Chapter 6 Trouble

• Adrian’s POV:
• Two men walked into my office, without even knocking. They both wore straight faces.
• “Good day, Mr. Hayes,” the board chairman greeted.
• “Good morning gentlemen. Mr. James, you didn’t inform me as usual that you were visiting…
• “Adrian, we need to talk. Do you have some time to spare?”
• Unsure of how to react, I nodded.
• "Have a seat," I said, gesturing at them.
• “How can I be of help to you guys?”
• Mr. James brought out a note from his pocket and handed it to his assistant who read what was written on it.
• “What do you mean?” I sat upright. “I don't seem to understand you, gentlemen. Could you be more specific?”
• “Yes,” Mr. James took over. “I received an anonymous note in my office today. It states that you did not marry your wife legally, Mr. Hayes.”
• “What do you mean by that?” I was already raising my voice.
• “Did I not show you and the rest of your team my marriage certificate?”
• “That is not the point, Mr. Hayes,” Mr. James said. “If the marriage was on contract as stated here, it is still illegal. What do you have to say to prove this piece of information is not true?”
• “Shouldn’t you be the one to prove me wrong, since you’re doubting me?” I asked angrily.
• “I’m not here to exchange words with you, Adrian. Was your wife bought or not?”
• “I won’t let you interrogate me disrespectfully over some fake information you received.” I took the note from the table and looked at it, the handwriting wasn’t familiar.
• “Who wrote this to you?” I asked, not taking my gaze off the note.
• “You know the rules, Adrian, if you can’t debunk this news with tangible evidence, I’m afraid, you will be relieved of your CEO duties in the next 24 hours and another person will be appointed as the CEO of this Company.” Those words threw me off balance, but I had to think fast.
• “What would you have me do?” I asked in a humble tone. “I did not sign any contract with my wife. I was in love with her before we got married.”
• “How do we confirm what you’ve just said?” the other man asked. “We have no idea who dropped this in Mr. James's office but whoever it is, knows something and we have decided to look into it as soon as we can.”
• After a moment of silence, Mr. James coughed. “On behalf of the members of the board of directors, I’d request you bring your wife here as soon as possible. We will take a final decision after we have heard from her.”
• “Remember, your seat is at stake,” he added as he stood to leave.
• They both left my office before I could utter another word.
• “Damn it! I almost punched the wall out of frustration. “Who did this evil act? Who is plotting my downfall? Maxwell was the only person in my office who knew about the contract. It definitely can’t be him, he loves me like a brother and has always had my back. It was even his idea that I asked Serena my maid to marry me.”
• “Shit! Could it be Serena? She wouldn’t dare, she also had a lot to lose.
• “What do I do now?” I asked my confused self, as I paced around my office.
• I couldn’t do any more work for the day. It was best I went home and tried to figure out something with her.
• Someone was out for me, and I must not let them win.
• “Think Adrian,” I said to myself.
• "From the look of things, nothing more is left for me to do apart from warning Serena to play her cards right, or else there will be serious trouble. I won’t be thrown out of this position just like that. I worked hard and earned it, even though my father could’ve easily given it to me on a platter. Now that I’m here, I won’t be thrown out in shame. I won’t let that happen. I will fight!"
• “Serena!” I called out as I got to the entrance of my mansion.
• I pressed the doorbell repeatedly, without waiting for a few seconds to get a response.
• “Serena!” I called again, and the door opened the next moment.
• “Are you okay, Mr. Hayes?” Serena opened the door, and looked around curiously to see if something or someone was chasing me.” I guess she wondered why I was panting like a child who ran a long distance.
• “Lock the door, we need to talk.” I walked into the living room.
• “Okay Sir, before or after your meal?”
• “Do I look hungry to you?” she scratched her head and sat on one of the sofas.
• “Did you tell anyone about the contract?”
• “I… I’m sorry Sir, I told my best friend, Laura. But she’s the only one, and I trust her.”
• “Hmm! Do you trust her? Well, what we need right now is a solution before we start figuring out who said what to whom. Someone with a large mouth who dislikes me spoke about our marriage status to my board chairman at the Company and I was interrogated today. “
• “What?” Shocked Serena asked. “How did that happen?” This is bad news! What do we do?”
• “The men have asked for your presence at the Company, they want you to come and testify that I did not pay you to be my wife.”
• “You will have to go with me first thing tomorrow morning to the office, I hope you can sound convincing enough.”
• “Do you think this is a good idea?” What if they find out we’re lying? Will I be put in jail? I am not used to telling a lie, Mr. Hayes.”
• “You don't understand what’s at stake here, do you? Now listen to me carefully, you will show up at my office, and act like a loving wife to me, convince them we got married because we love each other, and make them believe that whatever contrary information they have about us is false, Is that clear?” She nodded scarily.
• “We’ve been living a lie since we got married, what difference would it make now?”
• “I would do as you say, Sir.”
• “Good, now get me something to eat, I’ll go freshen up and come be at the dining table in a bit.” She disappeared from my sight like someone being chased.
• I took a deep breath, as I walked to my room upstairs. I know how long it took me to earn this position and just when my father was beginning to see me as a worthy son, the son who would own and run his finance company and all other businesses of his when he’s no more, some crazy person out there shows up, trying to ruin my efforts.
• "Serena has to be smart; she seems to be my only ticket out of this problem," I muttered to myself.