The forgotten groom

Chapter 34

Nik's POV

The next day as we're still in bed after a long night spent at one of the local clubs. My phone can't stop ringing! I try to ignore it and just won't stop.
I annoying get out of bed and I see Max stir up as well. The ringing must have woken him up.

I grab my phone and  just say hello without looking at the name

"Nik! Thank God I finally got a hold of you! We have a huge disaster on our hands! Please come back immediately ! " my Lawyer says

"What's going on I say?" Very confused wondering what's happening

"Someone is buying out all your shares from your companies Nik! We're going down under!" He says panicked

"What the hell! How is that even possible!" I shout

"I'm here with the finance manager and it seems this has been going on silently " he says

"I'm on my way right now " I say and hurriedly send a text to the pilot to be on standby

Max is looking at me wide eyed with a lot of questions in his eyes and I just tell him

"There's a mess back home and we need to immediately go back, I'm not very sure about it all right now till I get on ground"

He nods and immediately jumps up to help me pack our things .

An hour later we're back on the jet and I have my laptop open and talking to my executives trying to figure out what's going on and I know it's going to be the longest flight ever.

As soon as we land, I head straight to the office without changing as I ask the driver to take the car and drop Max off at home but he protests.

"Nik no! I want to come with you and support you" he says

"My love, I know you want to come and yes I would love that but at the moment I need to concentrate and figure out what's going on, I promise to come home and update you about everything

"Alright but please call me if you need me, I'll literally fly to you " he says giving me a last hug and kiss before entering the car

"I know " I reply giving him a hug

I head straight to the boardroom and find everyone waiting for me their faces tense. I square my shoulder and summon my lawyer and financial manager to my office for a debriefing

"Alright, I'm here , lay it all on me "

"Last week I went to file some documents at the capital markets authority and on my way back, I heard rumors of a big company portfolio that is being taken over and I at first shrugged it off but something kept niggling at the back of my mind.
They kept mentioning that it started with a liquidation and I remembered the assets we had to liquidate and decided to look into our portfolio "

As he continued speaking, my heart kept sinking and my head started connecting the dots very fast. I had to do a quick liquidation few months back to save Max's property and because I needed quick money, I floated some few shares of my company because I know how valuable they were.

Of course there was always the risks of sharks smelling this as an opportunity to circle around and try to get into my company but we kept the issue very low key! How did they figure this out!

"So I did some digging and imagine my shock when I found out that someone had launched a silent war and is buying out your shareholders!"

"But how! We only sold 5% of my shares in Starlinksy, they're inconsequential! I have majority shares and I should have all the voting power! Who is launching this war? I grit out hoping it's not who I'm thinking about

"It's a huge Greek company but of course they're just fronting, they have covered their tracks well so at the moment we're unable to know but we're reaching out to all our connections." My lawyer says

"We know one thing for sure, they must be having a big giant with a lot of money and power backing them up to be able to have the audacity to launch a war with you!" He continues

"Is it who I'm thinking?" I think out loud

"Harold Demakide? Backing them up against me?" I ask

"Most likely, no further updates " my lawyer says

"I'm going to have to put the rest of my portfolio up to protect my major company up isn't it?" I ask falling back in my seat and pushing my hair back in frustration

"It's the only logical solution, but you'll lose everything Nik. It means putting up all your portfolio and companies to be able to acquire more shares or buy out the most share holders" he says

"Start the motion for this let's regroup tomorrow " I say looking at my watch and notice it's already 3am.

I rub my eyes as the fatigue sets in and I grab my jacket to head to the garage and drive home.

As soon as I reach home, I stay in the car and look up at our house and see that the lights are on. Max must be up waiting for me. I smile and then remember the part his grandfather has to play in all this! What a mess!

I walk in and see Max dead asleep on the couch, he immediately wakes up and stretches looking at me. He notices my energy and immediately comes to me.

"Nik what happened " he asks looking very concerned

"Can we eat first?" I ask noticing he had laid out dinner plates

"Of course " he says as he brings in the food

After serving ourselves, we sit at the table and dig in but I notice Max is barely eating
I sigh and put down my fork

"There's a company trying to buy out my major company and it's possible I might lose everything in a few weeks but we'll see that's all" I say

"That's it?  I don't believe it. What are you not telling me? And who would try to buy you out Nik?" He asks suspiciously

"A Greek company that's all" I say getting up and taking our plates to the kitchen and then turning back to look at him

"So what are we going to do? How can I help Nik? I can sell my mother's house to help " he says eagerly

"Don't even dare! It's fine I will resolve it" I say louder than I wanted to and he looks at me puzzled

"Nik!" He exclaims

"I'm sorry Max, it's been a long day, forgive me" I say apologetically going to hug him

"It's alright, let's get some rest" he replies leading me  upstairs

I take a quick shower and join him in bed and he comes closer and snuggles into me.

"I love you " he says

"I love you Max" I say holding him tight as he closes his eyes and mumbles

"I hope my grandfather is not involved, it would really break my heart " he says

"He's not" I say quietly.
How can I even tell him it's his own grandfather backing up my enemies against me! His only surviving family members! I think as I slowly drift into sleep.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day !