Chapter 28 The Power Play
Roman's Bentley glided through the iron gates of the Sinclair estate, its tires crunching softly on the gravel drive. Leo moved swiftly to open the door, and Roman emerged with quiet, commanding presence. His footsteps echoed purposefully across the marble entrance as he entered the ancestral mansion.
The moment he stepped into the grand hall, all conversation died. Dozens of eyes tracked his movement—family elders, some distant relatives, his siblings—all watching with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. The atmosphere was thick with tension, whispers dying on lips as he passed.
Roman walked with unhurried confidence toward the front of the room, taking his customary seat near Alexander. As he settled into the ornate chair, he found himself face-to-face with Marcus, who sat directly opposite him.
Their eyes met, and Marcus's lips curved into a wide, sinister smile—the kind that promised trouble.
Roman acknowledged him with the slightest nod before turning his attention to Alexander. The casual dismissal made Marcus's smile falter for just a moment, a flash of irritation crossing his features.
The hall fell into reverent silence. This was Sinclair law; no one spoke until the patriarch gave permission. Even during emergency summons, family members could murmur among themselves, but none dared question Alexander directly until invited to do so.
Roman's brow furrowed as he observed his father. From the moment he'd arrived, Alexander hadn't once lifted his gaze, staring downward as if in a trance. Something was wrong. Alexander Sinclair always commanded a room with his eyes first.
Roman’s gaze traveled the circle. His siblings looked confused, uneasy. The elders were stern, but their eyes held questions, puzzled by the sudden gathering. All except Robert and Isabella, showed a different emotion. Robert was stiff and pale, a sheen of sweat on his temple. Isabella’s eyes darted around the room, her hands clenched in her lap—she looked outright scared. Only Marcus maintained his enigmatic smile.
After what felt like an eternity, Alexander slowly raised his head. "I have an announcement to make," he declared, his voice booming with authority across the vast hall.
Every person present leaned forward, eager to hear what could possibly warrant such an urgent assembly.
Alexander continued, his tone measured but commanding. "Following my eightieth birthday celebration, a series of escalating events have occurred within this family." He paused deliberately. "Nathan, my grandson, has been permanently banned from this family due to his disgraceful conduct."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd before quickly dying. Isabella's hands clenched into fists, trembling with barely contained rage. She elbowed Robert desperately, silently pleading with him to speak up for their son, but he remained frozen, not daring to interrupt his father mid-speech.
‘Useless,’ Isabella shot him a look of pure contempt, as she thought bitterly. ‘If I'd known he'd be this spineless, I never would have tied myself to him in the first place.’
"However," Alexander's voice cut through the tension, "Roman, my youngest son, has married. I must say I'm proud to see him finally taking this step."
This time the hall erupted. Siblings whispered frantically to each other, some wondering aloud when the wedding had taken place, others speculating it must be Nathan's former fiancée based on the birthday banquet incident. Several elders looked visibly displeased that such a significant event had occurred without family knowledge or involvement.
The murmurs grew louder, threatening to drown out Alexander's words.
"SILENCE!" Alexander's voice thundered through the room, instantly restoring order.
He continued, his next words dropping like a bomb. "However, there is currently negative publicity surrounding this family's name. I don't care who initiated it, but Roman's failure to adequately address the situation concerning his wife—my daughter-in-law—is unacceptable. Therefore, he will temporarily step down from his position. It's time he learned to prioritize his family. He has served as CEO for many years, sacrificing personal happiness. I believe it's time for him to take a sabbatical and temporarily abdicate his position."
The silence that followed was deafening. Then chaos erupted.
The sacred rule about not interrupting the patriarch shattered immediately as voices rose in protest from every corner of the hall.
"Alexander, have you lost your mind?" One of the eldest family members shot to his feet. "Roman has brought this family to unprecedented heights! Are you certain about this decision?"
Another elder joined in: "The boy handles business flawlessly! Why make such a drastic move?"
"If you're upset about the online situation, give him a few days to resolve it properly," another called out. "Removing him from his position is too sudden and extreme!"
"Who could possibly replace him?" someone demanded.
"No one in this family has his capabilities!"
Marcus, who had been observing silently, felt his carefully maintained smile slip. His hands clenched as he realized that despite being the eldest son, despite his return from exile, the family was treating him as if he were invisible. No one had even acknowledged his presence, let alone welcomed him home.
"SILENCE!!!" Alexander roared. “HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHO IS THE PATRIARCH OF THIS FAMILY?!”
The room fell quiet, though thick tension still crackled in the air.
"Good," Alexander continued coldly. "I am in charge, so my decision is final. Roman is taking leave. Marcus will assume the role of acting CEO. After all, it was rightfully his position to begin with. Now that he's returned, he can step up after Roman's... hiatus."
The silence stretched uncomfortably before the most senior elder rose, his face flushed with anger. "What do you mean 'rightfully his position'? The Sinclairs have never ruled by birthright alone! We place the most capable in leadership, and your youngest son has proven himself beyond question. That's why we gave him our full support!" His voice shook with indignation. "I don't care if you're the patriarch—I won't watch this family crumble while I draw breath. I'm leaving."
He stormed out, several others, after a moment of tense hesitation, followed him.
Those who remained tried desperately to reason with Alexander. "You can't make this decision unilaterally," one pleaded. "Consider what's best for the entire family."
"Do you understand what will happen when shareholders and investors discover this?" another added frantically. "Our stock will plummet! Investment will dry up! You must reconsider!"
Marcus could barely contain his rage. His eyes burned red as he glared at Roman, his carefully crafted composure finally cracking.
Sensing his brother's malevolent stare, Roman met his gaze directly. The two men locked eyes in what felt like a silent battle of wills, neither backing down.
Roman tapped his fingers rhythmically against his thigh—a habit of his when deep in thought. Finally, he spoke for the first time since entering the hall.
"Father."
Every head turned toward him, the room holding its collective breath, waiting in anticipation for what he was about to say, having not spoken a single word since arriving.
Roman's voice was calm, almost serene. "I understand your reasoning, and I think you're absolutely right." His lips curved into a slight smile that stunned everyone present.
"I do need time away from work. I have indeed neglected my wife, and haven't been able to give her a proper honeymoon since our marriage. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity."
The family stared at him as if he'd lost his mind.
"Roman," one of his supporters protested, "if you want a honeymoon, we can arrange extended leave! You don't need to agree to this!"
Roman's smile remained steady. "I'll follow Father's wisdom. It's time I took a genuine break. I've been carrying this family's burden for quite some time now."
The way he said it—so mildly, and reasonably—made several elders flush with sudden shame. The young man had indeed shouldered tremendous responsibility, transforming the family business into an empire. But he was also irreplaceable in their current structure.
Isabella smirked from her corner, savoring the drama unfolding before her.
Marcus studied his younger brother intently, he hadn't thought Roman would yield so easily, considering his position as the CEO is at stake. This younger brother of his, is tougher than he thought. He still couldn't see right through him, and that made him dangerous.