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."

this. But he also had a habit of throwing people into the deep end just to see if they'd sink or swim. They didn't all swim. Sometimes, even the right person just isn't ready. "You can do

"I

grab my bag. His touch is warm, grounding.

"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

Global will take you with open

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

walk out, I push 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

***

as hell, but I walk in like I

glancing up. I take my place at the

making the time," I say, my voice clear, strong.

get straight to it," Douglas Harrow, the oldest and most traditional member, says, adjusting his glasses. "We've reviewed your proposal for the app's rebranding. It's... ambitious."

is evolving.

slight shift in the room. I have their

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

point-where we're failing, where we can win, and exactly how much it will cost to execute my

strategy, Mrs. Brennan," one of the women on the board says, tapping her pen against her notepad. "What guarantee do we have that this

But I do guarantee that if we don't do this, we'll continue hemorrhaging users, and within one

Some of them exchange looks. Harrow clears his throat. "Your marketing budget is substantial.

shake my

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

this

very

profitable right now."

younger board members, a tech guy named Lewis, nods. "She's right. The app now is useless. This makes sense." That's all it takes. The

let my relief show. I simply nod.

the owner, you have the skills, You could finance this. Why even