Delia didn’t spare another glance at Edward, who was visibly shaking with rage, and raised her hand slightly, gesturing to Benjamin beside her.
“This is Mr.
Bennings.
He’s taking over as CEO of Fleming Group.”
The room instantly erupted with murmurs and hushed discussions, the atmosphere turning chaotic.
“You’re letting some outsider head the company?
Are you out of your mind, Delia?” Edward snapped, his face turning an ugly shade of red.
Delia let out a dry chuckle, her tone full of sarcasm.
“I don’t need your approval for decisions I make.
If I want him in that seat, that’s where he’ll be.”
Her words made Edward choke on his own anger, his fingers trembling.
Just then, a middle-aged board member adjusted his glasses and said cautiously, “Appointing a CEO is no small matter; it affects the company’s entire future.
We know nothing about him-how can we trust him with the company?”
“No worries,” Benjamin said with an easy smile.
“Maybe some of you have heard of ‘Halcyon Equity’?”
Several execs visibly stiffened, their eyes suddenly wide.
Halcyon Equity-an internationally known, mysterious financial firm, famous for its ruthless strategy and insane ROI.
No one had ever figured out who ran it.
And now this young man sitting in front of them…
Benjamin was well aware of their reactions but didn’t care.
He lazily leaned back in his chair, looking all too relaxed.
“My identity doesn’t matter.
What matters is, Miss Fleming hired me as CEO.
She’s the largest shareholder-which means her word is final.
She doesn’t need your approval.
At all.”
He casually scanned the room.
“But it seems some of you don’t quite agree with her call?”
The senior board member who had spoken earlier tried to hold his ground, though Benjamin’s presence clearly shook him.
“That’s not what we meant-we just think experience still matters.
A big company needs someone proven.”
“Oh, I get it.” Benjamin sat up a bit, supporting his chin with his hand, a half-smile tugging at his lips.
He pulled out a folder and tossed it onto the meeting table like it weighed nothing.
“I reviewed the company’s financial records.
Found that Edward here has been misappropriating over 30 million through abuse of his position.”
“And if we tally all those overseas transfers – conveniently landing in accounts under his name – the total’s pushing a hundred mil, right?
So, Edward, you mind explaining how those ‘services’ you provided were worth that price tag?”
Benjamin kept his tone light, almost like chatting over coffee.
But that thin-looking folder hit the table like a brick.
The entire meeting room suddenly went silent-like you could hear a pin drop.
Those who had doubted Benjamin now stared at him in shock, like they were seeing him for the first time.
Only now did they realize: this man wasn’t just some flashy financial genius; he was a whole different league.
Benjamin glanced at Edward’s dumbfounded expression and gave a satisfied little smile.
He turned slightly and waved to the new assistant standing by the door.
“Jason, get HR and legal on the line.”
Jason nodded and briskly walked out.
Delia watched Benjamin handle everything smoothly, every last shred of lingering doubt in her heart wiped out.
She clapped softly, meaning every word when she said, “Excellent job, Benjamin.
That was textbook.”
Benjamin gave her a small smile.
“You’re too kind, Miss Fleming.
Just doing my job.”
The man sitting quietly next to Delia the entire time finally let out a long breath of relief.
Stephen Thorne’s face lit up with a sincerely relieved smile.
Ever since Delia’s father passed, he’d stayed with the company, determined to protect his old friend’s legacy.
Now, seeing his daughter back at the helm, he felt a kind of quiet reassurance.
“Delia, if there’s anything you’re unsure about, just come to me,” Stephen said, his eyes full of approval.
Delia gave him a genuine smile, blinking as she said, “Thanks, Stephen.”
Meanwhile, Edward’s face was darker than a storm cloud, his fingers gripping the edge of the table so tightly it looked like he might snap the wood.
The sting of failure all but swallowed him.
“Delia!
If you keep this up, you’ll destroy the company!
I won’t let this slide, I-”
“Do you even hear yourself?” Delia let out a sigh, eyes cool and detached, as if she were watching a clown throwing a tantrum.
“You’re no longer the CEO of the company.
Please leave the boardroom.
The rest of this doesn’t concern you anymore.”
Edward opened his mouth, like he still had something to say.
But under Delia’s frosty stare, the words stalled in his throat.
“Delia, listen to yourself,” he forced out after a few seconds, trying to keep his tone steady.
“I’m your uncle.
This company is your father’s blood and sweat-and mine too.
How can you just kick me out like this?”
Delia’s brows furrowed, clearly not expecting him to be this shameless.
“That Benjamin guy?
He’s an outsider.
What if this is all some setup against me?
I’m your family.
I’d never hurt this company!”
Benjamin arched a brow, voice calm with a hint of irony.
“Mr.
Fleming, do you honestly think you covered your tracks that well?”
“You might want to know-I’ve got more than just a few pieces of evidence.”
He chuckled lightly and pulled out another document.
“None of it was hard to trace either.
If you won’t walk out on your own, you’re pushing us toward a police report.
I assume you know what that means.”
Edward slammed the table, furious.
“This is our family business!
You’ve got no right to meddle in this!”
But before his outburst could shift the room, Delia stood up, hands firmly planted on the table.
“Mr.
Bennings is the new CEO I’ve officially appointed at Fleming Group.
He’s in charge of daily operations and strategic decisions.
Whatever he says reflects my stance too.
Got it?”
Stephen added firmly, “That’s right.
Edward, you’re the one who ought to check where you really stand now.”
Delia studied Edward’s pale, twisted face and couldn’t help feeling a satisfying sense of closure.
“As for the shares you’re always itching to get from me-hear this loud and clear-even if I had to sell off every last one, they’re never going to you.
My father left this company to me.
No one’s taking it away.”
Edward was shaking in rage from the public humiliation, barely able to get the words out.
“You…
you…”
Then, right in the middle of the tense standoff, the conference room doors suddenly swung open.
“Uncle Edward, we’re here…” a soft, overly sweet voice interrupted.
Everyone turned to look.
A man and a woman stepped in side by side.
Delia glanced at them-and let out a cold, mocking laugh.
Isabelle was dressed to charm, all delicate elegance, while Nathan wore a fitted suit with his usual polished smile.
The two walked in arm in arm, looking all too cozy.
But the moment they spotted Delia sitting at the head of the table, their smiles froze like someone hit pause.
Nathan’s expression changed slightly, and he blurted out, “Delia, I…”
Before he could finish, their linked arms quickly came apart.