Page 105 of The Passion

She might not want this, but I don’t care if she never talks to me again. I will not let her be treated like this.

She is mine to protect, and that is what I will do.

“Enough!” I yell like I’m releasing a demon. “Shut your mouth, you despicable man! Time for people to know the real story, and not one of you is leaving this room until I tell you.”

Ewan stands to challenge me, but to my surprise, Felisha stands and glares at him.

“Sit… down… now!” she growls at him and then turns to me.

“Speak and then leave.” And all I see is hurt in her eyes, and my heart breaks.

Chapter Twenty-Three

FELISHA

What is he doing here?

Some bullshit to make himself look better. I so badly wanted to believe it wasn’t true, but him being here now confirms all my fears.

The disaster of this morning had me wanting to run to him, it’s what I’ve become accustomed to. But the moment his name came out of my father’s mouth, that freedom to feel his comfort and strength in my time of need was ripped out from underneath me.

“Every shareholder in this room who isn’t a Kentwall, except one, are no longer shareholders of Kentwall Estates.” He is not looking at anyone else in the room except me. His stare is so powerful that I can’t manage to look away, no matter how mad at him I am.

“Ewan is right, I now own all their shares as of five minutes ago when the money transfers went through.”

“No!” Father bangs his fist on the table. “That’s not possible,” he roars at Flynn.

Flynn just talks over top of him. “I could ask them to leave, but I won’t because they need to hear this. Because it’s the only way we will undo the bullshit you have been spreading about your daughter just to hide your own fucked-up behavior.”

“Call security, get him out of here!” But before I can say anything, our head of security, Sandon Bock, steps into the boardroom, followed by all Flynn’s friends.

“Good, now get rid of him and charge him with trespassing,” my father orders Sandon, and I want to say something, but it’s like I’m stuck and can’t speak.

I see Rem lock the door, and Sandon stands firm at the door, arms crossed and that blank look on his face but addressing my father.

“I think you misunderstand why I’m here. Once this is over, it’s you I will be escorting from the premises.” The whole time my father is gasping and muttering at Sandon’s words. “I answer to Lady Kentwall now. I can’t work for a man like you.”

What the hell is happening?

Flynn doesn’t give my father or anyone else the chance to speak before he starts again.

“First, let’s clear something up right now. Several months ago, a very private moment between myself and the woman I love was spread all over the internet without our permission. It caused us both great heartache, but not nearly so much as when we found the evidence that Ewan Kentwall was the person who filmed us illegally then released it worldwide, but only after setting up a fake blackmail situation with us.”

“Lies, it’s all lies. You have no proof it was me…” Father is scrambling, but Flynn’s very stern and loud voice domineers over top of his words.

“Shut the hell up!” He points at my father for a split second, before his eyes are back on me and not letting me move my stare from him.

“I’m not perfect by any means, but I decided that moment I found out it was him, and that his reason was to stop Felisha from taking her rightful place as your CEO on her fortieth birthday, that I would protect her.” He starts to slowly walk around the table toward me, and my heart is beating out of my chest. I can’t be near him, I just can’t when I’m so confused.

“Steady there, Felisha, I just want to place this in your hands. These are the copies of the legal documents of me purchasing all the shares off the people in this room in trust for you until the money changed hands to them. From that moment a few minutes ago, this document has transferred all those shares directly into your name. Ensuring you had enough voting power to remove your father from his position. So, no matter what he tried to do or planned on blocking you, we still had the power to take out the trash.” He stops to take a quick breath and continues. “I almost fell short because of this cockhead here who decided his loyalty to your father was more important, and I assume he is the man who told your father.” He points to Colin Fellman who is sitting at the back of the room, head down and not making eye contact with anyone.

“But it turns out this idiot,” he points back at my father, “who is supposed to run and protect this company, couldn’t handle being beaten in a poker game by a woman, so again, he gambled away more shares in this company, to save face in front of his gambling buddies. Little did you know, Ewan, you sealed your own fate that night, handing your daughter, the person you are supposed to love and protect, the last piece of the puzzle to stop you from ruining her life.”

He holds his arm out to me and passes me the envelope that looks like it’s been screwed up many times into my hand.

“So, from this moment on, my love, you have the voting power to take over your company in that meeting you called andbecome the CEO and owner, as you deserve to.” Flynn steps back with such sadness in his eyes.

“These people all know the truth now, that Ewan Kentwall is a disgusting man. One who would rather tarnish his daughter’s image so he could continue to plunder her inheritance and gamble away everything you have worked hard to build for the future.” The room is deathly silent.

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