His Dangerous Love On Ice Chapter 107: Olive's Pov

"I've tried to accept him into your life," Grayson said quietly. "Just because of you. That was why I didn't want any corporation with them in the first place. But I did it. I partnered with Mercer Company because you asked me to. Because I thought maybe—maybe—Zane was different from his father."

He laughed bitterly. "And now look. They're taking my company. Just like Gary took my career. History repeating itself."

"Can you stop them?" I asked, my voice small. "Make a counteroffer?"

"I'm trying," Grayson said. "But I'm limited in what I can offer. And whoever's behind this has significantly deeper pockets than I do."

There was a knock on the door and Margaret poked her head in.

"Sir," she said. "The board members are here."

"Send them in," Grayson said, and I nodded at him, trying to look supportive even though I felt like I was drowning.

Three men walked in—older, distinguished, wearing expensive suits and carefully neutral expressions.

I recognized all of them. Board members who'd been with Hopkins since the beginning.

"Gentlemen," Grayson said. "Thank you for coming. I assume you know why you're here."

"We do," one of them said. Richard Holbrook. Old money, conservative, always the first to question any decision Grayson made, he gave me a brief glance before returning his gaze back at Grayson, but I didn’t fail to notice how his brows tightened when he looked at me.

"And I'll save you the trouble of a speech. We've made our decision."

My heart sank.

"You're selling," Grayson said flatly.

"Two of us are," Richard confirmed. "Myself and Bennett. We received offers we simply can't refuse. The kind of money that sets up our families for generations."

"And you?" Grayson asked the third man. Leonardo Romano. Younger than the others, more progressive, Italian heritage, usually allied with Grayson on votes.

"I'm not selling," Leonardo said, his accent slight but present. "But I wanted to be here to tell you in person that you're in trouble. With just two sales, you lose majority control. And I think—" He hesitated. "I think this is personal. I think someone's targeting you specifically."

"Do you know who?" I asked before I could stop myself.

All three men looked at me, surprised I'd spoken.

"No," Leonardo said. "But the offers came with a message. Nothing specific. Just a suggestion that this was about 'correcting past mistakes' and 'restoring proper leadership.'"

Correcting past mistakes. Just like Grayson's framing ten years ago.

"What the hell does that mean?" Grayson demanded, though I could tell he understood exactly what it meant.

"I don't know," Leonardo admitted. "But it sounds like revenge. Like someone you crossed is coming back to settle a score."

Grayson's expression darkened, throwing me a recognition look that said everything.

Gary Mercer. William. Whatever he called himself.

This was his revenge. Ten years late but perfectly timed.

"When does the sale finalize?" Grayson asked Richard and Bennett.

"End of the week," Richard said. "We're giving you advance notice as a courtesy. So you can... prepare."

"How generous," Grayson said bitterly.

The three men left, and Grayson sank into his chair, looking defeated in a way I'd never seen him before.

"There has to be something we can do," I said.

"There isn't," Grayson said. "Not unless I can find out who's behind this and why. And even then, I'm not sure it would matter. Money talks. And whoever this is has more money than I can compete with."

My phone buzzed. I ignored it.

It buzzed again. Insistent.

I pulled it out and saw Brenda's name.

Brenda: EMERGENCY. Get to my desk NOW. Something's happening.

I stood up, shocked and wondering why she was in office on a Saturday. "I have to go. Something's wrong with Brenda."

"Go," Grayson said tiredly. "We'll figure this out later. Or we won't. Either way, there's nothing more to be done today."

I left his office and practically ran to Brenda's desk.

She was staring at her computer screen, her face pale.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Look," she said, turning the screen toward me.

It was an email. From an unknown sender. Sent to every single employee in the company.

Subject: THE TRUTH ABOUT HOPKINS ENTERPRISE

Body: Want to know why your CEO is really losing his company? Want to know what he did ten years ago that's coming back to haunt him? Check your stock portfolios. Check the insider trading records. Check how many times Grayson Sinclair has manipulated markets for personal gain. This is just the beginning. More revelations coming soon.

"Oh my god," I breathed.

But I knew it was a lie. Grayson hadn't manipulated anything. This was just more of the same—framing him, destroying his reputation, using lies to take what was his.

Just like ten years ago.

"It gets worse," Brenda said, pulling up another screen. "Look at the stock price."

Hopkins Enterprise stock was plummeting. Down fifteen percent in the past hour alone.

"Someone's attacking us," I said. "Systematically destroying the company from the inside out."

"Who would do this?" Brenda asked.

I knew exactly who.

William Mercer. Gary. Whatever the fuck he called himself.

The man who'd destroyed Grayson's life once before was doing it again.

And this time, I was caught in the middle.

"I need to go," I said suddenly.

"Where?" Brenda asked.

"To fix this," I said. "To find out the truth. To do whatever it takes to save this company."

Because Grayson had sacrificed everything to build Hopkins Enterprise from the ashes of his destroyed career.

And I wasn't going to let the Mercers take it from him.

Not without a fight.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the elevator, my mind racing.

I knew I needed to speak to one person.

One person I detest but have been in my mind ever since this chaos.

Zane Mercer.

I needed to know if he was part of this or if his father was acting alone.

Needed to know if the man I'd fallen for was capable of this level of cruelty.

But I couldn't call him from here. Couldn't have this conversation with Brenda or Grayson or anyone else listening.

I needed somewhere private.

Somewhere I could think.

Somewhere I could decide what the hell I was going to do next.

And if calling back the same person I kicked out was worth it.