Chapter 26
Four years later
“Well, what are we looking at?” I asked as Marlo, my cousin, projected his presentation on the screen
for me and the eight other board members to see.
“Expansion, Ms. Garcia,” he answered. “The Garcia Group has dominated the European market since its inception. I believe it is time to expand.” He concluded with pride that I couldn’t wait to tear
down.
“We are the most dominant financial firm in Athens, Paris, Australia, and South Africa,” Kian Lopez,
a board member, countered. He, too, seemed not to get the point Marlo wanted to make.
“They aren’t the biggest market; the United States is,” Marlo argued.
His research plan was half–baked at best, and he wanted us to run in and approve it just because he
presented it.
“The United States market isn’t the best place to expand, at least not with your presentation. We don’t just look at the country’s market size and decide on expanding our firm. We look at economic stability, security, competition, the availability of resources, and, last, government policies. These
are the basic principles taught in school, and they apply to every business organisation. Your
presentation lacks depth and thorough research, Mr. Garcia.” I shut him down.
Marlo has always had an obsession with jumping into things without proper research. After months of demanding and pushing, Marcel had given in to his bid and given him the go–ahead to start up the
firm in Italy. It was a well–funded resource, but Marlo burnt it all within six months and cried
discrimination in the end.
It was the only escape he had from his incompetence.
Did discrimination exist? Yes, but was Marlo discriminated against? No?
My skin tone was darker than the eight board members in the conference room today. Still, they’ve never treated me differently since I took over the company after Marcel stepped down over a year
ago.
People follow you when they realise you are a competent leader; they don’t follow you when you bark at them and cry wolf when things don’t go your way. He had begun pressing his new idea of expansion in the States on Marcel two months ago. Perhaps the older man got tired and told him to bring it before the board, knowing I would shut it down.
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“You are going to burn poor Marlo the way you are going.” I turned around and found Termin Martinez still in the conference room. I had assumed he left with the rest, but I wasn’t surprised to
find him still here.
I rolled my eyes. “Good, that’s the idea. I hope I burn that silly idea out of his thick skull,”
“Mean girl, me gusta eso (I like that),” he said, approaching me. He wrapped his arms around my waist when he got close and kissed my lips.
I kissed back before pulling away. “You know the rules of the business environment.”
“¿Qué? (What?) I can’t kiss my girlfriend because I am at her company?” He asked, and his grey eyes narrowed at me.
I opened my mouth to speak, but I shut it and kissed him. He kissed back, and his hand moved down to grab my butt while his tongue invaded my mouth. I moaned, and my hands moved over his blue suit, wanting more.
“No podemos hacer esto aquí (We can’t do this here),” I groaned, pulling away from him. “You do not care. Up to you, you will have sex anywhere.”
He grinned; the bastard thought that was funny: “Me conoces demasiado bien, mi maor (you know me too well, my love).”
“I do; yo soy tu novia (I am your girlfriend),” I replied, stepping away, and he released me.
“You are my kickass girlfriend,” he agreed, and his eyes didn’t stray when he added. “I still don’t know how I hit the jackpot with you sometimes.”
“Because you know what you want? And you’re not afraid to say it. Besides, Marlo turns everything he touches into dust. We are still trying to recover from the loss we incurred in Italy. He would be out of work if it were up to me, but my father still sees him as boy–Marlo and believes he is responsible for him.”
He stepped towards me and said, “Good thing you are here to keep the balance, mi amor.” He said, and his gaze lingered on my lips.
“Me gustaría creer que lo dices en serio (I would like to believe you mean that).”
His eyes narrowed. “I do; why would you think I don’t?”
“Because you’re staring at my lips,” I answered.
He didn’t deny: “I am; I think there is something there, mi amor.” He leaned in, and his tongue
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swiped over my bottom lip before pushing into my mouth. And he captured my lips again.
I shoved him away, and he laughed while he stumbled back, “Cocky bastard,” I muttered under my breath, and pointed to the door. “Salir ahora (Leave now.)”
Without argument, he walked over to the door and asked, “Dinner at my place tonight?”
“I promised Ocean I’d read him to bed,” I answered, sadly declining his offer.
His eyes flickered in adoration. “¿Como es el? (How is he?)”
I leaned against the conference room table and said, “He’s fine, he’s growing taller daily.”
“Como debería ser. Enviale mis saludos, ¿quieres? (As he should be. Send him my regards, will you?)
I nodded, and he smiled and mumbled an ‘I love you‘ before leaving
Ocean was the main reason Marcel stepped down from his role as CEO of the company.
He wanted to spend more time with his grandson. They have developed a tight bond since then and have become inseparable. He had become his best pal while I was that mean lady who enforced all the strict rules. Marcel advised that I should make more time and that the best time to create a lasting bond with him was now, and I couldn’t take it lightly.
As the day ended, I hurried out of the office with one thought on my mind. My son.
Ocean.
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