My CEO 52

I

52 Dead Wood (Winona)

"I am here for damage control. The shareholders have spoken. Too many wanted out. I'm here to turn the ship around and get confidence back." Gus Brennan continues talking, his deep voice vibrating through the room like a warning bell.

You could scoop up the nervousness hanging in the air and eat it like ice cream.

Just add sprinkles to mine, thanks.

Every word he says feels like a direct hit, slicing through the tension with surgical precision. My chest tightens, a knot of anxiety coiling inside me as I steal a glance at Jayden. His jaw is clenched, eyes marrowing in a mix of frustration and disbelief. I'm nervous for him.

How much more can he take? His mind might end up in overload. Then again, a break from the company may be the lifeline he needs, right now. I guess, either way, we are going to find out. A break from Judy would be better. No chance of that now she's acting like a doting grandmother.

The room seems to shrink around us, the walls pressing in as Gus's gaze sweeps over the assembled faces and continues on his verbal journey.

"Dead wood will be carved off. Those left will triple their workload. Top heavy executive salaries will be gutted. Any form of disloyalty will be removed immediately. Some already have been."

the room. I can almost hear hearts pounding, can almost taste

have gotten the 'don't come Monday'

to let us all know how serious he is. "I am now acting CEO. Only my first-born

wave of astonishment crashes over me. Guess that's Jayden out of a job too. His eyes flicker with something I

pronoun "they." His first born may be female, or trans, or more rainbow than a unicorn fart. The anticipation

look at Jayden again, his face a mask of turmoil. The hard set of his mouth, the twitch in his cheek.

a silent testament to his inner struggle. Surprise, surprise-he clearly has Judy to

under the pressure of being CEO and first-born heir will be good

the end of the day," Gus Brennan continues, his voice a

I think half the table just died

+25 BONUS

52 Dead Wood

names of those staying behind. I'm not sure which would be

Phillip Joseph and Ashlyn Thomas are coming

through me. Okay. Unexpected. I glance at Phillip as he strides in, his face

raised in question. I shrug my shoulders, the

bricks," Lance whispers under his

I whisper back, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. His eyes, usually so full of mischief, are

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