Chapter 54
New CEO
Veronica’s POV
The headline I saw made my head spin. I had to skim through multiple channels and headlines just to confirm it wasn’t some sick joke. But no, it was all true.
“Prominent Businessman Carter Grayson Arrested for Assault.”
It was almost amusing how all these were orchestrated by Meghan.
Carter’s charming little mistress had gotten him arrested for physical abuse, and allegedly, it had all happened in public.
There wasn’t a full video, just grainy clips circulating online. But from what I managed to find, it was obvious that Meghan had set him up. Carter might be a lot of things, my cheating ex–husband, for one, but he wasn’t a violent man. He wouldn’t hurt a fly, even with a gun to his head.
He was just a man who knew how to make you forget you exist.
For a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Meghan, his oh–so–perfect replacement for me, was clearly out to destroy him. I guess we could call it karma. He was finally getting payback for everything he did to me.
“Veronica? Are you ready?” my father called from downstairs, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I put my phone away, taking one last look at my reflection in the mirror. Today was important, my official introduction as the new CEO. I made sure to look flawless: a tailored black suit, very light makeup, and my hair pulled into a sleek bun. There couldn’t be any room for doubt in the board.
members‘ minds.
I didn’t want anyone question my father’s decision to hand me the reins.
I grabbed my bag and descended the grand staircase. My father was already dressed in a tailored navy blue suit. Seeing him in a wheelchair made me wonder why he couldn’t do something about it. I mean, he was very capable.
“You’re late,” he said, his tone more matter–of–fact than scolding.
“I’m ready.” I replied evenly with a small smile. Sometimes his serious expression could come out scary.
He gave me a quick once–over and nodded in approval. “Good. Let’s go.”
The ride to the office was silent so I distracted myself with the beautiful view of the city. I was nervous but no one needed to know that.
My father was reviewing some documents while I stared out the window. trying to focus. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Carter.
It wasn’t my problem anymore. He’d chosen Meghan. He’d chosen to destroy our marriage. But no matter how hard I tried to shake it off, the thought of him being publicly humiliated and arrested gnawed at me.
Why should I care?
The car pulled into the company’s headquarters, and I forced myself to focus. This wasn’t the time for distractions.
“Remember,” my father said as we exited the car. “Today is about establishing your authority. Be confident, decisive, and don’t let anyone see any weakness.”
“I’ve got this,” I assured him, squaring my shoulders.
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Chapter 54
We entered the towering building, and all eyes were on us. Employees straightened their posture, whispers buzzed, and assistants scrambled to make way.
The boardroom was already filled when we arrived. My father introduced me formally, his voice steady and authoritative.
“This is Veronica,” he began. “Not only my daughter but one of the most capable leaders I’ve ever seen. She has the vision and the drive to take this company to new heights. From today, she will be your CEO. I trust you’ll give her the same respect and support you’ve always given me.”
Polite applause filled the room. I looked around at the faces, some skeptical, some curious, and a few openly supportive. I took a deep breath and began my presentation, outlining my plans for the company’s future.
By the time I finished, the room was silent, every pair of eyes focused on
me.
“Impressive,” one of the senior board members finally said. “Your strategy is bold, but it’s clear you’ve put thought into every detail. I look forward to seeing the results.”
The meeting ended smoothly, and as the board members began to leave, my father placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You did well,” he said simply, though the rare note of pride in his voice made me smile.
“Thank you,” I replied, relieved it had gone as planned.
Now that was out of the way, I could finally breathe. I decided to call Orthon to see if we could meet up for lunch later.
He didn’t answer immediately like he always did but when he did, he started speaking before I could even talk.
Chapter 54
“Can I call you back later?” He asked. He sounded stressed and tired.
“Did something happen?” I asked. He left out a sigh and there was silence for a few seconds before he finally spoke.
“Carter was arrested,” he informed me.
Is that what is stressing him out? Carter? That sounded very strange to my ears. To the best of my knowledge, they were at loggerheads with each
other.
“Is
“I know, it’s all over the news,” I said in a monotone.
“Well my father got to know about it…” That alone was enough to tell me why he was so stressed. “He is so fragile, Vee. Every little thing sends. him into shock and his heart just reacts to it. We’ve been trying to get Meghan to confess but she is adamant. She insists that unless Carter agrees to marry her, she will not take back her statement. And Carter, he doesn’t want to marry her…”
“Wow!” I breathed. “That is a lot. But why doesn’t he want to marry her though, she’s carrying his child, isn’t she?”
“That’s the thing but according to him, he never wanted to engage her in the first place. It was all his mother and Meghan and now, he feels this is another form of manipulation. I mean it is, obviously, but still…”
So Carter never wanted to marry Meghan? His mother forced him? Does that mean…
I shook my head rapidly. I didn’t even want to think about it. That would be going back to my vomit. Whether he wanted it or not, it didn’t change anything. It most certainly didn’t change the fact that he tried to humiliate me at the gala.
“So what now?” I asked.
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Chapter 54
“We were depending on the CCTV footage to tell us the truth but somehow, it got deleted so there is no way to prove he is innocent. The only way is for him to accept Meghan’s conditions, but he wouldn’t lis
listen to anyone! And my father’s health keeps worsening by the minute!” Orthon said.
I felt sorry for him. I knew that I had to help him in some way.
‘Don’t! Don’t do it, Veronica! This is none of your business!‘ my subconscious warned but I couldn’t just pretend that nothing was happening.
I loved grandfather very much and if this was going to hurt him, I needed to stop it.
“I’ll speak to my father and see if there’s anything we can do for him. But only for grandfather’s sake!”
Chapter 55
Chapter 55