Fred entered from the hallway, his expression thunderous when he realized Ferdinand was missing, but with so many eyes on him, he kept hisposure and said nothing.
He found his seat and gestured for his assistant.
The assistant leaned in. "Mr. Wentworth?"
"Find Ferdinand. Now."
"Yes, sir."
With that, the assistant hurried from the boardroom.
Across the table, Stewart drummed his fingers, tapping out a barely perceptible rhythm.
Everyone in the room hade to force him out, yet Stewart sat at the head of the table, perfectlyposed, exuding the authority of someone inplete control. He didn''t have to say a word; not a single person dared to break the silence.
Then the boardroom doors swung open again.
Barrie Lockwood strode in, holding a document in his hand. He gave Stewart a wide grin. "Apologies for runningte. I happen to own five percent of Wentworth Group shares myself. That makes me a shareholder too, so I''m obliged to attend, aren''t I?"
Fred immediately stood and greeted Barrie with enthusiastic camaraderie.
Stewart only watched, his face unreadable-almost as if he''d predicted their every move.
With Barrie''s arrival, Fred breathed easier. The meeting was as good as won. Stewart set his phone on the table, checked his watch, then swept his calm gaze across the room. "Let''s begin."
Briony was absent. The oue of the vote was no surprise.
Even though Stewart held enough shares tomand nearly half the votes, Barrie''s single vote tipped the bnce for Ferdinand. Stewart lost-by a single ballot.
From that moment, Ferdinand became CEO of Wentworth Group.
Only, their would-be victor, Ferdinand, was nowhere to be seen.
Stewart rose with unhurried grace, straightening his suit as he strode from the boardroom.
Barrie hurried after him. "Aren''t you the least bit curious where I got my five percent, Mr. Wentworth?"
Stewart stopped, turning to face him, lips curling in a faint, cold smile. "No need for theatrics, Mr. Lockwood. I haven''t forgotten giving those shares to my fiancée."
"Lorna betrayed you," Barrie said, watching closely. "You don''t seem too heartbroken, Mr. Wentworth."
Stewart let out a scornfulugh. “Did you expect me to cry, Mr.
Lockwood? Sorry to disavve
always been cold-blooded.
so fond of my fiancée, you can have her."
Barrie stared, searching Stewart''s face for any sign of defeat or bitterness. He found nothing but icy indifference, and it left him unsatisfied.
Still, he reasoned, Stewart and Lorna had only just gotten engaged. There hadn''t been time for deep feelings-maybe Stewart truly didn''t care.
But then Barrie''s grin twisted. "I happen to have a few videos and pictures-this
time, the main character is Rosita Lockwood. Interested, Mr. Wentworth?"
Stewart''s gaze sharpened, voice turning to ice. "What is it with you, Mr. Lockwood? Must you sample every woman I''ve been with?"
Barrieughed, brazen and wild. "Why not? Now that you mention it, your ex-
wife''s the only one I haven''t had the pleasure of trying."
Stewart''s hand clenched at his side, his brow furrowing as he fought to keep hisposure, refusing to show the slightest crack.
"My ex-wife?" Stewart sneered. "She''s a fool. If you want her, by all means—she''s yours to try."
No sooner had the words left his lips than footsteps echoed behind them.
"Mr. Wentworth..." Carl''s voice was awkward, his eyes darting to Briony.
Stewart whirled around and met Briony''s gaze.
His back stiffened.
Ferdinand appeared, striding past Briony-then he swung,nding a brutal punch square on Stewart''s jaw.
There was a sickening thud. Stewart staggered backward, crashing to the floor.
Ferdinand was on him in an instant. The usuallyposed, soft-spoken man looked possessed as he grabbed Stewart by the cor,
roaring "Stewart! Even if you ?
love Bryn, you had no right to
humiliate her like that! She gave you two children-do you even have a conscience left?"
Blood filled Stewart''s mouth. He wiped it away forcefully, then looked
up at Ferdinand, eyes
in a
taunt. "Where''s all your gentlemanly restraint now, Ferdinand?"