Chapter 61
She stepped in with the quiet grace of someone who knew she didn’t need to announce herself to be noticed. She didn’t rush. She didn’t smile. She simply walked in with purpose, a woman who owned the moment—just like she now owned the company.
Walking beside Cora was no other person than Melissa. Both of them walked toward the center chair, the one where the head of the board is supposed to be seated. It was James who was currently sitting there.
Without wasting any time, Cora simply raised one finger and used it to signal that James should stand up and leave the seat.
James, seeing this, immediately pretended as if he didn’t see Cora or understand what the gesture meant. The truth was, he didn’t know why she was even here. The shock and embarrassment hit him hard, but instead of reacting calmly, he tried to brush it off as if Cora’s presence was completely out of place.
He forced himself to act normal and said in a loud, slightly agitated tone, "What are you doing here, Cora? Just get up and leave immediately. What concerns you with this board meeting?"
He continued with a shaky confidence, "You’re not supposed to be here. This is an internal meeting. So please, don’t embarrass yourself. Just leave."
At that moment, Emily joined James in fueling the fire. With a loud and mocking tone, she scoffed, "Hasn’t Cora embarrassed herself enough? What is she doing here, barging into a place where she clearly doesn’t belong?" Her voice carried across the boardroom, drawing several eyes toward her. "Of all places, she chose here to show her face and cause even more drama. It’s pathetic."
Emily’s expression twisted with disgust as she looked at Cora. "You should be ashamed of yourself," she spat. "This right here this is why James never saw any future with you. You’re simply not up to standard, not even close. You don’t belong in rooms like this. You’ve never understood your place."
James, still seated at the head of the table, clenched his fists under the table, his face visibly red with anger. The presence of Cora calm, composed, and radiant despite the tension seemed to drive him insane. He refused to believe she had any business being there, not after everything.
Gritting his teeth, he stood up sharply, his chair screeching backward. "I’m not going to repeat myself again," he said, his voice low but dangerous, cutting through the murmurs in the room. "Cora, you need to leave. Now. Before I call security to drag you out. And this time this time I just might press charges."