“I could say the same,” I reply smoothly. “But then again, snakes always turn up after the dust settles.”
She flushes, but keeps her tone amicable. “Aiden, I hope we can work together civilly from here on out. For the company’s sake.”
Aiden wraps his arm around my waist. “I’m not working with you, Diana. I’m leaving this company in your hands. Have fun.”
“Charming,” she says, trying to hide her smirk. “Well, as CEO?—”
“ActingCEO,” I interrupt, stepping forward. “Let’s not pretend it’s permanent. Because, as one of the largest shareholders, I will see to it that your time here is cut short.”
“What?” The irritation mingled with panic in her tone is all things beautiful.
Aiden glances at me, amused, impressed. “Mia?—”
“You got this job by manipulating people and crawling over the man who built this place.” I look Diana dead in the eye. “You may have won today, but don’t get comfortable. I’ll make sure your reign is as short as it is undeserved.”
“You don’t have that kind of power,” she scoffs.
“Oh, she does.” Aiden pulls me to him, my back against his chest. He rests his chin on my shoulder. It’s decidedly unprofessional, but he’s not employed here anymore, so who gives a crap?
“Between Aiden and I, we own half of Winter Financial.”
Katya walked me through everything, and even forced me to read a couple of the annual reports. Apparently, I have to learn about money so I can protect mine.
Like I care!
“And it doesn’t matter what it costs—you won’t stay here for very long,” I warn.
She doesn’t know if I’m bluffing.
Hell,Idon’t know if I’m bluffing.
But I’m furious at what Nelson and Diana have done to Aiden. He sacrificed so much to make this company profitable, and now they’re kickinghimout.
The gall.
Just then, Nelson appears in the doorway. His scowl could curdle milk.
“Your soon-to-be ex-office is very popular,” I remark sarcastically.
Aiden goes stiff, but he doesn’t let go of me.
This is the betrayal that stings the most. I know it. He may be done with his family, but he still expected better from his father.
“You’re still here?” he asks Aiden, disdain dripping from every word.
“Nelson, how are you? Probably not great.” I pull away from Aiden. “Considering you just fired the one person who fixed all your fuck ups.”
I hear Aiden’s low chuckle. “Slow down, tiger.”
“Nelson, you’re a piece of work,” I say emphatically, ignoring Aiden. “You used your son like a pawn for your ambition. You sacrificed his marriage, his well-being, and his sanity just to keep control. But he’s free now. And I promise you—sooner or later, Winter Financial will be free of you, too.”
“You think owning shares makes you powerful?” Nelson sneers.
“Yes.”
“Aiden,get outand take your bitch with you.”
Oh, hell no.
