5
Idiots. All of them.
I ignored Evelyn, ignored the comments, and headed back to the office.
The conference room was already full. Every executive was sitting ramrod straight, a thick file in front of them. The air was thick with tension. They all stole glances at me, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity. They knew I’d just gotten divorced. They were bracing for the storm.
Plus, the old Damien was an incompetent tyrant who ran the company on whims and rage.
I sat down at the head of the table. No small talk.
“Let’s begin,” I said. “Finance, you’re first.”
The CFO shot to his feet and began his report, rattling off numbers–revenue, profit, costs, cash flow. His voice was fast, a little shaky.
I listened, my mind processing the data automatically. In my previous life, I was in finance. Reading a balan- ce sheet was second nature. I could spot inconsistencies and padded numbers from a mile away.
“Stop.” I pointed to a figure on the projector screen. “Right there. Q3 marketing expenses. A 35% year–over- year increase. Explain.”
Sweat beaded on the CFO’s forehead. “Mr. Blackwood, that was for sponsorships of several large–scale eve- nts and a celebrity endorsement.”
“Which celebrity? Where’s the post–campaign analysis? The ROI data? The conversion rate tracking?” My voice was quiet, but each word landed like a hammer blow. “You don’t have it? Then it was a waste of mon- ey. Who approved this budget? You?”
The CFO’s face went pale. “It was a recommendation from Miss… Vivian Sterling. The former director, Mrs. Blackwood, also thought it was viable.”
Vivian and Evelyn again. The comments were already calling me out for shifting blame.
“Evelyn is no longer a director here,” I said, my eyes locked on his. “We are divorced. She has no affiliation with this company. And Vivian Sterling? Who the hell is she? Since when does an outsider have any say in Blackwood Corp’s finances?”
The room was dead silent. I could feel them holding their breath. They knew the old Damien would have done anything Vivian asked.
I continued, my voice cold. “This was a dereliction of duty from the finance department. The manager resp- onsible will forfeit three months‘ bonus. As for you,” I said, looking at the CFO, “your year–end bonus is gone. Don’t let it happen again. The next time, you can clear out your desk.”
1/15
12:31
12:37
Chapter 2
The CFO’s knees buckled. “Yes, Mr. Blackwood! I’ll launch a full investigation immediately!”
“Next.” I turned to the next executive. “Project development. The West End property. Why is it two months
behind schedule?”
The project manager jumped up and started making excuses about zoning permits and demolition delays.
I listened, interrupting to ask about key milestones, responsible parties, and proposed solutions. I was sharp, efficient, and wasted no words.
The atmosphere in the room slowly shifted from terror to a grudging respect. No one dared to slack off. They were being grilled, but they couldn’t deny that my questions were on point. It was like I was a different person. I wasn’t yelling or cursing, but this new, incisive Damien was far more intimidating than the old one.
The tone of the comments shifted too.
【Whoa, he’s actually working? Like, for real?]
【This vibe is kind of terrifying.]
【His questions are so professional! He’s hitting all the weak points!】
【Is this the same idiot CEO who only knew how to solve problems by throwing money and tantrums?]
【Did the divorce shock him so hard it unlocked his brain?]
[A man focused on his career is… kind of scary, and kind of hot? (Shut up! I didn’t say that!))
【You guys are traitors! Don’t forget he’s the villain!)
【But… it really seems like he doesn’t care about Evelyn at all. He barely even says her name.]
