Chapter 6: Calm Before The Storm.

[WARNING] This chapter mentions violence and sexual assault which may be upsetting to some readers. Reader’s discretion is advised. Thank you and keep reading ‘My Unlovable Boss’.

Willow Inc. HQ.

Third Person POV.

A black Bentley slows to a stop in front of the company building. Outside, a wall of reporters from prominent media outlets presses forward, cameras flashing in a dizzying blur. They shout over one another, bombarding the car with questions and snapping endless photos, while the security team struggles to hold them back.

Inside the car, Alaric sits silently, his gaze narrowing as he watches the spectacle unfold. He’s been photographed in secret before, but never has he been the focal point of such relentless scrutiny. These are the people fueling every lie, he thinks, jaw tightening as he reaches for the door handle, eager to escape the stifling car ride he endures beside his father. Usually, Javier drives him, but his father insists they arrive together to “make an impression.”

Just as he begins to open the door, his father’s voice cuts through his thoughts. “Do not say a word to the press. Stay silent, there’s no need for you to add to the embarrassment you’ve already caused.” Alaric’s expression hardens, but he nods curtly, complying with thinly veiled resentment.

At that moment, Javier pulls the door open, a warm, familiar smile on his face. “After you, Mr. CEO,” he teases, bowing lightly.

Alaric steps out, scowling, though relief laces his voice. “Hope I never have to endure that kind of ‘quality time’ again.”

“Tell me about it,” Javier chuckles, taking a protective stance beside Alaric as they face the waiting crowd. “That car ride was probably more tense than any boardroom.”

Together, they stride toward the building, Alaric flashing a practised, confident smile for the cameras, ignoring the barrage of shouted questions.

“Chairman Willow, is it true the article was fabricated?”

“How does it feel to be a CEO with no experience?”

“Were you aware of your father’s announcement, or was it a shock?”

“What measures are in place to find and prosecute the person responsible?”

“Given the rumours, how do you plan to handle the company’s leadership?”

With Liam and the security team guiding them, Alaric and his father navigate through the press and into the building. “I’ll stay and manage this,” Liam tells the Chairman, stepping back to face the crowd.

In the elevator, silence settles between Alaric and his father—a familiar, heavy quiet that needs no explanation. Javier, who's not used to the stifling silence, eagerly waits for the elevator doors to reopen.

The bustling chatter in the boardroom fades as Alaric and his father step inside. All eyes turn to them, and the board members rise respectfully as Chairman Willow moves to take his seat.

Chairman Willow clears his throat. “I apologise for the recent chaos we’ve faced,” he begins. “I understand it’s caused confusion and worry, and I now see the importance of addressing even the most baseless rumours before they take root.”

Mrs. Lionheart, a senior board member, offers him a reassuring smile. “We’re just relieved it didn’t affect your health. It’s good to know you’re well, Chairman.”

“Are you truly well, sir?” Mrs. Chanler presses, her tone sceptical. Chairman Willow turns to her, his expression impenetrable.

“As you can see, I’m fine,” he replies. “But I’m considering a short break with my wife—especially now that my son is here to manage things.”

“Why take a break if you’re perfectly healthy?” Mrs. Chanler raises her teacup, a sly smirk playing on her lips. “If anything, this is the time we need you most.”

Alaric feels the tension ripple through the room, but his father remains calm. “Alaric is more than capable of taking the reins.”

In reality, the Chairman has agreed to step back temporarily to undergo medical treatment, following the advice of both Liam and Miss Matilda. According to the doctor, with early intervention, he could have another year.

Mrs. Chanler’s lips twitch as if holding back a retort. “If he had experience, perhaps. But what assurances do we have that the company won’t suffer in your absence?”

“You can recuperate later,” Mr. Ling suggests, trying to ease the tension. “Three months should be enough for Alaric to settle in.”

“Six months would be better,” Mr. Bunduck argues.

The murmurs spread, others nodding in agreement.

Chairman Willow’s patience snaps. “I am the Chairman,” he states, his voice low and unyielding. “If I say I’m taking a break, I will. None of you has the right to contest it.”

He knows the risk. Without treatment, he has only months left.

Mrs. Chanler leans back, crossing her arms. “The board wouldn’t object if it were truly necessary. But you’re perfectly healthy, aren’t you?”

Alaric decides to step in. He straightens, his tone respectful yet firm. “I appreciate the board’s dedication to the company’s welfare, but your insistence on his illness despite his reassurances feels… curious.”

A few of the board members shift uncomfortably, finally taking him seriously, though some exchange sceptical glances.

Mrs. Chanler arches an eyebrow, scrutinising him. “The timing is suspicious. Why suddenly put his health first now?”

“Because it’s my turn to take responsibility,” Alaric replies. “It’s as simple as that.”

Her lips curl into a thin smile. “If that’s true, I’d still have concerns over your inexperience. If Alaric is to lead, then I propose my son also be given a position.”

The board murmurs, causing the Chairman to sigh in frustration. He remembers the early days of the company when he reluctantly accepted monetary help from his family on the condition that his half-sister, Mrs. Chanler’s son would have a chance in crucial times.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Chanler, but your proposal is… hypocritical,” Alaric says bluntly.

Mrs. Chanler’s eyes flash with indignation, but before she can respond, Alaric holds up a hand. “Forgive me if I’ve been disrespectful. That was not my intention,” he says, bowing slightly in apology, a gesture that seems to catch the board off guard.

The sincerity in his voice holds their attention. “My father has given me the chance to address the issues that have recently affected the company. I hope you’ll give me the same chance to prove my capability as CEO.”

The room goes silent as his words sink in, the board members exchanging glances that convey cautious curiosity. Mrs. Chanler, however, remains unmoved.

Alaric presses forward, determined. “Mrs. Chanler, you mentioned your agreement with the Chairman to consider your son’s future here, correct?”

Mrs. Chanler nods slowly. “Indeed,” she replies, not anticipating what is coming.

Alaric’s gaze hardens. “Then why is your son, who has left young women broken, humiliated, and tormented, more suited for this position than I am?”

Her confident smile falters as Alaric gives Javier a silent nod. Javier moves swiftly to connect his laptop to the presentation screen, and the room falls silent as the first image flickers to life—a photo of a young woman, barely recognizable, her face bruised and swollen, eyes red with tears, her expression vacant. Then another—more victims, all with horrific injuries and hollow stares, their bodies bearing witness to abuse beyond imagination.

Mrs. Chanler’s face loses all colour, her hands trembling. She seems to shrink under the weight of the images flashing one by one in front of the board. The rest of the boardroom goes deathly silent; some members cover their mouths in horror, while others turn away, visibly disturbed by the brutality before them.

Alaric’s voice cuts through the silence, low and laced with contempt. “These women were barely adults, many fresh out of high school. He targeted them when they were most vulnerable—young, impressionable, and eager to make something of themselves. He lured them in, then drugged them, took explicit photos, and used those photos as weapons to keep them silent, powerless.”

He lets his words sink in before continuing, each word filled with the fury he barely contains. “And when they resisted, do you know how he ‘handled’ them?” He glances toward Mrs. Chanler, whose lips quiver. “By beating them until they begged for mercy. Here, in this video”—Javier clicks to play a short, muted clip showing her son, eyes wild, hands clenched as he drags a girl by her hair, throwing her to the ground, then repeatedly kicking her until she can barely move. Her blood smears the pavement where she falls.

Alaric pauses, fists clenching as he fights to keep his voice steady. “He doesn’t stop there. He films these assaults and shares them on the dark web, treating their suffering as entertainment. These girls are left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives while he carries on, his crimes hidden by your influence.”

He turns to Mrs. Chanler, eyes blazing with disgust. “These were daughters, sisters, friends—young women with dreams that he crushed without a second thought. And instead of facing any consequences, he roams free while his victims live in hiding, their lives destroyed.”

Mrs. Chanler sits stiffly, face scarlet with rage and shame. She grips the table, knuckles white. “You—how dare you smear my son’s name with baseless accusations! This is defamation!”

Alaric meets her gaze, unflinching. “It’s only defamation if it’s a lie, Mrs. Chanler. And I assure you, this is no lie. I have sworn testimony from the victims and evidence of his recordings on the dark web. Shall I call one of the victims here to tell her story?” 

The room falls silent, all eyes on Mrs. Chanler, whose indignation wavers under the crushing weight of proof. “I won’t stand by and see this company handed to someone like that,” Alaric says, his voice steady, though rage simmers beneath. “I’m committed to proving my capability, for the company’s future and for the people who suffer.”

The board members remain silent, and Alaric senses their perspective shifting. He feels the weight of his own words, realising the depth of the responsibility he is about to assume. He turns back to Mrs. Chanler, his gaze unyielding. 

“With your son disqualified, I’m here to prove my worth.”