Chapter 27 The Company Meeting
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After wrapping up her call with Nina, Francesca’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was Samuel Wilson, CEO of Golden Glow Media.
“Miss Anderson, just a heads–up, Curtis is throwing serious money around trying to dig up dirt on you. Want me to step in?” he asked.
Francesca took a sip of her coffee, unfazed. “No need. He won’t find anything useful. But I do have something else I’d like you to handle.”
Her fingers flew across her keyboard, stopping at a string of numbers that had been nagging her. After the hospital fire, a nurse had suddenly received a large sum of money before vanishing into thin air.
The transfer came from an overseas foundation, but tracing the account was impossible.
She mentally ran through the list of suspects for the arson. If Suzanna was behind it, how would she know about this foundation? Ellen was another possibility, especially since Mabel had been trying to strip her of her authority and reclaim her shares.
Francesca had even sent people to investigate the nurse’s family. But every time she found a lead, someone else beat her to it. By the time she got there, the place would be cleared out. It felt like someone was deliberately covering their tracks.
Raymond walked in, noticing her thoughtful expression. Assuming she was stressed about work, he gave her a reassuring smile. “Why not bring Nina on board to help you out? You’ll have a lot on your plate once you officially take over.”
Francesca smirked. “She’s got enough companies to run. Besides, you don’t need me to keep her close. You can see her whenever you want,” she teased, raising an eyebrow.
Nina came from an influential family, and Francesca thought they would make a great match.
Raymond chuckled, pinching her cheek lightly before holding out a car key. “I got you a new ride. Take it for a spin after work and tell me what you think.”
Nina snapped a pic of the invitation and sent it over. “So, Suzanna was planning to team up with Hugh for this exhibition. His grandpa is a legend when it comes to old paintings and antiques restoration. He’s been straight–up ignoring her.”
She laughed. “If Suzanna sees you and Hugh together, her face is gonna be priceless.”
Later, Raymond brought Francesca to a big company meeting to officially introduce her. The room went dead quiet the moment he walked in with her.
A new VP out of nowhere, and it was not someone they’d ever heard of, of course people started whispering, and most of it wasn’t good.
The loudest grumbles came from Jessica Wayne, the marketing director. She had worked hard, expecting to land that spot herself. Raymond’s move had her fuming.
Jessica wasted no time digging into Francesca’s background, but all she could find was that Francesca had been living abroad for years. Nothing else. Raymond had clearly locked down any details, which only made Jessica more frustrated.
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on transparency and merit. Positions like this should go to people who’ve proven themselves.
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“We don’t know anything about Miss Anderson. Making a decision this fast is irresponsible, and I can’t stand behind it.”
Her words hung in the air, a direct challenge for Raymond. All eyes shifted to Francesca, waiting to see if she would sink or swim.
Raymond leaned back in his chair, shrugging like it was no big deal. “The higher–ups don’t need your permission, Miss Wayne. If you’re not on board, you’re welcome to resign. I’ll approve it right now.”
The room froze. You could’ve heard a pin drop. Jessica’s face turned a deep shade of red, but she bit her tongue. The embarrassment hit her hard, and she didn’t dare fire back.
Raymond’s gaze swept the room, sharp and commanding, daring anyone to challenge him.
Jessica’s stomach churned. She had clawed her way to this position, sacrificing too much to let it slip away. Leaving wasn’t an option, not when it would wreck her career. And the idea that Raymond might actually fire her for his new fling was humiliating.
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