The CEO's contract of desperation

Chapter Three: The Shattered Legacy

“Where’s he?” Alexander barked, his voice echoing through the sterile corridors of the hospital. He stormed past the reception until he caught up with Samuel Carter, his grandfather’s right-hand man, a steady, dependable man in his early sixties with graying hair and kind but tired eyes.

“Mr. Knight,” Samuel said with a nod. “Your grandfather is in Room 12. He’s on oxygen now.”

Alexander’s heart pounded as he followed Samuel down the hall. When they reached Room 12, Alexander pushed open the door to find his grandfather, Edward Knight, lying frail in a small hospital bed.

The older man’s face, once so full of vigor and command, now looked drawn and pale under an oxygen mask. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the room with a cold rhythm that made Alexander’s blood run cold.

“Samuel, has Grandfather seen the video?” Alexander demanded, his voice low and edged with fury.

Samuel hesitated, then answered in a measured tone, “Yes, Mr. Knight. He said he saw it. He said it was a disgrace and that if this scandal spreads any further, it could ruin everything, even your family’s name.”

Alexander clenched his fist so hard his knuckles turned white. “f**k,” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. The news that had shocked his grandfather and had given him a heart attack. Now, the thought that a leaked video was partly to blame gnawed at him.. He stared at his grandfather’s frail form and then at Samuel. “I need every detail about that video. I need to know who did this, I need to get her name, her address, everything.”

Samuel nodded solemnly. “I’ll send word to the investigation team right away, sir.”

Just then, Alexander’s phone vibrated sharply on the bedside table. He pulled it out and read the message from his secretary, Maximilian Davenport:

“Urgent board meeting in 15 minutes. Investors are in uproar. Please return immediately.”

Alexander’s eyes burned with anger. “This is unacceptable,” he muttered. “I’m leaving now.”

Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the hospital, leaving Samuel behind to watch over his ailing grandfather.

---

Inside the Boardroom, the atmosphere at Knight Enterprises was in chaos when Alexander arrived. The boardroom was packed with angry investors, board members, and executives. As soon as he stepped into the room, the heated arguments abruptly ceased. Every face turned toward him in a mixture of fear and reproach.

Maximilian stepped forward, looking pale and nervous. “Sir, we’ve been discussing your absence. The video leak has thrown everyone into chaos. Investors are threatening to pull out, and the board is furious.”

A particularly bitter investor sneered, “How could you let your personal indulgence ruin everything, Alexander? This isn’t just a mistake…..it’s a catastrophe.”

Alexander’s gaze hardened as he slowly made his way to the head of the table. “I made a mistake,” he began, his voice low and steady, “I indulged in a moment of passion. I left her a cheque, a token. That was all. But someone has taken that private moment and turned it into a public scandal, and if nothing is done, our company’s name will be tarnished forever.”

The room erupted into a chorus of angry voices. One board member, Richard Calloway, slammed his hand on the table. “If you don’t fix this, we’re pulling our shares! We cannot invest in a company led by a man who acts like a reckless playboy!”

A man at the back, with a smirk on his face, taunted, “How can you possibly trust someone who lets his emotions get in the way, Alexander? Your weakness is costing us all.”

Alexander’s eyes flashed dangerously. He stood up, the room growing silent as every eye fixed on him. “Listen to me,” he said firmly. “Give me time. I will have our secret team take down that video immediately. I want every detail on the woman responsible, her name, her address, everything. She is nothing but a desperate girl who thought she could change my fate. I will clear my name and restore this company’s reputation.”

The silence in the boardroom deepened, the tension palpable. Investors exchanged uneasy glances. Maximilian stepped forward and said quietly, “Sir, the team is already working on it.”

Alexander clenched his fist, anger and frustration twisting inside him. “Do everything you can to get to the bottom of this, contact our legal team, now!” he roared, and with that, he stormed out of the boardroom, leaving a trail of stunned silence behind him.

---

Later that evening, after hours of endless tears and hollow comfort from her brother Emile, Isabella finally collapsed into a restless sleep. When she woke up, her brother had gone, she found herself alone in a tiny, cluttered apartment that bore the marks of her constant struggle. The room was a chaotic mess, dishes piled in the sink, scattered clothes, and worn-out furniture that looked as tired as she felt.

Her stomach growled painfully. Hungry and exhausted, Isabella opened the small, cracked refrigerator. Inside, only expired food, a few stale snacks, and a half-empty carton of milk greeted her. She felt a surge of anger at the thought of her life, so many jobs, so much hard work, and yet nothing ever changed.

Unable to sit still, she took a quick shower, trying to wash away the remnants of humiliation and despair that clung to her skin. Once dressed in a worn-out uniform, she headed out to work at the local grocery store, where she worked as a cashier.

On the subway, Isabella felt the eyes of strangers upon her. Every time she looked up, she saw people staring, their whispers barely audible yet full of contempt. At one stop, a man shouted an insult that made her blood boil, calling her a “filthy whore.” Tears welled in her eyes as she bowed her head, wishing she could vanish.

She made a quick stop, thirty minutes away from where she was headed.

Outside, the cold night air hit her like a wall. She paused on the street corner, her eyes swollen from crying, as strangers passed by with dirty glances and muffled insults. After what felt like an eternity, she finally made her way to the grocery store.

Inside, the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as she changed into her work uniform. Her co-workers greeted her kindly, offering a few words of encouragement that provided only temporary warmth. Once her shift began, however, the customers avoided her like she was contagious. Some muttered insults as they hurried past, and every hateful look pierced her heart.

During a slow period, the scruffy store manager, Mr. Grayson, called her into his cramped office. The air in the small room was stale and smelled faintly of old coffee. Mr. Grayson’s eyes were filled, lust and offensive s****l desires, as he leaned forward. “Isabella, sweetheart, you in that video. You have potential… maybe you could do more for me.”

Isabella’s face was drained of color. “Get away from me!” she snapped, slapping him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the tiny office.

Mr. Grayson sputtered, rising abruptly. “You insolent….. slut, who do you think you are” he began, but Isabella turned and stormed out of the office before he could finish.

“You're fired, you hear me, don't ever set foot in this place ever again.” He said ranting behind her, with obvious pain and dissatisfaction in his tone.

Outside, customers stared and whispered as she gathered her things and left the store. The cold night felt even harsher as she walked alone down the empty streets. Every step felt like a mark of disgrace, every gust of wind a reminder that the world was against her.

Eventually, she reached the modest apartment of her friend Evelyn, the one place where she had once found refuge. Evelyn opened the door, her face softening with concern as she saw Isabella’s tear-stained face.

“Come in,” Evelyin said gently, ushering her friend inside. “It breaks my heart to see you this way.” She said with mixed pain.

Isabella's tummy growled widely, she was hungry. Isabella sank into the worn-out sofa as Evelyn handed her a plate of warm food, the first real meal she had eaten in over 24 hours. Between sobs, Isabella murmured, “I wish I’d never met him. I wish none of this had ever happened.”

Evelyn wrapped her arms around Isabella. “You didn’t ask for any of this, Bella. You’re not to blame. I’m here for you, and we’ll get through this together.”

But as the night wore on and the comforting food did little to ease her pain, Isabella’s thoughts turned dark. The scandal had stripped her of her dignity, her job, and any hope for a normal life. She lay awake, the weight of public shame pressing

down on her like a stone, wondering if she would ever be free of this nightmare.