Chapter 83: Is It Her?

Grayson Corp, company building. Conference room.

All the board members were sitting in their positions waiting for the CEO to arrive.

The room carried murmuring voices of the board members discussing hushly amongst themselves. Some things had changed from the previous time they had a board meeting. Empty seats had suddenly been filled with new members from the Blakewood Groups.

Sitting on the left seat close to the CEO’s high chair was Ryan Blakewood, the newly appointed VP of Grayson Corp.

With an attractive face, a signature of the genes from the Blakewood family, there was arrogance laced within Ryan’s lazy gaze. He glanced at the empty president’s seat with disdain dripping from his eyes as he spoke to the gorgeous yet cold faced woman sitting across from him. “What the hell is taking that cousin of ours so long? I wonder what he thinks of himself to keep so many people waiting. He’s just too arrogant, does he think he’ll continue being company president for much longer?”

Ryan complained with a sneer on the edge of his lips. His voice loud enough for everyone in the conference room to hear.

Ever since his grandmother had summoned him and handed him an appointment letter personally, Ryan had immediately seen a goal ahead. He had always been envious of how Tristan had broken out of the family company and the chaos that came with inheritance struggles to build himself on his own. Independently he had raised an empire in less than ten years.

But grandmother had promised them, only the best would win, and whoever proved to be the best in the company had a chance to impress her and gain enough favor to be considered for CEO of Blakewood Groups, but impressing his grandmother wasn’t the only thing Ryan was thinking of at this moment.

’Do your best Ryan, as vice president if you play your cards right, you can overthrow the president himself.’ his mother had said giving him a full hint of a goal he could choose to aspire for.

The name plaque in the gigantic office Ryan had received since he stepped into Grayson Corp was truly pleasing to the eyes.

’Ryan Blakewood. Vice President.’

But if that name plaque changed to the golden plaque that held the word president, Ryan felt he would like that even more.

Their grandmother the Blakewood matriarch was always impressed by excellence, wouldn’t she be so proud of him if he snatched the Grayson Corp for himself?

The woman Ryan had just spoken to was Sabrina Blakewood, she said nothing in reply to Ryan’s words, but there was a sharp competitive light in her golden brown eyes. She leaned backwards in her seat, crossing one leg clad in red heels over the other.

’True, Tristan might not be CEO for long.’ As she thought this, a quiet smirk raised on her lips at the very moment the doors opened and Tristan strode in with his assistant Kaleb in tow.

Ryan sneered, while everyone got up to greet the president who had just arrived, he reluctantly pulled himself up to his feet, thinking about the day it would be Tristan’s turn to stand up at his presence.

Tristan sat in his seat and casually signaled they take their seats.

Kaleb, already well versed with his duties quickly stepped onto the platform to address the room after taking up a tablet which listed the agenda for today’s meetings.

“Good day everyone, as we all know there are currently several vacant seats among the board. We’re heading towards the beginning of project X so our vice president Mr…” Kaleb stopped as he read to this part of the prewritten speech from the tablet glancing up in Tristan’s direction.

’Fuck, the president is not going to like this. He has just been appointed without the president’s approval and he’s already taking decisions singlehandedly.’

Kaleb cleared his throat noticing the frowns in the gazes of the other investors, so he composed his thoughts and continued.

“…our vice president, Mr Ryan Blakewood accepted some investment applications.”

“Approved investment applications?” Kaleb was startled when a sharp cold voice suddenly cut in.

Kaleb slowly looked up to meet Tristan’s furious eyes. He gulped nervously.

It suddenly felt like winter in the boardroom despite the controlled cooling systems.

“Yes, I approved them. We can’t have an incomplete board, not to mention project X needs more investment.”

“What this company needs…” Tristan suddenly cut him off, his words stern and when his gaze landed on Ryan who had been confident a while ago, the latter’s eyes trembled for a moment he almost lowered his gaze to avoid looking into such burning eyes. “…I know better than anyone, I still remain the president of this company. Who gave you the right to make approvals without my permission?”

Ryan’s face turned hard, tinged slightly red in anger at being embarrassed before all the board members. People didn’t talk to him like this, they looked up to him, revered him and even at the Blakewood Groups, the executives who had a higher official position than him wouldn’t dare speak to him like this.

“If you’re unhappy with my decisions, you can always dismiss my services.” Ryan leaned his elbows over the table with a provocative smile on his face and a daring look in his eyes.

Yes, Tristan still had authority over him being the president, but no matter what he couldn’t get rid of him.

Tristan’s hand slowly balled into a fist over his thigh, his sharp gaze became a death glare upon Ryan and seeing such fury in his eyes gave Ryan inner satisfaction.

“That’s right, you can only get angry. There’s nothing else you can do. You will not be able to get rid of me without grandma’s approval.” Ryan daringly whispered bringing his lips close to Tristan where only the both of them could know what words were exchanged in this moment.

“Keep daring me Ryan, and I’ll ruin you enough that you will have nowhere to run back to, not even your grandparents power will save you.” Tristan’s words were an equally lower threat that made the confident look on Ryan’s face stiffen.

“Next time, seek my approval before making decisions.” Tristan reminded firmly. It was a warning for Ryan to stay in his place.

Tristan was very strict with the people who came into his company, especially the board members, they had to be people he trusted, absolutely trusted. But as it was right now, the Blakewood matriarch had a quiet but firm control over his company.

Tristan kept his rage at bay… six months, just six months and everyone who didn’t belong here would be kicked out of his company. He would restore order just the way things used to be and no one would have the freedom to make decisions without his command.

Ryan forcefully swallowed a sharp retort down his throat.

Seeing the way things had shifted, Kaleb quickly cleared his throat to break the tension.

As it was the deed had already been done, all new investors had to have a place on the board.

He glanced down at the screen which contained the names of the new board members. One by one Kaleb called their shares and invited them, each time someone new walked in, there would be applause as they took their seats in appointed positions.

When Kaleb got to the very last name, he didn’t bother thinking about the familiarity of that specific name.

“…and lastly we have Miss Celine Roberts.”

Only after he uttered the name did realization sink into Kaleb.

Celine Roberts…that name sounded extremely familiar…his eyes suddenly went wide and his head whipped towards the door.

Impossible…it couldn’t be her, could it?

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