Gabe touches his reddening cheek, then slowly straightens. His eyes when they meet our father’s are void of everything except contempt.
"Feel better?" he asks quietly.
Leonard's fist clenches. For a second, I think he's going to hit him again. But Charles steps forward, clearing his throat.
"Perhaps we should focus on damage control," he suggests diplomatically.
"Damage control?" My father rounds on him. "The entire New York elite just watched some bastard child accuse me of?—"
"Of exactly what you did," Gabe interrupts. "You had an affair with your assistant, got her pregnant, and paid her to abort the child. That's not an accusation, Father. It's a fact."
"You self-righteous?—"
"Leonard." Delmar's voice cuts through. "Charles is right. We need to focus on mitigation, not blame."
My father's hands shake with suppressed rage. He moves to the bar, pouring three fingers of scotch and downing it in one swallow.
"The board meets in less than a month." Delmar continues. "They're already nervous after Dove's wedding disaster. This will only make things worse."
"Then we move up the CEO announcement," my mother says, her voice returning to that serene cadence. "Show stability. Show succession. Show them that Sanctum is bigger than one scandal."
All eyes turn to me.
This is it. The moment I've been working toward my entire life.
It doesn't feel as triumphant as I thought it would because of how it’s coming about.
“Asher has met all your requirements, dear,” my mother says, her voice filled with its fake sweetness.
He looks at me, disgust coloring his gaze as he downs more alcohol. “Interim,” he says once his eyes land back on Delmar.
Resentment slithers beneath my skin. Even now, after meeting every condition he’s given, after he’s tainted the business with his scandal, he still won’t just hand over the reins. He has to make it temporary.
Delmar touches his chin, thinking over the suggestion. “We could say it was the plan anyway, pretend it was on the boardmeeting agenda and that it has nothing to do with tonight's…events.”
“No.” My father shakes his head. “Interim CEO, and we wait until it all blows over.”
Wren barks out a laugh beside me, and when all heads turn to him, he looks around like,how is everyone elsenotfinding this funny?“Oh, I’m sorry, was that a serious suggestion?”
My father’s gaze darkens. “Itwillblow over.” His voice is low and gruff. “You’re naive if you think I won’t make sure it does.” He looks to the three of us now. “I know one of you is behind this, thinking you can boot good ol’ dad out of his throne? I’ll figure it out. I always do, and you’ll regret your choices.” Turning around, he pours another glass he doesn’t need before waving his hand over his shoulder. “Asher is interim CEO. Now all of you, get out of my fucking sight.”
With another chuckle, Wren stands up, patting me on my shoulder. “Good luck.”
Everything I’ve worked my entire life for has just come to fruition.
I’m CEO of Sanctum International.
So why don’t I feel happy about it?
NEW STORY IDEAS
We meet the heroine in her tragically boring life. Maybe she’s broke?
