The moment Aiden walked into the boardroom, everything changed. The chatter stopped, and a thick silence settled in. You could feel the tension in the air; everyone turned to look at us, as if they already sensed the inevitable.
"Mr. Frost—Mrs. Heart—we weren't expecting—"
"It's Mrs. Frost now," Aiden cut in smoothly. "And I didn't realise I needed to RSVP to my wife's company."
He didn't even glance at the man who'd spoken. He simply pulled out a chair at the head of the table and motioned for me to take a seat.
I didn't hesitate.
Every eye in the room followed me as I took my place at the long mahogany table, folding my hands neatly before me.
Aiden didn't sit. He leaned against the wall behind me like a well-dressed panther, all arrogance and latent threat. He cleared his throat. "My wife has a few things to say."
"Let's begin," I said in a calm but firm voice, my gaze meeting my uncle's for a brief moment.
The CFO, the COO, and several department heads shifted nervously in their seats.
One of the older board members—a man who had been with the company longer than I'd been alive—cleared his throat. "Ms. Heart—"
"It's Mrs Frost," Aiden corrected from behind me.
I shot him a look. He merely shrugged and leaned back.
"Fine," the man corrected stiffly. "Mrs. Frost. We weren't aware of a leadership transition."
"That's because I didn't feel like giving anyone a heads-up," I said, and though my tone was pleasant, my words weren't. "As of this morning, I own seventy-three percent of Heart Enterprises, making me the majority shareholder. As such, I'll be stepping in as interim CEO until the formal vote next week."
The CFO blinked rapidly. "That's… sudden."
"So is bankruptcy," I said smoothly. "And that's what was waiting for you without this investment."
Another shuffle of discomfort rippled through the room.
"I'm not here to rip everything apart," I continued. "Nothing about day-to-day operations will change… for now. Salaries remain. Teams remain; clients won't see a single delay. But…" I paused, scanning and gauging the room.
"... I'll be reviewing all department reports, budgets, and financial records personally over the next few weeks. Any major decisions—especially contracts and mergers—will need my sign-off. Understood?"
They nodded, some more reluctantly than others.
Daniel, of course, looked like he was going to choke.
My uncle, who hadn't said anything since the meeting began, finally did, glancing between Aiden and me. "And Mr. Frost? Will you be taking a seat on the board?"
Aiden didn't even look up from whatever he was doing on his phone. "No need. My wife has full authority."
Another round of murmurs filled the room.
I smiled sweetly. "If anyone has a problem with that, they're welcome to submit their resignation."
The silence thickened until Daniel slammed his palm on the table. "This is bullshit. You can't just barge in here and act like you—"
"I can," I cut in, standing. "But here's what I won't do, Daniel: I won't argue with someone who still uses my Wi-Fi password."
Snickers broke out from a few corners of the room.
"You can either work under me… or not at all." My gaze leveled on him. "Your choice."
His face turned red, but he didn't respond. I smiled. "Glad we understand each other."
The rest of the meeting was a brisk, calculated discussion. A few cautious questions were raised—mostly about transition logistics—and I answered every one clearly and calmly.
I saw the shift in their eyes. The doubt turning into something closer to reluctant respect. Or fear. I'd take either.
"Meeting adjourned," I said after everything, smoothening my blazer as if the entire coup had been nothing more than a weekly check-in.
People began to shuffle out. Some offered half-hearted congratulations. Some avoided my gaze entirely. Aiden still hadn't moved from his spot near the wall, but he looked more satisfied than I'd seen him all morning.
As I packed my folder, a familiar voice called. "Jasmine."
I turned.
My uncle stood there with a tired smile—not the false kind, not the political kind, just… tired.
His expression was softer than I expected—but his eyes were sharp. "You didn't have to humiliate everyone… especially your cousin."
I arched a brow. "I didn't. I kept it clean. And public."
He sighed. "You're headstrong. Always have been. But you were defiant today. Disobedient."
I crossed my arms. "Disobedient?" I echoed. "Funny. I thought I was saving the company."
A pause.
Then, to my surprise, he said, "Thank you. Even if I don't like how you did it." He adjusted his cufflinks. I just hope you know what you're doing."
I didn't.
But I would.
"Thanks, Uncle," I said, brushing past him. "I guess I'll come pay you a visit one of these days."
I walked away before he could say anything else.
—
By the time we reached the car, my energy was starting to crash. The adrenaline, the drama, the power posturing—it left a weird ache behind my ribs.
Aiden opened the door for me again without a word. I slid in, too tired to fight the gesture.
The moment he joined me, I said, "I'll need to go home and rest—"
"I'll take you to your new home. You don't need to bother about packing; Kieran's already handling it," he said smoothly. "Clothes, shoes, toiletries. Everything you'll need is already en route."
I blinked. "Are you always this… efficient?"
He gave me a sideways glance. "When it comes to my wife? Yes."
I should've been annoyed. I should've pushed back.
But instead, I just rested my head against the seat and closed my eyes for a moment.
—
Aiden's mansion looked like it was straight out of a dark fairytale. With its black stone, steep roofs, and tall arched windows that reflected the sunset like shattered glass, the place felt like it could host royalty or a thrilling murder mystery—maybe even both.
Ivy climbed the walls. Gargoyles watched from above.
If castles had claws, this place had fangs.
The car pulled up the circular drive, tyres crunching over perfect white gravel. A uniformed attendant opened my door before I even touched the handle.
Of course.
Inside, I expected cold luxury. Minimalist halls. Silence.
Instead, I found warmth. Dark woods, soft lighting, art, books, and the kind of quiet that felt intentional, not empty.
"Huh," I said aloud.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Disappointed?"
"Not yet," I muttered, eyeing the chandelier above the entry. "But give it a few days."
He smirked. "Want a tour?"
"No. Just point me to my room."
"Separate rooms?" he asked, mock-offended.
I leaned against the grand staircase casually. "Why not? Afraid you'll get lonely, husband?"
His gaze dropped for a second—quick, hot, possessive—before flicking back up. "We agreed," I added quickly.
He gave a lazy shrug. "We can allow a few changes to accommodate that."
"You wish."
His chuckle followed me up the stairs. "We'll see about that."
—
My room was stunning, of course.
There were high ceilings, a four-poster bed, gold fixtures and dark green accents, a bathroom that looked like it belonged in a five-star hotel, and a walk-in closet already half-stocked with my things. Kieran had apparently even colour-coded my wardrobe.
Overachiever.
After a long, hot bath, I stepped out in silk shorts and a loose shirt, hair still damp, and wandered the hallway looking for Aiden.
The lights were dimmed for evening, and I was just about to call out when I heard the click of heels.
A woman strode through the front doors like she owned the damn house. Tall, icy blonde, clad in designer everything, and eyes the colour of winter frost.
She took one look at me and arched a perfectly sculpted brow.
"I see Aiden picked up a stray," she said, her voice dripping with condescension.
I crossed my arms. "And you are?"
She walked right up to me, stopping just shy of my space. "The woman he's supposed to and will eventually get married to."