Chapter Ten

Jayden

The anticipation in the room was palpable.

I sat at the long conference table, my fingers tapping against the polished wood as I waited for Richard Kane to make the announcement. Today was the day. The day he would finally reveal his right-hand man—the person who would stand beside him, making decisions, handling the most critical affairs of Kane Group.

I already knew it would be me.

It had to be me.

I had worked tirelessly for this. No one else had climbed the corporate ladder as fast as I had. No one else had proven themselves worthy.

For the past year, I had secured high-profile deals, networked with top clients, and ensured that Kane Group’s reputation remained untouchable. More importantly, Richard trusted me. He valued my work. I had been in this company longer than most of the people sitting here, and I had the track record to prove I deserved this.

There was no competition. No one even came close.

I leaned back in my chair, letting my fingers graze my tie before straightening it slightly. Around me, the room buzzed with quiet conversations, hushed speculations about who Richard would pick. Some were confident in their guesses. Others whispered theories as if the decision wasn’t obvious.

Let them wonder. Let them guess.

I already knew the outcome.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I caught the looks some of the department heads were throwing my way—calculated, assessing, as if preparing themselves to align with me once the promotion was official. Smart people. They knew it, too.

This was my moment.

Then the doors to the conference room swung open, and the air shifted instantly.

Richard Kane strode in, exuding power and authority, his expression unreadable as always. The air of absolute control around him was something most men could only dream of. He wasn’t someone who needed to raise his voice to command a room. He just existed in it, and everyone followed suit.

Beside him walked Colin, his ever-efficient secretary, holding a sleek black folder. No doubt it contained the official documentation of my promotion.

The quiet conversations died immediately as Richard took his seat at the head of the table.

My smirk deepened.

This was it.

"Good afternoon." His voice was smooth, direct, carrying an undertone of finality. "I won’t waste time with unnecessary pleasantries. As you all know, today marks an important shift in Kane Group’s leadership. After careful consideration, I’ve chosen someone who embodies the vision and strength required for this role."

I shifted slightly, anticipation coiling in my stomach.

This was the moment I’d been waiting for.

"The new right-hand for Kane Group has already been chosen," Richard continued. "Their work has been invaluable to this company, and I have full confidence in their abilities."

I allowed myself a glance around the room, catching the expectant expressions of my colleagues. A few executives gave small, knowing nods—clearly, they had placed their bets on me as well.

I straightened in my seat, adjusting my cufflinks. Any second now, Richard would say my name, and my rise to power would be complete.

Then Richard continued speaking.

"This person has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring the success of this company without seeking recognition."

Murmurs broke out.

"Wait."

"Why was he still building this up?"

I forced a chuckle, my confidence unwavering, though a flicker of unease whispered at the back of my mind. "Well, I appreciate the kind words, Mr. Kane—"

Richard finally looked at me. His dark eyes met mine, his expression unreadable.

"I wasn’t talking about you."

The words hit like a slap.

I blinked.

A cold silence settled over the room, suffocating in its weight.

I forced another chuckle, this one far more awkward. "I—excuse me?"

Richard didn’t repeat himself. He didn’t need to.

His words were already echoing inside my head, looping over and over as the implications slammed into me like a freight train.

"I wasn’t talking about you."

I wasn’t the right-hand man.

I wasn’t the choice.

I wasn’t—

No.

That wasn’t possible.

I had done everything right. I had played my cards perfectly. This had to be some kind of mistake.

A lump formed in my throat as I quickly glanced around the room. My colleagues weren’t looking at me the way they had been earlier. The nods of approval had vanished, replaced by something else.

Amusement.

Pity.

Whispers spread like wildfire, muttered conversations and stolen glances confirming the one thing I was trying to deny.

Everyone knew.

Everyone except me.

My stomach twisted into a painful knot, a strange coldness seeping into my chest.

This was supposed to be my moment.

And yet… someone else had already taken it.

And then, his next words shattered the world I had built in my head.

"My right-hand man, well woman, is Emilia."

For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

The name echoed in my mind, bouncing around like a cruel joke.

Emilia?

No. No, that couldn’t be right.

A ripple of stunned silence passed through the room, followed by murmurs and gasps.

I turned my head sharply, my pulse thundering in my ears.

I was expecting someone—anyone—but her.

Emilia, calm and composed, rose from her seat at the far end of the table and walked toward Richard with a confidence that made my stomach turn.

What the hell was happening?

She looked different from the woman I had once known. Gone was the Emilia who had stood in my shadow, supporting me without expecting recognition. Gone was the woman who had quietly fixed my mistakes, who had worked late into the night to make me look good, who had loved me without expecting anything in return.

The Emilia standing in front of us now was powerful. Self-assured. Untouchable.

I clenched my fists under the table.

How?

Why?

This had to be some kind of joke. Some elaborate humiliation designed to put me in my place.

Richard was testing me. That was it. He wanted to see if I could handle the pressure, if I could fight for what was mine.

That had to be it.

But then Emilia turned to face the room, her gaze scanning the stunned faces before finally settling on me.

And she smirked.

Not a hesitant smile. Not a look of nervousness.

A smirk.

It sent fire through my veins.

She was enjoying this.

My jaw tightened as my mind raced for answers.

Richard leaned back in his chair, as if relishing the reactions unfolding before him. “This decision was made a long time ago,” he continued, his voice calm but firm. “Emilia has been working behind the scenes for Kane Group, assisting in several major deals and overseeing critical projects. Her contributions have been invaluable.”

A long time ago?

My stomach twisted.

My gaze snapped back to Emilia, searching for… something.

An explanation. A crack in her confidence.

Anything.

But there was nothing.

She met my stare with unwavering amusement, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Waiting to watch me fall.

A fresh wave of whispers broke out around me, the murmurs growing louder as the shock settled in.

“I had no idea she was so involved…”

“She was always around, though, wasn’t she?”

“This explains a lot. I mean, she did help Jayden with his work back then, didn’t she?”

I felt like I was suffocating.

They weren’t just accepting this—they were starting to piece it together, rewriting history right in front of me.

The same people who had praised my accomplishments, who had congratulated me on my successes, were now turning their attention to her.

Acting as if it had always been hers.

I gritted my teeth.

I had worked for this. I had fought for this.

And yet, Emilia had swept in—like she always did—and stolen the moment that was supposed to be mine.

I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares on me, expecting a reaction, expecting me to say something. But for the first time in my career, I was speechless.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

This position was mine.

Not hers.

___

The meeting had ended, but the tension still lingered in the air like an unspoken challenge. Employees murmured amongst themselves, stealing glances at me as they shuffled out of the conference room. Some pitied me. Others were just waiting to see how I’d react.

But none of that mattered.

I needed to talk to her.

Emilia.

She walked ahead, her posture straight, her chin lifted with the kind of quiet confidence that made my blood boil. She had played me—humiliated me in front of the entire board.

This wasn’t over.

I caught up to her just as she turned the corner down a quieter hallway. “Emilia.” My voice was sharp, demanding.

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t even hesitate. Instead, she paused, tilting her head slightly before turning to face me. That same infuriating smirk played on her lips.

“Yes?”

The casual way she said it made my hands curl into fists.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You planned this.”

She arched a brow. “Planned what?”

“Don’t play games with me, Emilia.” I took another step, my voice dropping to a dangerous level. “You knew you were getting that position. You let me believe I had it—”

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I didn’t let you believe anything, Jayden. You assumed.”

I clenched my jaw, my patience wearing thin. “You took what was mine.”

Her eyes flickered with something—amusement, pity, or maybe just indifference. “It was never yours.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

I had spent the past year convinced that I was the rising star of Kane Group. That my work, my reputation, and my connections made me untouchable. But in the end, it had all been an illusion. An illusion she had allowed me to live in—right up until the moment she shattered it.

I exhaled sharply, forcing my anger into a tight, controlled smirk. “Enjoy this while it lasts,” I murmured, stepping even closer, just enough that only she could hear me. “Because I will take it all back. And when I do, I won’t be gentle.”

For the first time, something flickered in her expression—just a fraction of hesitation before she masked it.

She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she exhaled slowly, tilting her head as if assessing me. Then, in a voice just as quiet, just as lethal, she said, “You already lost once, Jayden. Try again, and you might just lose more.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, fists clenched, fury burning in my veins.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.