Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

535 The Boardroom Battle

(Winona)

Today isn't just any meeting-it's the meeting. The one where the board either gets behind my vision for the app's future or decides I'm just a placeholder CEO with a famous name.

I step out of the bedroom, grabbing my portfolio from the dresser. Jayden is in the kitchen like he doesn't have a million things to do before he leaves for Brussels.

He looks up as I walk in, his gaze sweeping over me in that slow, assessing way.

"Wow! Stunning. You look like you could fire everyone before they've even said hello," he says, smirking.

I huff, placing my portfolio into my leather briefcase. "I'm considering it."

"Nervous?"

I scoff. "No."

He raises an eyebrow. "Winona."

"Fine, I'm nervous. Only a lot," I quip.

Jayden folds his arms. "They'd be idiots not to get behind you. You've already proven it's your priority."

"That doesn't mean they're going to just hand me the budget I need," I counter. "The marketing strategy is aggressive. The rebrand isn't cheap. The amount of money I'm asking them to invest is—"

"Exactly what they need to do if they want to dominate the market," he cuts in. "Winona, you know this industry. You know finance. You know people. Lance wouldn't have you in that chair if you weren't the right person for it." I let out a slow breath. He's right, but that doesn't mean I trust these board members will see it that way.

"Go in with no doubts," he says, his voice firm. "You have the numbers to back you up. You have the research. Don't doubt yourself. You've done the work, no go sell the idea with no hesitation."

He's right. "No hesitation."

did believe in me. That's why he left me this. But he also had a habit of throwing people into the deep end just to see if they'd

"I

catches my wrist before I can grab my bag. His touch is warm, grounding. "Call me after," he says. "Let

pulls me into a hug and kisses me gently. "For good luck. Not that you'll need it. But Winona, if you get in there and

will take

hand before pulling away. "I'll call you as soon as

everything else to the back of my mind-Jayden leaving, Kit and River starting, Lisa's confusion with Logan, my fall and everything that entailed-none of it matters right now. Right now, I have a board

***

in like

some offering polite nods, others barely glancing up. I take my place

strong. No hesitation. I've met them all

to it," Douglas Harrow, the oldest and most traditional member, says, adjusting his glasses.

"The financial market is evolving. If we don't evolve with

shift in the room. I

app is outdated, clunky, and struggling to retain users under thirty-five. We're losing market share to newer, sleeker platforms that offer the same services but with better UX

where we can win, and exactly how much it

bold strategy, Mrs. Brennan," one of the women on the board says, tapping her pen against her

that if we don't do this, we'll continue

Some of them exchange looks. Harrow clears his throat. "Your marketing budget is substantial. Why not

shake my head.

you half ass a rebrand. We either commit fully, or we let this app die a slow, embarrassing death. It's lot of money but here are the projections..." I bring up the next slide. "The returns are there

proves this area

very

profitable right now."

takes. The momentum shifts. I can see it in their faces-hesitation turning into acceptance, acceptance turning into reluctant

show. I simply nod. "Good

the skills, You could finance this. Why even