The low roar of a luxury engine could be heard from a distance.
Heads turned toward the entrance of Whitmore Group.
Several security officers stood in formation outside the towering corporate building, while employees moved about the lobby with barely concealed curiosity.Everyone knew who was arriving….Harrison Whitmore.
His luxury car approached at a steady speed before finally coming to a smooth stop at the entrance.the moment the door opened, the atmosphere changed.
Harrison stepped out,he was dressed in a perfectly tailored brown suit, complemented by dark sunglasses that added to his already commanding appearance.For a brief moment, several female employees couldn’t help but stare.
Harrison had always attracted attention wherever he went.
His height, sharp features, expensive clothes, and intimidating presence made him difficult to ignore but today, the curiosity surrounding him was different.
Everyone had heard something about what had happened the previous night.
Their usually cold and emotionless CEO had apparently rescued an injured young woman and personally taken her to the hospital.
That alone was enough to become the subject of whispered conversations throughout the company.
Who was the woman?Why had Harrison cared so much?
And what could possibly make a man known for his indifference show such unusual compassion?The questions followed him as he walked through the entrance.
Harrison ignored every stare,his expression remained cold and unreadable.
A bodyguard followed closely behind him, while his assistant walked beside him, quietly updating him about the company’s activities.
“Sir, the investors have already arrived for the meeting.”
Harrison gave a brief nod.
“Anything else?”
“There are several documents waiting for your approval.”
“Leave them on my desk.”
“Yes, sir.”
They reached the elevator.
Harrison stepped inside.The doors closed.A few moments later, the elevator opened on the executive floor.
Harrison walked toward the boardroom but just before entering, he stopped.His expression changed slightly.
Someone was sitting at the head of the conference table.His eyes narrowed.
His father…..Carter Whitmore.
Harrison hadn’t expected to see him there.
Beside Carter sat his stepmother, watching him with a calm but unreadable expression.Around the long conference table sat several members of the board and major investors.
Harrison’s jaw tightened.
His father was the chairman of Whitmore Group.
He had every right to attend a board meeting but something about his presence made Harrison immediately uneasy.Carter looked directly at him.
“Why are you standing there?”
Harrison remained silent for a moment,then he walked into the room and took his seat.He wasn’t comfortable not with his father’s presence.
And certainly not with his stepmother’s eyes fixed on him.The other directors remained unusually quiet.Everyone in the room knew the relationship between father and son was complicated and nobody wanted to become involved.
Carter leaned back in his chair.
“I’ll say this again, Harrison,you cannot continue to be my son and remain unmarried.”
Harrison raised his eyebrow as silence filled the room and his expression hardened.
His father continued.
“You are the CEO of this company.
You are the heir to the Whitmore family.”He paused.”And yet you refuse to settle down.”
Harrison’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“This is a business meeting, Father.”
“No.” Carter’s voice became firmer.
“This concerns the future of this family and this company.”
Harrison stared at him coldly.
Carter leaned forward.
“If you continue refusing to marry, I’ll have no choice but to reconsider your position as CEO.”
The room became even quieter,Harrison’s eyes darkened.
Carter continued.
“Your younger brother is more than capable of taking your place.”
That was enough.Harrison pushed his chair backward,he stood abruptly.
His palm slammed against the conference table.
Bang!
Several directors flinched.
“This is my company…”
His voice was low but filled with anger.
“And this is my life, Father.” He stared directly at Carter.
“Stay out of it.”
With that, Harrison turned and walked toward the door.
“Harrison!” Carter stood up.
“Harrison, come back here!”
Harrison didn’t stop.
Carter’s face reddened with anger.
“If you walk out of that door, understand this clearly!”
Harrison’s hand stopped on the doorknob,the entire room fell silent.Carter’s voice echoed through the boardroom.
“Then this is the end of our relationship.”
Harrison slowly turned his head.
“I’ll disown you!”The words hung heavily in the room.”You arrogant brat!”
For a moment, everyone expected Harrison to turn around.His stepmother watched him closely,a faint scoff escaped her lips.
But Harrison remained at the door.
Then he slowly turned around.His expression was colder than before.
“You can disown me.”
Carter’s face hardened.
“But you aren’t going to take what belongs to my mother from me.”
The room went completely silent.
Carter’s expression changed.For the first time, he looked genuinely unsettled.Harrison held his father’s gaze for several seconds,neither man spoke.
The mention of his late mother had clearly struck something deeper than the argument itself.
Harrison finally turned away.He opened the door and walked out.The door slammed shut behind him as Carter remained standing.
His eyes stayed fixed on the closed door.
The other directors lowered their gazes, unwilling to meet his eyes.Across the table, Harrison’s stepmother sat quietly but there was something in her expression that suggested she was thinking about far more than the argument that had just taken place.
Harrison had just challenged his father.
And now the battle over the Whitmore family legacy had begun…