His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 41

OLIVE’S POV

“Stock’s been climbing like crazy and I don’t know, this whole board meeting thing involves us somehow.”

Brenda was speed-walking down the hallway, iPad bouncing against her chest, heels clicking against the polished floor. I followed behind, trying to match her pace while my brain felt like it was moving through fog.

“Maybe Grayson doesn’t want to admit that my relationship is binging in investors,” I muttered. “And since he won’t even look at me now, I’m guessing he’s setting me up for something.”

Brenda stopped so suddenly I almost crashed into her back.

“Okay, yes, I get why you’re stressed about the meeting.” She turned to face me, eyes narrowing. “But what I don’t get is why you’re wearing a scarf…around your neck. It’s not cold. You never wear scarves.”

Shit.

“Can’t a girl catch a cold?” I tried to move past her but she grabbed my arm.

“Olive”

“We’re going to be late,” I said, pulling away and practically jogging toward the conference room.

“Fine, but you better spill later,” she called after me. “And I needhe full tea about Zane. Girl, you’re trending everywhere. Everyone’s talking about you two. That kiss? That entrance? Zane knows how to sure make a scene.”

She caught up to me, grabbing my shoulders.

“Wait. What did Cole say about all this?”

My eyes went wide before I could stop them.

“Nothing,” I said too quickly.

“Nothing? That’s impossible. Are you lying to me, Olive Monroe

She was staring at me like she could see straight through my skull. Analyzing. Reading me.

“The board’s waiting,” I said, reaching for the conference room panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss.

“Don’t think you’re escaping this conversation,” Brenda whispered in my ear, then smiled like she hadn’t just threatened me and walked inside.

I followed.

Five board members sat around the long glass table. Each one turned to look at me like I was the main event they’d been waiting for.

Grayson’s eyes stayed fixed on his laptop screen.

“This meeting has been called,” the board secretary began, her voice always that crisp and professional tone, “to discuss strategies for capitalizing on the company’s recent growth and ensuring resources are properly utilized moving forward.”

I nodded, settling into my seat. My job was simple: take notes, of serve, maybe offer an opinion if someone asked. That’s what my salary paid me to do.

“There won’t be any strategy needed for this growth.”

Grayson’s voice cut through the room like ice.

Everyone turned to look at him. He finally looked up from his screen, meeting each board member’s eyes before landing on mine.

“This growth is temporary,” he continued. “What we should be concerned with isn’t the growth itself, but the inevitable crash that’s coming.

“What are you talking about?” Marcus, one of the senior board members, leaned forward. “We’re experiencing unprecedented stock increases. We’re finally in a position to diversify. And you’re talking about crashes?”

“The stock increase,” Grayson said slowly, like he was explaining something to a child, “came about because of a hockey player. A star player who, if we’re being honest, has never had a stable relationship in his life. It’s not in their nature. So when this so-called relationship fails-and it will fail-our stock crashes. Everything we’ve gained turns to dust.”

He turned to look directly at me.

“Isn’t that right, Olive?”

The room went silent..

I’d seen Grayson in business mode before. Watched him negotiale deals, shut down competitors, make grown men squirm in their seats.

But at home, he was the guy who did the dishes and made terrible dad jokes. But here? He was ruthless. The millionaire who built an empire from nothing.

And he’d taught me everything I knew about business.

Which was why I hated that I was sitting here, quiet, with no answer. Because he was right.

Whatever was between me and Zane had an expiration date. Two months. And when it ended, everything that came with it would end too.

I hadn’t thought about the consequences. The implications. The damage it could do to the company, to people’s jobs, to everything Grayson had built.

I hadn’t thought at all.

“You have no answer,” Grayson said, and there was something almost triumphant in his voice. That ruthless smile I’d always admired when it wasn’t directed at me.

My mouth opened but nothing came out. What could I say? He was right. I had no plan. No solution. I’d just jumped into this thing with Zane without thinking about-

“Actually, I might have a solution.”

Fiona, one of the few female board members, leaned forward. “What if we used this to our advantage? Turned a potential liability into an asset?”

Grayson’s jaw tightened. “I’m listening.”

“Collaboration,” Fiona continued. “Isn’t that what they always say Collaboration beats competition. We could use this media attention, this public interest, to forge a strategic partnership. Something that would cushion the blow when-” she glanced at me, if things end.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify