Alex's confidence soared with every passing day, but he knew his position wasn't entirely secure. While he held 69% of Atiére's voting shares, power wasn't just about numbers—it was about influence. And Reed, the silver-haired board member, had plenty of that.
One afternoon, Charles burst into his office, a rare look of concern etched on his face. "Alex, there's something you need to know."
Alex looked up from the financial reports he was reviewing. "What is it?"
"It's Reed. He's been in contact with a rival conglomerate. There are whispers that he's been offering them insider information about Atiére's expansion plans."
Alex's stomach churned. He had anticipated board resistance, but this? Corporate espionage? "Do we have proof?"
"Not yet. But I'm working on it. This could undermine the tech expansion, and worse—leak critical data about our next big fashion line."
Alex clenched his jaw. He had trusted Reed, despite the man's clear skepticism about his leadership. If this rumor were true, it could destabilize everything he had worked for.
"I want every move Reed makes tracked," Alex said. "If he's betraying us, I need to know exactly what he's been sharing, and with whom."
Charles nodded and swiftly left the room, leaving Alex to simmer in his thoughts.
That Evening
As Alex sat at his desk, his phone buzzed again. Clara. She had been relentless since his rise as chairman, but each call went unanswered. Tonight was no different.
He turned off his phone and leaned back in his chair, staring at the city skyline. The weight of the company was heavy on his shoulders, and now, he was facing betrayal from within. If Reed was conspiring against him, it could spell disaster for Atiére's future.
But Alex wasn't going to let it end like that. Not after everything he'd been through.
The next morning, he called for an emergency meeting with the board. He laid out his plans for the tech expansion, his tone firm and unyielding. But all the while, his eyes never left Reed, who sat with a calm, almost smug expression.
"I know what I'm doing," Alex said, his voice steady but filled with an underlying edge. "And I'll be damned if I let anyone stand in the way of Atiére's future."
Reed raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken suspicions.
Later That Day
As the board meeting adjourned, Charles pulled Alex aside. "We've confirmed it. Reed has been leaking information to our competitor, L'Héritage. The CEO is an old rival of your grandfather's."
Alex's blood ran cold. L'Héritage was the second-largest fashion conglomerate in the country—and now, they had their sights set on Atiére.