Enslaving My Ex-Boss

The Succession Game

[Hazel]

"That's utter nonsense." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I realized, my heart racing as I glared at Elijah.

"No, no," Elijah gestured at me, his fingers slicing through the air as if trying to calm a storm. His brow furrowed, clearly deep in thought. "That makes sense," he said slowly. "It really does make sense." He shifted on his feet, his gaze locking onto Jamie with a look of pain and betrayal. "So, you guys weren’t here for Miranda's funeral?"

"Not exactly." Jamie shrugged indifferently, her posture too relaxed for the conversation at hand. She didn't even bother to mask the selfishness in her expression, and her lips curled in a faint, mocking smile. "Doesn't really matter, does it?"

Elijah nodded his head, processing the information and thinking about the source of the decision. "Did Grandpa give this position to you?"

"Who else has the power?" Jamie raised her eyebrows, her tone dripping with arrogance.

"So, it's him." Elijah murmured to himself, the words slipping out almost like a question, but more like an acknowledgment of some unpleasant truth.

"I... I think... It's some sort of misunderstanding," I interrupted, shaking my head in disbelief. My palms were starting to sweat. "Arthur can't do this." I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of it all. My mind raced, but it was as if time had frozen. "You built this company, Elijah." My hand automatically reached for his shoulder, grounding both of us in the moment. I ignored the professional distance, my thumb gently brushing over his suit as if to offer some comfort. "You worked so hard for Silver Arc Entertainment's success. He can't fire you just like th--"

"You are right, Hazel." Arthur's voice sliced through the air, and I stiffened, my spine straightening as if his words had physically impacted me. I turned around quickly, Elijah doing the same. He was standing by the door. "Elijah has worked hard enough for Silver Arc Entertainment, and that's why I am not firing him." He paused, stepping closer with an air of finality, his gaze never wavering from Elijah's. "I am just demoting him and removing his name from my succession." His voice was almost detached as he added, "Silver Arc is a very reputed company. It will never fire its hardworking employees. Congratulations on being the new Chief Operations Officer."

"Congratulations? Seriously? You demoted him!" The words burst from me, sharp and biting. My pulse hammered in my throat as a deep wave of anger surged through me. I didn’t care that Arthur was the chairman, and he held enough power to destroy my career with a single word. I was too furious to care. "How could you—"

"For the things he has done, I am supposed to fire him, make him strip, and walk penniless." Arthur's gaze dropped to Elijah, disappointment coloring his features, the lines around his eyes deepening. "But he should consider himself lucky that he still has a job. And don't forget to pack your things from Davenport Mansion," he added, his voice like cold steel. "I am disowning you. Right here, right now." His words cut through the tension in the room, leaving a suffocating silence in their wake.

"WOW! This is fun," Zade's voice echoed through the door, way too casual for the seriousness of the moment. I whipped my head around at the sound, only to see him leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "I hope I'm not late. Wouldn't want to miss any of this succession game drama." He grinned, his smile full of amusement, as if he were watching his favorite show play out right in front of him.

God! Does anyone in this family know how to knock?

"Keep behaving like that, Zade," Jamie sneered, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face him. "And then I will be the sole heir and successor of Grandpa Arthur."

"W—wait, what?" The words tumbled out of my mouth again, my head spinning. I could feel a headache starting to form behind my eyes, and my breath came in shallow gasps. I was certain my hair was going to fall out at this rate. How much more of a shocking revelation could my little brain take?

"You’re not important enough for me to repeat myself just for you." Jamie's tone was laced with superiority as she turned her attention back to Elijah and me, her expression one of complete indifference. She crossed her arms, almost daring us to challenge her. "Now, go, bring me the drink I ordered. If you miss even a little detail, trust me, no one can save you from being fired."

My jaw clenched, teeth grinding together. The anger inside me burned hotter, but I forced myself to turn away, my fists clenched at my sides. I didn’t need to be told twice. But just as I was about to leave, I felt Elijah's hand circle my wrist, his touch warm and grounding against the cold tension of the room.

"Wait," he said, his voice low and commanding. His thumb traced the inside of my wrist, and I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to ignore the strange illegitimate flutter that his touch stirred in me. He turned his head toward Arthur, his jaw set in determination. "As the COO of Silver Arc Entertainment, do I have the right to hire a secretary?" He asked, his words were measured, almost like a challenge.

Arthur’s gaze flickered between the two of us. He sighed, his posture shifting as he considered Elijah's request. "Yes. But the salary will be low, as she will be working for the COO, not the CEO. Is that okay for you, Hazel?" he asked, his tone businesslike, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes.

"I—"

"Then it's final." Elijah cut me off, his voice firm, yet softer when directed at me. He held my wrist with a gentleness that seemed at odds with the coldness of his words. "You are now working for the COO of Silver Arc Entertainment. You will only work for me and take my orders. And don't worry about your salary. It's gonna be the same as before; I'll add it from my pocket." It’s nearly unbelievable how his tone shifts to the softer side when he talks to me while shifting back to the rougher side when he talks to Grandpa and Jamie.

The decision wasn't hard. "A triple-shot, half-caf, soy milk caramel macchiato with exactly three pumps of sugar-free vanilla, two pumps of hazelnut, a drizzle of honey—not syrup—on top, made to 150 degrees, with a sprinkle of cinnamon only on the foam, right?" I asked, looking at Jamie with a raised eyebrow, my lips curling into a slight sly smile.

"Y-yes," she stammered, her voice unusually hesitant. It was clear that my siding with her instead of Elijah had caught her off guard. But then her gaze flicked toward Elijah. After studying his defeated expression, she raised an eyebrow, and her lips quirked into an amused smile, enjoying her victory.

To be continued...