Chapter 45: Be Practical
Roxanne’s heart skipped a heavy beat as she stole a glance across the table. For the first time since they met, Richard had fear in his eyes. The sight sent a chill down her spine.
If a man like Richard was terrified, Margaret Vance was far more dangerous than she had realized.
"Anyone who is wise will raise their hands and join my mother and me." Nicholas’s sharp voice cut through the heavy silence. He looked around the room, his eyes cold. "We all know everything she has done for this company. If anyone here wants the best for Vance Enterprises, it is her."
Margaret looked at her son and offered a smile. Then she turned back to the long table, waiting for the rest of the board to fall into line.
No one moved. Shareholders exchanged quiet glances, and several slowly shook their heads. The rejection was silent but absolute.
Margaret’s perfect posture stiffened, her dark brows drawing into a tight, disbelieving scowl. "What is the meaning of this? Not a single person is going to stand with me?" she demanded, her voice rising as she looked down the rows of people. Finally, her eyes locked onto Cara.
"Cara, why is your hand down?" she demanded.
Cara simply shrugged, pressing her painted lips into a thin, unbothered line. "Oh, Margaret, I am simply following your own lifelong advice," she smooth-talked. "If my fiancé raises his hand, I will raise mine. That is what a real marriage is about, right? I learned that from you."
Margaret let out a sharp scoff, her eyes darting nervously around the room as control slipped from her fingers. She pivoted instantly, targeting the older woman down the line. "Catherine, why are you not voting with me? You are one of the most practical people at this table, and you know exactly what kind of risk I am talking about."
Catherine shook her head slowly, adjusting the heavy diamond bracelet on her wrist. "She knew my name, Maggie," she replied softly, tilting her head. "That tells me she didn’t just walk in here blind. She did her homework before stepping into this villa, and she is taking this appointment seriously. As the most practical person in this room, Maggie, I think she deserves her chance. Deep down, I am sure you know it, too."
"And she speaks exceptionally well. She knows exactly what she is here to build," another international board member added, nodding toward Roxanne.
"It’s just rehearsed talk," Nicholas interjected quickly, his voice tight. "Richard could have easily coached her on what to say. He is the one pushing her hiring, after all."
"No, we hired her," another senior majority shareholder countered, his voice firm. "And believe me, Nicholas, anyone who can command a room like that can surely bring in a massive amount of revenue."
"For me, the most critical ingredient for a director is absolute confidence, and this woman has plenty of it," a final partner added, raising his glass in Roxanne’s direction.
Margaret stared at them, her nostrils flaring in silent rage. Seeing that the battle was completely lost, Nicholas slowly and awkwardly lowered his hand, his mouth forming a bitter line.
Roxanne sat perfectly still, a wave of intense relief and warmth spreading through her chest. Her eyes stung with a sudden rush of gratitude. Against all odds, she had survived the gauntlet.
Henry placed a gentle, grounding hand on his wife’s rigid arm. "That is enough, Maggie," he said quietly, his deep voice carrying a soft warning. "Please, put your hand down. No one at this table is going to support this motion. You have openly declared yourself as her enemy, and continuing this will only make you look weak. That is not who you are, Maggie."
Margaret slowly withdrew her arm from Henry’s grasp. "Very well," she said quietly. She looked around the table, meeting every pair of eyes. "When this decision costs this family everything, I hope each of you remembers that tonight you chose sentiment over judgment."
"Let’s just give the girl a fair chance, Maggie," Catherine offered, her tone pleading and sweet.
Margaret scoffed, ignoring her sister-in-law. She turned her full, freezing fury onto Roxanne, her upper lip curling in disdain. "You had better pray to whatever god you serve that they are right about you. Because if they are wrong, you will be answering directly to me."
Roxanne said absolutely nothing. She kept her chin parallel to the floor, her expression as calm, refusing to let Margaret see that her heart was currently threatening to burst right out of her ribs.
"And make no mistake, my hand will always be up to cut you loose," Margaret finished sharply.
A slow, unshakeable smile finally broke across Roxanne’s face, and she gave a polite nod. "I am more than ready for the challenge, Mrs. Vance," she replied, her voice steady and ringing clear. "In fact, I know that one day, you will raise both of your hands just to clap for me."
Margaret let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Don’t hold your breath, little girl."
"I won’t need to," Roxanne replied softly.
Margaret shot one final, burning look at the executives surrounding her. "Traitors!" she muttered under her breath, turning on her heel and storming out of the grand dining room.
"Maggie! Wait!" Henry called out, but the oak doors shut firmly behind her. He let out a long sigh and turned back to Roxanne, an apologetic look on his weathered face. "Don’t take her words to heart. She is simply fiercely protective of the Vance legacy."
Roxanne swallowed hard, taking a slow breath to finally steady her racing pulse. "I understand, sir."
"I only wish it had been other shareholders raising their hands instead of her," Henry added, his eyes turning serious. "She is not the kind of enemy you want to make on your very first day."
"Then I guess I will just have to work twice as hard to win her over," Roxanne replied, lifting her chin.
Henry smiled, the tension finally leaving his expression as he reached out and gently tapped her shoulder. "I like your optimism," he said before turning to follow his wife.
Across the table, Nicholas’s eyes narrowed to slits as he watched Roxanne stand victorious. He said absolutely nothing. Richard noticed the look, and for the first time that evening, his attention shifted away from Roxanne.
He knew that look. Nicholas wasn’t finished.