“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 170

**Chapter 42: January 5th.**

The new year was finally here and the day of House Delgato’s designing contest had now arrived. The day before, Harold and Christian held a meeting with the board and staff. As of lately, Christian and Harlod felt the board was being distant. Christian couldn’t help but feel it was because his father signed over thirty percent of the company’s shares to Watts-Corp.

*“You did what!!!”*

Board member Preston exclaimed as he slammed the documents onto the table. Harold held an immediate meeting after signing the contracts and swapping shares with James Watson.

*“Harold….just what the hell were you thinking??”*

Harlod looked annoyed, he couldn’t understand why the board was against this.

*“Maybe you all missed the point where I said we now own thirty percent of Watts-Corp; or the fact that we will be in business with both them and HD!”*

Harold’s voice began to raise as he fumed at the board. How could they be against this merger.

*“But Harlod…you don’t have the deal yet with either Delgato or Watts. What good is having shares going to do? James Watson only owns ten percent in shares at Watts-Corp. It wasn’t a loss for him anyway.”*

Another board member Hughes stated.

*“Yeah Harlod, I’m confused….you just coughed up majority of your shares. Watson now owns more shares than you. Aren’t you afraid they could try and pull rank?”*

Board member Thompson stated. Harlod looked at his board with a puzzled expression.

*“How would they ‘pull rank’. Even with Watts-Corp having thirty percent, Collectively we all still have seventy percent. Unless you’re trying to tell me something Thompson.”*

Thompson’s face began to pale, before he could answer, however, Preston responded.

*“We don’t have seventy percent Harold. We have forty-nine. The other twenty-one is owned by EBC. We don’t even know who they really are.”*

The board members all began to look around. two months ago the company was hemorrhaging equity and funds, before the financial situation became critical; the board agreed to sell twenty-one percent of the company’s shares which was purchased by an LLC called EBC for 100 million dollars.

*“Oh yes, that’s true…EBC now owns twenty-one percent.”*

Hughes chimed in agreement.

Harlod’s eyes widen in frustration; the board was starting to piss him off! Who were they to tell him what he could or could not do with HIS company!

*“EBC hasn’t been to a single board meeting! And even if they did have any objections, I would out rule them! I still have over twenty-five percent shares!”*

The board members all sat quietly, it was true, despite selling thirty percent; Harold still owned the largest amount out of the entire board.

*“Christian, you’ve been awfully quiet. How do you feel about all of this.”*

Preston asked as he looked in Christian's direction. Harold’s eyes darkened as he looked at his son; since the share swap, Christian had been extremely short with Harold. He was still angry his father made that rash decision without consulting him OR the board first. Christian lowered his hands; his words calculated.

*“While I appreciate everyone’s concerns; the deal is done. All we can do now is move forward. The competition will be here soon, after Vanessa wins, in addition to signing on with HD, we’ll be in business with Watts-Corp. Let’s make that the prime focus.”*

The board members all looked around, hesitation in their eyes; but Christian was right. What choice did they have; Harold had already sold the shares. After nodding in agreement, the meeting came to an end. As the board began to leave, Preston stopped and turned towards Harold.

*“You know Taylor, for you sake….you better hope EBC never joins forces with Watts-Corp.”*

Harold was seething! The board now had doubts and the only thing that was keeping him as Chairman was the fact that he still had the larger percentage. They would need to win this competition and finalize this merger quickly before they lose the entire board’s support. Now, one day before the competition, Harold decided to hold a meeting.

*“As you all know, House Delgato will be hosting their designing competition tomorrow. I’m proud to say that my beautiful daughter Vanessa will be entering as HT-Corps representative, and I know she’ll be bringing home the gold!”*

The rooms began to clap as Vanessa beamed with pride. As everyone clapped and cheered, board member Preston stood in silence.

*“You seem to be very sure about your daughter winning this competition.”*

Harold’s eyes cut over to Preston. He was getting fed up with Preston constantly challenging him. Smiling smugly, Harold responded.

*“I have no reason not to think she wouldn’t. There isn’t a designer in this entire region more talented than my Vanessa.”*

Vanessa smiled over at Preston with triumph and smugness in her eyes. Over the past few weeks, she’d learned about the trouble he had been making for her father.

*“Really? Not even that Elizabeth Bowen person?”*

The entire room fell silent. Everyone knew how popular Bowen had become amongst the designer and architectural world recently. And although no one had the pleasure of personally meeting her; the work she’d produced so far spoke volumes. Harold however sneered,

*“I don’t give a shit about Elizabeth Bowen! As far as I’m concerned, she’s a phantom! My daughter is ten times the designer she is! So much so, Watts-Corp was willing to make her their head designer! That's why we're included in the merger!”*

The entire room began to gasp!

*“Wait…is THAT why James Watson offered the thirty percent trade?!”*

Board member Thompson asked as his eyes widen in shock.

*“Harold you never told us he sought Vanessa out personally!”*

Board member Hughes exclaimed! Hearing Vanessa had been personally sought after by Watts-Corp certainly made a difference in their concerns regarding the shares.

*“Why the hell did you hide that piece of information Harold!”*

Thompson gleefully patted Harold’s back. Feeling smug, Harold cut his eyes back over to Preston.

*“Well, I’d originally planned on telling you all that day at the meeting. However, you all seemed to share Board member Preston’s clouds of doubt.”*

The room fell silent. Nervously, Hughes tried his best to backpaddle.

*“W-Well I wouldn’t say doubts per say….more like understandable concerns.”*

Harold smiled sardonically.

*“Understandable concerns. That’s a polite way of saying you doubted your chairman.”*

Hughes along with the other board members began to look around the room nervously. Board member Preston however looked amused.

*“You’ll forgive me Chairman for not doing a complete 180 like the rest of the members. I’ll have to reserve my feelings on the matter after the contracts are signed.”*

*“Well…how could she lose! If House Delgato is already in business with Watts-Corps and WC had decided to hire Vanessa as their top designer….I don’t see how she would lose….right?”*

Hughes asked as he looked at Preston nervously.

*“I haven’t heard anything regarding a merge between HD and WC. All we have is Chairman Taylor’s word on that matter.”*

Harlod felt like he was chewing crushed glass! Christian responded next.

*“It would stand to reason that they would wait until after the competition to announce the merge. Otherwise, everyone would accuse the competition of being rigged.”*

*“Perhaps. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”*

Harlod began to seethe; he was tired of Preston’s antics!

*“You know boardman…perhaps after this competition and merger I should make some changes in my board members. I can’t have people on my team that distrust me as their chairman.”*

Preston smiled smugly.

*“I agree chairman. I look forward to working with a chairman that shares the best interest of this company.”*

With that, Boardman Preston exited the room leaving Harlod fuming. As everyone else left, Christian closed the door leaving just him, his siblings and father in the conference room. Jamie spoke first.

*“What the hell was that about?”*

Christian looked at his brother with slight annoyance.

*“The board still has reservations bout this whole merger situation.”*

Harold looked at Christian with pure venom in his eyes.

*“And what of my son? Do YOU also have reservation?”*

Christian looked Harold directly in the eyes.

*“As president of this company…yes.”*

Both Vanessa and Jamie’s eyes widen with shock. Never had Christian gone against their father in regards to business decisions. Harold was furious!

*“Got dammit Chris! Even now you still have doubts-”*

*“I can’t get excited about a deal we DO NOT have yet! Dad…I know you don’t want to hear this…but something is wrong with this deal! I think James Watson is trying to use us to take over his nephew’s company!”*

*“So what if he is! That’s the business world! Why should it matter-”*

*“Because you gave him thirty percent of OUR company! If things go wrong-”*

*“They won’t!!!”*

*“Why…because you-”*

*“Because I fucking said so!”*

Furious, Harlod slammed the blueprints down onto the table.

*“Now you listen to me Christian! You’re never going to make it in this business world if you don’t know how to take control and take risks! What I’m doing….it’s for the best of the company!”*

Christian looked at his father. All his life, he’d blindly followed this man. Idolizing him as one of the greatest businessmen he’d ever seen. Shrewd, calculating, and top business acumen. Christian felt his father had it all. Right now however; all he could see is a man too arrogant to see the errors of his haste decision making.

*“Well….for the sake of this company. I certainly hope you’re right Chairman.”*

With that, Christian also left the conference room leaving Harold beyond irritated. Turning to Vanessa, Harold handed her the blueprints off the table.

*“Vanessa….now is not the time to prove your father wrong. Make every decision I’ve made for you including sending your sister to prison for your crimes worth it! You owe me that.”*

Harold walked out of the room back to his office. He couldn’t help but think about Josie at this moment; wondering what position she might have played in the company had he not ruined her entire life. Vanessa HAD to be worth it! It was no longer a choice! He’d already sacrificed too much.

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Now, the day of the competition was finally here. Harold would make sure no matter what; Vanessa would come out victorious!