"Sure," I said. "But where would that fifteen percent come from?"
Bella looked at me with guilt pooling in her eyes. "Honey, could we take it from your shares?"
Before I could respond, she rushed to explain. "Don't overthink this. I know the seventy percent you hold was compensation for nearly dying to save me, and it's a symbol of our love. But I'm doing this for the company. For our future. You understand that, don't you?"
I nodded. "I understand. But if I remember correctly, when you transferred those shares to me five years ago, you promised you'd never take them back or give them to anyone else. I have absolute authority over them, including selling them to a third party. Isn't that right?"
The color shifted in Bella's face. After a beat, she forced a smile. "That's right. You have a good memory. Of course I haven't forgotten either. It's just that—"
"Good. As long as you haven't forgotten." I cut her off, turned, and headed toward the bedroom. "It's late. Let's get some sleep."
"Honey!"
She threw her arms around me from behind, her voice cracking.
"Are you angry? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to give up your shares. Can you forgive me?"