Maeve's POV

"This is quite a mess, Seth." George was the first to recover, I was still stunned. I can't say I hadn't noticed the help we were getting from Flynn Industries but I didn't know it was happening illegally. I had had many conversation with Seth regarding the same, and it didn't seem exactly out of bounds. Though, connecting the dots backwards, it made sense. Perhaps I knew it too, just hid behind the obliviousness. The moment the board would notice, it would've made them question Seth, which they were doing now.

"It was inevitable, dad but it's not too far gone. Stella, I assume, is being forced into doing things, how I don't know but I have put my men on it. Jake Herondale is in way over his head. He set up a meeting too soon and is too impulsive." Seth looked eerily calm. Like it was a day to day occurrence to have a sort of coup in your own company. If any of what was done over the year come to light in front of the board, the penalty would be too high, it could cost Seth his job and reputation. Though, the person who seemed the most uncomfortable was George, I first assumed it was because of the shock, but then it seemed like he was expecting this. And was guilty.

"Maeve." I looked up at him, hoping my face didn't reflect all the panic, "We need to slowly start making your company independent or-" He paused, hesitating, "Think of a merger."

"A merger?" Katrina asked to no one in particular, letting the word hang in the air. A merger would mean that Flynn Ind. would swallow my company and my entire rule of keeping personal and profession separate would go up in flames.

George looked at Katrina and they both silently agreed to something, "Talk this through, both of you, if you need us, don't hesitate. Seth, I recommend that you both stay back the night here, safer that way." Seth nodded at his father and the older couple left the room. We stayed silent for a little while, my mind racing, Seth cleared his throat and sat straighter.

"The merger would be clean and the board would accept it better." A year back I would have screamed no almost immediately, but running the company even with the resources from Seth's company was difficult, without it, I feared it would go back to the state it was in and I couldn't allow for that to happen. Yet, the thought of the company losing its own identity was terrifying. I felt my father's words repeat in my head, people make bad decisions in business. Would denying a merger be one of those?

"I need some time to think," I paused, taking in a deep breath, I knew I was just evading the end, "How much time can you give me?"

"I have to start bringing board members on my side," I could see his worry lines surfacing and it just hit me, like a strong wave that Seth was in way too much trouble as it is because of me, "Another problem is that the contract between us," He was having trouble forming words, he closed his eyes for a second, "It states that as long as this marriage stands, your company rests on mine, and visa versa. So, right now, a merger is the only possibility." I cursed under my breath, he was right. I can't go independent without facing years in jail for violating the contract and he can't leave the situation be, as a CEO colluding with another company would immediately result in his termination.

"Okay." I said, defeated. There were a lot of things I had to take care of as well, talk to my dad about the merger, see if he had any more colourful insights.

"We will protect as much of your independence as we can during the merger but," He trailed off, perhaps unable to find words to let me down slowly.

"I know." He leaned forward to grab a hold of my hand, I didn't shrug it off, I felt vulnerable and I didn't have the strength to maintain the wall I had built around my heart. I needed him to keep me afloat.

"I'm sorry." I scooted closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder, at that moment I was thankful for his warmth beside me. Someone to lean on. The weight of his words were not lost on me. I could feel that he was not just sorry for that day, he was sorry for everything and I don't know why but I believed him.

"I am sorry too." His lips touched my forehead and I melted, I fell in love with him all over again.

Dinner was spent in an attempt to forget all the heavy lifting of the day. George and Katrina acted like it was a normal day at the house. Though, Georges' behaviour still seemed off to me, I didn't voice my opinion.

"Maeve, I'll send some clothes to your room." I nodded, I hadn't spent the night in the Flynn mansion before. It was far too intimidating. I wondered if I would take the guest bedroom whose location I had a vague idea of or Seths room which I had been in briefly during the house tour.

George and Katrina left the table and Seth proceeded to stand.

"Um-"

"Sleep in my room tonight?" The way he asked, I think back and wonder if I would have ever had the strength to say no.

I simply nodded, following his lead. His room looked just the way it used to, quite similar to the one back in our apartment before he changed it up to suit my taste.

A pair of clothes were kept neatly folded on the foot of the bed. I eyed the satin material for a moment and hoped that Katrina didn't give me some good for nothing nightie.

"You go freshen up, I have some work to follow up on." Somehow it didn't feel awkward in the room, just the two of us. He smiled at me and brought his phone to his ear, "Update?" I left him in the room. I was so conflicted about everything happening in my life. My personal and professional. I was supposed to distance myself from him, but now with all this, I needed him. As a husband and as a business counselor. He has more than a couple of times given me solutions to problems I had, he was my mentor after I was abandoned by my own father.

He was the only one there for me, and he was under a lot of stress. I realised I had to suck up my pride and be there for him too.

The nightie Katrina chose for me brought me out of my deep existential crisis. It was a magenta satin camisole and matching shorts. It wasn't something I would wear but it wasn't indecent either. It wasn't like it was the first time Seth would see me wearing less, he had seen me in far lesser. So, with that in mind I marched out of the bathroom. Seth was seated behind his laptop with a deep frown and a Bluetooth in his ear. I walked near him, mostly to see if he needed any help. As I neared him he looked up for a second and paused, now, normally Seth schooled his expressions pretty well. But at that moment shock was evident in his demeanour. I didn't quite grasp what shocked him, they were far from lingerie.

"Ye-" He cleared his throat probably realising he was on call, "Yes, I'm here."

I took the seat beside him on the couch and peered in his laptop. He had numerous files open, but the one on top was of Jake Herondale's. I was sitting with quite a lot of physical distance between us but I somehow still felt his body warmth beside mine and it sent goose-bumps all over my skin.

"Call me when you have the rest of the details," He paused, "Yeah, I will look into that tomorrow." He cut the call after that, pulling the device from his ear. I could feel his gaze on me but I looked into the screen, afraid I wouldn't be able to resist the hunger in his eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I had asked my security to keep an eye on the Herondale family, it appears that only Jake is involved but interestingly enough, guess who Jake has met more than a couple of times?" The seriousness his tone carried worried me.

"Stella?"

"Well, yes, but he was also constantly in contact with Ben." My eyes rounded and my mouth fell open.

"Oh, no."

"Yes, this plan has been on for way too long, I'm afraid, Ben came into our lives with the purpose of finding out more about our marriage but the night at the pub, he slipped. And, that's when Jake contacted Stella. It has all been happening under our noses, we have been too blind to realise it." I sat back, flabbergasted.

"What now?"

"Ben has been dealt with, he will testify against Jake, and I am requesting for full custody, that wi-" His voice was all business.

"Hold on, hold on. Full custody?"

"Of John." He stilled, "I should have talked to you about this, I'm sorry. If you aren't comfortable with this, I understand b-"

"Seth, slow down. Of course I am not okay with this. John's first fear was that you would take him away from his mom. He will hate you forever if you do that." I placed a hand on his forearm, wishing I could convey what I meant by a simple touch.

"What do you expect me to do then? Let him live with her?" His eyes held fatherly worry, rightly so, but I knew one thing for sure.

"Whatever she has done to us put aside, she loves John, even though she used him to scheme all this."

"I can't believe you are taking her side."

"I am not, not for a second. I'm saying do what is best for John, not for the company." He flinched at my words but I didn't take them back.

"How can you accuse me of that?" He whispered, withdrawing from me. I took his hand in mine in a hurry.

"Again, I am not, I know you love him and care for him, but children are fragile, Seth. You need to think from his perspective, you are his father but he has been with his mother since he was born, he only knows her. You will not be able to handle the repercussions of losing his admiration."

"She will keep using him."

"From what you told me, she didn't want to be part of the scheme. Speak to her, find another way, Seth. John deserves that."

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