Fred entered from the hallway, his expression thunderous when he realized Ferdinand was missing, but with so many eyes on him, he kept his composure and said nothing.
He found his seat and gestured for his assistant.
The assistant leaned in. “Mr. Wentworth?”
“Find Ferdinand. Now.”
“Yes, sir.”
With that, the assistant hurried from the boardroom.
Across the table, Stewart drummed his fingers, tapping out a barely perceptible rhythm.
Everyone in the room had come to force him out, yet Stewart sat at the head of the table, perfectly composed, exuding the authority of someone in complete control. He didn’t have to say a word; not a single person dared to break the silence.
Then the boardroom doors swung open again.
Barrie Lockwood strode in, holding a document in his hand. He gave Stewart a wide grin. “Apologies for running late. I happen to own five percent of Wentworth Group shares myself. That makes me a shareholder too, so I’m obliged to attend, aren’t I?”
Fred immediately stood and greeted Barrie with enthusiastic camaraderie.
Stewart only watched, his face unreadable—almost as if he’d predicted their every move.
With Barrie’s arrival, Fred breathed easier. The meeting was as good as won.
Stewart set his phone on the table, checked his watch, then swept his calm gaze across the room. “Let’s begin.”
Briony was absent. The outcome of the vote was no surprise.
Even though Stewart held enough shares to command nearly half the votes, Barrie’s single vote tipped the balance for Ferdinand. Stewart lost—by a single ballot.
From that moment, Ferdinand became CEO of Wentworth Group.
Only, their would-be victor, Ferdinand, was nowhere to be seen.
Stewart rose with unhurried grace, straightening his suit as he strode from the boardroom.
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