Mathias's lips curved into a faint grin. "I thought my wife had lost her memory and wouldn't let me touch her. Had me a little worried."
The corner of Mathias's mouth twitched, as if he were trying not to smile at me.
He let out a low chuckle. "How old are you?"
With that expressive face of mine, I sometimes looked like a teary-eyed child, much younger than I actually was.
I pulled out the forged county marriage certificate I'd prepared ahead of time and handed it over. "Amnesia doesn't mean you forgot how to read, does it?"
Mathias took it, studying the document. "I may have lost my memory, but I'm not an idiot. Of course I can read."
After scanning the marriage certificate, he looked back at me, slightly stunned. "You're only twenty-one?"
Yeah. Really young.
I nodded. "I just graduated from college this year."
Mathias shifted his attention to his own information.
Name: Mathias Thomas.
Age: 27.
"So we're from New York. What are we doing here?"
I had our backstory down pat. As I kept helping him freshen up, I explained, "My family owns a pharmaceutical company, and there's an old factory here. My dad sent me over for some hands-on experience. Since I came to Pittsburgh, you naturally came with me."
The first part was true.
Lucien, pushed by his current wife, had shipped me off to this dreary place for "experience."
But I hadn't wanted to go. I had little management experience, and I knew some of the company's old guard were in my stepmother's pocket. The whole thing reeked of a setup.
Then, ten days ago, everything tilted. When I learned Mathias was out for revenge, I packed up and slipped away overnight.
Somehow, we still crossed paths again.
I went on, "Last night, you probably got into some trouble and got mugged. Before you passed out, you said you didn't want your parents to worry, so you asked me not to tell them. Lucky for us, we're far enough away that word won't get back to them."
After all, keeping his injuries quiet had been Mathias's call, so I wasn't exactly lying.
Mathias frowned a little. "What did I do before?"
I looked into his eyes, trying to read his expression before answering carefully. "Our families are in the same industry, and you've been researching Mixed Hypersensitivity Syndrome."
Mixed Hypersensitivity Syndrome was exactly my mother's rare illness.
People who suffered from it were extremely sensitive to light, wind, water temperature, sound, and vibrations. Too much of any one of them could trigger a violent episode.
My mother had lived in a quiet countryside care facility for years. Every time I visited, I could only see her from a distance.
Thinking about my mother's years of suffering made my nose sting and my eyes burn, but I kept my voice light.
"You told me your research had made a major breakthrough—that you'd developed a cure. Once all the clinical trials pass, it'll be available on the market."
Mathias narrowed his eyes. "Mixed Hypersensitivity Syndrome?"
I pushed down the hope rising in my chest. "Does that ring any bells?"
After thinking for a moment, Mathias shook his head.
I hid my disappointment. "That's okay. Once you're better, it might come back to you. You said it was instinct—that you'd remember once you saw the documents."
Mathias didn't push. Instead, something else caught his attention. "So you're managing a company now?"
I beamed. "Impressive, right? Your wife's pretty capable!"
The conversation loosened, and Mathias's lips twitched into a smirk. "You're young and a woman. You think you can handle them?"
I sighed internally at his words.
I'd only been in Pittsburgh a few days, but I'd already run into plenty of trouble.
Most of the company's higher-ups were seasoned veterans over forty. They weren't about to bow to some young newcomer.
With my stepmother's allies stirring the pot, they constantly tried to undercut me.
But I hadn't come to Pittsburgh to fail. If I did, my stepmother would use my inability to manage a small company as an excuse to keep me out of the main office.
I needed everyone to know exactly who was in charge.
Even with all the stress, I kept my cool on the outside.
"The company belongs to my family. They wouldn't dare disrespect me. Managing them is a piece of cake!"
Mathias noticed my youthful bravado and chuckled. "Let's hope so."
I huffed, playing along. "Even if I'm still green, once you recover, I'll have you backing me up. You can whip them into shape!"
I was only half joking, but Mathias surprised me by agreeing. "All right."
"Really?!" My eyes lit up with excitement.
Mathias nodded.
I could barely contain myself, bouncing on the spot.
The Thomas family had a long business lineage and had survived every kind of challenge. Anyone with the Thomas name was a force to be reckoned with. If Mathias really stepped in, he'd have the Pittsburgh branch under control in no time.
Mathias squinted. "Is it really that big of a deal?"
I nodded eagerly. "It means you're making a move, and I could get emotional!"
"With our combined strength, we'll turn this struggling factory around. My dad will let me into the main company. Then I'll hand over my shares and make you the boss while I trail behind and enjoy the rewards!"
Mathias watched me get lost in my daydream, smiling along. "Then show me the company's documents."
Having grown up around business dealings, Mathias naturally found corporate management fascinating.
I, however, shook my head. "Not now. You're still recovering. Wouldn't it be heartless to make you work?"
Mathias, bored lying there, tried to negotiate. "Just a quick look."
I put on my stern-wife act. "Not even for a minute! Your job right now is to rest. Once you're healed, you can dive in."
Mathias couldn't argue with that, so he settled for a compromise. "If I can't see them, can you at least tell me about it?"
Seeing how restless he was, I thought it over. "All right."
I'd already run into problems anyway. I could use advice from a business prodigy.
So I explained the general situation at the Pittsburgh company.
My family's business had started here and done well. Eventually, to expand, the core business moved to New York, though some operations and production lines stayed behind.
In recent years, the Pittsburgh branch had struggled, and Lucien had considered shutting it down. But some local company veterans refused to move to the New York headquarters or agree to the closure, dragging things out.
Mathias listened with his eyes closed, looking like he was resting. "Those old-timers just treat it like a retirement home."
I grew more agitated. "Exactly! The company relies on subsidies from headquarters. These old leeches don't generate any profit, but as shareholders, they still collect dividends from the main office. They're total freeloaders!"
Mathias said, "They're used to coasting. Now that you've suddenly shown up in charge, they'll try to push you out."
His words struck a nerve.
Even though I was officially the top manager, my authority was mostly for show. Everyone brushed off my efforts.
Ten days in, and I still hadn't even accessed the company's core data, let alone made any real progress.
Undeterred, I scoffed. "Me? Scared? I'll bring them to heel eventually!"
Mathias opened his eyes, intrigued. "How do you plan to do that?"
I boasted, "I have my ways! Just keep watching. Your wife is no pushover!"
Mathias smiled. "Want some advice?"
My eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I'm all ears."
Mathias generously shared his wisdom. "First, build a loyal crew. Second, make an example out of someone. Lastly, take down the biggest threat!"
