CHAPTER NINE
1003 Words
CHAPTER nine
AT HART GLOBAL
Summer's POV
I stood frozen.
A thousand questions raced through my mind.
I had never told Harden about Hart Global. I had never mentioned that I owned a company, nor had I given him any reason to investigate my past.
So...
How did he find out?
"Ma'am..." one of the employees said nervously. "We had no idea you were the real owner of Hart Global."
I slowly looked around the lobby.
The same people who had mocked me only moments ago now stared at me with disbelief. Some looked ashamed. Others avoided my gaze altogether.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
What else did I expect?
For five years, I had lived as nothing more than Mattias Hart's obedient housewife. During that time, my own employees had forgotten who built this company.
I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders.
"Everyone, listen carefully."
The whispers immediately died down.
"From this moment onward, I, Summer Hart, am officially resuming my position as the CEO of Hart Global."
My voice echoed across the lobby.
"Is that understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" the employees answered almost in unison.
My eyes shifted to the man standing opposite me.
"As for you..." I said calmly.
I tilted my head.
"What was your name again?"
His jaw tightened.
"Henry."
A brief pause.
"Henry Edward."
I nodded slowly.
"Henry Edward."
"You are dismissed."
His smile disappeared.
"I don't ever want to see you anywhere near this company again. And if I discover that you've tampered with anything belonging to Hart Global..."
I stepped closer until only a few feet separated us.
"...I'll make sure you regret it."
His expression darkened.
"You think you can threaten me?" he scoffed.
"I think I can do more than that."
I looked toward the police officers waiting nearby.
"Officers..."
"Arrest him."
The entire lobby fell silent.
Henry laughed loudly.
"Arrest me?"
He pointed at himself as though I had just made a joke.
"Who do you think you are?"
"You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Whispers immediately spread among the crowd.
"Does she really think she can arrest Henry Edward?"
"She's gone too far."
Henry folded his arms confidently.
"When the real owner of Hart Global arrives, you'll pay for humiliating me."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"The real owner?"
I shook my head.
"Henry, from what I've heard, you're nothing more than a temporary chairman."
"You don't even have the authority to speak over me."
His smile faltered.
"If you're so confident..."
I folded my arms.
"...then call whoever you believe owns this company."
"I'll gladly have every one of you investigated."
Henry's face hardened.
"You think arresting me will solve anything?"
"No," I replied calmly.
"But it's a good place to start."
Before Henry could respond, one of the board members stepped forward.
"I refuse to recognize Summer Hart as the CEO."
Another director nodded.
"I agree."
"So do I."
Within seconds, several directors voiced the same objection.
The lobby grew noisy once again.
Just then, the sound of high heels echoed across the marble floor.
"What's going on here?"
Everyone turned.
A stylish young woman dressed in designer clothes walked confidently toward Henry. Without hesitation, she slipped her arm around his and smiled arrogantly.
One of the employees quickly explained,
"Miss, this woman is causing trouble."
The lady looked me up and down before letting out a mocking laugh.
"And who exactly are you?"
"How dare you come to my fiancé's company and create a scene?"
I raised an eyebrow.
Fiancé?
Interesting.
She wasn't even an employee.
Someone whispered behind me,
"She's Mr. Henry's fiancée."
"No one dares offend her."
I slowly walked toward her.
She lifted her chin proudly, clearly expecting me to back away.
Instead...
Slap!
The sound echoed throughout the lobby.
Gasps filled the room.
Everyone froze.
Even Harden's eyebrows lifted slightly.
The woman stumbled backward, clutching her burning cheek.
"You..."
"How dare you slap me!"
I looked at her calmly.
"That was for your lack of manners."
She glared at me with hatred.
"You'll regret this!"
She raised her hand as if to strike me back.
Before she could move—
Slap!
I hit her again.
This time, even louder.
The entire lobby fell into stunned silence.
"And that," I said coldly, "is for spending my company's money on expensive clothes and jewelry."
I glanced at the designer handbag hanging from her shoulder.
"Every luxury you've enjoyed was paid for with money stolen from Hart Global."
Her face turned pale.
The police instinctively stepped forward.
Harden raised one hand.
"Stand down."
They immediately stopped.
"Let my wife handle this."
A strange silence settled over the room.
I turned back to Henry.
"Did you honestly think I would remain silent forever?"
"No."
"I simply gave you enough time to expose yourself."
Then I faced the board members.
"I don't need your approval."
"I certainly don't need your recognition."
"My company has no place for people who support fraud or refuse to acknowledge its rightful CEO."
A slow smile spread across my lips.
"As of today..."
"You're all dismissed."
One of the directors burst into laughter.
"Trying to scare us?"
Another sneered.
"She's putting on quite a performance."
The woman I had slapped wiped the corner of her mouth before laughing as well.
"I almost believed her."
Soon the entire lobby was filled with laughter.
I waited.
Patiently.
When the laughter finally faded, I reached into my handbag and took out my phone.
After sending a few short messages, I locked the screen and looked back at them.
"My turn."
I smiled.
"I brought a little surprise with me."
Seconds later...
Phones began ringing all over the lobby.
One notification after another.
The laughter stopped instantly.
Faces turned pale as everyone checked their screens.
"My God..."
The secretary gasped.
"I've been fired!"
"It can't be!"
Several board members stared at their phones in disbelief.
One after another...
Their dismissal notices appeared before their eyes.
I smiled.
"The show is just beginning.”
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