The Emerald Heiress (Aurelia) novel Chapter 8

Roman was waiting at the same restaurant. Same table. Same Barolo already poured.

“You look like you haven’t slept,” he said as I sat down.

“I haven’t. Talk.”

He slid a manila envelope across the table. “Victor Hale held a private meeting last night with three Blackwell Industries board members. He’s offering them personal buyouts in exchange for voting against your acquisition at the next shareholder meeting.”

I opened the envelope. Inside were photographs — timestamped, high-resolution — showing Victor shaking hands with board members I recognized. Gerald Foss. Diana Chu. Martin Kemp.

“How did you get these?”

“I have people everywhere, Aurelia. You know that.”

I studied the photos. “If these three vote against me, combined with the shares Hale is accumulating through shell companies—”

“He’ll have enough to force a revote on the acquisition. And with a sympathetic judge, he could get an injunction within days.”

I closed the envelope. “Then I need to get to these board members before he does.”

“Gerald Foss is a lost cause. He’s been on Hale’s payroll for years — I have the records to prove it. Diana Chu is wavering. She’s loyal to the Blackwell name, but she’s terrified of Victor.”

“And Martin Kemp?”

Roman paused. “Martin is the key. He holds the swing vote, and he’s old-school. He won’t be bought, but he can be convinced — if someone he respects makes the case.”

“Who does he respect?”

Roman held my gaze. “Your father. Martin and Richard Ashford were close friends. He was at your parents’ funeral.”

A sharp ache bloomed in my chest. I pushed it down.

“I’ll meet with Martin today.”

I stood, tucking the envelope under my arm. “I’ll call Martin this afternoon.”

“Aurelia.”

I stopped.

“When this is over — and it will end, one way or another — you and I have a conversation that’s seven years overdue.”

I didn’t turn around. “One war at a time, Roman.”

But as I walked out into the morning light, my heart was beating faster than it had in years.

And I hated myself for it.