Chapter 62
Isabella remained silent throughout the journey.
Finally, they arrived at their destination. Just as she was about to get out of the car, Isabella paused when she saw the surroundings.
Michael had parked the car several dozen feet away from the entrance.
"Why didn't you park in the underground garage?" Isabella frowned.
Walking from here would be too conspicuous.
She didn't want anyone from the Brown Group to see her getting out of the car with Michael and misunderstand their relationship.
Michael unbuckled his seatbelt. "If we go in, how are we supposed to act like a loving couple?"
Isabella's eyes widened. "Michael, are you crazy? Why should I play along with this act? We're about to get divorced!"
Isabella instinctively wanted to escape.
Before she could open the car door, she was pulled back. Michael reclined the seat and pressed down on her without any courtesy.
In the confined space of the car, Isabella's hands were held by him, and their bodies were tightly pressed together.
This action was too intimate.
Anyone passing by would think their relationship was unusual.
Isabella's breathing became erratic, and she didn't dare to move, fearing that Michael might actually do something here.
Seeing that resistance was futile, she simply tilted her head and asked, "Just say it, what's your purpose?"
Isabella, lying under him, exuded a faint sweet fragrance and lay quietly without making a fuss, making Michael feel a bit itchy inside.
His throat moved up and down. "I have only one request. When you get out of the car, stay by my side. Don't let anyone in the company notice anything, and by the way, dispel the rumors about our divorce."
Isabella was stunned. She never expected such shameless request.
The divorce had been delayed repeatedly by him until now.
It wasn't actually a rumor.
Now he wanted her to dispel the rumors. She was truly angry.
"Michael, you really have some nerve. Even at this point, you want to maintain your dignity. There's no room for negotiation about the divorce. I don't agree." As Isabella spoke, she tried to push him away, but Michael knew her too well.
He pressed her down and explained, "I told you, it's just an act, for one day. Besides, do you really think the mess you caused didn't affect the company? The stock market has been dropping for days. Can you say you're not responsible?"
Isabella didn't fall for his trick and sneered, "What responsibility? If you had been straightforward about the divorce, none of this would have happened. You're the one managing the company. You can't blame me."
Just as Michael was about to say something, a group of people walked by outside, and his eyes flashed.
He suddenly leaned close to her ear, his low voice sending a tingling sensation through her body. "Someone's coming. What do you think will happen if I roll down the window now? Do you want to try?"
Michael chuckled lowly, with a hint of seduction and intention.
Hearing this, Isabella became both anxious and angry. She knew Michael was capable of doing such a thing and was furious.
She bit him hard.
Michael frowned but didn't let go of her. "Bite all you want. I'll take it as your agreement."
Michael had planned all of this from the moment he appeared at her doorstep.
This was the Brown Group building. Even if he could bring himself to do such shameless things, she couldn't stand being watched like a live broadcast.
When they got out of the car, Michael extended his hand to Isabella, his eyes filled with a tenderness that could melt her.
Only Isabella knew how fake he was.
But with so many people watching, she took a deep breath and still took Michael's hand, walking intimately into the elevator together.
Everyone who saw them was shocked.
Recently, news about Isabella and rumors of their divorce had been all over the headlines.
No one expected that before they could get any follow-up, Isabella and Michael would appear hand in hand at the company, shattering the hopes of those waiting for Isabella to divorce and find a new husband.
As they watched the elevator doors close, a group of people at the front desk started gossiping.
"What's going on? Aren't they supposed to get divorced? How come they appeared together in the company lobby today?"
"Not just that. Mr. Brown had a smile on his face the whole time. Have any of you ever seen Mr. Brown that happy?"
"Maybe Mr. Brown and Mrs. Brown were just having a spat and aren't really getting divorced?"
"But what about Mrs. Brown and Thomas from the Wilson Family? A lot of people online say they're the real deal!"
"Yeah, and Mr. Brown has been seen getting close to Mrs. Brown's sister, Bianca. There are even intimate photos of them online!"
"That's why rich people live in a different world from us. It's so messy."
"Stop it. Last time somebody badmouthed Mrs. Brown and got fired. We need to keep our jobs."
Top floor.
In the serious and quiet conference room, Michael and Isabella walked in.
All eyes were on Isabella. Most of the people here were shareholders of the Brown Group, and their gazes were filled with dissatisfaction and scrutiny.
Isabella raised an eyebrow. It seemed these people were unhappy with her.
Good, she didn't like them either.
If she took this opportunity to bring up the divorce. Maybe these people would even help her.
Aiden, sitting at the head of the table, saw Isabella and waved her over to sit next to him.
Isabella let go of Michael's hand and walked straight to Aiden.
She finally felt relieved after acting all the way here.
"I've made myself clear. You've seen the contract. All my shares will be transferred to Isabella starting today! Isabella, sign it." Aiden smiled and handed her one of the two copies of the contract, his tone as calm as if he were talking about weather.
The people sitting below stared, their faces dark, but no one dared to voice any objections.
After all, Aiden was transferring his personal shares within the group, which didn't affect the group's overall interests. Even so, the amount was significant.
But the Brown Group had flourished under Aiden's leadership.
In the Brown Group, Aiden's words carried a lot of weight.
His decision was not something the shareholders could stop.
The contract had been drafted by Aiden's lawyer long ago. He was here just to inform them and back Isabella up, not to negotiate with them.
Isabella opened the contract and her pupils contracted.
Fifty-five percent of the shares!
Aiden hadn't kept any for himself. He was handing over his life's work to her.
And twenty percent of those shares belonged to Michael.
If she signed this, she would have decision-making power in the Brown Group.
To put it bluntly, Michael would be working for her.
But how was that possible?
How could Michael agree to this?