My Rival is My CEO

Chapter 7: The Vote

*ELENA'S POV*

Cole's text was still on my screen.

_Emergency board clause triggered. Charles Knight just called a vote to remove Damian as CEO. He needs your 30% to survive. Tonight._

Across the ballroom, Charles Knight was walking toward Damian with two board members. Smiling like a father. Not like a father.

Damian saw his phone. Then he saw me. Face white.

Zara: "Elena, who was that?"

"I saw a ghost," I said. "His father."

I had 30%. Removing a CEO needs 51%. Charles had 40%. The other board members had 21%. I was the tie-breaker. I was the whole vote.

If I voted with Charles, Damian was out tonight. Knight Corp would be mine by morning. My father would call it business.

If I voted with Damian, I saved the guy who brought Sophia to make me jealous.

Damian walked to me. Charles behind him.

"Elena," Damian said, low. "Library upstairs. Now."

"I know," I said. "Cole told me."

Charles arrived. "Ms. Evans. Shareholder duty. Won't be long."

"Of course, Mr. Knight," I said. "Shareholder duty."

The library upstairs. Wood and old money. 10 men. Charles at the head. Damian standing, hands in fists. Cole in the corner, sick.

Charles: "Motion — to remove Damian Knight as CEO effective immediately due to Q2 losses. All in favor?"

Five hands. 40% plus 15% — 50%. Not enough without me.

All eyes turned to me.

Damian looked at the floor. Like finals, when he knew he lost but wouldn't say it.

Maya whispered, "Vote yes, we acquire Knight Corp tomorrow half price."

Zara: "Vote no, you save the guy who brought another girl to gala."

I stood.

"Mr. Knight. You want to remove your CEO for Q2 losses you approved?" I said, voice clear. "I read the minutes. You signed manual inventory. You signed Savannah. Your son fixed both in one week. You didn't."

Silence.

Charles: "Ms. Evans, this is a Knight family matter—"

"I own 30% of your family matter," I said. "My 30% votes no."

Damian's head snapped up.

"My 30% votes no," I repeated, looking straight at him. "Because you don't fire a CEO for losses you caused. You fire him when he stops fixing them."

"And if you try this again at a gala," I said to Charles, "Zara is already typing. Right, Zara?"

Zara held up her phone. "Trending: _Founder Tries to Fire Son at Gala, Largest Shareholder Says No._ Post?"

Charles went red. Motion failed. 50% yes, 30% no, 20% abstain. CEO stays.

We walked out. Downstairs, gala still playing, nobody knew a CEO was almost fired in 12 minutes.

Damian followed me to the balcony. Alone. Cold.

"You voted no," he said, quiet, shaken.

"I voted my shares," I said, shivering in velvet. "Don't make it a thing."

He took off his tux jacket. Put it around my shoulders.

"Elena. Why?"

"Because you put my name on your slide," I said, honest, soft now. "And no one gets to fire you at a gala except me."

He stepped closer. One step. Balcony door closed. Music muffled.

"You want me what, Evans?" he whispered, dangerous quiet, no board between us.

I leaned in. Red lip, his jacket, 11:47 PM.

"I want you—"

My phone buzzed. Loud.

*DAD:* _Heard about vote. Come home NOW. We need to talk about Knight. And about you wearing his jacket in photos. It's already online._

Damian's phone buzzed at the same second.

*CHARLES KNIGHT:* _My office. Tomorrow 8 AM. Bring your shareholder. And tell her to bring a lawyer. This isn't over._

We both looked at our phones, then at each other. I was still wearing his jacket. And downstairs, the photographer was already uploading the second photo — me in his tux jacket on the balcony, his hand on my waist, at 11:48 PM.

Caption loading: _Rivals or Lovers? After Saving His CEO Title, Evans Seen in Knight's Jacket._

Zara texted: _Elena, check Twitter. NOW._