /iito /iiyou /iiand /iyour family, iwhy /iidon’t /iyou iall /iie /iand imeet /iiMY /iiwife/i. biIf /i/bishe /iilikes /iithe /iiCEO/ii, /iiwe /iican /iimove /iforward iwith /iithe /iideal/ii./ii” /i

Thomas could hardly believe his luck! All he would have to do was impress Michaels wife and he would broker thergest deal his firm has had since his father! There was no way his cousin Tyler would be able

to beat him now!

Smiling widely, Thomas bowed his head several times thanking Aaron for the invitation. Smiling cooly, Aaron turned with Vincent and began to walk out of the conference room.

“No need to ithank /iime/ii, /iiI /iilook /iiforward /iito /iiseeing /iiyou /iiand /iiyour /ii‘/iiwife/ii‘ /iiat /iithe /iiball/i.i” /i

iThomas /ibPOV/bb: /b

As the doors closed behind them, Thomas’s face went pale. i‘/iiHow /iithe /iihell /iam iI /iisupposed /ito bring my WIFEi, /iwhen iwe’re /idivorcedi!/ii‘ /i

The sudden reality of the situation came crashing down, not only had Danielle lied to him almost causing him this deal, but Rabena was now gone, and they were divorced. Thomas knew he had to think of something fast or risk not only losing this deal but losing his position. He decided he had no choice; it was time to find Rabena, Pulling out his phone, out and called his assistant Andrew.

“Andrew I need you to locate Rabena iASAP/ii!/ii” /i

After barking his orders to Andrew, Thomas decided to head to the Crest Estate, Danielle should be back home by now and she had some exining to do.

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