His thumb sweeps along my cheek. “It isn’t about that. I can’t muster the desire to put on a fake smile for someone who openly hates my guts. It’s what I’ve been taught to do by my father while he was preparing me to lead our company one day. I never realized how tiring it can be or I’ll get sick of it so soon.”
I relate to him about putting on a front and how taxing it can be, having grown up in the same world. “There is an expiry date to pretending to get along with them.”
“When?”
“Until the next shareholders’ meeting. Once we secure your position, you can work on electing a new board. You must have shares in the company.”
“I have the second most shares after my father.” His jaw tightens as he replies, “Had I gotten married, I would’ve gotten my late grandfather’s shares as per his will, making methe majority shareholder. I never would’ve gotten stuck in this problem.”
“Is this why you became fake-engaged to Iris?” I gasp, making his hand drop and his warmth vanish.
I watch his features grow cold and harsh. A shutter going down like every time I’ve stirred the topic of his ex-fiancée.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re right,” I say, sensing he’d grow more distant if I don’t drop the topic. “I think your best bet is to buy out members who are willing to sell.”
“My father would see it coming from a mile away.”
Rakesh Singhania is the root cause of all the problems in Nathan’s life. My dad is extremely controlling as well, but his takes the cake. Yet again, a burden we have in common.
“There’s another option to stop board members from voting you out.”
“What’s that?” Nathan asks, his intrigue piqued.
“Bring a lucrative deal to the table that they can’t refuse. They don’t really care about the public’s perception of you, except maybe for a few. Ultimately, what they want the most is to increase their wealth. You should invest in something big that’ll shoot up the share prices of Singhania and Sons. I think I read an article mentioning you were working on a merger last year in New York.”
“I was.” He crosses his arms, staring at me looking impressed. “It fell through because I suggested buying the company. Of course, the shareholders turned me down because of my father.”
“Can you negotiate a better deal if they’re still willing to sell?”
“Of course,” he says, his voice ruthless.
“Not everyone is as loyal to your father as you may think. If you could convince four more board members to vote in your favor, your father can’t do anything.”
Nathan mulls my suggestion over, a calculative glint in his eyes, as he weighs the pros and cons. “We will need to be discreet. Last year, my father kept butting in at every turn while I negotiated with them. It was a miracle I got the founder to agree to sell in the first place.”
A sneaky smile creeps up my lips. Nathan takes notice, his heated gaze lingering on my mouth a little too long.
“Don’t worry about him. I’ll keep him distracted,” I say. “I’ll also come up with perfect excuses for you to travel to New York.”
There are tons of charities and events we can attend, so it’ll appear to Rakesh that I am doing it to fix his son’s public image. He won’t have a clue what we’re up to for real.
“As long as it doesn’t involve you being alone with him,” reiterates Nathan in a commanding tone. As if it’s more important to him than the deal.
His protectiveness bursts in my chest with warmth. “Okay.”
Nodding, he moves toward the couch where his jacket is draped. “Sounds like we have a plan.”
“There’s one more thing.” He pauses, gazing up at me expectantly. “I got you a membership at the Royal Oasis Country Club. Sanjay Kelkar is a member there and goes golfing every weekend. You will go and play with him. He can be swayed to vote for you.”
Surprise, then dark amusement, flickers in his gray eyes. “I think you’re phrasing the last sentence wrongly.”
“No. You heard it right.”
“I don’t take orders, angel.”
“That was true till this morning, but no longer is that the case. As your publicist, you will listen to me from time to time when I make decisions that are in your best interest.”
