9

Aurora “This is my company now.” I must’ve heard something wrong, because I think Jonathan said this is now his company. “What are you talking about?” I meant to snap, but my voice comes out small, fearful even. Jonathan motions at the men with him. “My lawyers will give you the acquisition papers. I bought the stocks you used as collateral with the bank.” Layla and I take the papers with unsteady hands and study them. My eyes bulge as I stare at the bank director’s signature beside Jonathan’s. “But he said…” Layla swallows. “He said he’d give us time.” “Your time is up,” Jonathan continues in his haughty voice that I wish I could mute or, better yet, throw it and him out the window. “Still,” I compose myself, even though my heart is about to leap out of my throat. “Layla and I have ninety per cent of the stocks. We only used twenty per cent each for the bank’s collateral. If you acquired forty per cent of the shares, we still have fifty combined.” Jonathan smiles as if he expected me