Chapter 61 CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

Chapter 61 CHAPTER SIXTY ONE
Alyssa

I stared at Damon that was standing at the other end of the room holding a pointer with a big screen was behind him.

He was giving a presentation about his new project one which I had assigned him on.

It's only been two days since he started working here yet he still hasn't let the fact that I was his boss now, sink in.

I let him talk and explain his ideas.

He talked for ten minutes, he talked about numbers and profits sounding confident as though he was in charge completely forgetting he was not the boss here, I was.

Finally, he finished staring at me with a small smile, a fake one. "So that is the proposal," he said. "I think it is a very strong plan I am open to any questions."

I did not smile back, I looked down at the papers in front of me.

"Page four," I start making sure to keep my tune cold. "Your projected costs for marketing they are wrong."

Damon’s smile faded. "I... I do not think so Ms white, we used the best data."

"It is wrong," I said again looking up at him. "You used last year's numbers, the ad rates have gone up by fifteen percent. Your entire budget is wrong because of this."

The room was silent as the board members looked at Damon. He shifted on his feet his face was getting red.

"That is a small detail," he said. "We can adjust that."

"A small detail?" I asked raising one eyebrow. "A fifteen percent error is a small detail? Should I ignore all your other small details too?"

I turned the page. "Moving to page age six, your timeline. You say phase one will be done in three months that is impossible. The permits alone take eight weeks and your timeline is a fantasy. It is not based in reality."

Damon’s mouth was a tight line. "We can push for faster permits I have contacts."

"Your contacts do not work for me," I said. "I work with facts not with fantasies."

I did not let him answer. I moved on. "Page eight the partner company you want to use Johnson Holdings sub-contracted them last year, there were major problems like Quality problems. You did not do your research and you want me to partner with a company that has a history of failure?"

Damon’s hands were clenched into fists I could see the anger in his eyes of course he was not used to this, he was not used to being spoken to like this.

Especially by me.

"Ms White," he said his voice tight. "If you would just let me explain—"

"No," I cut him off keeping my tune sharp like a knife. "There is no explanation for this, this proposal is lazy and It is full of mistakes. It is not acceptable for White Enterprise so I am rejecting it. Completely."

The board members began to mumble in agreement.

Damon’s face was now bright red, he was humiliated just as he should.

"This is ridiculous!" he snapped as he threw his pointer down on the table It made a loud crack. "You are not even listening or trying to reason with me, you are just looking for problems."

I leaned back in my chair as I looked at him calmly. "I am the CEO It is my job to look for problems and It is your job to bring me a proposal that does not have any, you failed so don't blame me for your failure."

He opened his mouth to talk back or probably yell at me but I did not let him.

"The meeting is over," I said to the room I looked at the board members. "Everyone you can leave. Thank you for your time."

Everyone stood up quickly gathering their papers and their laptops.

Damon started to leave with them.

"Not you Mr. Johnson," I ordered. "You stay. We need to talk."

The last board member closed the door and the room was quiet again leaving just me and Damon.

As soon as the door closed Damon snapped turning to me with his eyes burning with fury.

"What the hell was that Alyssa?" he yelled. "You humiliated me in there In front of everyone! Do you have any idea what you just did?"

I stood up slowly and walked around the table towards him trying to remain calm.

"I did what I should have done a long time ago," I said. "I showed you your place."

"My place?" he laughed a harsh ugly sound. "You have lost your mind, you think you can talk to me like that? You think you can treat me like some stupid employee?"

"That is exactly what you are," I said as stopped in front of him. "You are an employee that works for me. You answer to me and you do not ever forget that again."

He stepped closer trying to intimidate me.

"This is because of us Alyssa and I know it?" he said his voice a low growl. "This is because I left you, this is your petty revenge."

I laughed. A real laugh. "You are so full of yourself Damon. You think this is about my broken heart? You broke my heart a long time ago. This is about business, your business is bad so are your ideas. You are bad for my company. That is all."

"You are going to regret this," he said, pointing a finger at my face. "I will make you regret this."

"No," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "You will regret it You will regret the day you ever lied to me. You will regret the day you chose Rachel and let my babies die, you will regret everything. I am just getting started."

His anger seemed to break and I could swear for a second he looked scared. Desperate.

"Alyssa please," he said his voice changed It became soft. Pleading. "We do not have to be like this we can be civil about this and talk things out. There has to be another way we had so many good years together. We can fix this."

He reached out to touch my arm.

I pulled my arm away like his touch was fire.

"Do not touch me," I hissed.

"Just listen to me!" he begged. "We can work together, we can be a team again. Remember how good we were? Remember our dreams?"

"Your dreams!" I shouted my calm finally breaking. "They were all lies! Your dream was a wife at home and a secret family on the side! Your dream was to use my father's company to build your own and I will never be a team with you again never! I may have made that mistake once and I'll be damned to do it again."

"We are still married in so many ways!" he yelled back. "Our companies our lives... they are tied together! You can't just cut me out!"

"Watch me," I said my voice deadly calm again. "I will cut you out, I will cut out every part of you that is connected to me and I will burn it all down if I have to. Your company will not survive the year, you will have nothing. That is my promise to you."

He stared at me seeing the truth in my eyes knowing that I was not bluffing.

"You are a monster," he whispered.

I smiled a cold empty smile.

"No Damon," I said. "You created me. You taught me how to be this. Now you have to live with it." I spat before walking past him heading to the door.

I opened it. "We're done here."