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She heads back to her crew to resume her photography session.
George has a soft spot for his granddaughter, and I’m one hundred percent certain she’ll convince him to hear me out.
All I need to do, then, is to convince him that backing me up with his vote is the right choice.
***
Julia’s text comes a day later, and I meet with her and George that evening at a five-star rooftop restaurant in West Hollywood.
George’s scowl is undeniable as we dig into the first course of our meal, and Julia finally speaks to break the thick silence hovering between us.
“He’s got good plans, Grandpa,” she says on my behalf. “The merger was—”
George drops his cutlery, and it clinks on the plate before he turns his sharp eyes to me. “The merger was a stupid move. One you didn’t think about. One you made simply because you wanted to please a woman.”
His eyes narrow into tiny slits. “You’ve proven you’re not trustworthy in the past. You’re selfish. So why should I help you now?”
I clear my throat and meet his eyes defiantly. “Because contrary to what you might think of me, sir, I still have the company’s best interest at heart. Hart Holdings is all I have. It’s my grandfather’s legacy, just as it is yours. I’d never sabotage it.”
“But you did.”
“All I did was merge with a failing company that has an enormous potential. They were nearly bankrupt, yes, and I took on the liability because I have great plans for the future. Sunny Aerospace has the infrastructure to aid in our expansion. With their addition, we can achieve many of our other goals. I believe it will help us accelerate the development of our own electric vehicle. Sunny Aerospace will become a whole new franchise under us. With you backing me as CEO, I can move on with these plans after the merger.”
“This is something any other company who buys out Sunny Aerospace or merged with them would do. It’s what Storms would do. I’m sure you heard that Storms also wanted to buy out Sunny Aerospace. Thus, what Storms is doing here isn’t about the interest of Hart Holdings. This is about Storms trying to prove to the world that he’s won, and the better business mogul. This is about his personal vendetta against me.”
George holds my gaze for a long time, and his glare proves that he’s still not pleased with all of this. My heart thumps with the fear that George will refuse to help.
“Grandpa,” Julia chirps in, reaching for his hand and gently stroking it. “Please? Let’s help him out this one time. It’s what the company needs too.”
After his long silence, he clears his throat. “Did you settle the Sunny Aerospace debts personally?”
“With parts of my trust fund, sir,” I reveal, and even Julia seems shocked. “I will need you to back me up on the merger and also for the CEO’s vote.”
George clears his throat again, then says. “Julia is dear to me, and she’s pleaded with me to back you. I also can’t watch everything your grandfather and I have worked for get ruined by Storms. That kid couldn’t even manage his company’s affairs, and he thinks he can handle ours?” he scoffs, then picks up a wine glass.
“I’ll back you, and I’ll get everyone else on my side. Don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m a businessman, Everhart. It’s what your grandfather would do if the roles were reversed. I take loyalty seriously, son, and seeing as you have matured over the years, I am more inclined to help you. Plus, I like the idea of using Sunny Aerospace’s infrastructure and R&D to help develop our own electric car. ”
He claps and announces next. “Now, let’s eat and enjoy what’s left of the evening.”
“Thanks, Grandpa,” Julia says to him with a sweet smile, and she pats his hand before flashing me a brilliant smile.
The rest of the dinner goes well. George makes it less unbearable by engaging me in conversations about my work at Hart Holdings and sharing amusing anecdotes from his own experiences in the business world.
Two hours pass before we finish dinner. Julia walks me to my car and touches my arm tenderly to gain my attention. “Thanks for not telling him,” she says to me, a solemn look in her eyes.
“Look, Julia,” I begin when her touch lingers on my arm, “you and I? That ship sailed years ago. If I’m going to have dinner with you, it’s just to say thank you. Not because I intend to go down that path with you again.”
A smile spreads across her lips before she breaks into a teasing laugh.
“Relax,” she says, then moves her hand away. “I’m a flirtatious woman, Ethan. I know that ship has sailed. I ruined it, remember? I didn’t regret it at the time because I wasn’t in love with you, but … I’ve never met anyone else who’s loved me like you did. I hurt you, and it ended. I know you’re not into me. Not anymore.”
“Good. Don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
She laughs again, and the gleam in her eyes makes me frown. “You owe me dinner, handsome. Don’t forget. I’ll text you whereand when.” She winks before walking away, and my mind buzzes with one question because I know Julia is up to something.