HIS FAKE BRIDE, HIS REAL OBSESSION

Past Encounters, Present Battles

Damian’s Point of View

“I best be on my way, then. Do excuse me.” Evelyn said after pulling out the hard drive in a forceful manner.

She glared at me with a blazing stare but did not speak otherwise before she stormed out of the room. The room remained silent behind her, filled rather by the hum of my own breathing and an occasional clunk of a keyboard being tapped from one of the members of the board.

“The nerve of that woman.” Mr. Langston scoffed.

Ignoring him, my thoughts drifted back to the moments before she stormed out. I remembered her defiant glare, her strong voice as she spoke against my plan. Her challenge was not just a question of strategy; it was a reminder of back then, and a past I had tried so hard to forget.

Shaking my head, I realized that in this critical hour, these thoughts were nothing but unwanted distractions. I had to snap out of them and face the real reason I’m here.

Clearing my throat, I broke the silence. “Ladies and gentlemen.” I said, my voice low and steady, “We must decide on the way forward as the future of AsterCorp depends on our ability to act now.”

Mr. Langston, who had spoken earlier, leaned forward. “Mr. Wolfe, if I may, your plan is really bold, but are you sure that cost-cutting and layoffs will stabilize the company?” His voice carried genuine concern but right underneath that, I detected caution.

I met his gaze in a calm manner. “I am sure.” I replied. “The numbers do not lie, and we are on the edge of collapse if we do not take decisive action. It may seem harsh, but drastic times call for drastic measures.”

“The numbers do not lie was something Ms. Carter had said earlier.” One of the board members spoke up.

I nearly hummed in agreement as she did know her stuff. There was a murmur around the table as one of the board members pushed his glasses up and another squirmed in his seat. I could feel all eyes on me, their faces a combination of fear and skepticism.

I breathed slowly, feeling the coldness of air on my skin, and continued. "I know that this plan will be painful in the short term, but if we don't do something, the long-term devastation will be so much worse.".

One of the younger board members, his voice a little hesitant, asked, "But Mr. Wolfe, what about our employees? How do we balance the cuts with the need to keep our team motivated?”

I paused, considering the question. “It is not an easy balance.” I admitted softly. “But the investors are losing confidence every day. We must show them that we can take control and steer this company back on track. Our goal is to rebuild, not to destroy. This is a necessary step.”

I could see a few nods around the room. The soft rustle of papers and the quiet tapping of a keyboard filled the space as the board members processed my words. I forced my mind away from the memory of Evelyn’s parting words. I reminded myself that my purpose here was clear: to save AsterCorp from ruin so I could settle old scores in my own way.

Mr. Langston cleared his throat again. “Your proposal.” He said slowly, “seems to prioritize numbers over people.”

I leaned forward, feeling the weight of every word. “I know it may seem that way.” I said. “But numbers matter in business. When our financial stability is at risk, our employees suffer even more. If we do not act decisively now, we will face a complete collapse, and then no one will be spared.”

A pause followed. The air vibrated with the hum of the air conditioner and the distant beat of my own heart.

Finally, a board member with a kind yet troubled face spoke up. “Mr. Wolfe, I have seen many plans come and go, but I worry about the cost of this approach. Are we ready for the fallout?”

I looked around the table, my eyes locking with each person in turn. “I do not make this decision lightly.” I said firmly. “We are on the brink. Our current methods are failing us, and hesitation will only worsen our situation. I ask you all to consider that a controlled cut is better than an uncontrolled collapse.”

Another voice, firmer this time, joined in. "I agree with Mr. Wolfe. Our situation is dire, and we need a leader who will make the difficult choices." The statement was uttered firmly, and I felt a small surge of relief.

Mr. Langstone hummed. "Accepting the lesser of two evils. Unpleasant as it is, restructuring can give us a chance to rebuild." Another board member, her voice soft but determined, spoke up.

The room shifted again. I could feel the tension easing a little as more and more of the board members began to mutter their grudging agreement.

A board member near the far end of the table, a grizzled-faced man, spoke up. “And what of our long-term projects? Will they suffer under this plan?”

I nodded slowly. “Some projects may need to be postponed, yes. But it is a temporary measure—a sacrifice for the greater good. Once we have stabilized our finances, we can reinvest in those projects. Right now, survival is our only goal.”

I noticed a shift in the room and it was as if my words had planted a seed of hope, though the cost was still heavy on everyone’s mind. I took a deep breath and looked directly at Mr. Langston.

“Mr. Langston, if we do nothing, the numbers will only get worse. Our employees, our shareholders, they all deserve a chance to see this company rise again. I request you to have faith that this plan, brutal as it is, is our best option.

Mr. Langston's eyes flicked tightly for a moment while he thought over my words. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he nodded. "Very well, Mr. Wolfe. It seems we have little choice. Let us vote on your proposal.”

I felt a surge of determination. One by one, the board members began to voice their support. A younger member said, “I vote yes. We must act now.” Another added, “I agree. Our future is at stake.” The boardroom, once full of skepticism, now hummed with words of agreement.

I placed my hands on the table in front of me and leaned forward as I saw the tension that had filled the room dissolve into thin air. As I glanced around the room, I realized that the only sensible person had left earlier on and it nearly made me shake my head at them.

As the final vote was cast, I spoke one last time. “Thank you. We move forward with this plan immediately. Our goal is to save AsterCorp from collapse and rebuild it stronger than before.”