Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Albert glanced at Philip with a mix of irritation and urgency, "Enough with the chit-chat, guys. It's go time!"

Clayton slumped in his chair, looking like a man who had just had his soul sucked out of him.

Betrayal from Philip and his crew was infuriating, sure.

Carl turning on him was downright hateful.

But betrayal from Albert and Florian? That was a knife to the heart.

In that moment, in the bustling conference room, only he and Alden were seething with a mix of anger and pain.

The rest? They were practically throwing a party.

After all, Clayton's fall from grace meant they could milk Hawkins Sea-freight for all it was worth.

And thanks to the contracts they'd cunningly signed in advance, Clayton's shares were about to be up for grabs. That spelled big bucks for everyone else.

The seasoned chairman took the floor, setting the stage for the vote that was about to unfold.

"...As per our rules, any shareholder not present has effectively forfeited their voting rights. So today, only 85% of the shares will be in play.

You may cast your vote for Mr. Hawkins or for Philip. Once the votes are counted, the one with the majority will be our new president... Let's begin."novelbin

Albert was the first to throw his hat in the ring, "I'm voting for Philip."

Florian was quick to follow suit, "Same here, Philip gets my vote."

Carl chimed in, "Philip for me as well."

And so it went, with "Philip" echoing through the room like a mantra.

Philip leaned back, smirking at Clayton with that smug look of triumph only a scoundrel could muster.

Clayton's lips were a tight line, his face an ashen hue of rage. He had seen this betrayal coming, but the sting was real nheless.

His own brother, his most respected uncles-turned against him. How could he not seethe with hatred?

As the meeting wrapped up, it was clear: Philip had swept the vote.

The chairman announced the results, "With 45% of the shares, Philip has won. Mr. Hawkins, with 40%."

Philip's smirk widened as he turned to Clayton, "Mr. Hawkins, congratulations. From this moment on, Hawkins Sea-freight is no longer your concern. Time to retire, perhaps?"

Clayton's response was nothing but a quivering lip; words failed him.

The chairman added, "According to our rules, Philip will now be the new president of Hawkins Sea-freight. Any objections?"

A chorus of "No objections" filled the room.

Suddenly, a clear, feminine voice cut through the noise, "I object!"

Heads turned in unison towards the door.

Elysia, clad in a sharp business suit and high heels, made her entrance, mask on face, authority in her stride. Tarquin, equally imposing in his attire, followed behind.

The room went from shocked to downright bewildered at the sight of them.

Elysia garnered a few glances, but it was Tarquin who captured the room's full attention. After all, Mr. Bradford of Jindale City was not a man to be taken lightly.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" the chairman demanded.

Philip stood, trying to mask his fear and irritation with a veneer of politeness, "Mr. Bradford, this is the Hawkins Group's shareholder meeting. Your presence is a bit out of place, don't you think?"

Tarquin, giving Philip not even a glance, strode confidently to Clayton's side and bowed deeply, "Dad."

The room gasped, Clayton nearly tumbled from his chair in shock, and the collective eyes of the assembly nearly popped out of their sockets. What on earth was happening?