Chapter 50 Emergency Meeting I
\-Celeste-
The drive to Headquarters was filled with a deep silence and lasted for nearly 10 minutes.
All we could do was ignore the obvious elephant in the room.
I tried shifting my thoughts from the Ashford name, from everything I’d just read. Somehow, my mind spiraled back to the same thing. To the fact that I could have landed back in the hospital I had just left.
At Headquarters, there was already a mob of protesters—placards raised, voices high, screaming things I couldn’t quite make out. Security was doing their best to keep them in line as cars—probably board members—made their way into the building.
“This is bad,” I blurted the obvious. “I can’t believe this.”
Lucien said nothing. I was glad he didn’t, because then I’d have to say what I was thinking, I’d have to spill all of my anxiety.
We safely reached the underground parking lot where a ton of guards were already waiting for everyone’s arrival.
A team led us to the elevator, another followed us up the flight, leaving us only when we arrived on the executive floor.
Lucien finally spoke. “I’ll wait for you here.”
I nodded gratefully. My stomach had twisted so much that my chest had tightened, and I’d lost the urge to speak.
I marched to the conference room, heart racing like I was the guilty one.
As the staff pulled the doors opened, I sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. “It’s going to be alright, Celeste.”
There, the entire family—except my father was seated there, flanked by the group’s board members.
I was led to an empty seat just by Grandmother, where my father often sat.
Lilith and Vanessa sat across, and for the first time, they didn’t exchange looks with me. They looked worried, almost terrified as I was.
At least they had each other. I told myself.
Grandmother’s voice rang out almost immediately. She began speaking, her expression unfazed, like she’d dealt with this same thing a thousand times.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she said, fingers steeping. “I’m sure you’ve all seen the news.”
The room remained silent.
“Twenty-five years ago, an Ashford factory exploded. Twenty people died. Sixty were injured.”
She paused, letting the weight sink in.
“The media claims it was covered up. It wasn’t.” She let out a small sigh. “As we speak, my son, James, is now under investigation. He was called this morning.”
Her gaze swept the room.
She cleared her throat, straightening in her seat.
“Effective immediately, he is suspended from all duties. Our priority now is to decide how the Ashford Group will survive this and restore confidence among our stakeholders.”
The silence grew even louder, but there wasn’t a single protest.
“Now,” she continued, “we need an interim vice president effective immediately. I call for nominations.”
The room suddenly came alive with murmurs and whispered speculations, glances darting around, some of those glances landed squarely on me.
One of the senior board members cleared his throat. “I propose Celeste Ashford. While she’s been focused on her business outside the group, she knows the Ashford legacy. Her appointment would reassure investors that the family remains committed.”
My stomach dropped. Every eye seemed to weigh me, measuring whether I could even begin to fill my father’s shoes.
Mr. Hawthorne, a close family ally, cut in. “We need someone to step in immediately—someone with experience, preferably from the executive team.”
Murmurs rippled through the room, some in approval.
Then, Vanessa’s voice rang out firmly. “I support Mr. Hawthorne’s nomination. Right now, we need someone who understands how the company works. Therefore, I nominate myself to step in if needed.”
Before anyone could respond, Lilith shot up. “I nominate myself too.”
The room fell into stunned silence, as if she’d uttered some abomination. Vanessa’s glare cut through her like a blade in a What-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you sort of way.
Grandmother’s cold and controlled voice filled the silence. “You’re young, Lilith. You still have a lot to learn.”
So the focus was on me?
I gripped the edge of the table, my pulse hammering. They’re all looking at me.
Her gaze swept the room again, as if subtly forcing compliance. “Celeste Ashford will serve as interim vice president effective immediately. This is not only about stabilizing the company—it is about succession. The Ashford legacy must be preserved, and the next generation must step forward.”
My heart raced.
When I was leaving the hospital, flour, sugar, and frosting were all I could think about, not the corporate crises and succession I’d been avoiding.
“All in favor of Celeste Ashford as interim vice president, raise your hand,” Grandmother said.
Time ticked.
Sweat trickled down my face while my heart pounded like it was minutes away from an explosion.
Hands went up, some hesitant, some firm. A few, like Mr. Hawthorne, Vanessa and Lilith, stayed down.
“The motion carries,” Grandmother announced. “Celeste Ashford is interim vice president effective immediately.”
My pulse rang.
Claps echoed. A few board members murmured congratulations.
Vanessa forced a smile. Lilith glared.
I sank back in my chair, weakness coursing through me. The weight of every eye in the room settled on me. I was interim vice president. Me.
For a moment, there was nothing else but the dizzying reality of it. I couldn’t even find my voice to respond.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?