Damage Control
1073 Words
The applause lasted only a few seconds.
But to Ethan…
It felt like a humiliation.
The boardroom slowly emptied as directors gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed voices. Some cast curious glances toward Ava. Others deliberately avoided Ethan altogether.
The proposal to remove Ava from the board had been postponed pending an independent review.
It wasn’t a victory.
But it certainly wasn’t the outcome Ethan had promised Victoria.
She watched the directors leave, her smile frozen in place.
“They’re doubting you.”
Ethan loosened his tie, his expression unreadable.
“They’re asking questions.”
“They’ve never questioned you before.”
“They still won’t.”
His voice was calm.
“They’re simply surprised.”
Victoria wasn’t convinced.
“This happened because of Adrian Cross.”
“No.”
Ethan looked through the glass wall of the boardroom.
“This happened because I underestimated Ava.”
It was the first time he had admitted it aloud.
And he hated himself for saying it.
⸻
Outside the boardroom, Ava finally released the breath she’d been holding.
“I thought my knees were going to give out.”
Daniel smiled. “They didn’t.”
“They almost did.”
“You hid it well.”
She laughed softly. “I was terrified.”
“That’s normal.”
Daniel adjusted the portfolio tucked beneath his arm.
“The trick is making everyone else think you aren’t.”
Before Ava could respond, Michael caught up with them.
“Ms. Hart.”
She turned.
“I’m glad you came today.”
“So am I.”
He hesitated before speaking again.
“There are a lot of people inside this building who owe you an apology.”
She shook her head.
“I’m not here for apologies.”
“I know.”
Michael smiled faintly.
“You’re here because this company is yours too.”
The words warmed her more than she expected.
⸻
As Michael walked away, another voice called after him.
“Michael.”
He stopped. One of the junior finance managers hurried over.
“We’ve got a problem.”
“What happened?”
The young man lowered his voice, though Ava still caught every word.
“The suppliers are asking questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
“They’ve heard rumours.”
“What rumours?”
“That Ms. Hart is suing the company.”
Michael frowned.
“Who told them that?”
The manager looked uncomfortable.
“The media.”
Ava’s stomach tightened. She pulled out her phone.
Her news feed was already filling with fresh headlines.
BOARDROOM DRAMA AT CARTER TECHNOLOGIES
CEO’S ESTRANGED WIFE CHALLENGES COMPANY LEADERSHIP
IS AVA HART TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL?
Not one article mentioned forged signatures.
Not one mentioned her shareholder rights.
Instead…
They made it sound as though she had walked into the company demanding power she had never earned.
She looked up slowly.
“They’re rewriting the story.”
Daniel’s expression darkened.
“They’re trying to.”
⸻
Meanwhile…
Three floors below…
Olivia Brooks lowered her sunglasses as she stepped out of the elevator.
The Head of Public Relations at Cross Global had a reputation for cleaning up impossible situations.
Today, she wore a fitted emerald-green suit and carried a tablet under one arm.
She entered Adrian’s temporary conference room without knocking.
“I’ve just counted seventeen articles.”
Adrian looked up from the file he was reading.
“That many?”
“In the last hour.”
She placed the tablet on the table.
“Ethan’s PR team is fast.”
Daniel entered moments later with Ava.
Olivia immediately stood and extended a hand.
“You must be Ms. Hart.”
“Ava.”
Olivia smiled warmly.
“I’m Olivia Brooks. Head of Public Relations.”
Ava shook her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Ava studied her for a moment.
Olivia Brooks carried herself with effortless confidence. Her chestnut waves framed sharp green eyes that seemed to notice everything, while her tailored emerald suit and easy smile struck the perfect balance between approachable and intimidating.
Olivia looked her up and down before nodding approvingly.
“You handled yourself well.”
“You watched the meeting?”
“I watch everything.”
Daniel chuckled. “That’s not an exaggeration.”
Olivia ignored him.
She turned back to Ava.
“Right now the internet has two versions of today’s meeting.”
She tapped her tablet.
“Ethan’s version.”
Another tap. “And reality.”
Ava frowned. “Can we correct it?”
Olivia smiled. “Oh, absolutely.”
Hope flickered inside Ava.
Olivia continued.
“But not today.”
Ava blinked. “…Why not?”
“Because people are emotional today.”
She crossed her arms.
“If we argue now, it becomes a public fight.”
She looked toward Adrian.
“We let Ethan celebrate.”
Ava frowned. “And then?”
Olivia’s smile widened.
“Tomorrow…” Olivia’s smile widened. “We release facts.”
She slid a folder across the table.
“I’ve already prepared a timeline.”
It listed dates.
Photographs.
Archived emails.
Old newspaper clippings from the early days of Carter Technologies.
One photograph caught Ava’s eye.
She was standing on a ladder, hanging the company’s first sign above the office entrance while Ethan held the ladder steady.
She smiled despite herself.
“I forgot this existed.”
Olivia grinned. “I didn’t.”
Ava looked at her curiously.
“You’ve been collecting these?”
Olivia nodded. “Mr. Cross likes evidence.”
Adrian didn’t even look up.
“Evidence wins.”
Olivia smirked. “And feelings lose.”
⸻
Across town…
Ethan stood inside his office, staring at the skyline.
His phone rang.
He answered without looking.
“What?”
His lawyer sounded uneasy.
“We have another problem.”
Ethan closed his eyes briefly.
“I’m listening.”
“The independent directors have requested access to the original incorporation documents.”
Silence.
“They’re also asking who authorised Ms. Hart’s removal from company communications.”
Ethan’s grip tightened around the phone.
“And?”
“They want answers by Friday.”
He slowly lowered the phone from his ear.
Friday.
For the first time in years…
He had a deadline he couldn’t control.
He looked at the city below.
Somewhere out there…
Ava had stopped playing defence.
And if he wasn’t careful…
She was about to become the biggest threat to everything he’d built.
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