Page 99 of The CEO Enemy

He just stands there motionless, then gives a curt nod.

The room hushes momentarily as his nod signifies a rare agreement.

A few moments later, my father finally breaks the silence. “In the interest of the company, I agree. Let’s move forward with this decision.” He looks at me. “My son, Sean Peter Blackwood, now holds the position of head of the board of directors,” he announces, and sits back down.

He wouldn’t be my father if he didn’t know how to gracefully accept defeat.

It feels like a weight is lifted off my chest. I take a steady breath and cast my gaze across the table. Daniela smiles softly and gives a nod of acknowledgment. The others who voted in my favor are waiting expectantly, eyes on me.

I present my reports and updates on our properties, trying to act like it’s business as usual, even though it’s anything but.

In my report, I point out the numbers we can expect for the next quarters, a testament to the invaluable contributions of Ms. Summers, the current—and remaining—co-owner and Director of Hotel Operations at Westerlyn Hotels. In order to clear her name fully, I emphasize that these achievements wouldn’t have been possible without her expertise. I highlight our plans to acquire the adjacent skyrise, a development made possible through her connections (a juicy tidbit she dropped this morning, for which I plan to thank her thoroughly all night long). Furthermore, I take the opportunity to highlight the partnerships she has cultivated over the past years, resulting in a substantial financial gain that is poised for exponential growth in the coming months. I stress the importance of retaining dedicated team members like her who turn down offers not only from Richard Rutherford but from several major competitors, reflecting their commitment and loyalty to Blackwood’s cause.

“And for the foreseeable future, our bookings have soared to heights even I couldn’t have predicted.” I don’t hold back as I reveal the staggering numbers, making it clear that bookings have gone through the roof.

The room registers surprise, and a few subtle gasps and acknowledging murmurs fill the air.

Sometimes, numbers have the last word.

I close with the suggestion to allocate a significant portion of our resources to improvements for our existing properties rather than solely focusing on property acquisitions. The initial reaction is overwhelmingly positive, with everyone applauding—except my father. He just gives me a subtle nod, then gets up and leaves.

Countless ideas and thoughts continue to run through my mind, and I’m trying to keep them in check. There will be plenty of time to think about and implement the changes I want. I’m sure it’s not always going to be smooth sailing by any means, but it’s a step in the right direction.

33

SEAN

Two months later

It’s funny how things sometimes work out. Before Jess, finding a silver lining seemed like a foreign concept, but now, it’s become my compass in life. Optimism was never my go-to, but finding those glimmers in the darkness—well, it turns out, it’s like having your own weapon against life’s storms. For one, I’m finally having a say in the future of Blackwood.

Since I gained my new position, it’s astonishing how different things are.

Connor has been training to take over my position as CEO. As much as I enjoy the position, I feel my future lies with directing the board and being free to work on personal goals.

Jess didn’t end up moving out. In fact, the other neighbor couple on our floor, Lottie and Antoine, moved to Paris, France, so I bought their place, which means we now own the whole floor. We’re in the process of remodeling the space into one large apartment, complete with two offices, a gym, and plenty of space for a family.

Which we’re definitely going to have.

Jess is running the Westerlyn properties and crushing it. We’ve begun renovations to upgrade the amenities, starting with a few of the items we discussed and new ones—such as renovating the rooftop terrace, adding cozy reading nooks, upgrading the in-room entertainment systems, offering specialty pancakes in the mornings, fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon, and introducing a weekly “home-cooked favorites” night in our restaurants.

Our mornings have fallen into a comfortable routine. Usually, the alarm goes off, and I get up first to get a quick workout in. I know it’s time for Jess to wake when Pippin and Pippa start rustling in their new parakeet palace and launching into a duet of squawks.

Putting the coffee on, I make sure Jess is up before hitting the shower.

Sometimes, she joins me.

Which is how this morning is going. I’m under the warm spray of the shower when I hear the bathroom door squeak and the shower cabin open. Smirking, I feel her arms wrap around me, and she places kisses between my shoulder blades.

“Good morning,” I rumble.

“Mmmm, morning, handsome.”

I turn around and get her under the water with me, pulling her into a deep kiss. She moans and melts into my arms. Life really can’t get any better. I think about where we were before and how far we’ve come, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next. Jess runs her hand down between us, cupping my dick.

“Someone’s frisky this morning,” I groan, pressing her against the wall.

“Hard not to be when you’re all soapy and dressed like that.”

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