Hey Everyone,
Thank you for the support and love. It does mean a lot and it's helping me get through this rough patch.
Hope you like this chapter.
Much Love,
Chelsea x
I had never been more pleased to see Christian than when he walked into my office fifteen minutes after I had called him. I practically leapt on him, my arms clutching around his body.
He hugged and kissed me and then it was straight down to business. He asked me to take him to see Mark. I led the way to his office and was about to knock when Christian took it upon himself to barge in, wasting no time.
"Well, well, well, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Mark grinned, eyes wide and taking in every inch of Christian's body.
I rolled my eyes and looked up at Christian. He was hiding a smile.
"We need to talk," he told Mark. He guided me to one of the empty chairs, waiting for me to sit before he sat down next to me. "About this place."
"What about it?"
"The sale," Christian explained. Mark sat forward, intrigued, resting his arms on his desk. "Ana has, of course, been keeping me informed about the situation. The widow has brought forward the deadline?"
Mark nodded. "We only have a few days left."
"And there has been no outside interest?"
"A few informal meetings," Mark said. "But no one has shown enough interest to put in an offer. Although profits have increased in the last six to nine months, the continued decline over the years has put people off."
"I understand," Christian nodded. "No one wants to buy a sinking ship, even if it does float for a little while."
"I've exhausted all the options," Mark sighed. He shrugged his shoulders. "I've done my best, but the way things stand SIP will be shutting up shop by close of business on Monday."
The thought made my stomach churn.
"Ana called me because she loves this place," Christian explained. "She adores this job and I can see how much joy she gets from doing it. Anytime she talks about work, even on the difficult days, she radiates happiness."
Mark smiled in agreement with him.
Christian looked my way.
"And you called me because you want me to buy SIP, didn't you?"
I nodded once, finally admitting it. Mark's brows lifted.
"Or at least buy part of it," I added, meekly. "Like I said, Mark can get a loan."
"The most I can borrow is a million," Mark told us. "But that is with putting everything I have on the line."
"And what stake would you get with that? Roughly?"
Mark blew out his cheeks, doing the rough numbers in his head. "Fifteen percent, maybe twenty at a push."
"When I invest I always look for a fifty to seventy-five percent share," Christian revealed. "It makes it worthwhile from my point of view, means a bigger profit later down the road."
"So you're willing to buy us out?" Mark raised his brows, eager and excited.
"How do you feel about taking on such a responsibility?" he asked, dancing around the subject. "Are you willing to accept the risk? Deal with the fallout in case something goes wrong?"
"Yes," Mark nodded. "I have been with SIP for more years than I care to admit. I might not look it because botox and the odd facial keep me looking baby-faced, but I've been around the block a few times. I may not have had financial gains in this place, but I have been on the ground keeping things ticking over."
"Would you have any animosity towards a business partner who has a larger stake than you?"
"Absolutely not," Mark answered. "My focus remains on keeping SIP going and making sure it becomes as successful as it should always have been."
I sat up in my seat. Butterflies started to replace the twisting in my gut.
"You would have no issues with becoming partners with Ana then?" Christian announced. I jerked my head towards him, frowning. "You wouldn't hold her age or inexperience against her?"
"Never but -"
"Christian?" I reached across and grabbed his arm. "I don't… I can't become partners with Mark. I don't have that kind of money."
"Yes, you do," he replied.
"I do not."
"We have a joint account."
"And the vast majority of the money in there is what you've contributed."
He pursed his lips at me.
"Am I right in thinking your salary is paid into that account?" he asked. I remained still. He already knew the answer. "And you use the account in the same way I do? To pay for bills, gas, food?"
"It's different –"
"It isn't," he shook his head.
Without saying a word, Mark rose and headed for the door, giving us some privacy.
"It's our money," Christian added. "Yours and mine. It doesn't matter who contributes what into it, every last cent in there belongs to us. The both of us."
"We're not even married yet," I reminded him. "If I tried to take that kind of money out of the account, I'd need your permission."
"You'll still need permission even after we're married," he shot back. "Every bank enforces that rule. It's for security… but regardless, you will have my permission. I will happily sign it off."
I ribbed my lip between my teeth.
"I am not going to buy SIP," he told me. "If you want to save this place, you have the means to do it. Invest with Mark. Do it together."
"I don't know the first thing about running a business!" I flustered, shaking my head.
"You'll learn," he smiled. "You think I woke up one morning and knew all the answers? It takes time to figure things out. But I will be here. I'll advise you when you need a second opinion. You can chew my ears off anytime."
"But –"
"This is your dream – your legacy – not mine."
Christian stood up and dragged me to my feet. He embraced me, holding me close. He pecked my forehead.
"You will have my backing and support, no matter what," he said. "And I know you have it in you to make a success of this."
A soft rattle on the door drew our attention away. Mark entered, his phone in his hand.
"I just called the bank," he explained. "The money can be cleared within 24 hours if I want to sign off on the loan."
"Ana?" Christian prompted. I looked up at him. "Do you want to do it?"
"It's a huge risk," I muttered.
"The biggest," he nodded back at me.
"But life is about taking risks, right?"
"It is," he nodded again. "Sometimes you have to be brave and a little bit reckless."
I pulled out of his hold and stepped towards Mark.
"Do you think we can do this? Me and you?"
"Are you kidding?" Mark shook his head. "With my looks and your brains, we'll make a dream team!"
In lieu of a traditional hand shake, we hugged and laughed manically at the turn of events.
"We're doing this, babe," he whispered to me.
I stepped back and stared him in the eye.
"There is something you should know first," I said. I blew out a long breath. "I'm pregnant."
His jaw dropped.
"Are you kidding?"
"Nope," I shook my head. My looked down at my stomach. "Seven weeks. We had it confirmed a couple days ago."
"Jesus…"
"Is this going to change anything?"
"Well, it means there's gonna be a mini-Christian in the world and that is major fucking news!" Mark whistled. "Congrats to you both."
"Thanks," I smiled.
"It doesn't change anything," he promised. "As long as I can be godfather and the baby's favourite aunt."
I laughed and hugged him again.
"Let's give SIP a new lease of life," Mark announced. "Breathe some fresh air into these hallowed halls."
Christian pulled out his phone and started typing something into it.
"I'll call our attorney and get the ball rolling," he told us. "We should get this finalised within the hour. We can sign over the full cost of the sale now, then you can transfer your share into our account when it comes through."
"Thank you," Mark said.
"Thank you for looking out for her," Christian replied. "You've always had Ana's back and I'm grateful for that."
"You've got an amazing woman right here," Mark smiled, pulling me into his side.
"Don't I know it," Christian smirked.
"I'm still pissed off you're not gay though," he shot back. "Me and you would have made the hottest couple."
"No doubt," Christian winked, sending Mark into a frenzy.
