Chapter 6 I Hate

Ethan’s POV I hated business meetings. I hated the fake smiles. I hated the scripted conversations. And most of all? I hated that I had to be here representing Leonard Windsor, a man I couldn’t stand. The meeting was in some ridiculously high-end hotel. The kind where the chandeliers looked like they cost more than my entire soul. I adjusted my suit as I stepped into the private conference room, already feeling a migraine creeping in. A long, sleek table stretched across the room, occupied by men in expensive suits, the kind of people who smiled at you while plotting how to ruin your life. At the head of the table sat Marcus Caldwell, CEO of Caldwell Enterprises, the company Leonard wanted to merge with. Marcus was in his mid-forties, with a sharp, calculating gaze that made it clear he didn’t trust anyone. Good. Neither did I. “Ah, Mr. Windsor,” Marcus greeted, extending a hand. I didn’t correct him, technically, I was part of the Windsor family now, no matter how much I despised it. I shook his hand. “Ethan.” “Pleasure,” Marcus said, though his tone suggested otherwise. “Shall we begin?” I took a seat, mentally preparing myself for the nightmare ahead. Fifteen minutes in, and I was already bored out of my mind. Marcus’s team was droning on about synergy, profit margins, and market expansion, all the fancy words people used to make money sound more complicated than it actually was. I leaned back, resisting the urge to check my watch. Then, Marcus dropped a bombshell. “We believe a 60-40 split would be fair,” he said smoothly. I raised a brow. “You mean 60% for Caldwell and 40% for Windsor?” Marcus smiled, as if he expected me to be stupid enough to agree. “That’s correct.” I let out a low laugh. And then? I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Let me get this straight. You want the Windsor family to hand over majority control… while taking all the risks?” Marcus’s smile didn’t falter. “We bring more resources to the table.” I smirked. “You bring more bullshit to the table.” The room went silent. One of Marcus’s executives coughed awkwardly. Marcus, to his credit, didn’t lose his cool. “Mr. Windsor, this is a fair offer.” I tilted my head. “Fair? You want Leonard Windsor to step back and let Caldwell Enterprises run the show. That’s not a merger, that’s a hostile takeover wrapped in fancy words.” I could see the irritation flicker in Marcus’s eyes. “Then what do you suggest?” he asked. I smiled. “A real partnership. 50-50. Equal power. Equal risk. Equal reward.” Marcus chuckled. “That’s not how business works, Ethan.” I leaned back. “Then maybe this deal doesn’t work.” More silence. I could tell his team was shocked. They thought I’d be an idiot who’d just nod and agree to whatever they wanted. Too bad for them. Marcus studied me for a long moment. Then he said, “You’re not what I expected.” I raised a brow. “Disappointed?” He smiled. “Intrigued.” And that? That was dangerous. The rest of the meeting was tense. We went back and forth, throwing around numbers, revising terms, and trying to one-up each other. It was like playing chess, except instead of pawns, we were moving millions of dollars. Finally, Marcus leaned back. “Alright, Ethan. I’ll take your proposal to my board.” I smirked. “Looking forward to hearing from you.” Marcus’s lips twitched. “You’ll make a fine businessman someday.” I stood. “I’d rather die.” He laughed. “Pity. You’d be good at it.” I turned to leave, but then…. He said something that made me stop cold. “How’s Zara?” My fists clenched. What? I slowly turned back. “Why?” Marcus swirled the whiskey in his glass. “No reason. Just heard rumors that her childhood friend, Chris Montgomery, is back in town.” I knew what he was doing. Testing me. Trying to see if I’d react. If I’d show that I cared. I smirked. “Chris can do whatever he wants. Zara is my wife.” Marcus studied me. Then, he nodded. “Good answer.” I walked out, but inside? Inside, something about that conversation bothered me. And I didn’t know why. BACK AT THE MANSION When I returned home, I was greeted by chaos. Zara was arguing with a maid. Chris was standing too close to her. And Leonard was watching it all with an amused expression. “Great,” I muttered. “This circus again.” Zara spotted me first. “Oh, look who’s back. How was the meeting, Mr. Businessman?” I smirked. “Better than your attitude.” She rolled her eyes. Chris, however? He just smirked and crossed his arms. “So, you’re playing the businessman now? Didn’t think you had it in you.” I hated his face. I hated the way he looked at Zara. But mostly? I hated that he knew exactly how to piss me off. I kept my expression blank. “Yeah, well, I didn’t think you’d still be this obsessed with my wife, but here we are.” Chris’s jaw ticked. Good. Leonard suddenly cleared his throat. “Now, now, boys. No need to fight.” I smirked. “Who’s fighting? I’m just stating facts.” Zara glared at me. “You are so annoying.” I grinned. “And you’re so easy to annoy.” She threw the mop the maid was holding a while ago at me. I caught it. Chris scowled. “You two are ridiculous.” I smirked. “Jealous?” His fists clenched. “Not in the slightest.” Zara groaned. “Ugh, you guys are so childish.” And me? I just smiled. Because now? I had another advantage. Chris hated me. Zara was stuck with me. And I? I was going to make both of their lives a living hell. AFTER I finished discussing how the meeting went to Leonard, I decided to watch the behind the scenes of WEDNESDAY. That movie literally gave me goosebumps. Scene: "The Dark Hallway" *INT. NEVERMORE ACADEMY - HALLWAY - NIGHT* The camera pans down a dimly lit hallway, the walls adorned with cobweb-covered portraits of former students. Wednesday Addams, dressed in her signature black dress, walks down the hallway, her eyes fixed on something ahead. *WEDNESDAY* (whispering to herself) What's going on? As she approaches a door at the end of the hallway, the lights begin to flicker. Wednesday's eyes narrow. *WEDNESDAY* (firmly) I'm not afraid. She pushes open the door, revealing a dark room. Suddenly, the lights go out, plunging the hallway into darkness. *WEDNESDAY* (calmly) How...amusing. A faint whispering starts to echo through the hallway, growing louder. Wednesday's eyes gleam with curiosity. *WEDNESDAY* (intrigued) Who's there? The whispering stops. The lights flicker back to life, revealing a figure standing behind Wednesday. *WEDNESDAY* (turning around) Ah... The figure is a twisted, ghostly version of Wednesday's brother Pugsley, his eyes black as coal. *PUGSLEY* (menacingly) Wednesday...play with me. Wednesday's expression remains calm, but a hint of fear flickers in her eyes. *WEDNESDAY* (backing away) Pugsley...no. Pugsley starts to move closer, his ghostly form distorting and twisting. *WEDNESDAY* (terrified) No...! The camera zooms out as Wednesday turns to run, Pugsley's ghostly form chasing after her. The hallway disappears into darkness. *FADE TO BLACK. That part wasn't in the movie when I watched it, or I probably forgot, still enjoying it when the queen of no peace walked it. Zara what is it again As my husband, I want a massage from you, she said with a dirty smile. “Huh” I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. Were you born to haunt me? Yes , she replied sharply.