Page 20 of The Billionaire's Last-Minute Marriage
‘He wants to know why you fired Pandora,’ Ran said softly under her breath. ‘He hears everything. Good grief, Xander, you do realise that girl was pretty much the only thing keeping this deal afloat.’
‘Tell him that as the acting CEO of Mytikas Holdings, I am here to finalise the deal personally.’ He pasted on a serene smile, only dropping it when everyone at the table remained stubbornly silent as Hari kept talking.
‘He says that he cannot trust a man who loses his employees so easily and treats his wife so disrespectfully by leaving her alone on her honeymoon instead of bringing her.’ Ran sat back in her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose. ‘Especially considering the crimes we already hold your father accountable for. He too was well known for his disregard of honour and tradition.’
Xander stood up, feeling the tension within him soar. ‘I am not my father.’
‘That remains to be seen.’ The old man stood up, switching into perfect English. A bad sign. ‘We have received two other offers, lower than yours but from more reputable companies. Either of those would be preferable to doing business with you. We’re done here.’
When Xander finally returned to the apartment after walking the streets for several hours deep in thought, Pandora was out on the balcony with her back to him, the evening light turning her hair into a halo around her shoulders. He made sure to clear his throat before sliding the door open, feeling a strange little twist in his abdomen when she turned. But she didn’t smile at him in her usual sunny way; in fact, one look at the downset of her mouth and he knew that something was very wrong.
‘How did the meeting go?’ she asked flatly.
‘Terribly, but why do I have a feeling you already know that?’
She grimaced, looking down at the phone in her hand. ‘I just got off the phone with Ran Tanaka.’
Xander felt his blood pressure rise.
‘Why is she calling you?’
She ignored his question, opening up her tablet to what looked like a presentation. He narrowed his gaze. ‘Why do you have a copy of today’s files? They’re highly confidential.’
‘Ran sent them over to me after you stormed out of their building in a rage.’
Xander scowled. ‘Miss Tanaka should be directing any changes to me, not my wife, who she knows damn well is no longer working for my company.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘XANDER, I’VEBEENworking on this deal alongside you for months now,’ Pandora urged, walking to the opposite side of the balcony. The normally unflappable businessman she knew Xander to be was gone and she hardly recognised the man in his place. ‘What was said to make you react this way?’
‘Does it matter?’ he growled. ‘The Tanaka family are doing this on purpose to make me walk away from the deal. They’ve either got a better offer or they’re trying to up the bidding.’
‘Ran is opposed to her father’s position. She still believes in your vision for the merger and called me to ask for my help in...handling you.’
She swore if Xander’s brows flew up any further they’d go into orbit.
‘Handlingme? I am the acting CEO of this company.’
‘And right now you are acting like a spoilt child.’ Pandora placed her hands on her hips. ‘Your previous approach in the boardroom will not work here, so if you don’t want to lose this deal then you will need to change. Adapt.’
‘I cannot believe this! The old man was supposed to have stepped down and left Ran in charge. That was the entire reason for my confidence in this whole—’
‘Listen. You can sit here and throw a handsome-billionaire fit over the unfairness of it all, or you can listen to my plan.’
Xander scowled, leaning against the railing of the balcony, said handsome-billionaire jaw gleaming with the impressive beginnings of a silver five o’clock shadow. Pandora gulped, resisting the urge to move closer and run her fingers over that jawline; it looked razor sharp but she’d bet it was still soft to the touch. Realising her thoughts were wandering, she cleared her throat loudly and opened up the files Ran had already talked her through.
‘Mr Tanaka has his heart set on the business remaining family-owned, even after the buyout. He’s concerned for his employees and his children’s futures. Ran believes that if you show him that you are not the lone wolf he has heard about, he will withdraw his objections.’
‘He won’t care what my family values are. I’m Zeus Mytikas’s son and that’s all he can see. He’s already made up his mind about me.’
‘You may share his bloodline, but you and I both know the similarities end there.’ She frowned at how quickly he brushed off her words, at how determined he was to keep himself inside this box of his own making. Quaking a little, she stepped in front of the balcony doors, blocking him from retreating. ‘Xander, most people see the world through their own selfish lens but you’re different. I noticed it from the first moment we met. You have this aloof, self-possessed air and yet you care about every single person who works for you. You can try to deny it but... I’ve watched you.’ She pressed her lips together, continuing when he didn’t interrupt.
‘You make people feel seen. You made me feel seen. You’re on this mission to change all the bad things your father has done but you seem so determined not to look at the good that is already there. We need to show him that we are a team and that Mytikas Holdings also has strong family values. That we value tradition and honour, despite the bad blood that Zeus has stirred up over the last couple of decades.’
‘How exactly am I supposed to do that?’
‘By using your secret weapon, of course.’ Pandora smiled, taking a theatrical curtsy. ‘Ran has arranged for us to attend a grand reopening ceremony in Kyoto. It’s the Tanaka family’s home city and a very traditional event.’
