Page 113 of Yours, Forever

She glanced behind me. While Marlene took command of her office from her impressive transparent desk— all the better to show off her modern, elegant power suit, and stilettos so sharp they could spear through you if needed— I sat on one of the two solid armchairs she kept around for visitors. Behind me, a small meeting space with two sofas facing each other; on them, a team of three assistants kept vigil to address her every need.

No words were spoken, but they must have heard her instruction regardless. One of them got up and exited the office.

I kept my eyes on my accomplice, with her short, styled hair so much like mine, and her bold red lips to contrast with her glowing brown skin. One of the several things she had inherited from her South Asian ancestors.

She leaned back and looked me up and down. "All right. It could be that he's going to present evidence that is… a version of reality, let's say, where things look bad. Any big decisions lately that he could use to sway the Board against you?"

"Marlene, you know I appreciate you. I wouldn't lie to you. I don't know what he's planning, because I don't believe there's anything he could use."

"I don't think you're lying to me. I think you may be underestimating what your father is capable of."

I pursed my lips. Throughout my life, I had learned to expect my father to make decisions against my own ethical compass. I had yet to see him take that so far that he would so openly corrupt the truth.

Marlene saw my uncertainty and addressed it with no qualms for my feelings. "There are two types of billionaires, Max. Those who inherited their fortune—" she arched an eyebrow my way— "and those ruthless enough to profit off other people's labor. Some of us may change our mind about how we want to use the money and the power that comes with it, but it takes a special kind of personality to accumulate this kind of preposterous wealth."

"I know my father is ruthless." I ground my teeth.

"Then don't forget it. We get a chance at being in these rooms where decisions are made, which affect countless people. It's on our shoulders to act on that responsibility. That includes preparing for the worst case scenario possible."

I nodded and crossed my arms.

She cocked her head and studied me carefully. "There are two ways in which he can stop you from dissolving his conglomerate. One, is if he proves you're not capable of sound business decisions, which could end up in a prolonged judiciary process. The other is if he can dissolve that ridiculous inheritance clause. The burden of proof is on him, either way. So what do you think it's going to be?"

I tapped my fingers against my forearm. "He's been investigating the town where my wife and I live. He might be planning something with that. I also believe he may have beenspying on Eva and me. He may be wanting to cause our divorce somehow."

"Can he do that? You had a quick wedding. Can he delegitimize that?"

"Eva is loyal. She will not divorce me."

"Bloody hell, Max. You did not answer my question. I don't like what you're implying."

"I answered with the point of the clause, Marlene." I made my tone severe. "Eva and I are good. She will not divorce me before the clause is fulfilled. If I get it my way, she never will. My father cannot change how the documents are laid out. That can't be it."

Her eyes held a razor sharp focus on me. I clenched my jaw and let her take her fill. My worries did not include the possibility of my father convincing Eva to leave me.

Marlene nodded once. "Let's hope you're correct and that if Carlos is trying something with that, the Board will agree with you."

That was my hope, too. Above all, I couldn't let my dad find a way out of the deal. Too much was in the balance. The future of the business and my investments aside, one nagging thought intruded in the back of my mind.

I had asked Eva to give us time to fall in love. We were at the start of that journey— the opportunity for her to catch up to my heart, and maybe love me back, just as hard.

Our kisses and our goodbye had been her yes, but would she still make that choice, if our marriage wasn't needed anymore?

I loved her too much to risk it.

In a twisted turn of fate, my father's rules were my back up plan. Nothing could get in the way of me having more time in Laguna Island. I needed the chance to prove to Eva and her hometown that I wanted to stay, Carlos Errázuriz or not.

"Let's review my investments," I said. "It's the only thing he can try."

We spent the next few hours analyzing my businesses and projections, in search for the weakest links. All the while, in the back of my mind, I started a plan to show Eva how I felt. Prove that I belonged with her. Whatever ended up happening with my dad.

Eva

Early afternoon cast diffuse light into the café. A few patrons held their mugs close as they chatted with each other, and a couple of college students sat at the desk working. No one sat on the armchair, laptop open in front of them, working away in an elegant, perfectly poised form.

I sighed. Life without Max was exactly what I had always dreamed of. A busy, high-income morning, ending in Ale announcing that our earnings that month were the highest they had ever been. My regulars showed up like every day, and people who had avoided the café before now raved about the place.

Somehow, this life now seemed small.