CHAPTER 64: NEW EXECUTIVE

Braelyn’s POV

The emergency board meeting came out of the blue, I wasn’t expecting it to be this grand. My initial guess was that it was going to be a general management meeting, but after walking into the room filled with our top shareholders and senior executives, I started to feel it was something more.

Was the Volkov Apex holding facing financial issues? I couldn’t help but wonder. My brows furrowed as I walked into the conference room. It was a large one different from the one used earlier for the investors’ meeting

The door was open with distinguished figures moving in and out of the room. The conference room was already full when I stepped in.

Low murmurs filled the room. Suits shifting, seats creaking against the floor. Eyes that avoided that watched each other too carefully.

Some gaze shifted towards me after I stepped in. Some familiar faces nodded in acknowledgement, and I smiled back at them. Raphael was already in the room; he was involved in a serious conversation with one of the major shareholders.

He didn’t notice me or maybe pretended not to. Not that I cared. "Mrs Volkov, fancy meeting you here. I didn’t catch a glimpse of you during the funeral." One of the executives chimed myself

It was Devon, an old manager, who was like a father figure to me. I worked under him when I started working here and he had diligently mentored me. Naturally, I couldn’t ignore him.

"It’s been a while indeed. I skipped some parts of the funeral because I wasn’t feeling well. Gregor was my father’s close friend. It was like losing my father again." I responded with a smile, and Devon and I chatted a bit as we headed to the table

He asked general questions about my well-being. His presence eased the atmosphere but didn’t change the fact that Something was off.

How did the shareholders get here so fast on short notice?

We moved to the table. The long mahogany table that stood in the middle of the room reflected the overhead white lights. I took my seat next to Devon while he spoke about his family.

His daughter was getting married soon, and Devon had some comments about his future son-in-law. The conversation between us was natural until he mentioned something that made my back freeze.

"Only if he were more like your husband. I will be assured that Celeste was in good hands." My smile stiffened, I wouldn’t wish Celeste to have a partner like Raphael.

"I bet Celeste will prefer her fiancé." I laughed it off then my gaze shifted across the table. Devon joined the laugh before he was interrupted by another executive and they started chatting about business.

I took a moment to study the room while patiently waiting for the meeting to start. The air conditioner was humming too loudly, yet the room still felt suffocating. At the far end of the room, the company crest glimmered on the white wall.

Across from me, Raphael calmly sat there. My gaze flickered when our eyes finally met for a brief moment. He had heard my earlier statement. I scoffed then glanced away.

My gaze drifted around the room again. All the top shareholders. The ones who only showed up for anniversaries, mergers, and funerals. The kind of men who controlled empires from behind tinted glass.

They were all here for an emergency internal meeting. This was truly convenient. My stomach churned with a strange feeling, there was this tension I couldn’t explain. Even Raphael felt it.

Raphael didn’t look at me, but I could feel the crackle of tension rolling off him. His fingers tapped once against the table, then stilled. Like he was bracing himself while conversing with the shareholders.

The moment of truth finally arrived. The door swung open and everyone immediately rose to their feet.

A group emerged through the door. Ronan Volkov walked in with a regal, composed demeanour. His sharp eyes scanned the room. Raphael cussed under his breath drawing my attention.

He was staring at the door, but not at his father. I followed his gaze and the air in my lungs was pulled out.

The last man of the group stood out like a sore thumb. My lips twitched as I watched Lucien stride in.

He didn’t blend in and didn’t even bother to try. He was dressed in black, crisp and precise, but his aura didn’t match the boardroom. He didn’t have Raphael’s cool elegance nor Ronan’s commanding steel. I was starting to doubt if the man I saw at the restaurant that day was him.

Lucien walked like he owned the entire place because he didn’t care if he didn’t. His gaze found me instantly. And he smiled without a care. A knowing smile that displayed his perfect dimples.

Chairs scraped as everyone sat. Except for Devon, next to me, who stood almost too quickly when Lucien stopped by my side.

"Do you mind trading seats?" Lucien said in a soft voice. It didn’t seem like a suggestion but a quiet command.

Devon nodded, stepping aside as though under a spell. Lucien sat down before me, and I had no choice but to awkwardly follow.

I stared at him, startled. "Lucien..." I blurted as I took my seat.

He was seated beside me like he had every right to be there. Like it was the most natural thing ever. I remembered the message he sent earlier.

He wanted to take his life more seriously.

So this was what he meant. I wondered what games he was up to because it was working. "Someone can’t stand us being together." He teased with the same playful grin.

Across the table, Raphael finally moved his eyes, snapping up, his expression shifting from shock to something ugly. I held my breath praying to the gods that his anger remained at bay

Lucien was as infuriating as ever. He didn’t flinch and simply held my gaze, soft but intense, like he was seeing right through me. "You look tired." He casually chimed.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, barely parting my lips.

His lips tilted, the hint of a smirk ghosting there.

"Making our fake relationship louder," he murmured back. "You said everyone should know who the wife is, didn’t you?"

My breath snagged. He was taking this thing too seriously.

This man was going to ruin me.

Ronan cleared his throat, drawing the room back to order. The weight of authority settled heavily in the air.

"Thank you all for gathering on such short notice," Ronan began, his voice smooth and unhurried. "This is a general shareholders’ assembly. There are... significant changes about to take place within the Volkov Conglomerate."

My stomach tightened. Raphael’s jaw clenched but he didn’t stare at Ronan. He was still staring at Lucien who leaned back in his seat, entirely at ease, eyes never leaving me.

"This is about you isn’t it?" I asked him. He simply smiled then glanced at Ronan.

"Following the death of our late chairman, I will be taking on that responsibility, and my Son Raphael will be taking over the vice chairman position," Ronan announced and there was a round of applause.

That was expected, his gaze then fell on Lucien. "A lot of you might not recognise him, but the gentleman over there is my younger brother, amongst the various changes that would be happening in the company, Lucien Volkov, who will be joining the board with a more active role...."

Ronan’s words faded in my ears and my eyes snapped at Lucien. He was joining the company. The room fell silent, Raphael didn’t speak, but another shareholder did.

"Can we deliberate about this decision? Many might not know, but Lucien is quite notorious. How can we have someone like that on the board..." His words were interrupted by a deep laugh.

My hair curled, as the room turned icy. I have never felt Lucien act so intimidating. His grin was still there but he felt darker like danger itself..

The shareholder went silent, and Ronan and Raphael remained silent. "I didn’t know that with so few shares you had an opinion against me..." He commented.

Raphael smirked, "he is just concerned about the company. Having an executive member who is notoriously known for illegal racing and a bad gambling addiction won’t look good on the company." Raphael finally spoke. Their hazel eyes met.

Lucien nodded, "That’s true, but unfortunately, I want to join the company, not only because it was my late father’s wishes, but there is something important here, I also want..." His voice dropped

"Something you discarded."

Raphael laughed at his words. Lucien leaned towards the table, his chin resting on his hands.

"This is Gregor’s wish. I am certain none of you want to oppose the judgment of the man who made this conglomerate what it is today..." His gaze glanced across the table and no one said a thing.

His smile softened. "I thought as much. I didn’t want to openly question everyone present here if they were worthy of their seats."

I was dumbfounded. He was openly threatening them. Lucien finally turned back to his brother. "I don’t think they have any opposition so we can move on to the next item."

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