The Devil's Contractual Bride-Chapter 47: Crashing

Aria’s POV

I woke up slowly to the morning light that filtered through the penthouse windows, painting. My body was aching in ways that reminded me of the hurdles I had passed through in the past few days and how my body has not been given time to heal.

But surprisingly, the pain wasn’t the first thing on my mind,Lucian was.

He lay beside me, with one arm draped protectively over my waist. Even in sleep, his brow was furrowed, as if he was still fighting battles in his dreams.

I shifted slightly, and he stirred immediately, his eyes opening with sharp alertness.

"You’re awake," he murmured,his hand tightening on my waist. "How do you feel?"

"Trust me,you don’t want to hear it," I replied dryly, trying to smile. "But I’m alive though and that counts for something."

He didn’t smile back. Instead, he propped himself up on one elbow, brushing a strand of hair from my face with gentleness.

"What about Ethan? Has he been arrested?" I asked.

"I got a call from the detective,he said they couldn’t find Ethan at the scene and there was no probable cause to arrest him because he has an alibi placing him in Spain. I don’t even know how he managed to pull that off" Lucian explained with disappointment.

"You should rest today and I’ll handle the office. The board is in emergency session, but I can—"

"No." I cut him off, sitting up despite the protest from my ribs. "I’m not staying behind. This is my company too now and I’m the majority shareholder, remember? I’m going with you."

Lucian’s expression darkened. "Aria, you were just rescued from kidnappers yesterday. Your fingers and ribs are badly broken and you’re insisting on attending some stupid board meeting?."

"It’s not stupid Lucian. Don’t go also forget that you almost died trying to save me," I shot back. "We’re in this together. You said it yourself last night so I’m not hiding in the penthouse while Ethan tries to destroy us."

He stared at me for a long moment, conflict clear in his eyes. Finally, he exhaled. "You’re impossible."

"I’m determined," I corrected, leaning in to kiss him softly. "And I’m coming with you."

He kissed me back, deeper this time, his hand cupping the back of my neck. When he pulled away, there was a reluctant smile on his lips. "Fine,but you will stay close to me and if you feel any pain, we leave immediately."

"I guess we have a deal then."

We got ready together. I chose a simple blue blouse and wide-leg trousers that hid the bandages on my fingers.

Lucian helped me with the buttons, his touch careful and lingering. As we rode the elevator down to the garage, I took his hand.

"I’m scared," I admitted quietly. "Not just for me. For you. What if the public gets to hear about dead-man’s or your involvement in the tanking of the shares..."

Lucian squeezed my hand. "You don’t have to worry about that now, let’s get done with the board first."

Marcus was waiting with the car. He gave me a respectful nod. "Mrs. Voss.Welcome back."

"Thank you, Marcus," I said. "Me being forcefully kept away from my home is beginning to look like a norm now."

The drive to Voss Tower was tense. Lucian’s phone kept buzzing with updates from Clara about how the board was already gathering, with directors demanding answers.

We arrived at the tower just before 9 a.m. The lobby was buzzing with nervous energy with employees whispering as we walked through, eyes darting between Lucian and me.

When the doors of the elevator ride which seemed endless opened, the boardroom was already full.

Every director was present including Margaret Kline who looked pale and exhausted. The older men shifted uncomfortably in their seats while the women from operations and legal exchanged worried glances.

The room fell silent immediately we entered.

Lucian walked to the head of the table where he pulled out a seat for me,then he stayed standing beside me.

One of the women from operations and legal cleared her throat. "Lucian... Aria. The stock is down another 12% this morning and the SEC has formally opened an inquiry into market manipulation. Some of us are being questioned. We need answers about what the hell is going on?"

I stepped forward before Lucian could speak.

"I’ll tell you what’s going on," I started. "A few days ago, I was kidnapped by Ethan Caldwell. He held me in an abandoned soundstage on the Paramount lot where he threatened to kill me if Lucian didn’t deliver ten million dollars. As a side plan,he had documents that would frame Lucian for the kidnapping and the stock crash if anything goes wrong."

Gasps rippled around the table.

One of the older directors leaned forward. "Is this true?"

"Yes," Lucian answered immediately. "And Ethan is still out there because he got to escape last night."

Margaret’s eyes widened. "Then why haven’t the police arrested him?"

"That I can’t say for now" I gulped the cup my assistant had brought in before continuing. "But I do know that he’s trying to turn this against us. Nevertheless we’re not going to let him. So as the majority shareholder I’m exercising my right to call for a vote of confidence in Lucian as CEO and I’m voting yes."

The room erupted in murmurs but before anyone could respond, Lucian’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, then stepped aside to take the call privately.

When he returned, his face was grim.

"That was Mike," he said quietly, so only I could hear it. "They found the lawyer Ethan ordered to release the documents that would frame. It had already been sent to the SEC and we might be looking at possible arrest warrants."

I felt the blood drain from my face but I kept my expression calm for the board.

"Let’s talk about this later," I whispered back.

In the quiet moment between meetings, while the directors argued among themselves, I stole a moment to glance at my phone after endless notifications and buzzing. The first message on my phone left my head spinning uncontrollably;

BREAKING: Voss Enterprises CEO Lucian Voss and His Wife Aria,The Majority Shareholder Of The Company Wanted for Questioning in Market Manipulation Case.