Chapter 48: The Cracks
In the evening, at Ashford Holdings,
Damien leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly after sealing the deal with the new investors. All that remained was finding vendors to resume his stalled project. He was confident his team could handle it.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment of calm, but a knock on the door sounded too sharp and ominous. When the door opened, his eyes darkened at the sight of the man entering.
Lawrence Ashford. Early fifties. Damien’s uncle. A director at Ashford Holdings and one of the contenders for the CEO position.
Tugging at a blazer that barely hid his belly, Lawrence flashed a crooked smile. "Damien, you succeeded. Congratulations."
Damien didn’t bother hiding his distaste. Lawrence was the one who stirred the board into pushing for stricter actions against him.
Lawrence sat down casually, his crooked grin never leaving. He and Maxwell, Damien’s father, had once been equals. They were meant to alternate as CEO. But Maxwell had outmaneuvered him, held the role longer.
Greediness comes with a price. Maxwell burned through too many funds on extravagant pursuits. The fallout had cost Maxwell dearly. Now, with an interim CEO in place, everyone wanted the crown. Lawrence believed it should’ve been his from the start.
Damien sneered, "You’re not here to wish me well." Lawrence always comes with bad news.
Lawrence chuckled heartily, hearing Damien. He liked Damien, who was straightforward, unlike sneaky Maxwell. "You are right."
Damien narrowed his eyes. For all his bitterness, Lawrence had never actively sabotaged his projects.