Harris was enthusiastic about entering the Thompson Tower building for work even if he was late. His mind was occupied with what he did with Mallory last night and even in the morning. But everything washed away, as soon as he saw Jane, his trusted private detective.
He knew that the possibility of finding out bad news was high. His intuition told him that there was someone behind board members Cooper and Coleman in their attempt to out him as chairman.
Jane cleared her throat before speaking. "Harris, I've been digging deep into this matter, and I've uncovered some unsettling information. It appears that someone is indeed behind the attempt to oust you as chairman of the Thompson Group."
Harris leaned forward, his expression tense. "Who is it, Jane? I need to know," he urged.
Jane hesitated for a moment before delivering the unsettling truth. "It's George Hudson, Harris. He's the one who paid Cooper and Coleman to orchestrate this campaign against you."
Harris's jaw tightened, his hands clenched into fists. The name George Hudson carried immense weight, and the implications of his involvement were staggering. "George Hudson," Harris muttered, his voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
Jane nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I've gathered evidence, documents, and witness testimonies. It's all there, Harris."
Harris knew that confronting George Hudson, a formidable and influential figure, wouldn't be easy. But he was determined to protect his family and the Thompson Group from any further harm. "Thank you, Jane. Your work is invaluable. We need to proceed carefully from here."
"You're welcome, Mr. Thompson. Thank you for always trusting me."
As Jane left his office, Harris was left alone with his thoughts. The revelation had opened a new chapter in his ongoing battle to safeguard his company and his loved ones. It was a battle he was willing to fight with unwavering determination, no matter how formidable the adversary.
Harris leaned back in his office chair, his mind racing as he mulled over the implications of George Hudson's vendetta against him. It wasn't difficult to trace the source of George's anger; their last encounter had left wounds that were still fresh in his memory.
He had spoken his mind without reservation during that fateful meeting—the meeting where they had discussed ending his engagement with Nicole and dissolving the Hudson-Thompson Group merger. The truth had tumbled from his lips like a dagger, and it had struck George Hudson with the force of an insult.
Harris remembered it vividly, the way George's face had contorted with rage at his words. He had accused George of being ashamed of his infertile daughter, and the accusation had hit its mark. It had been a statement of raw truth, a bitter reflection of the animosity that had developed between their families.
And now, that truth had resurfaced in the form of a rumor, a weapon aimed at George's heart. Nicole's infertility was a subject that George had fiercely protected, and Harris couldn't deny that he had taken advantage of that vulnerability during their meeting.
But Harris was no stranger to adversity. He had faced countless challenges in his rise to the position of chairman, and he had come out stronger every time. He couldn't allow George Hudson's vendetta to endanger the future he had worked so hard to build.
With a determined sigh, Harris picked up his phone, ready to make a call that would set his plan in motion. He knew that the battle ahead wouldn't be easy, but he was prepared to fight for his family, his company, and the love he shared with Mallory and Harriet.
David and Harris sat in Harris's office, their conversation more about personal affairs. Harris hesitated for a moment before he finally decided to open up to his best friend.
"David, there's something I need to tell you," Harris began, his voice laced with a mix of uncertainty and excitement.
David raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Go on, Harris. What's on your mind?"
Harris leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath. "Well, you know how things have been between Mallory and me—co-parenting, figuring things out."
David nodded in understanding. He had witnessed the complexities of Harris and Mallory's relationship firsthand.
Harris continued, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "We've...we've taken a step forward, David. Mallory and I, we've made our relationship official."
David's eyes widened with surprise and then broke into a grin. "Harris, that's fantastic news! I'm thrilled for you two. I knew there was something different about you lately."
Harris chuckled, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. "Yeah, it's been a long time coming. We've been dancing around our feelings for a while, but we finally decided to take the plunge. Well, I've been blatant about my feelings for Mallory. I was just waiting for her to make our relationship official."
"I was kind of not expecting it would happen soon. David, I am the happiest man alive. We made love the whole night. Doing it with Mallory was different. I never felt the same way with other women before," Harris said, grinning like he always does when talking about Mallory.
David leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, when did this happen, and where?"
Harris couldn't help but laugh. "Well, buddy, it happened right in my library. Last night, I was working on a project for our business merger, when she came and brought me a cup of coffee."
David burst into laughter. "You cheeky devil! Doing it in your own library? That's a new level of daring."
Harris joined in the laughter, the tension of revealing his newfound relationship melting away. "I guess we couldn't resist the temptation, and it just felt right, you know?"
David clapped his friend on the back. "I'm happy for you, Harris. You and Mallory make a great couple, and I hope this brings even more happiness into your lives."
As they shared their laughter and heartfelt conversation, Harris couldn't help but feel grateful for the support of his best friend. The path to love had been a winding one, but with David by his side, he felt more confident than ever about the future he was building with Mallory.
"But anyway, there is a matter I need to talk with you about besides my love life, that's why I called you. Thanks for dropping by."
David's expression shifted from jovial to serious as Harris dropped this unexpected bombshell. He leaned forward in his chair, his brow furrowing with concern. "No problem, I was just nearby, meeting Amanda."
"This is about what the one behind the attempt to oust me as chairman. Jane, my private detective, found out it was George Hudson."
"George Hudson?" David repeated, disbelief evident in his voice. "I knew he was upset about the whole engagement ending, but I didn't think he'd go to such lengths."
Harris nodded gravely. "It seems he's taking this personally. He's got some old grudges against me, and he's not letting them go. And the worst one is when I told him he is ashamed to have an infertile daughter, which is true. It hurt him deeply."
David let out a low whistle. "Well, buddy, that's a whole new level of corporate warfare. What's your plan now?"
Harris leaned back, contemplating their next steps. "First, I need to talk to Anthony Steele. He's been a mentor to me, and he's fully on board with the merger proposal. But now, knowing it's George behind this, we need to tread carefully."
David agreed, his face displaying a mix of concern and determination. "You're right. George has connections, and if he's willing to resort to this, who knows what else he's capable of?"
Harris rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on him. "I also need to talk to Mallory about this. She's been through enough already, and I don't want her to be caught up in any of this mess."
David placed a reassuring hand on Harris's shoulder. "We'll figure this out, Harris. You've got the support of Steele Enterprises, and you've got me in your corner. We won't let George Hudson ruin everything you've worked so hard for."
Harris managed a small smile, grateful for his best friend's unwavering support. "Thanks, David. I knew I could count on you. Let's hope this storm passes soon."
"I'm sure, it will," David said confidently.
From there, Harris diverted the conversation to personal affairs. This time about his best friend. He missed talking about David's personal life, just like they used to do whenever they had time. "So, how was Amanda? Is there anything worth sharing about your relationship? We always talk about our relationship but rarely share about yours."
David heaved a deep breath, "well, there is something I want to share."
"Go on."
"Amanda told me she was inspired to have a baby after attending Heidi and Scott's baby shower," David said hesitantly.
Harris laughed, a joyful laugh, with a hope his best friend would commit to such responsibility. David was a well-known playboy before meeting Amanda, and he has changed tremendously being Amanda's boyfriend.