Chapter 150: Before You Were, I Was
The atmosphere at the headquarters of the Van Doren Group of companies was electric. Whispers rippled through the office, spreading like wildfire: Levi Van Doren was back. After weeks of unexplained absence, he had returned, arriving early, his presence instantly reasserting itself. The news sent a shockwave through the company, disrupting the uneasy calm that had settled in his absence.
Levi walked through the familiar halls, his footsteps echoing in the early morning quiet. He had returned with a renewed sense of purpose, a steely resolve etched on his face. He had a company to reclaim, a family to protect, and a score to settle.
He entered his office, the spacious room that had always been his domain. He paused, his eyes scanning the space, taking in the subtle but noticeable changes that had been made during his absence. Brandon had wasted no time in putting his own stamp on the place, replacing some of the artwork, rearranging the furniture, and generally attempting to create an atmosphere that reflected his own tastes.
A flicker of irritation ignited within Levi, but he quickly suppressed it. He was not about to waste his energy on petty grievances. He had bigger fish to fry. He called Ethan in and they began to methodically returning the office to its original state, putting the artwork back in its rightful place and removing the new ones, then rearranging the furniture to its familiar configuration. He wanted to erase any trace of Brandon’s brief reign, to reassert his own control over the space, and by extension, the company.
An hour later, the office was almost back to normal. Levi sat behind his desk, reviewing some urgent documents, when the door swung open and Brandon strode in, his expression a mixture of surprise and annoyance. He was an hour late, a habit he had clearly developed during his time as interim CEO.
"What the hell are you doing here in my seat?" Brandon demanded, his voice laced with indignation. "This is my office and you are not allowed in here."
Levi looked up, his gaze meeting Brandon’s. He remained calm, his voice steady and controlled. "Before you , I was. This is my office, Brandon," he corrected him. "Your stay here was only temporary."
Brandon’s brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice rising. "I am the CEO."
"You were the interim CEO," Levi clarified, emphasizing the word. "I am back now to take back my position, so your services are no longer required."
Brandon scoffed. "You can’t just waltz back in here after disappearing for weeks and expect to take over again," he protested. "Things have changed. I have made changes."
"So I noticed," Levi replied dryly, gesturing to the rearranged furniture. "I’m currently in the process of rectifying them, I hope those changes as like these ones. As for my absence, that is a personal matter. What is important is that I’m back. And you are no longer in charge."