The Enemy's Embrace

Chapter 3 - The CEO position

Ren

I typed away on my laptop, my phone rang, my dad's number flashed on the screen, and I scoffed before answering.

I rested my head on the headrest and settled in a relaxed manner on the soft, plush leather chair. "What?" I asked lazily.

"The CEO voting and ceremony are in three months" He started, getting straight to the point. No pleasantry. No small talk. It was that kind of relationship we have. All business. Lacking the warmth I sometimes crave.

But his next word made me jerk upright. "However, the position won't be given to you." My face darkened.

"What do you mean?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"The board members didn't trust the future of the company in the hands of someone who can't commit to one partner." He explained. I felt my blood boil. "So, they have decided to open the CEO position to other candidates"

I gripped my phone tightly, my body vibrating with anger and frustration. "I have been acting CEO for ten years, and now you are telling me I'm not eligible because of a reason you all knew from the start." I snapped and ruffled my hair. I felt a pang of betrayal. "The company's success is due to my hard work. No one can handle the position better than me!" I said.

"I didn't want this for you. I couldn't fight for you; it was beyond my control," my father said, his voice pained.

There was silence, then his voice came again, landing a blow "But you can prove yourself to the company that you're worth the CEO position. Get into a serious relationship. Maybe even get engaged"

"Are you kidding me" I scoffed. "Getting into a relationship is not something you do in such a short space of time" I snapped.

"I got a girl for you. Phoebe, daughter of Harvey" he says.

My jaw is clenched in fury. "I don't need any girl," I yelled

He continued, ignoring my outburst."She will be coming to the company. That is all I can do to support you." He said and hung up.

My throat constricts, and I find it hard to breathe. I pull my tie down, loosening it to ease the suffocating feeling. My anger was at its peak, boiling over all the years of my hard work. All my sleepless nights and this is what I get in return. A betrayal.

I sprang into action as I put a call to Christopher, my assistant to gather the necessary information I needed, and in thirty minutes, he walked into my office.

"Who are the candidates going up against me?" I asked, my anger returning

"Mr. Bennett," He said, my irritation grew. I wasn't surprised the pot-bellied man was going against me. He has always been against most decisions I have taken over the past few years. I won't be surprised if he was the one who brought up the issue about giving the post to a committed partner.

Mr Rowan, I heard Christopher called again, I can't believe that trash is going up against me. I suppose he has forgotten his place. I should remind him. Whoever is behind his confidence should be ready to face my wrath also

Mr George, I am not surprised he had his eyes on the post also. He was looking too good to be innocent. But showing his true colors now will only land him in trouble.

"Lastly, Mr. Stephen," he said, and my step faltered, my hand curled up in a fist as I turned to look at him, shock evident on my face. "I'm surprised as well" he shrugged.

That ungrateful asshole. How dare he go against me? He must have been too comfortable to forget his place and who he is trying to mess with.

"Send me every single detail on them. Don't leave a thing out" I instructed, my blood boiling. I will make sure everyone of them pays for messing with me.

"And set up an emergency meeting with the board members" I added

"Your father sent someone. Miss Phoebe" He reminded. "Should I send her in"

"No" I replied, now wasn't the time to get cozy and there was no way I was getting engaged to someone I barely knew. "Tell her I will call her when I need her"

He nodded and left.

In less than an hour, the meeting had been scheduled

And I walked into the conference room and took my seat at the head. All eyes on me

My eyes took a quick glass round the table and my face turned into a deep scowl at the one face I saw. Stephen

He had a smug look on his face.

"This meeting is strictly for board members and not shareholders" I growled

"Seems you didn't receive the message" Stephen answered, his face still held that smug look. "I had just been appointed board member. Sorry, it was impromptu." His voice dripping with sarcasm

I had not concerned myself with meetings that involve the appointment of board members or with the shareholders but right now, I regret not being involved.

And when did he come back?

I ignored him and faced why I was really here.

I unbuttoned my suit, taking my seat.

"You're all aware of the reason for this meeting, so I will go straight to the point" I said clasping my hands together on the table. "I'm asking you all to withdraw that statement and I will turn a blind eye to your betrayal and we all can move on like all this never happened."

"That's not going to happen" Mr George said and I couldn't help but glare at him.

If I was to destroy anyone here, he would be the first.

"I understand that you're angry" Mr Zane started,

Angry is an understatement, I was furious.

Mr Zane was the oldest and most respected among the board members. Even I respected him, so I wonder why he sat there agreeing to all this rubbish.

"You're the best and you've proven yourself worthy of this position but this is also an important stage you must pass." He continued. "We're telling you now rather than taking the position away from you at the last minute"

Bullshit.

This is all bullshit

Wrapped in a packaging bag.

My jaw tightened, my hands curled the table, so hard my knuckles paled.

"Our competitors almost got to us through one of your flings. We can't sit and let that happen again, who knows maybe next time, we would be going bankrupt because of a mistake we could have prevented "

My eyes shot to Mr Bennett, my look shutting up whatever more he had to say.

That was years ago, one of my flings only lay with me to get Intel on a particular design we're about to launch. I don't discuss business in the presence of whoever I sleep with. So it was hard for her to get anything, but because she was a really good spy, she got some little information and the company had launched before us the exact copy but missing the main vital information our design had which gave us the right to sue them.

But that wasn't enough reason for them to try to take away the company I had been working on for years.

"I could ignore you all, and you won't like what I would do" I threatened.

"Yes, you could" Mr Rowan finally spoke. "But it would only push us to support your brother."

"My brother?" I asked, my laugh mocking and shocked. "He wasn't here when I was making this company better. And now you want to give the company to some runaway boy?"

"He may not have been here while you worked for the company, but he had always been involved in the company" Mr Bennett explained. "Why do you think he has the right to contest. He has contributed a lot to the company under your father's name"

The word sank, causing my head to spin as I tried to process the information.

"Who do you think prevented most of your scandal from going public" Mr Bennett stated.

I had always believed my father was behind it, trying to prevent my bad reputation from destroying the company. I can't believe I have been deceived.

"I didn't ask him to"

"Even the scandal that could have destroyed the company, he saved them because he has a way with the media"

"I don't care" I snapped

"He might not be as intelligent as you, but he sure can lead the company on a great part without fear of it collapsing. With you, we could have the best sales and mergers but with just one mistake, the company would go down"

My eyes shot at each of them, their faces held up the decision that they weren't ready to let go and they would face me head-on.

It was strange, I had every leverage against them to put their hands down and they knew it but they were still willing to go against me.

Which had baffled me.

Someone was behind them.

Who is it?

This runs deeper than I thought.

Something is going on that I couldn't see.

But I'm going to find out.

Even if it means putting up with their games.

"This meeting is done" I said and they all stared at me, shock written all over their face.

They expected a reaction from me but they sure as hell won't be getting one.

That should shake them a bit

I walked out of the meeting and Christopher who had been standing behind the door followed me immediately.

"Give me full details" I ordered.

"According to the analysis I did, less than ten percent of the board members are on your side. It looks bad"

I tugged on my tie gently to release some tension. "Set up a meeting with Mr Zane"

Mr. Zane was the oldest among the board members, if I could convince him to my side, I would likely get half of the members to my side.

"Yes sir." He answered. "Your mother called" he said and my eyes darkened. "She said the family dinner is next week and you haven't come home for the past two months, she misses you"

She wasn't supposed to miss me since the love of her life lives in the same house with her. If she wanted to keep the act, she should do it till the end.

"Tell her I'll be unavailable," I said coldly, my mind engulfed with rage and pain.

I barged into my father's office.

He didn't lift his head from his laptop. It was like he had been expecting me.

"And what's this I'm hearing? Stephen has a share under your name?"

"He asked me to help him"

I laughed, my voice laced with mockery. "Help? You? Since when?"

Finally, he lifted his eyes to look at me. "It was a necessary help. You wouldn't have allowed Stephen to have a share in the company"

"Yes, I wouldn't and you know it but you still went ahead and betrayed me."

"I didn't betray you, Ren" he snapped, and exhaled slowly. "Stephen is my son, illegitimate or not. And your stepbrother. It's high time you accept that"

"You know that's never going to happen"

He exhaled again. This was stressing him. I knew it.

"Try to understand, son. The least I could do as a father was get him a share since you were going to take over as CEO someday"

"Well, congratulations, Dad" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Your illegitimate son is going up against me" I spat, the look of surprise spread across his face.

"I guess you didn't know"

I walked closer to his table.

My voice is low and cold.

"This won’t end well for either of us… and it’ll be because of you."

He watched me walk out of his office, not stopping me.

On getting outside his office, I was met with a face, Stephen.

We stared long and hard at each other. Not saying a word.

And I walked away.