Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

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."

A murmur ripples through the room. I can almost hear hearts pounding, can almost taste the desperation.

guess I'm lucky not to have gotten the 'don't come Monday' memo.

Gus booms out the next part, his voice thunderous, as if to let us all know how serious he is. "I am now acting CEO. Only my first-born heirs can stand in my place and only when I deem they are capable."

A wave of astonishment crashes over me. Guess that's Jayden out of a job too. His eyes flicker with something I can't quite place-regret? Anger?

Gus used the pronoun "they." 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 the core. I'm sure no one else is enjoying this.

I look at Jayden again, his face a mask of turmoil. The hard set of his mouth, the twitch in his cheek. He's never mentioned Gus. I don't think he knew he existed

He 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 to thank for that.

The room is a pressure cooker of barely contained chaps. Maybe being out from under the pressure of being CEO and first-born heir will be good for him. Let him be somewhat normal.

will finish the meeting proceedings in private. The board may leave, and I'll update you at the end of the day," Gus Brennan continues, his voice a relentless hammer. "Everyone else, except for the following people, go pack up your desk. Your contracts will be paid out including bonuses."

A collective gasp echoes through the room. I think half the table just died on the spot. I hold my breath,

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52 Dead Wood

my heart a drumbeat of panic, waiting for the names of those staying behind. I'm not sure which would be worse at this point.

"Jayden Brennan, Judy Brennan, Lance Collins, Winona Nolan. All stay. Phillip Joseph and Ashlyn Thomas are coming up in the elevator now."

Phillip and Ashlyn? I blink, the shock rippling through me. Okay. Unexpected. I glance at Phillip as he strides in, his face etched with concern.

He looks at me and sits in an empty seat 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 eyes darting nervously around.

"I'm shitting bricks," Lance whispers under his breath to me, his face pale.

"You're the best at finances, don't worry," I whisper back, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. His eyes, usually so full of mischief, are now shadowed with fear.

I feel for those who've just been stood down, their dreams and livelihoods crumbling before their eyes. Not that it means I won't be next. By the looks of this group, things of a personal nature must be afoot.

The room slowly clears. It's just the six of us now. Nobody is making eye contact. The silence is a gaping chasm, filled with the echoes of our racing thoughts and unspoken fears.

Lance squeezes my hand, his grip a lifeline in the storm of uncertainty. "I got you. No matter what," he murmurs, his voice raw and vulnerable.

I squeeze his hand back. "Same." His friendship is a small comfort, a reminder that in this sea of chaos, there is still someone I can trust.

What could Gus possibly have us all here for? It isn't just business, that's for sure. Ashlyn has never worked a day in her life. Her eyes flicker with barely concealed disdain as she looks around, her posture rigid. Most notably, she isn't sitting next to Jayden.

The weight of Gus Brennan's gaze is oppressive, each moment stretching into an eternity.

I hold my head high, my mind racing with possibilities and my heart pounding with a mix of fear and defiance.

Whatever comes next, I'm ready to face it. I literally have nothing to hide.

Sarm Shook