**Chapter 12: The Return Of The Queen**
Laila returned to the conference room with Peter trailing behind her, his face pale with a light sheen of sweat that had formed on his forehead. The conference room immediately went silent as they stepped in, the air tense.
Mr. Davis cleared his throat, breaking the silence and adjusting his glasses. "Well, in accordance with Mr. Moreno's will, Laila Moreno officially resumes her position as the Chief Executive Officer of Moreno Industries effective immediately." He glanced at Laila and smiled slightly. "Congratulations, Ms. Moreno."
Murmurs spread across the table. Members of the board exchanged glances, some shocked, others almost relieved but nevertheless applauses filled the room.
But Peter couldn't bring himself to clap. His palms were slick with sweat, his pulse drumming in his ears. He forced a smile, the perfect husband's smile. "Congratulations, love," he said softly, loud enough for others to hear. "I'm so proud of you."
Laila turned to him, her smile equally polished and perfectly measured. "Thank you, darling. I couldn't have done it without your… support." Laila didn't seem to be done though. "As the new CEO and president of Moreno Group of Companies, I wouldn't want to leave Mr. Morse out.... So I am officially appointing him as the Vice-president of the company." She finished looking at Peter who smiled back.
"Thank you." Peter said with a smile that didn't match the way he was feeling inside.
"Of course. We wouldn't want to leave you behind." Laila replied with a knowing smile.
The words were sugar-coated poison. Only he seemed to taste the bitterness in them.
As the meeting concluded and the board members began to file out, Laila stayed seated for a moment longer. She could feel Peter's gaze on her, could almost hear his mind racing behind that fake calm exterior. She rose slowly, smoothed her skirt, and turned to him.
"Peter, can you meet me in my office in an hour?" she asked. "We need to go over the transition paperwork."
"Of course," Peter replied quickly, forcing another smile. "Anything you need."
As she left the room with Mr. Davis and his assistant trailing behind her, Peter sank back into his chair. His mask slipped for a brief second, his jaw clenched, eyes dark with calculation. She knows something… or she suspects. Either way, he couldn't afford to let her dig too deep. Not yet.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the polished surface of the table. He needed to think, and fast. Maybe he could still manipulate this. Maybe she was bluffing. Laila wasn't as sharp as she used to be before the accident—or so he told himself. If I can keep her distracted… emotionally vulnerable… I can still control this.
As Laila walked into her office, Mr. Davis following closely behind, she felt a sense of nostalgia wash over her. The familiar scent of polished wood and leather enveloped her, and she couldn't help but smile as she took in the familiar surroundings. The warm glow of the afternoon sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows highlighted the rich wood paneling and the elegant artwork that adorned the walls.
"Ah, Mr. Davis, it's good to be back," Laila said, her voice filled with a mix of emotions as she made her way to her desk. She ran her fingers over the intricately carved wooden surface, feeling a sense of connection to her father.
"Indeed, Ms. Moreno," Mr. Davis replied, his eyes twinkling with warmth. "Your father would be proud of the woman you've become. Shall we discuss the transfer of your mother's properties and valuables?" He turned to his assistant who pulled out a folder from his briefcase and handed it to Laila, who took it with a nod.
"As your father had made separate preparations for your mother, but you get them too as she too has passed on." Mr. Davis said and Laila couldn't help but feel saddened that her father had made provisions for her mom after his death, not knowing they would die together.
As they sat down to go over the documents, Laila's thoughts drifted to her mother. She remembered the countless hours they spent in this very office with her father, discussing business and life. Her mother's words of wisdom and encouragement echoed in her mind, and Laila felt a sense of determination wash over her.
Just as they were finishing up, Peter walked into the office, a charming smile plastered on his face. "Ah, perfect timing," Mr. Davis said.
"I'm ready to go over the transfer documents whenever you are, darling." Peter said, his eyes locked on Laila.
Laila's expression remained neutral as she gestured to the papers on her desk. "Let's get this over with," she said, her voice cool.
The next hour was a blur of paperwork and formalities, with Mr. Davis explaining the finer points of the company's bylaws and Peter signing off on various documents. Laila's focus was laser-sharp as she reviewed each document, ensuring that every detail was in order.
Once the documents were signed and the transfer was complete, Mr. Davis nodded in satisfaction. "Well, that's all taken care of. Congratulations again, Ms. Moreno. I'll leave you to it." His assistant gathered his papers as he stood up, his eyes twinkling with approval. But he noticed the glint in Laila's eyes, as if passing a message.
As Mr. Davis left the office with his assistant, Laila turned to Peter. "I think that's all for now, Peter. You can go."
Peter's smile faltered for a moment, but he recovered quickly. "Of course, darling. I'll see you at home." He turned to leave, but not before Laila caught a glimpse of something in his eyes, a flash of anger, a hint of calculation.
Laila's mind was racing too—but with a different kind of calculation. The way he'd panicked ever so slightly, the tremor in his voice, the sweat on his palms… she noticed it all. Peter had always underestimated her, always assumed her kindness was weakness. Now she was going to use that against him.
She rang the phone on the office to call her secretary, who came knocking on her door within seconds. "Dani, I want full access to all financial transactions handled by Peter Morse during his tenure as acting CEO. Everything. Send them to my private email. Discreetly."
Dani nodded and quickly exited the office, leaving Laila to her thoughts. As she sat back in her chair, Laila's eyes narrowed. She was just getting started, and she was determined to uncover the truth about the state of the company.
The silence in the office was oppressive, punctuated only by the soft hum of the air conditioning. Laila's eyes seemed to bore into the documents on her desk, her mind racing with possibilities. She was a woman on a mission, and nothing was going to stand in her way.
Her lips curved slightly, the first true smile she'd worn in weeks.
The game had officially begun.