Page 9 of The CEO's Revenge

Bitch!

I thought of her with Robert. The image burned my chest. I took another swig of the most expensive champagne money could buy, but it tasted foul.

I would move on from Savannah as well… after exacting my revenge.

I would have the last laugh.

I was not yet sure how, but it was a necessity. Robert’s betrayal enraged me, hers tore me to pieces. I had already more than recovered my financial stability while still in prison, but now I needed to heal my heart and soul. I couldn’t do that until Robert and Savannah got their just desserts.

Until then, fuck them both. I wasn’t about to let them spoil my first day of freedom.

I turned away from the window and looked around. The place was as quiet as a fucking graveyard. Putting some music on, I ordered dinner. The food was exactly what I needed. I’d almost forgotten the taste of good Chinese food.

Afterwards, I got into bed and watched two seasons ofSuccessionlate into the night, content to be in my own bed with a luxuriously thick mattress and lavender scented sheets. As my eyes drifted closed to the hum of the voices on the television in the background, I prayed for my future. For my future without her.

It seemed so bleak…

As my eyes opened, I lay still, and stared at the duck egg blue ceiling. Memories of the previous day flashed before me and I sat up. I looked around, allowing a tiny smile to cross my lips. It had not been a dream. It was real. I was free.

I rolled out of bed and placed my feet on the floor. My toes were lost in the plush mat by the bedside, but when I lifted them clear and I looked down they made me shake my head ruefully. These feet seriously needed some attention. And while I was at it, so did my hands, face, and hair.

I was no longer a convict, but a man with a plan. I could do with a day at a spa.

My secretary made the necessary booking and within an hour, I had given myself over to the skillful hands of a masseuse. I felt the first shoots of new energy grow in my body. I moved from station to station. By that afternoon, my muscles felt supple, my hands and feet felt like they hadn’t felt in years, and they had done something to my hair which made it look pretty good. I looked every inch the successful young executive. Sometimes I did not believe I was just twenty-seven going on twenty-eight. Prison makes you feel like you are a thousand years old. But now I was on to the next phase.

A glance at my watch told me I had twenty minutes to get downtown to my office. I had a meeting with Rick who had been holding the fort. Obviously, I had met most of my staff electronically, but now I would see them face-to-face. All twenty-six of them.

I got into the blacked-out Koenigsegg Jesko. As the beast of an engine roared into life, I smiled. Life was amazing. Even without her. Yes, even without her.

It was a short trip to my office building.

I gave my name to the parking garage attendant who stared at my car in an awed daze, and entered the underground parking space. I easily found the section assigned to BB Tech and could not help but chuckle at the banner marking the CEO’s spot.

Welcome back Max!!!

I watched as the numbers on the elevator panel climbed to the twenty-second floor. The doors opened and I stepped into a plush reception area. To my surprise I was greeted with loud cheers.

Every member of staff was waiting in the lobby. Rick came forward and pushed a glass of champagne into my hand. He raised his glass as did everyone else.

“Welcome back. Hip hip!”

“Hoorayyyyyyyyyy!!!” my staff yelled.

My face split into a grin as I raised my glass and clinked it with Rick’s. I looked around at the staff who were all beaming at me. With Rick’s help in recruitment, I had interviewed each of them via video call and felt as though I knew them all. Even staff meetings had been conducted with me on video.

“It’s nice to finally meet you all in the flesh,” I said.

“You’re much taller!” someone shouted from the back.

“And more handsome too!” a woman from the accounts team joined in cheekily.

That had everyone rolling for a few moments. There was some hand-shaking and I made a little speech to express my appreciation for all they had done for the company. Afterwards, they disappeared to their own places of work and Rick showed me to my office. Once he left, I sat for a few minutes silently enjoying the view of the city skyline.

Life was good. Even without her.

There was a faint knock on my door, and I called, “come in.” The door opened as I swiveled around to face it. In walked Rick and his assistant.

“I wanted to introduce you to Paul,” he said.

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