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The meeting wrapped up faster than Emery expected. Questions were asked, details rified, and though she kept her answers steady, she could feel the eyes of the directors weighing her every word. By the time the chairs scraped back and the room began to clear, she let out a slow breath, ready to leave.
But before she could step out, n Loring’s voice stopped her. “Mrs. Hayes. If you don’t mind, I’d like a
word.”
Emery hesitated only a moment before giving a nod. She nced at Nina, who immediately understood and slipped out into the hall to wait.
The door shut behind them, leaving Emery alone with the CEO. n adjusted his tie, his expression caught somewhere between strained professionalism and genuine difort. “I’ll get straight to the point. I want to reassure you, I don’t see you as a threat to my position here.”
Emery folded her arms lightly, her posture calm. “Good. Because I’m not here to take your job.”
n let out a breath, almost relieved. “I figured as much. And I’m grateful. But there’s something else I need to say. I owe you an apology for the way things ended before. You didn’t deserve to be pushed out like that.”
Emery shook her head. “It’s not a problem, Mr. Loring. You did what you thought was right at the time. Samuel can be… convincing. I know how he works.”
n’s jaw tightened, his eyes flicking toward the polished table beforending back on her. “So you knew.”
“I knew.” Emery nodded. “It was never you who wanted me gone, it was Mr. Dwight. You just carried it out.”
For a moment, n didn’t speak. His silence said enough.
Emery didn’t need to spell out the rest, but her thoughts turned sharp all the same. Samuel must have thought cutting her off from everything, her career, her reputation, her independence, would drive her back to him. He always believed she had nowhere else to go.
But when she didn’t return, when she stood her ground, that was when he started losing control. That was when he spiraled into the man obsessed with keeping her, no matter the cost.
n cleared his throat. “For what it’s worth, I regret following through. I should have pushed back harder. You were a very valuable asset to thepany.”
Emery gave a small, cool smile. Obviously, she knew that the older man was just trying to hype her up. “It’s in the past now. You don’t need to carry it. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again or to anyone else.”
n nodded slowly, clearly absorbing her words. “Understood.”
“With you as the new Head of Strategic Development, I am already looking forward to the things that we will eventually do,” Mr. Loring added. Again, Emery smiled.
That’s right. She didn’t choose to be the CEO or the COO of thepany. She even declined to be the Chairwoman of the Board. Instead, she chose to be the Head of Strategic Development and oversee the long term growth of thepany.
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“Well, thank you for taking the time. Let’s have a meeting after tomorrow’s announcement,” Emery said. “My secretary will contact you then.”
“Of course,” Mr. Loring said as he shook her hand again. Not long after, Emery left the building with Nina.
“That was anticlimactic,” Ninamented when they reached the ground floor. “I was expecting you to do something badass<b>… </b>like… fire everyone on the team.” Nina chuckled.
“That’s illogical,” Emery said. She had been working at thispany for years. She knew that everyone worked hard and hustled to get thepany to where it currently is. “Besides<b>… </b>I’m pregnant. I can’t handle too much stress<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Still, you wanted to head the Strategy Committee… It’s bold. And-
“6
The sound of someone calling Emery’s name stopped the two in their tracks.
“How the hell did he know we are here?” Emery muttered, her frown deepening <b>as </b>she spotted Samuel striding across the lobby toward them. His pace was quick, his eyes locked on her like he was ready to start something.
Before he could close the distance–barely ten feet away–a figure stepped right into his path. A tall woman in heels, shoulders squared, holding up a hand to stop him.
Lucille.
Emery exhaled, her grip tightening on her bag. She had almost forgotten Lucille was shadowing her, the woman was so skilled she barely noticed her presence until now.
“That-” Nina started.
“That’s my bodyguard,” Emery cut in quickly. “We should just go.”
“No. Please, wait!” Samuel’s voice cracked slightly, his hand half–raised as if he could stop them from walking away. “I don’t want to cause a scene, just give me a little time. Talk to me.”
Emery froze mid–step. There was a desperation in his tone she hadn’t heard in a long time. Slowly, she turned her head toward him, studied the man who once thought she’d never leave, then gave a short, dry snort.
“Lucille… let him through,” she ordered.
Lucille’s eyes flicked to her in question, but she didn’t move aside yet.
“You sure?” Nina asked, lowering her voice <b>as </b>she tugged lightly at Emery’s sleeve.
Emery straightened her shoulders. “I can’t avoid him forever,” she said firmly. Her gaze hardened. “And once Grandmother acknowledges me publicly, this unsettled affair will definitely cause some problems. <b>I </b>need this settled on my terms.”
Lucille finally stepped aside, though her stance stayed sharp, ready for trouble.
Samuel slowed <b>as </b>he reached them, his eyes carrying a heaviness that made him look older than before. It
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was clear that he lost a lot of weight, but that is none of Emery’s business. “Have you already had dinner?” he asked, his voice strained. “I know a ce. I already booked-”
“I’m fine, Mr. Dwight,” Emery cut in, her tone t. “If you have something to say, say it now. I don’t have time
for this.”
“Emery…” he said, his tone low. “Do you still remember this?” he suddenly took something from his jacket pocket. “It was… the first ne that I gave you. It was- I discovered that you left it behind so I- ”
“Please throw it away,” Emery said. “This object holds no relevance to me, Mr. Dwight. It was nothing but something that belongs to the past.”
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