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."

almost hear hearts pounding,

lucky not to have

us all know how serious he is. "I am now acting CEO. Only my first-born heirs can stand in

Jayden out of a job too. His eyes

His first born may be female, or trans, or more rainbow than a unicorn fart. The anticipation of Judy being ousted by any of the above thrills me to

of his mouth, the twitch in his cheek. He's never mentioned Gus. I don't think

hates being blindsided. His fists clench and unclench on the table, knuckles white, a silent testament to his inner struggle. Surprise, surprise-he clearly has Judy

a pressure cooker of barely contained chaps. Maybe being out from under the pressure of being CEO and first-born heir will

Brennan continues, his voice a relentless hammer. "Everyone else, except for the following

gasp echoes through the room. I think half the

+25 BONUS

52 Dead Wood

names of those staying behind.

Brennan, Lance Collins, Winona Nolan. All stay. Phillip Joseph and Ashlyn Thomas are coming

Unexpected. I glance at Phillip as he strides in, his

across the table, his eyebrows raised in question. I shrug my shoulders, the uncertainty now gnawing at me. Ashlyn moves closer to Judy and Jayden, her

Lance whispers under his

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

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