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"Think about it, Malissa. People are asked the put up their hands. Nothing in the rules states that they have to put their hands up at the same time. So, say…who will put their hand up first?" Hayden prompted me to think.

"Huh?" I murmured in confusion.

"Even worst…let’s say that I don’t put my hand up when they ask who is in favor. What do you think those old Torex folks are going to do?" Hayden asked with an innocent smile on his lips.

They won’t put their hands up. If the next heir doesn’t put his hand up, they probably won’t put their hand up to vote in favor. This is all because they can see what the other people are choosing to do, and they can react to it.

Everyone will be watching everyone else. Why didn’t I realize this before?

I thought of the eyes of the Torex managers on Hayden when he pushed the paper further away from him on the table. They were all watching him.

"Alternatively, what will happen if I were to put my hand up first?" Hayden asked with a calculated smile.

All or almost all of the Torex managers will probably put up their hands up to follow what Hayden was doing. I let out a sigh when I finally realized that this voting process was never designed to be fair in the first place.

"So, tell me, do you still think that I have only one vote?" Hayden asked before he smirked at me when he realized that I seemed to have understood what was going on behind this twisted voting mechanism.

The reason why Hayden had seemed so carefree up until now was probably because knew all of this already. The truth was that there was no such thing as voting for or against the proposal. In reality, there was only one vote and one person who would truly decide whether this proposal went through or not, and unfortunately, that man happened to be my dear and wonderful husband here.

"What do you want?" I asked, getting right to the point.

Judging from how he was acting, I could guess that Hayden already had something in mind that he wanted from me. That was probably why he suggested to bring me here in the first place. It just seemed like I was waltzing deeper and deeper into the maze that he had created with every step that I took forward.

Hayden smiled so sweetly at me that my chest felt tight and uncomfortable. How cunning can this man be?

"Ethan gave you something, right?" Hayden asked but it wasn’t truly a question.

He knows…

"Yes, he did," I replied truthfully because there was no point in evading it.

"I take it that you haven’t read the letter that he gave you. Is that correct?" he asked.

I just nodded. I knew that he already knew. How he knew, I had no idea.

"I want to read it with you when you decide to read it," Hayden stated his demand as he stared right into my face.

He wants to read the letter with me? The letter from Ethan?

"That’s…" I mumbled in hesitation.

Isn’t that like a direct violation of privacy or something? What if Ethan wrote some very personal and inappropriate things in there?

"Voting will start in around two minutes time. We’re waiting for some members to return from the restroom," the man announced.

Suddenly, on top of all the pressure that I was under, I was also pressed for time.

"Time is running out, Malissa. What do you want to do?" Hayden asked before flashing me an innocent smile.

I had a bittersweet relationship with that smile of his. It didn’t seem like I had much of a choice. If that was what he wanted, then it was probably worth it to make sure that this partnership goes through. We came such a long way to get to this day, I can’t just let it go to waste. My freedom to roam around outside may just be around the corner.

"Fine. We’ll read it together. So please, vote in favor of this proposal," I replied decisively.

"Very well," Hayden replied with clear satisfaction.

I had no ideas why he wanted to read that letter so much or how he found out about it, but if that was what he wanted then…

"Hayden…" I whispered his name when he suddenly pulled me closer to him.

"Shhh…" he hushed me up by placing a finger against my lips.

My eyes widened in surprise before his warm lips replaced his finger on my lips. He kissed me right there while my body froze in shock. Thankfully, the kiss did not last long but it was long enough to make me feel embarrassed and funny inside.

"Done. Sealed with a kiss," Hayden whispered teasingly into my ear.

"We will now proceed to voting. Everyone please take your seat," the man announced loudly to call the meeting back to order.

I glanced over at Hayden nervously although I knew that he would undoubtedly keep his word. Hopefully, the other Torex leaders will vote in favor of the proposal as well just like Hayden was going to. My hands clenched tightly on my lap as I waited to see what would happen next. My eyes strayed to Ethan who seemed as relaxed and composed as always.

Why does it seem like I’m the only one that is nervous about all this?

"Now may I ask everyone who is in favor of the proposal to please raise your hand," the man announced loud and clear.

I looked around at the silent room, where absolutely no hands went up. This was exactly what Hayden had anticipated. The result of this voting would probably be swayed by whoever was brave enough to raise his hand first.

Hayden laughed softly to himself before he slowly raised his hand up firmly into the air.

--To be continued…