Chapter 25 SIGN THE AGREEMENT

On looking at the file, I saw pages in it, and when I properly read the starting few words on the first page, it looked as if it was an agreement. I didn’t understand why I would be asked by him to read whatever was written in this. I thought it must have been some business-related thing of his, and when I was going to ask him what it was, I saw my name written on the second line.

My name caught my attention, and then I took full interest in continuing to read the rest of it. Immediately I looked up on the page to see what agreement it was. Seeing ‘Shareholder Agreement’ right on top of the page was surprising to me. And because my name was mentioned at the start, it obviously had something to do with me.

I was hoping he did not take the 50 per cent stake at the museum seriously. That is what came to my mind on reading how much I read that far. I quickly glanced through it, and I was stunned to read all that I had a fear of in my mind. Charles’s name, my name, and his company’s name was enough for me to understand it was really what I hoped for it not to be.

“What is this?” I asked in utter shock as I looked up at Charles.

“Sign it,” he instructed while he passed me the pen that Edward gave to him with the file. The whole thing that was happening stupefied me, and I had gone completely numb.

Unable to feel anything at all, I stayed in that very position and kept looking at Charles as I was trying to get myself back in place to understand what to say to him.

“What is this?” I questioned once again because I was not getting any more words to say. Even though I had somewhat understood, I wanted him to explain to me, and that would have led the whole thing to a discussion on why he was doing all that.

He said that I owned 50 per cent stake in the museum in front of all his staff, but he didn’t have to really do it. I couldn’t have ever signed such an agreement ever in life. That was not because I didn’t want to, anybody will love to be given such a thing. It was because I didn’t want to take any percent stake in any of his business as I knew my place.

Unable to understand the reason for him giving me 50 per cent stake in his company, at the museum, I said, “I am not signing this.”

As he looked at me with furrowed brows, I stated, “I do not want anything to do with your business. You said whatever you wanted at the museum, but that doesn’t make it a compulsion. Besides, I am not anyone to you to own any part of your business.”

Had Charles and I been in a relationship, this deal would have been like a commitment to me with my partner trusting me so much that he was giving me 50 per cent stake in the company which would also have been ours. But I was just a stranger turned friend to him, and he shouldn’t be trusting me so much. At least not without spending a substantial amount of time with me by which we would have gotten to know each other better.

While I was getting up from the chair that I was sitting at the table in to get away from all the things that were happening at the dining table, Charles shouted, “Olivia!”

Listening to him calling me with a raised voice, I stopped. However, I didn’t have the courage to turn around and look at him. So, I continued being a statue in the position that I had stopped.

“Come back, and sit!” He shouted in the same manner.

I had never seen him talk like this with anyone, at least in front of me the way that he was asking me to do things at that time. It looked to me like the way that I was behaving was pissing him off, and no matter that I didn’t want him to be mad at me, but I also didn’t want to sign that piece of paper that gave me a stake in his company for no rhyme or reason.

It was not easy for me to just leave that room after seeing Charles get angry at me. So, I did what he said and went back to the chair that I got up from and sat down on it. My eyes were fixed on my lap because I was not able to look at him straight in the eye. It was also difficult for me to see on top of the table where the file was kept open.

“Pick up the pen, Olivia,” Charles commanded.

I had always heard him call me Olive; my full name he used rarely. Signing any document had to be my choice and not because I was being asked to do that. It was somehow losing its charm, but only because I really liked him, it was making my lower lips tingle. Being dominated by the one man that I liked very much was quite a turn on.

I picked up the pen as he directed me, and while I was doing it, there came another command from him.

“Sign the damn document,” he ordered.

Been left with no other option than to do as he said, I pulled the file closer to me. Edward came to my side to help me in understanding where I must sign.

Once I was done signing all the documents, Edward left the room with that file. I finally looked up to see Charles as I wanted to ask him what he wanted from me because without having any kind of feelings for me, he wouldn't have gifted me 50 per cent stake in the museum without wanting something from me.