"We've been instructed to escort you out, Miss Lorenzo," the first police officer said, giving Anna a curt bow before gesturing to his colleagues to move in.
She turned sharply to Aidan, who halted the officers with a single raised hand.
"What do you mean 'escort her out'? This is her company. She's the acting CEO. Let us in!"
"I'm sorry, sir, but there were strict rules not to let her into the…"
Alex let go of Anna's hand and stalked towards him. "Let us in, right this minute!"
The police officer didn't look threatened at all. Dread filled every part of Anna's being. She could already imagined the lies and silly, pathetic stories Kathryn was spinning behind the closed doors.
It seemed to Anna like Kathryn had it all planned already. Kathryn only demanded to see Aidan just to confirm her suspicions before moving on to her next plan.
They never seemed to run out of tricks.
The fact that Aidan worked as a plumber was another disadvantage. Kathryn was going to use that against her.
Anna turned to Aidan, whose jaws were clenched in frustration.
"Aidan, what am I…" Her voice trembled despite her will to stay composed. As a wave of dizziness threatened to overtake her, Aidan reached for her hand and pulled her close.
She shut her eyes, and before she could open them, Aidan was dialing a number.
"Adam Smith, it's been a while!" Aidan called out, and the policeman in front of them went rigid with terror.
Quickly, he straightened and glanced at his colleagues with the same fear.
Who was Adam Smith? Anna wondered.
But the fear in the officer's eyes told her everything she needed to know.
"Your men are here harassing my wife and stopping her from going into the conference room. Mind you, she is the CEO. I have no idea why they are doing this when they should be answerable to her."
Anna couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but it didn't matter. Clearly, Aidan was calling in a favor from someone with real authority.
Her heart pounded. Every second they wasted gave Kathryn more time to twist the narrative and end the meeting.
Aidan placed the call on speaker.
The officer snapped to attention. "Commissioner, sir."
Anna blinked in surprise. Commissioner?
Aidan knew the commissioner of police?
"What's your rank?" came Adam Smith's voice, clipped and commanding.
The officer stammered, unwilling to answer. "We're sorry, sir…"
"His name is Francis Douglas. The others are John Leonard, Dominic…" Aidan rattled off names as the officers scrambled past them, like thieves being pursued for a crime.
Alex chuckled and disconnected the call, then turned to Anna. "Let's go."
She stared at him in awe, and he grabbed her hand as they walked straight into the conference room. Half of the board members had their hands raised in the air, and she wondered if it was for her or for Kathryn.
Aidan continued walking with their hands entwined until they got to the head of the table where Kathryn was seated. All eyes turned to them.
He nudged Anna to speak as he stood behind her, with folded arms like a bodyguard.
"I'm here now, Kathryn. Will you be kind enough to excuse me from that…"
"If you're in favor of the inactive CEO, Annalyn Lorenzo, please lift your hand," Kathryn interrupted her, without sparing her a glance.
Frustration chafed at Anna's skin, and she reminded herself she had to be calm.
Two hands were raised, but they didn't even look convinced enough that she ought to be considered.
Anna leaned down on the table beside her and announced, "This company belongs to my father. Kathryn is the wife of my father, but her daughter, Sophie, is not my father's, so she has no place in the company. The conditions of getting this company was to be married, and I am married, so this company belongs to me. Kathryn has no right whatsoever to…"
"Miss Lorenzo, you haven't been active enough with the happenings in the company, and it's taking a toll on the stock prices," one of the board members said briskly, his eyes intent on her.
"That was because I had an accident that was orchestrated by Kathryn and her daughter, Sophie."
Gasps filled the air.
Anna had plans to keep this to herself, not make it known to either the public or even to Kathryn or Sophie, but this was her last card.
This was the only way she could convince the board that she needed a second chance.
Kathryn shot to her feet. "What? That's a lie."
Anna ignored her. She was tempted to involve Warren, but she decided against it. If the news was out that he cheated on her with Sophie, it would affect his chances at his company too.
"Sophie had some men tamper with the brakes of my car, leading to my accident. I have evidence and proof in case you want to see them, but that's not why we're here, is that?" She glanced back at Kathryn, who was fuming in anger behind her. "Or do you want me to show them the evidence?"
She had no proof. But that was the only way to make her back out.
Kathryn didn't reply.
"I have met the conditions of my father's wishes to be married, and now it's time for me to have the company," Anna concluded, confidence oozing in every part of her system.
Murmurs rose, with uncertainty.
She wished she could see Aidan's face right now. She had no idea why she wanted to see his face—probably because she wanted to know if he would nod at her proudly or not.
She wanted to be sure she was doing the right thing.
"What about the news about your husband?"
Her smile froze and she stiffened.
To hide the trembling of her hands, she clenched her fist. "What about my husband?"
They all looked at each other without a word, and she turned to Aidan, who signaled for her to focus.
"It doesn't matter if the company legally belongs to you or not," said Roberto, a senior board member she recognized. "What matters is your commitment. Your absence speaks volumes. Your marriage doesn't strengthen the business, so you see?"
Now it was clear.
They were talking about Aidan. Because he was a plumber.
"My husband's profession has nothing to do with this company!" she snapped, slamming her fist on the table.
Silence fell. They stared at her, and she could feel her confidence slipping.
"Can you all see why we're here? Anna doesn't have the right experience," Kathryn declared smoothly. "Once we vote her out and appoint a temporary replacement, the market will stabilize. Isn't that right, Leonard?"
Leonard nodded, along with several others.
"Just give me another chance," Anna pleaded. "Let me prove myself."
They shook their heads.
Pain bloomed in her chest as she saw the distrust in their eyes. They didn't believe in her anymore.
She racked her brain for something else to say, all to no avail, until something warm held her hand, and she turned around to see Aidan stepping in.
"Let's have another voting session, shall we?" Aidan commented with a light smile on his face.
"Who the hell do you think you are to come in here and tell us what to do? This is my husband's company!" Kathryn barked at Aidan.
Anna shut her eyes too.
"Outsiders aren't allowed here," Leonard added, rising above the murmurs.
"Well, I'm not an outsider," Aidan replied, placing his hand gently on Anna's back. "I'm the CEO's husband. That makes me part of the board too."
A ripple of disbelief spread across the room.
Kathryn gasped, about to object, when the door burst open and Kevin rushed in, his eyes immediately locking with Anna's.