Chapter 5
643words
Lewis didn't even bother looking up as he spoke.
Yves's voice took on a desperate edge. "All personnel decisions go through HR. Why should the CEO position be any different? Doesn't this company stand for equality?"
Lewis scoffed. "Personnel authority comes from the board. The CEO is appointed directly by them and communicated to senior management. You're a mid-level manager—what makes you think you'd be in that loop?"
"That still doesn't prove she's actually the CEO!"
Ruby's eyes bored into me with murderous intensity.
"Would the presence of the entire board of directors suffice as proof of Ms. Sanders' appointment?"
A convoy of black sedans pulled up outside. Men and women in impeccable suits emerged—the unmistakable aura of corporate power surrounding them.
Someone gasped audibly. "Holy shit—it's the actual board of directors!"
"They never show up all at once unless something major is happening!"
"If this woman really is the CEO, those two are completely screwed!"
"Uncle Lee, Uncle Lewis, Aunt Zane."
I greeted them warmly, and their stern expressions instantly softened.
"Yana, dear. We heard someone's been questioning your appointment?"
Uncle Lee leaned on his cane, his sharp gaze fixing on Yves and Ruby, who now stood apart from everyone else.
Yves's arrogance evaporated like morning dew.
"You're... you're actually the CEO?"
"Still need convincing?"
I met his gaze with ice in my eyes.
His face contorted into an obsequious smile. "Yana, I was completely wrong. I had no idea! But why did you hide this from me all this time?"
"My father thought you weren't good enough for me. He made me hide my identity if I insisted on dating you."
"I planned to tell you after graduation, but clearly you couldn't wait that long."
He grabbed my hand with sudden enthusiasm. "It's not too late! We can work together—you as CEO, me as your right-hand man. We'll make this company legendary!"
I found his transformation darkly amusing. "I believe we just broke up."
Yves reached for my hand again. "Yana, baby, I know you're just angry about the necklace. I'll buy you a dozen new ones—better ones!"
I shoved his hand away in disgust. "This isn't about the necklace."
I checked my watch—still two hours before my meeting. "Manager Lewis, please initiate termination procedures for Yves Young immediately. Grounds: favoritism, violation of company policy, and abuse of position."
I turned to Ruby. "As for her—she's trespassing. Ensure she never enters these premises again."
Lewis nodded briskly, but Ruby erupted in hysterics. "No! You can't do this! It's illegal to fire a pregnant woman!"
My eyes dropped to her slightly swollen belly, remembering Yves's earlier concern. The realization hit like a physical blow. "The baby... it's yours, isn't it?"
"Yana, what happened with Ruby was just a mistake. I won't be with her, but she is pregnant. Fire me if you must, but not her. She'll be a single mother—she needs this job."
Pain ripped through me like a physical wound. My carefully maintained composure shattered completely.
I'd thought I could handle this professionally, but this revelation broke something inside me.
No wonder he'd come home smelling of unfamiliar perfume, grinning at text messages he quickly hid from me.
He'd even held my hand against his once, commenting how "small" it had gotten lately.
All along, he'd been comparing me to her.
Yves couldn't meet my eyes. "Yana, please, let me explain..."
I wiped away a stray tear and slapped him with all my strength. "No explanations. Take your pregnant girlfriend and get the hell out of my company!"
"Aww, jealous? Being CEO doesn't change the fact he cheated on you! Yves pursued me for years before settling for you as second choice."
"Shocking, isn't it? Poor little rich girl."
Ruby's laughter echoed through the lobby, her eyes gleaming with malicious triumph.
