Divorce To Restart: Vengeful Ex-Wife Strikes Back!

Chapter 79 The Shallow Man

M&M FOODS, NEW YORK. “Is this some kind of joke?” Asher questioned while reading through the document in his hand. Leila rubbed at her forehead. “The meeting will be starting soon. Take your seat and stop being so dramatic.” “What do you mean by me being dramatic? Mum, we are about to be bought out by our rival. A very new one at that.” “So, do you have any other plan? Every fucking day the market value of the company drops. Is it until you know what to do before I lose all I toiled for?” Darren growled from the other end. Leila had put the phone on speaker so they could hear each other. Darren couldn’t attend the board meeting because he was under the weather. Asher cursed under his breath. “You are one of the problems I am having right now. Your belittling habit is why I am still stuck here. I want to keep M&M, and you know it. But thanks to you, it’s all going to the wolves.” “Shut up, boy! Do not talk to your father like that. X&J has offered to pay off the debts. What more do you want? We can enjoy the sales proceeds with all of that off our necks. Why are you having such a stiff neck?” He hissed and sat down. “I am sorry,” Asher mused. “Can we go to the meeting now? You know how Jason can be when we arrive late.” Leila said, standing up. Asher hates the guts of the president of the board, Jason Remington. He thinks too highly of himself and never lets anything get to him. Jason always has a look on his face that says, “This man gives no fuck about anyone,” which only makes Asher detest him the most. If anything, he is very sure Jason was one of those who instigated the other members and shareholders for a sellout. Still, he dragged his feet and followed his mother. As expected, the board members were seated. Asher looked around for the CEO of X&J Empire, who was supposed to buy him out of the company he had known all his life. But he is nowhere to be found. “What is all this nonsense? Are we supposed to be the ones waiting for him?” Asher couldn’t hide his irritation. No one said anything, and he pressed on, ignoring his mother, who kept pinching him to keep him still. “If this doesn’t happen in ten minutes, I will leave.” Jason let out a dry chuckle. “Come on now, Asher. You need this deal to fall through better than any of us. Why are you acting like you have a way out of this?” “With all due respect, Jason. I wasn’t talking to you.” Asher retorted. “Your disregard for every respectable member of the board sitting here makes it my business. I don’t care what might be going on with you. But your family is why we are in this mess, and if you won’t compose yourself while the intended buyers are here. We might as well stop all this and see how far you can go.” There was a threatening glare in Jason’s eyes. He knows Asher would never be able to back out. “Please, Jason. This is not the time or place. You need to stop it.” Leila interjected. “Hold back your bull of a son,” Jason stated. “You fucking asshole!” Asher lost his good act, standing up with a raging anger and an intention to strike Jason. Two board members held him in place while he threw his arms out to reach Jason. The older man looked unfazed. “I am going to kill you. If I don’t get to do that, I will make your life miserable. It’s all your fault this is happening. I am sure you had it all planned out.” Asher kept on with his accusation. The door opened, letting in Xander and his assistant Lisa. “Good morning everyone. I hope we are not too late. I am Xander Jackson, and this is my assistant, Lisa.” He introduced himself, refusing to acknowledge the tension in the room. Leila stood up, glaring hard at Asher. “Welcome, Mr Jackson. I am Leila Taylor. It is a pleasure to have you here. Please take a seat.” “Thank you,” Xander said as he took a seat. The introductions went around, and when Asher’s turn came, he grumbled his response. “Mr Jackson or whoever you are. I do not think this deal will pull through. I want part of the company; you cannot buy us out, plus our legacy and hard work over the years for a mere stipend.” Asher yelled. Xander looked closely at him and could feel his insides churning. He felt the urge to punch him right in the gut. For someone who had the mind to hurt Nina so much, he isn’t all of that. He is a shallow person inside and out. His uncle had already warned him of the possibility of seeing that side of Asher during the negotiation. “Mr Taylor, did you read through the file sent to you at all? You have hundreds of millions in debt, which I am paying for, and you are still trying to bargain. For what exactly?” Asher gulped; he could almost feel himself losing grip. “W…why not? Do you know how much M&M Foods will bring you when you buy it?” “I would expect you to do something with it yourself if it was that easy,” Xander responded coldly while holding his gaze intently. Even though Asher couldn’t place it, it seems Xander already has an opinion of him. “Enough, please,” Jason stated. “What is it with the tension when we haven’t even started discussing yet? Please, Mr Jackson, pardon our discrepancy. We want to continue.” Leila nudged her son on the side violently. “You had better apologize. Or I would have no choice but to kill you myself.” She gritted. Asher glanced around and saw the disapproving look on everyone’s faces. He gulped down his pride and lowered his voice. “I am sorry, Mr Jackson. It was a misunderstanding.” “I apologize for any confusion, too. Can we start now?” Xander inquired, not looking towards Asher. “Yes, please,” Jason said, giving the go-ahead.

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X&J EMPIRE, NEW YORK. “That bastard!” Xander cursed as he entered his office. He looked very pissed. Throughout the meeting at M&M Foods over the buyout, he had the persistent urge to punch Asher’s smug face to a pulp. Just enough to make Asher filled with regrets for trying to mess with him. Whenever Xander looks his way, he is reminded of all the pain he caused Nina, making him more determined to take the company away. It took divine intervention at the last minute towards the end of the meeting to not jump the asshole. Letting out a long list of curses, Xander sat on the couch, yanking off his tie. Jace walked in afterward. “Lisa tells me you are not in the best mood,” Jace said, sitting opposite him. “And that is true. Can you believe that bastard? Despite running the company to the ground, he still shamelessly asks for increased payment. He should be thankful that I have a pregnant woman back at home. I wouldn’t mind sending him into a coma and getting myself arrested.” He ranted. “Easy, man. Who is this person that got you so pissed?” “Asher Taylor.” “Oh, I have heard many things about that asshole. It’s no surprise he got on your nerves. Just do your best to ignore him until the deal is over. How did it go?” Xander’s face relaxed at the question. “It was nice except for that moron’s constant distraction. The board members loved Nina’s proposal, and my uncle says they wouldn’t doubt she could run the company for a second. I really can’t wait to tell her about it.” “When will the deal be finalized?” “Since we already agreed on the pay, we made the half payment today. The next one would be after Nina has given birth. She is the sole decider in this deal, and I don’t want to burden her with her condition. Most importantly, being around toxic people like Asher and his ass-kissing mother will drain her. So until she can handle it, they will have to wait.” “How close is her due date?” “Close.” He replied with a smile on his face. “I sincerely can’t wait to meet the little one. I bet she would be as beautiful as her mother.” Jace watched his brother’s happy face and smiled. He felt indebted to Nina for coming back into Xander’s life. In the past years, nothing seemed exciting to him anymore. And that had made it quite hard to be around him. If Jace weren’t so persistent and annoying, they probably wouldn’t be on good terms anymore. It was one of the sacrifices he had to make by leaving their father’s company to work with his brother. The love he has for Xander cannot be measured or quenched. Xander squinted his eyes. “Why are you staring at me like that?” He questioned. Jace snickered. “I was just wondering why anyone would be so ugly like you are.” Rather than take offense, Xander burst into a fit of laughter. “What the hell? You know in your heart of heart that I look fucking good. You should be glad that I do not fancy this crazy lifestyle of yours because I am sure plenty of your girlfriends would have chosen me over you.” “You are too boastful for your good.” “You started it.” “Yeah, right.” Jace chuckled. “But in all truth, Xander. I am happy to see you alive again. This was the Xander I grew up with. Before Nina returned, I wasn’t sure if I could say the last time I saw you laugh or look genuinely happy. I want you to know that you deserve all the happiness. And trust me, I will always be here whether you find me annoying.” “You just had to ruin the speech, right?” Xander queried while trying to hide his smile. “It wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t remind you of my true self. So, tell me, do you love me?” “I would be damned to ever say that to you.” Jace held up a mischievous glare as he leaned into the chair, folding his arms. “Then I will wait to see the day it happens.” “In your dreams. Also, I have been meaning to ask. What is it with this newfound friendship between you and Uncle Jason that you are teaming up against me?” “Saying we are against you is pure blasphemy. We all are just looking out for you as it should be. Have you been taking the drugs regularly? It would help if you also got your mind off anything stressful. Do you think you can do that?” “I am trying my best. The problem with you two is that you keep pushing me too hard. That is enough stress on its own.” “It would be worse if Mum ever gets to know.” Xander’s face paled like he had seen a ghost. “There is no need to start with threats. I will do as I am told.” He inhaled sharply. “Damn! I am so exhausted!” “Would you like to retire for the day then?” “Nah, I will just stay back to finish any piling work. I need to be home before dinner. Although Carla comes around now, she can stay with Nina and help out.” “For a stubborn woman like Nina. I am surprised she agreed to stay back at home.” “She has to. It’s the only way to keep her and the baby safe.” “Why not move them to your main house? With Carla’s return, she would need a room, and that house is pretty tight.” “Convincing Nina is where the problem lies. I am not sure if a discussion is needed for now. I believe the best time for it will come.” “Well, you know best. I see Dawn is off your back for the meantime.” Xander huffed, “She should be, but then you never know.” “I don’t feel sorry for you. You indulged Dawn too much.” “Tell me something, what is the difference between Mum and Dawn? Yet you indulge her every time.” “She is my mama. Got something else to say?” Jace retorted, throwing his arms out. Xander shook his head. “You are a hypocrite,” “Mum would be glad to know that her son thinks she is too much.” “Snitch. Pray to tell. I should call Nina; I haven’t heard from her all day.” Jace wiggled his brows to tease him. “Oh wow, such a lover boy.” “Just shut up.” Xander paused when he attempted to dial Nina, but Carla’s call interrupted him. “Hey, Carla.” “It’s Nina. She is in labor.” Carla informed him. “W-what? I thought we still had a week or two. You know what? I will be at the hospital in no time.” He said hurriedly and hung up. Jace stood up. “What happened?” Snatching his car keys, he heaved. “Nina. I have to go now.” “Wait! You don’t seem calm enough to drive. Give it to me.” He said, snatching the keys off his hand. “Let’s go.” Xander didn’t argue and followed quickly.