His Dangerous Love On Ice Chapter 41: Olive's Pov

"Stock's been climbing like crazy and I don't know, this whole board meeting thing involves us somehow."

Brenda was speed-walking down the hallway, iPad bouncing against her chest, heels clicking against the polished floor. I followed behind, trying to match her pace while my brain felt like it was moving through fog.

"Maybe Grayson doesn't want to admit that my relationship is bringing in investors," I muttered. "And since he won't even look at me now, I'm guessing he's setting me up for something."

Brenda stopped so suddenly I almost crashed into her back.

"Okay, yes, I get why you're stressed about the meeting." She turned to face me, eyes narrowing. "But what I don't get is why you're wearing a scarf…around your neck. It's not cold. You never wear scarves."

Shit.

"Can't a girl catch a cold?" I tried to move past her but she grabbed my arm.

"Olive—"

"We're going to be late," I said, pulling away and practically jogging toward the conference room.

"Fine, but you better spill later," she called after me. "And I need the full tea about Zane. Girl, you're trending everywhere. Everyone's talking about you two. That kiss? That entrance? Zane knows how to sure make a scene."

She caught up to me, grabbing my shoulders.

"Wait. What did Cole say about all this?"

My eyes went wide before I could stop them.

"Nothing," I said too quickly.

"Nothing? That's impossible. Are you lying to me, Olive Monroe?"

She was staring at me like she could see straight through my skull. Analyzing. Reading me.

"The board's waiting," I said, reaching for the conference room panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss.

"Don't think you're escaping this conversation," Brenda whispered in my ear, then smiled like she hadn't just threatened me and walked inside.

I followed.

Five board members sat around the long glass table. Each one turned to look at me like I was the main event they'd been waiting for.

Grayson's eyes stayed fixed on his laptop screen.

"This meeting has been called," the board secretary began, her voice always that crisp and professional tone, "to discuss strategies for capitalizing on the company's recent growth and ensuring resources are properly utilized moving forward."

I nodded, settling into my seat. My job was simple: take notes, observe, maybe offer an opinion if someone asked. That's what my salary paid me to do.

"There won't be any strategy needed for this growth."

Grayson's voice cut through the room like ice.

Everyone turned to look at him. He finally looked up from his screen, meeting each board member's eyes before landing on mine.

"This growth is temporary," he continued. "What we should be concerned with isn't the growth itself, but the inevitable crash that's coming."

"What are you talking about?" Marcus, one of the senior board members, leaned forward. "We're experiencing unprecedented stock increases. We're finally in a position to diversify. And you're talking about crashes?"

"The stock increase," Grayson said slowly, like he was explaining something to a child, "came about because of a hockey player. A star player who, if we're being honest, has never had a stable relationship in his life. It's not in their nature. So when this so-called relationship fails—and it will fail—our stock crashes. Everything we've gained turns to dust."

He turned to look directly at me.

"Isn't that right, Olive?"

The room went silent.

I'd seen Grayson in business mode before. Watched him negotiate deals, shut down competitors, make grown men squirm in their seats.

But at home, he was the guy who did the dishes and made terrible dad jokes. But here? He was ruthless. The millionaire who built an empire from nothing.

And he'd taught me everything I knew about business.

Which was why I hated that I was sitting here, quiet, with no answer. Because he was right.

Whatever was between me and Zane had an expiration date. Two months. And when it ended, everything that came with it would end too.

I hadn't thought about the consequences. The implications. The damage it could do to the company, to people's jobs, to everything Grayson had built.

I hadn't thought at all.

"You have no answer," Grayson said, and there was something almost triumphant in his voice. That ruthless smile I'd always admired when it wasn't directed at me.

My mouth opened but nothing came out. What could I say? He was right. I had no plan. No solution. I'd just jumped into this thing with Zane without thinking about—

"Actually, I might have a solution."

Fiona, one of the few female board members, leaned forward. "What if we used this to our advantage? Turned a potential liability into an asset?"

Grayson's jaw tightened. "I'm listening."

"Collaboration," Fiona continued. "Isn't that what they always say? Collaboration beats competition. We could use this media attention, this public interest, to forge a strategic partnership. Something that would cushion the blow when—" she glanced at me, "—if things end."

"With who?" Marcus asked, interest sparking in his eyes.

Fiona paused, then said it. "The Mercer Company."

The room went dead silent.

Grayson's face went pale, then red. "Absolutely not."

"Think about it," Fiona pressed. "They're one of the top investment firms in sports. They work specifically in this industry. And right now, we have leverage. The media attention, the public interest in Olive and Zane's relationship—it's all in our favor. They'd see the value in partnering with us. And when the inevitable happens, when things end, we'll have a partnership solid enough that the damage will be minimal. Manageable."

"That's actually brilliant," Marcus said, sitting up straighter. "If we can secure a partnership with the Mercer Company, it would push us into an entirely different league. Isn't that what we've always wanted? To compete with the major players?"

"We're doing fine on our own," Grayson said through gritted teeth.

"Fine isn't great," Fiona countered. "And this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We'd be idiots not to at least explore it."

All eyes turned to me.

I could feel Grayson's gaze burning into me. Could feel the weight of what was about to happen.

This was my moment to speak up. To side with him. To say this was a terrible idea.

But I didn't.

"I think..." My voice came out quieter than I intended. I cleared my throat. "I think it makes sense. From a business standpoint. We should at least consider it."

Grayson's eyes went wide. Actual shock breaking through that controlled facade.

Betrayal.

I saw it flash across his face before he locked it down.

"This is insane," he said, voice low and dangerous.

"I agree with Olive," Marcus said. "We should vote on this."

"There's nothing to vote on—"

"All in favor of pursuing a potential partnership with Mercer Company," Marcus said, hand already raised.

Fiona's hand went up. Then another board member. Then another.

Four hands total.

Only Grayson's stayed down.

He stared at me across the table, and I saw it—betrayal, anger, something that looked almost like hurt.

"Meeting adjourned," he said quietly, and walked out.

I made it three steps out of the conference room before my legs started shaking.

"Holy shit," Brenda said, appearing at my side. "You just threw a bomb in there. The Mercer Company. As in Zane Mercer's father's company. Girl, do you realize what you just did?"

"I didn't—it wasn't my idea—"

"But you supported it. In front of everyone. Against Grayson." She let out a low whistle. "That's some next-level chaos."

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, expecting Grayson. Or maybe Zane. Or literally anyone else.

But the name on the screen made my stomach drop.

Annie Monroe.

My father's wife.

I stared at the screen, watching it ring. Once. Twice. Three times.

Why the hell was she calling me?

"You going to answer that?" Brenda asked.

My thumb hovered over the screen.

Four rings.

Five.

I answered.

"Hello?"

"Olive." Annie's voice was soft, careful. "I know this is unexpected. But I need to talk to you. It's about your father."

My heart stopped.

"What about him?"

"He had a terrible accident, Olive. And he's asking for you."