Wildest Hearts Read Online Free Page B
want.”
“Have you?” He sounded skeptical, but he was clearly intrigued.
“Yes, I have. It will protect Daniel's company and it will also protect your investment.” Annie hurried back to her chair and sat down. Now that the moment had arrived to explain her idea, she was no longer so nervous. She leaned forward intently and folded her arms on the polished surface of the ebony desk.
“I'm listening, Annie.”
“This is a little difficult to explain,” she said. “But if you'll just hear me out, I think you'll agree that it could work. Keep in mind the plan won't have to be in effect very long because I'm sure we'll find Daniel any day.”
Oliver paused in the act of pouring more tea. “This grows more interesting by the moment. Let's hear your plan.”
“Okay, as you know, Lyncroft Unlimited is a family-held corporation. My brother and I control all of the stock. When Joanna marries Daniel, she'll receive shares in the company, too, but not before that time.”
“I understand. But since she hasn't yet married your brother and Daniel is presumed dead, you now control all of the stock. You're the only member of the Lyncroft family around at the moment.”
“That's right.” Annie gathered herself for the plunge. “But if I were to marry, my husband would become a member of the family. I could give him an interest in the company.”
Tea splashed on the surface of the ebony desk. Oliver abruptly set down the teapot. For an instant he stared at the small puddle of spilled tea as if amazed that his powerful hands had failed him. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with frozen ice. “I didn't know you were planning to marry anyone.”
Annie waved that aside. “I'm not. Not exactly, that is. Mr. Rain, I mean, Oliver, have you ever heard of a marriage of convenience?”
2
Astunned silence descended. Oliver's eyes narrowed, effectively masking his reaction. “Marriage of convenience?”
Annie leaned farther forward, intent on making him understand the brilliance of her plan. “By definition it's a marriage designed to benefit both parties in some manner but one that has nothing to do with love and affection. A marriage of convenience is essentially a business relationship.”
“A business relationship.” Oliver folded his big hands on the desk and regarded her with his chilling gaze. “You're contemplating such a marriage?”
“Yes.”
“You intend to marry someone who is capable of managing Lyncroft Unlimited for you? Someone who will placate the investors and reassure Daniel's creditors?”
Annie was pleased that he was getting the picture so quickly. “You've got it. It would be strictly a business relationship, as I said. My husband will become a controlling partner in Lyncroft Unlimited on the day of our marriage. He'll take charge immediately. The man I have in mind has a legendary reputation in the business world so the other investors will be bound to accept him. They'll stop panicking.”
“I see.” Oliver's eyes did not waver.
“Do you understand how it would work?” she asked a little anxiously.
“I understand how you think it will work.” Oliver fell silent for a moment. “What happens if Daniel does return?”
“Simple.” Annie smiled triumphantly. “I file for divorce. Once it's final, my ex-husband will no longer own any part of Lyncroft Unlimited. The way Daniel set up his corporation, all shares in the company revert to the family in the event of a divorce.”
“And if your husband takes you to court?”
“That's not likely, but I'll cover that possibility with a prenuptial agreement.”
“You seem to have given this a great deal of thought.”
“I have. I've discussed it with Joanna, and we both agree that it's the safest way to try to hold onto Daniel's company.” She hadn't exactly discussed it with Joanna, Annie admitted to herself. She had more
“Have you?” He sounded skeptical, but he was clearly intrigued.
“Yes, I have. It will protect Daniel's company and it will also protect your investment.” Annie hurried back to her chair and sat down. Now that the moment had arrived to explain her idea, she was no longer so nervous. She leaned forward intently and folded her arms on the polished surface of the ebony desk.
“I'm listening, Annie.”
“This is a little difficult to explain,” she said. “But if you'll just hear me out, I think you'll agree that it could work. Keep in mind the plan won't have to be in effect very long because I'm sure we'll find Daniel any day.”
Oliver paused in the act of pouring more tea. “This grows more interesting by the moment. Let's hear your plan.”
“Okay, as you know, Lyncroft Unlimited is a family-held corporation. My brother and I control all of the stock. When Joanna marries Daniel, she'll receive shares in the company, too, but not before that time.”
“I understand. But since she hasn't yet married your brother and Daniel is presumed dead, you now control all of the stock. You're the only member of the Lyncroft family around at the moment.”
“That's right.” Annie gathered herself for the plunge. “But if I were to marry, my husband would become a member of the family. I could give him an interest in the company.”
Tea splashed on the surface of the ebony desk. Oliver abruptly set down the teapot. For an instant he stared at the small puddle of spilled tea as if amazed that his powerful hands had failed him. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with frozen ice. “I didn't know you were planning to marry anyone.”
Annie waved that aside. “I'm not. Not exactly, that is. Mr. Rain, I mean, Oliver, have you ever heard of a marriage of convenience?”
2
Astunned silence descended. Oliver's eyes narrowed, effectively masking his reaction. “Marriage of convenience?”
Annie leaned farther forward, intent on making him understand the brilliance of her plan. “By definition it's a marriage designed to benefit both parties in some manner but one that has nothing to do with love and affection. A marriage of convenience is essentially a business relationship.”
“A business relationship.” Oliver folded his big hands on the desk and regarded her with his chilling gaze. “You're contemplating such a marriage?”
“Yes.”
“You intend to marry someone who is capable of managing Lyncroft Unlimited for you? Someone who will placate the investors and reassure Daniel's creditors?”
Annie was pleased that he was getting the picture so quickly. “You've got it. It would be strictly a business relationship, as I said. My husband will become a controlling partner in Lyncroft Unlimited on the day of our marriage. He'll take charge immediately. The man I have in mind has a legendary reputation in the business world so the other investors will be bound to accept him. They'll stop panicking.”
“I see.” Oliver's eyes did not waver.
“Do you understand how it would work?” she asked a little anxiously.
“I understand how you think it will work.” Oliver fell silent for a moment. “What happens if Daniel does return?”
“Simple.” Annie smiled triumphantly. “I file for divorce. Once it's final, my ex-husband will no longer own any part of Lyncroft Unlimited. The way Daniel set up his corporation, all shares in the company revert to the family in the event of a divorce.”
“And if your husband takes you to court?”
“That's not likely, but I'll cover that possibility with a prenuptial agreement.”
“You seem to have given this a great deal of thought.”
“I have. I've discussed it with Joanna, and we both agree that it's the safest way to try to hold onto Daniel's company.” She hadn't exactly discussed it with Joanna, Annie admitted to herself. She had more
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