The Unwanted son-in-law

Chapter 8: Into the lion's den

Ethan’s POV

I never wanted this.

Not the marriage.

Not the meetings.

And definitely not working for the Windsor Corporation.

But here I am sitting in Leonard Windsor’s ridiculously massive office, listening to him praise me like I just saved his company from the brink of destruction.

He leans back in his chair, swirling his expensive whiskey. “You handled that last meeting impressively, Ethan. I wasn’t expecting you to seal the deal so fast.”

I smirk, stretching my legs out. “What can I say? Some of us know how to get things done.”

His eyes glint with amusement. “And that’s exactly why I’ve made a decision.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What decision?”

He takes a slow sip before setting his glass down. “You’ll be representing all my merging meetings from now on.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

I stare at him, trying to figure out if this is some kind of joke. “You want me to handle all your deals? You do realize I’m not actually a Windsor, right?”

He smiles. “Not yet.”

I stiffen.

I don’t like the way he says that.

Not. At. All.

But before I can argue, he slides a thick folder across the table. “Your first official assignment starts today. Review it. The meeting is in an hour.”

I grit my teeth, snatching up the folder.

This man is playing with me.

But fine.

If he wants me to act like a Windsor, I’ll do it better than any of them ever could.

MEETINGS

Walking into the conference room, I immediately feel the tension.

The men sitting around the long glass table are nothing like the usual corporate puppets I’m used to dealing with.

These guys?

They’re sharks.

Cutthroat, ruthless, and hungry.

I recognize a few faces, investors, CEOs, men with reputations as dirty as their money.

And they’re all staring at me.

One of them, a bald guy with a cigar leans forward, smirking. “Where’s Mr. Windsor? I thought we’d be discussing this deal with him.”

I drop the folder onto the table and lean forward, mirroring his smirk.

“You are.”

His eyes narrow. “You’re not Leonard Windsor.”

“Nope. But I speak for him now.” I cross my arms. “And if you have a problem with that, you’re welcome to leave.”

Silence.

Then, a chuckle.

The guy next to him, a sleek-looking man in an overpriced suit, taps his fingers on the table. “Alright, kid. Let’s see if you’re worth our time.”

And just like that, the meeting begins.

I barely have time to breathe before I’m dragged into another meeting, this time with an international firm looking to merge with Windsor Corp.

They’re big.

Powerful.

And highly unimpressed with me.

I can tell by the way they exchange glances the moment I step into the room.

The lead negotiator, a French woman with icy blue eyes, folds her arms. “Mr. Carter, I must admit, I expected to see Leonard Windsor here today.”

I flash a charming smile. “I get that a lot.”

Her lips twitch. “Do you?”

“All the time.” I take my seat, tossing the contract onto the table. “But I assure you, I know exactly what I’m doing.”

She doesn’t look convinced.

So, I prove it to her.

I go through the contract line by line, breaking down every flaw, every loophole, and every advantage Windsor Corp. has.

By the time I’m done, she’s staring.

The room is silent.

Then, slowly, she smiles.

“Well,” she says, signing the deal. “It seems you do know what you’re doing.”

Damn right I do.

*********

I should’ve known this one would be trouble.

The moment I walk in, I feel it, the tension, the fakeness, the trap.

These men don’t want a merger.

They want to buy us out.

And they think I’m dumb enough to let it happen.

“Mr. Carter,” the head of the opposing company, a smug-looking bastard named Raymond Blackwell, leans forward. “We have an offer for you.”

I nod. “Let’s hear it.”

He slides a contract across the table.

I skim through it.

And I almost laugh.

“You must think I’m an idiot.”

Blackwell blinks. “Excuse me?”

I toss the contract back at him. “This isn’t a merger. It’s a goddamn hostile takeover.”

He grins. “Business is business.”

I lean in, my smile matching his. “And I don’t lose in business.”

His grin falters.

“Let me make something clear,” I continue, my voice dangerously calm. “You will never… never own any Windsor Corp shares with such conditions. You will never get your hands on this company. And if you ever try pulling a stunt like this again, I’ll personally make sure you regret it.”

Silence.

Blackwell’s smirk drops.

And just like that, the deal is off the table.

Checkmate.

BACK AT THE MANSION

By the time I get back to the Windsor estate, I’m exhausted.

I loosen my tie, rubbing my temples as I step inside.

I should go straight to my room.

But instead?

I find myself face-to-face with Zara.

She’s leaning against the staircase, arms crossed, watching me with a knowing smirk.

“Well, well,” she drawls. “Look who’s finally home.”

I sigh. “Not now, Zara.”

“Oh, but I insist.” She steps forward, tilting her head. “How was your first day at our company?”

I glare. “It’s not our company.”

She gasps, placing a hand over her chest. “Oh, Ethan. That hurts.”

I roll my eyes. “Move.”

She doesn’t.

Instead, she places a finger on my chest, trailing it down slowly.

“You look tense,” she purrs. “Did the big, bad corporate world stress you out today?”

I grab her wrist, my grip firm. “Careful, Princess.”

Her smirk widens. “Or what?”

I lean in, our faces inches apart.

“Or you’ll find out exactly how stressed I am.”

Her breath catches.

For a second.. just a second she actually looks nervous.

Then, just as quickly, she laughs and pulls away

.

“Well,” she hums, turning on her heel, “I guess I’ll let you rest.”

She walks off, her hips swaying as she disappears up the stairs.

I exhale, shaking my head.

That woman is going to be the death of me.