Chapter 99
Chapter 99
The tension in the Cole Corporation’s executive office was thick enough to cut through. Behind the sleek, glass windows of the boardroom, the atmosphere was anything but professional. Evan leaned back in his chair, his fingers casually drumming on the armrest. His gaze flickered to the others seated around the table, who looked back at him with a mix of uncertainty and quiet anticipation.
“We’ve got a real shot here,” Evan said, breaking the silence. His voice was low, but it carried authority. “Reyes has had her time. It’s time for a change, a new direction. The board’s already leaning in our favor. We’ve got the majority. All we need is one final push.”
One of the men beside him, a senior executive named Curtis, nodded eagerly. “We’ve been waiting for the right moment. She’s been making decisions without consulting us, shutting us out from the major deals. We can’t let this continue.”
Evan smirked, leaning forward now, eyes gleaming. “Exactly. And when we take control, it’s not just about power–it’s about the Cole legacy. We’re talking about an era of prosperity, but first, we need to remove her. I’ve got the votes lined up. Curtis, you’ve got the media in your corner, right?”
Curtis grinned. “The papers are ready. As soon as we pull the trigger, I’ll make sure she’s painted as the villain. The scandal will be too big to ignore. No one will trust her after that.”
Evan’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Perfect. We’re on the verge of something big. The only thing left is for me to do my
part.”
The door to the boardroom swung open abruptly, and the sharp click of high heels echoed across the polished floor. All heads
turned.
Standing in the doorway, her eyes steely with determination, was Miss Reye.
Evan’s eyes widened for a split second before he composed himself. He was good at keeping his emotions in check, but even he couldn’t hide the flash of discomfort at her sudden appearance. He quickly straightened up, but the others seemed caught off guard, their faces betraying just how much they had underestimated her.
Director Reyes walked into the room, the door closing softly behind her. She didn’t say a word at first, simply surveying the room with an air of cold authority. Her gaze locked onto Evan first, then moved across the others.
For a moment, the silence was deafening. Then, she spoke–her voice calm, almost too calm.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
Evan cleared his throat, his eyes narrowing. “Miss Reyes, what brings you here? I thought you’d be busy with… other matters today.”
Reyes‘ lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “You thought wrong,” she replied, her tone smooth but dangerous. ” I came to see what exactly was going on in this company.”
Her words were a subtle warning, but to those who knew her, they were anything but. Reyes never walked into a room unless she was ready to take control.
Curtis exchanged an uncomfortable glance with Evan. They hadn’t expected Reyes to show up so soon, but now that she was here, there was no turning back. The plans they had been putting into motion were already in motion. The votes were already locked in. All they had to do was ensure she never saw it coming.
But Reyes wasn’t easily caught off guard.
“Evan,” she began, her eyes moving back to her cousin, “you’ve been busy, I see. Planning your next move. But I would’ve thought you’d have learned by now–betrayal always comes with a price.”
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Chapter 99
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Evan’s face remained stoic, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. He hadn’t expected her to know. How could she? They had been so careful, so precise. Yet here she was, standing in the room, confronting them directly.
He forced a smile. “Betrayal? I think you’re confused. We’re just talking about the future of the company. You know, ensuring that the right leadership takes charge.”
Reyes tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharpening. “Is that so? Because from where I’m standing, it looks more like you’re planning a coup. Planning to stab me in the back.” Her eyes flickered toward the others in the room, but they all quickly looked away, not daring to meet her gaze.
་ ྋཋལ་མཇཎྜེ
Evan stood up, his demeanor suddenly more defensive. “I’m not trying to undermine you, Miss Reyes. I’m doing what’s best for the company. You’ve been… distracted. The recent scandals, the mishandling of resources, the lack of transparency…” He let the words hang in the air.
Reyes didn’t flinch. “Scandals? If you want to talk about scandals, Evan, perhaps you should look at your own actions.” She stepped closer, eyes narrowing as she scanned the faces of the men around the table. “You’ve been playing your hand too openly. I can see everything you’ve been doing. The coercion of the board members, the manipulation of the media, the deals you’ve tried to make in the shadows. You think I don’t know?”
The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. For a moment, Evan wasn’t sure if he should speak or remain quiet. But one thing was certain–he was no longer in control of this situation.
“I know what you’ve been doing, Evan,” Reyes continued, her voice low and menacing. “And I know what you’re trying to do now. You think you’re clever, but I’m always two steps ahead. You think you can take the company from me? You can’t even take control of your own ambitions.”
Evan’s hands clenched, his jaw tightening. He could feel the pressure mounting, and for the first time in a long while, he realized that Reyes was not someone to underestimate. She was always in control. Always.
“What’s your next move?” Reyes asked, her tone suddenly light, almost mocking. “Going to try to sway the board one more time? Maybe hire a few more media outlets to dig up dirt on me? Go ahead. I’ll be watching.”
Evan’s face darkened. “You’re not getting away with this. It’s over. You’ll be impeached, and I’ll be the one to lead the company.”
Reyes stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re not leading anything. You’re a pawn in this game, just like everyone else in this room. You can’t see the bigger picture because you’re too busy trying to destroy what’s already working.”
She turned to the rest of the men in the room. “As for the rest of you… you can go ahead and play your games, but don’t think for one second that I’m unaware of what you’re trying to do. I will take action, and I will make sure that all of you–every last one of you–understand what it means to cross me.”
For a moment, there was a stunned silence. The room seemed to shrink as the weight of Reyes’ words hung in the air. Evan, who had been so confident just moments ago, now seemed like a cornered animal, struggling to keep his composure.
Reyes turned on her heel, ready to leave the room, but then stopped. She looked back at Evan, her eyes piercing through him. ” And Evan?” she said, her voice suddenly icy. “Don’t ever forget who really owns this company. And don’t think I won’t make sure you regret underestimating me.”
With that, she walked out of the room, leaving Evan and the others standing in stunned silence,
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
