Evan's POV
"You're all a bunch of idiots!"
The words tore out of my throat the second the door clicked shut behind Celeste.
My palm slammed hard against the polished boardroom table, the sharp crack echoing off the walls.
A few of them flinched. Good. They should.
My chest rose and fell heavily, anger burning through my veins like wildfire. I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing in tight circles, my shoes hitting the marble floor in sharp, uneven beats.
"How could you all agree to that?" I snapped, pointing at them one after the other, my finger trembling slightly not from fear, but from rage barely contained. "How? Tell me!"
They exchanged glances, avoiding my eyes like cowards.
"Letting a woman rule over us?" I continued, my voice rising, cracking with disbelief. "For crying out loud, she's supposed to sit with us not stand above us making decisions!"
"There is nothing we can do, Mr. Evans," Adrian finally spoke, his tone cautious, almost rehearsed.
I stopped pacing and turned slowly, my jaw tightening as my eyes locked onto him. "Nothing we can do?" I repeated, my voice dropping dangerously low.
"She met the condition," he continued, adjusting his tie nervously. "She has a man in her life now. By right, her husband should be CEO—"
"Then where is he?" I cut in sharply, stepping closer, my brows furrowed and lips curling in irritation.
Another board member leaned forward, clearing his throat, "Damien is… not just any man. He owns multiple businesses. Bringing him down would be unwise. And now that Celeste is married to him…" He hesitated, then finished, "He is technically our superior."
I stared at him for a moment, blank and unmoving, before a scoff slipped from my lips.
"You sound like a fool," I muttered, shaking my head slightly.
"I don't bloody care who the hell that man is," I snapped, my voice rising again as I slammed my hand against the table once more. "All I know is Celeste paid him off to act as her husband. And that, I am certain of."
A chuckle broke from the corner of the room. My head snapped toward the sound, my eyes narrowing instantly.
"Now that," the man said, barely holding back his amusement, "is the problem. Damien has enough money to buy this company outright if he wants. And you think he would settle for a little token from Celeste?"
The laugh that followed sent a fresh wave of anger crashing through me.
"Shut the fuck up!" I barked, stepping toward him, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. "You don't know what you're talking about."
The room went silent.
"Enough." The chief of staff's voice cut through the tension like a blade, "We've heard enough of your nonsense, Evans."
I turned to him slowly, my expression hardening.
"You don't have any issue with us," he continued, his face calm but firm. "We are only following protocol. Celeste has proven she is married. We are simply keeping our side of the agreement."
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head in disbelief.
"If you have a problem," he added, gathering the documents from the table including the ones Celeste and I were supposed to sign—"take it up with her."
Something twisted painfully in my chest as I watched him pick up those papers. My position. It was slipping through my fingers and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
"The meeting is over," he added, heading toward the door.
I clenched my jaw, my voice coming out quieter now, edged with something darker. "I knew it."
He paused.
"I knew you never wanted me to have this company," I continued, my gaze boring into his back. "You've always hated me. There was no need to hide behind that fake mask."
He turned slowly, meeting my eyes, then shook his head once, disappointed, almost pitying.
"Are you all just going to leave?" I snapped, desperation creeping into my tone despite my efforts to suppress it. "Or do we find a way to prove Celeste is lying?"
"There is nothing to prove, Evans," another voice said tiredly.
"Never," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head, "What happened here was staged, a performance and a distraction."
No one responded. Instead, one by one, they stood up and walked out, their footsteps fading, leaving me alone in the room.
The silence pressed heavily against me.
"Arrrgh!" I roared, grabbing the chair beside me and shoving it violently across the floor. It screeched loudly before crashing into the wall.
My breathing came out ragged, my chest heaving.
"I will get back at you, Celeste," I whispered, my voice low and venomous. "You can't make me look like the bad guy. I will take everything from you."
Without another second wasted, I stormed out of the boardroom, my strides long and aggressive, my jaw locked tight. My hands were still trembling as I made my way down the hallway, ignoring the startled glances of employees who quickly stepped aside.
I didn't knock; instead, I kicked the door open.
Celeste's office came into view She sat behind her desk, her posture elegant and composed, as her secretary stood beside her, pointing at something on the laptop.
She looked up.
"You think you've won?" I snapped, striding toward her, my voice sharp and cutting. "You think you can have the last laugh, Celeste? Think again. I will strike back and this time, harder."
She didn't react immediately, Instead, she turned her head slightly toward her secretary.
"Please leave us."
Her voice was calm, The secretary nodded quickly, clutching the laptop as she hurried out of the room, the door closing softly behind her, leaving just us.
"I don't understand what you're talking about, Evan's," Celeste said, reaching up to remove her glasses slowly.
I let out a short, disbelieving chuckle, shaking my head as I stared at her.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Her lips curved just slightly….
"Enjoying what?" she asked, tilting her head faintly.
That smile. It made my blood boil.
"Just know this," I said, stepping closer, lowering my voice. "I will find out who that man really is to you. You might have fooled everyone else but not me."
"My husband," she replied smoothly, the word deliberate, almost mocking, "would not be happy to hear you say that."
She leaned back slightly, her eyes never leaving mine.
"I can call him right now," she added casually. "Have him come back, if you'd like."
I didn't respond but she saw the anger and hesitation. And it pleased her.
"I guess not," she said softly, that same faint smile returning.
She sat up, picking up a file and slipping her glasses back on with practiced ease.
"If you don't have anything useful to say," she continued, already shifting her attention away from me, "I have work to do."
Then, without looking at me, she added, "I would like you to leave my office."
My fists clenched at my sides.
I stared at her. She stared back with neither of us blinking
There was something about her that was unshakable. Her confidence, her presence… it was intimidating even if I refused to admit it.
"This is just the beginning, Celeste," I said finally, my voice low, but laced with promise
I turned and walked out.
By the time I reached my office, my breathing had grown uneven again. I began pacing immediately, back and forth, my shirt sticking slightly to my skin despite the cold air from the AC.
My hands ran through my hair repeatedly, my thoughts racing.
"I will get back at her…" I muttered under my breath.
My reflection in the glass window looked back at me, furious, unyielding.
"I will definitely get back at her."