Alex stood in the center of the sprawling boardroom, his eyes scanning the faces of the executives seated before him. They had requested an emergency meeting, and he could sense the unease in the air. Some of them avoided his gaze; others stared back defiantly.
He knew what this was. Another attempt to challenge his authority. Though he controlled 69% of the voting shares, there were always whispers. Rumors that he was too inexperienced, too new to handle the massive responsibilities of Atiére.
Charles sat to his left, calm but alert. He had warned Alex about this. "They'll test you," Charles had said, "but your control is ironclad. Stay firm."
One of the board members, a silver-haired man named Reed, cleared his throat. "Mr. Dawson," he began, "while we acknowledge your controlling stake, we believe some of your recent decisions may risk the company's stability. We request a vote on whether to halt the expansion of Atiére into the tech industry."
Alex's face remained impassive, though he could feel his pulse quickening. This was no ordinary disagreement—they were trying to halt his vision.
"Request denied," Alex said calmly. "I own 69% of this company, and I intend to exercise that control. We will proceed with the expansion as planned."
Murmurs filled the room, but no one could dispute the numbers. Alex's command was absolute.
As the meeting ended, Alex stood, ready to return to his relentless schedule. But just as he reached the door, his phone buzzed. It was an unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, he answered.
"Alex, it's Clara."
His grip on the phone tightened. Clara. After everything, she had the nerve to call him now?
"I saw the news," she continued, her voice smooth and almost too familiar. "You're the chairman of Atiére now. We should talk."
Without a word, Alex ended the call and shoved the phone into his pocket. There was no time for her games. Not anymore.