Motion to Commit
The walls of the Lim family’s executive office were lined with wood and glass, a blend of tradition and innovation. The air was thick with quiet tension as Charlie Lim, the patriarch of Lim Aviation Group, stared across the table at his children and their partners. The sunlight from the late afternoon was blocked by the heavy blinds, casting long shadows on the glossy surface of the table.
Samantha Lim, CEO of Lim Aviation, sat at the head of the table, her face a perfect mask of calm. Beside her, her husband Luis leaned back in his chair, absent-mindedly flipping through a file. At the far end, Sofia, the COO, sat next to her husband, Matteo DeLuca, who had become a key investor in the company after his RMD LLC had merged with Lim Aviation. Their son, Sean Matthew, was at home with a nanny, a reality that felt like a distant, happier life to all of them.
Charlie cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “This meeting isn’t about the AeroTech District or our struggles with access,” he began, his voice steady but laced with underlying urgency. “I called you all here because we have another problem—a problem that requires all of you to understand the severity of the situation.”
Samantha raised an eyebrow, glancing at Matteo. “Then what’s this about?” she asked, her voice sharp with curiosity.
“Sit tight,” Charlie muttered before shifting his gaze to Matteo, his expression hardening. “Matteo, you’ve tried your connections, but unfortunately, they aren’t enough. The Cruz family controls the majority of shares at Geneva AeroTech. Without them, we’re stuck.”
Sofia frowned, glancing at her husband. “That’s bad, but we’ve faced challenges before. We can pivot, find another path.” She didn’t sound convinced, but she tried to maintain the calm she was known for.
Charlie shook his head, his tone heavy. “That’s not why I called this meeting.” He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle over the table. “The Cruz family made us an offer.”
A tense silence fell. Everyone in the room knew what that meant. “And?” Sebastian Lim, the quiet engineer with a penchant for cybersecurity, asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He was more reserved, often watching from the sidelines, but his keen mind rarely missed a detail.
“An alliance,” Charlie said, his voice low and direct. “A marriage.”
Samantha leaned forward. “Wait, you mean—”
Charlie interrupted. “Yes, the Cruz family is suggesting an alliance by marriage to secure our future in Geneva.” He glanced around the table, his gaze lingering on his children. “They prefer you, Samantha,” he said softly. “But I know better. I know you’re married, and you’ve chosen your family.”
Samantha’s face remained impassive. “You know I can’t do that. You know my life is here, with Luis and our daughter. This business... it’s not worth sacrificing that.”
“Of course,” Charlie responded, nodding slowly. “But this is not a mere business deal. This is about the survival of this company, and the future of everyone involved.” He turned his gaze to Sofia, Matteo, and then the rest of the family. “If we don’t get access to the AeroTech District, everything we’ve built might come crashing down. The ramifications will go far beyond just Lim Aviation.”
The room fell silent again. The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on everyone.
Sabrina sat back in her chair, her eyes tired from the endless hours of studying for her upcoming orals. She hadn’t been paying attention, her mind a hundred miles away. But when she heard her father’s words, her body shifted slightly, sensing an opportunity.
“I’m not involved with anyone,” Sabrina spoke up quietly, her voice calm but firm, drawing everyone’s attention. “I don’t have anyone in my life right now... no boyfriend, no prospects. I’m still a Lim daughter. If the Cruz family only asks for one, then why not me?”
A stunned silence spread across the room. Everyone turned to Sabrina in disbelief, with Sebastian being the first to speak.
“No. Absolutely not. We can’t—” His voice was urgent, protective.
“I know how this sounds, but...” Sabrina glanced at each of her siblings, her gaze settling on her father. “If this is the only way, then I’ll do it. It’s my responsibility. The company, the people who work for us—they matter too much. I can’t let them lose their jobs because of this.” She paused, her voice steady. “I’ll take one for the team. I’ll marry this... Kaos Cruz.”
There was an uneasy stir around the table. Everyone was quiet. No one knew how to react.
Sebastian’s voice cut through the tension again. “But Sabrina, this... it’s an arranged marriage. To some stranger. You can’t—”
“I can’t stand the idea of people losing their jobs in this economy,” Sabrina interjected, her tone sharp. “I hated firing people when the news about Sean Matthew broke. It broke my heart.” She looked directly at Charlie, her voice steady. “I won’t be responsible for more people losing their livelihoods. If this is what it takes, then I’ll do it. And...” She hesitated for a moment, calculating her words. “If they’re desperate enough to have me marry him, then I think the power lies with us, the Lim family. All we need is a solid prenup, one where I can nullify the marriage if there’s infidelity or abuse, or if things don’t work out after a certain number of years. But if the marriage goes smoothly, then we stay until the business is secure.”
Matteo nodded. “We can have the legal team draw it up, something ironclad.”
Samantha and Sofia exchanged a glance, clearly uncomfortable with the entire idea. But Sabrina stood firm.
“I’m not saying it’s easy,” Sabrina continued. “But I can’t let this company go down because of pride. I’ll do it.”
After dinner, the family moved to the balcony, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below. The ocean breeze was cool against their skin, and the night sky was heavy with stars. Sabrina leaned against the railing, the weight of her decision starting to sink in.
Samantha and Sofia stood beside her, their eyes filled with concern. “You don’t have to do this,” Samantha said softly, her voice laced with worry.
“I know,” Sabrina replied, her voice distant but resolute. “But I have to. I’m the only one who can.” She looked at her sisters, a rare vulnerability in her eyes. “And besides, I’ll be fine. I’ve handled worse.”
Sofia shook her head. “You’re always the baby of the family, Sabrina. We never thought you’d have to sacrifice this much.”
Sabrina smiled, a tired but knowing smile. “Sometimes, you have to be the one to take the hit. I’ll be okay. I promise.”
Charlie joined them shortly after, placing a hand on Sabrina’s shoulder. His voice was warm but filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Sabrina. I know this isn’t easy. But you’ve done what none of us could.”
Sabrina’s heart tightened, but she refused to let it show. “I’m doing it for the family, Dad. For all of us.”
And as the evening faded into the night, Sabrina knew that the decision she had just made would change everything. Her life, her future—everything was about to be legally bound.
