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."

a habit of throwing people into the deep end just to see if they'd

nod. "I need

I can grab my bag. His touch is warm, grounding. "Call me after," he says. "Let me know how

"For good luck. Not that you'll need it. But Winona, if you get in there and you feel strongly that it really isn't for you. There's no shame in that, you know?" "I

will take you with

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

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 to convince. The rest

***

in like I own the place. Because, literally, I

my place at the head of the table, setting down my portfolio with

you for making the time," I say, my voice clear, strong. No hesitation. I've met them all before and

says, adjusting his glasses. "We've reviewed your proposal for the app's rebranding. It's... ambitious."

necessary," I counter smoothly. "The financial market is evolving. If we don't evolve with

shift in the room. I have their

click the remote, bringing up the first slide of my presentation. "The current version of the 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 design, better branding, and

slides with precision, laying out every key point-where we're failing, where we can win, and exactly how

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

"No investment is guaranteed. But I do guarantee that if we don't do this, we'll continue hemorrhaging

is substantial. Why not roll out these changes in phases instead of all at

shake my head.

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

proves this

very

profitable right now."

"She's right. The app now is useless. This makes sense." That's all it takes. The momentum shifts. I can see

let my relief show. I

finance this. Why even bother