Ethan and I walked into the conference room with Racheal and the soft hum of conversation died down as the board of directors turned to greet him. His eyes scanned the room and he took a seat at the head of the table.
"Let's review the quarterly projections," Ethan said with a serious tone that portrays his merciless reputation in the business world.
The head of directors stood up and began to present the numbers, highlighting the company's growth and areas of improvement.
"I think we should allocate more resources to our digital marketing strategy. The numbers shows it's paying off, and I believe we can scale it up for even greener returns"
Ethan nodded thoughtfully. "If the budget for the marketing department is increased, then we will be needing a marketing manager to oversee the affairs."
"Luckily, there's someone who has taken a keen interest in marketing and has some innovative ideas. I think she'd be perfect for the job" Ethan continued.. He stood up from his seat at the head of the conference table.
"Everyone, I'd like to take a moment to introduce our new marketing manager, Avery Blackwood, my wife," he announced with his voice ringing out across the room.
The room fell silent with all eyes turning to me. Ethan's eyes met mine and he gave a reassuring nod.
"Avery comes to us with a wealth of experience and a proven track record of marketing" Ethan continued…
"She'll be leading our marketing department and working closely with the team to drive the company forward"
The team applauded politely, their faces having a mix of friendly and curious expressions. Ethan gestured for me to join him at the front of the room, and I walked over to stand beside him.
"I've asked Avery to share her vision as the head of marketing. Avery the floor is yours"
I began to outline my plans for the marketing team, highlighting key areas of opportunities and growth.
"First, I think we need to focus on rebranding. Our current identity is a bit outdated, and we need to appeal to younger demographics if we need to stay competitive."
"I completely agree," one of the team members chimed in
"our brand feels stale compared to some of our other competitors"
"Exactly," I said
"We will need to update our logo, color scheme and overall aesthetic" I continued…
As I spoke, I could feel Ethan's eyes on me, giving the "that's my wife" gaze. He was filled with pride. I knew I had a lot to prove but I felt really confident with his backing.
The directors all agreed to my suggestion. Just as we were about wrapping it up, Mr Pinkett said;
"There's one more agenda Ethan. A shareholder had requested to attend the meeting and voice out his concerns"
Ethan's eyes narrowed, sending noticeable shivers around everyone "who is it?"
Mr Pinkett glanced down at his notes before responding, "Harrison grant"
Harrison immediately walked into the room with a confident smile spreading across his face. Ethan immediately grabbed me closer by my waist as if he was claiming ownership of me. I could tell he never knew Harrison had a share in his company. Harrison might be a scumbag romantically but he was well grounded in business. He wouldn't be an easy nut to crack
"I wasn't aware you acquired a stake in the Eclipse Enterprise" Ethan said, clenching his fist in anger like he was about to explode
Harrison's smile grew more mischievous "I've been diversifying my portfolio, Ethan. I see a lot of potential in your company and am eager to contribute to its growth"
Harrison leaned forward in a persuasive tone " I assure you Ethan, my intentions are pure"
At this point, I felt a sudden urge of unease. What could have prompted Harrison to invest in Ethan's company. I glanced over Ethan and noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor. I could detect a hint of caution in his eyes. What would Harrison's involvement mean for our marriage and company's future?
*
After dinner, Ethan and I moved to the living room where we both snuggled on the couch together, wrapped in a cozy blanket. Deep down I could feel I had some unanswered questions from Ethan. Normally, I would have pressed on to know the reason for his unusual silence but I just decided to let him be.
"Do you still love Harrison?" Ethan immediately asked
"Harrison?"
"Yes," Ethan replied. He is a shareholder in the company and as such, we'll be working closely together until I get back the shares he bought.
My heart raced at the intensity of their conversation. I had loved Harrison but never felt like it was mutual. I was too blinded by love to even notice.
"i don't love him anymore, I once did but it's in the past. I'm with you now and I love you" I said as I gave him butterfly kisses all over his face and finally planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"You know Harrison is not here for just business right?" Ethan asked with a worried expression on his face
"I know. But he doesn't stand a chance" I cut in reassuringly