Page 106 of The Passion

“But unlike Fulton Anderson or your father who were selfishly trying to take all this from you…” I can see him gulping as he tries to keep his steady voice. “I did all this for you. It was never about me, only ever you and my love for you.”

I still can’t manage to speak but just give him the slightest drop of my chin to acknowledge what he is saying.

“I know I was stupid and should have told you, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant that you could stand up and take what’s rightfully yours. I’m not sorry.”

He then turns and makes his way to the door, and as Rem opens it, Flynn stops and takes one last look at me and then he’s gone.

My heart wants me to run after him, but my head tells me not to be stupid.

He lied to me! Kept something so important from me.

Yet my heart is still screaming at me that he did it because he loves me.

Harper is beside me, whispering in my ear, as my father is talking rapidly trying to convince anyone who will listen that it is all lies. Yet every one of them gained their shares through his gambling habit, so surely, they can see through his bullshit.

“You need to take control. It’s time to finish this.” Harper squeezes my shoulder, and I know she’s right.

I need to show the board members in this room that I am the person that they can lay their trust in.

I can do this. Years of hard work have gotten me here.

This is who I am and who I was destined to be.

Taking a deep breath, I stand from my seat and start to speak.

“Can I please have everyone’s attention? And Father, stop talking.” The murmurs around the room stop, but my father continues.

“How dare you speak to me like that!” Standing next to me, he starts to lunge at me to push me away from the table. “You need to leave before you—” He hasn’t finished when Sandon steps between the two of us.

“I suggest you think twice about that, sir,” he says, pushing my father back into his seat.

“Oh, shut up, Ewan. I think we’ve all heard enough from you lately.” Luchia Bianchi winks at me. “Continue, my dear girl.”

I’ve always liked her and looked up to the incredibly strong businesswoman she is, but right now, I’m just grateful she is on my side.

Nodding my head to her, I pull my shoulders back, and in that split moment I know I’m going to be okay.

“The meeting I had already called for later this week was to raise a vote of no confidence in Ewan Kentwell as the CEO of Kentwall Estates. For the reasons that you have just heard, and I’m sad to confirm they are true. The evidence will be handed over to police if needed.” I’m not even giving him the courtesy of calling him my father in this room anymore. He is just a business associate to me now.

“However, we can’t vote on that until Friday when the mandatory seven days has passed. And to be honest, it seems a foregone conclusion now, as I hold all the voting power, but this morning I will give Ewan the same opportunity I gave him on Friday night. That is to stand down himself effectively immediately, and he will be escorted from the room and this office. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to call the police andlet them attend, pressing charges for blackmail and recording without permission, then proceeding to profit from this illegal activity.”

Finally, the room is so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and not surprisingly, my father looks like death. Pale and eyes cast down.

“I never wanted this. It was you who caused it to happen this way.” I look at him and hope to see even one tiny morsel of remorse, but sadly, there is nothing. If anything, he looks scared at the scandal that will follow, and I’m sure he is only worried about his reputation. Not one bit about my feelings or the immense pain that is radiating in my chest right now.

The room has been silent for a few minutes and all eyes are on him, waiting for him to speak. Finally, looking down, he says those words I longed for, but they are devastating to me at the same time.

“I resign effective immediately.” Standing from his chair, he looks at me one last time with such hatred, more than I have never seen from him before, and considering the way he looks at my mother sometimes, that’s saying something.

He doesn’t need to be asked to leave.

Collecting his things off the table, he holds his head up and pulls that blank expression he carries so well onto his face and walks straight out of the boardroom, passing every person who has ever supported him. I’m sure he feels even worse having his biggest competitor in the room seeing his demise in such a big way.

Giving a nod to Sandon, he follows my father, and I’m sure he will make sure he does as I requested. It is dawning on me that not only did my father just walk out of this room, but in fact, he has just walked out of my life for good. There is no going back. That tiny little girl on the inside of me who always hoped and prayed that one day her father would be the man she longed forand love her like she loved him, has finally given up and closed that door for herself.

Hearing Harper subtly clear her throat makes me forget about what is happening outside these walls. I see the guys quietly slip out the back of the room too. In another world I should be worried about my competitors walking around my office without anyone supervising them, but I trust them. Even after what has transpired this morning, I still know deep in my gut that they wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.

“I apologize that you all witnessed what should have been a private family matter here this morning. I make this promise to you today, standing before you all. I will always operate with the best interests of the company in my decisions. The whole company, from myself, the new CEO, down to every worker who may be a cleaner, waiter, maintenance person, or any other job that is just as important as mine. These people will always be at the forefront of my mind.” I know there is a lot of damage to repair here, but the one thing they are looking for right now is a strong leader.

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