Chapter 19 up
“Sorry, Mr. Axel. Today’s agenda has been… canceled.”
Axel stopped mid-stride.
The tablet was still clutched in his hand, knuckles tight, his suit immaculate as always. He stood frozen in front of the main conference room on the thirtieth floor. The glass doors were closed. The lights inside were off. Rows of empty chairs sat neatly aligned, as if the meeting had never existed at all.
“Canceled?” he repeated quietly.
His assistant lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. “The investors from Singapore withdrew from this morning’s meeting. They… sent an official email.”
Axel exhaled slowly, forcing his voice to remain steady. “Their reason?”
The pause that followed stretched too long.
“They feel the company’s reputational situation is currently… unstable.”
The words fell like a hammer.
Axel looked down at the tablet. No new notifications. No clarification. Just one cold, polished sentence staring back at him.
We regret to inform you…
He closed the tablet carefully.
“Fine,” he said at last. “Reschedule.”
The assistant hesitated. “Sir… this is the third meeting canceled this week.”
Axel turned.
His gaze was sharp, but something fragile flickered beneath it—something raw. “Leave.”
She nodded quickly and walked away.
The corridor fell silent.
Axel stood alone beside the glass wall overlooking the city. Morning sunlight reflected off steel and concrete, a skyline that once bent to his will.
Once.
On the twenty-fifth floor, inside a smaller meeting room, a massive screen glowed red.
Downward. Downward. Downward.
“Two institutional investors have pulled their funding,” the CFO said, voice tight. “They didn’t state explicit reasons, but—”
“I know the reason,” Axel cut in.
Silence slammed into the room.
Several board members exchanged uneasy glances. No one dared to speak. No one dared to challenge him.
Axel leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced. “Continue.”
“We’ve lost one regional contract,” the CFO went on. “And… the European Business Forum has postponed your keynote invitation.”
Axel let out a short laugh. Hollow. Empty.
“Postponed?” he echoed. “Or removed?”
The CFO didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Axel Armand’s name still filled business magazines.
But the headlines had changed.
No longer The Golden CEO.
Now it read: When Power Meets Scandal.
Old photographs resurfaced.
A wedding portrait. A gala. Vanesa standing beside him—simple dress, calm smile, eyes clear and unassuming.
The article didn’t attack outright.
It was more cruel than that.
It let readers draw their own conclusions.
A man who abandoned his wife during personal tragedy…
…now faces social and business consequences.
Axel tossed the magazine onto the table.
The pages bent.
Like something he once considered disposable.
“Mr. Axel.”
He turned as he entered the main lobby of the business forum building.
Faces that once greeted him warmly now looked away.
Some smiled stiffly. Others pretended to check their phones.
A senior CEO approached—white hair, eyes sharp with experience.
“We need to talk,” the man said flatly.
Axel nodded.
They stopped near the corner of the lobby, far enough from the crowd.
“I suggest delaying your Asian expansion,” the CEO said without preamble. “The market is sensitive right now.”
Axel met his gaze. “Because of what?”
The man sighed. “Reputation.”
One word.
It struck harder than any financial loss.
“This isn’t about your competence,” the man added. “It’s about… perception.”
Axel nodded slowly.
He wanted to argue.
For the first time in his life, he had none.
Back at the office, Selina stood in front of Axel’s desk.
“This isn’t fair,” she snapped. “They’re punishing you over gossip.”
Axel didn’t respond.
He stared at his laptop screen, reading the same article for the fifth time.
“Axel,” Selina stepped closer. “Are you listening to me?”
“I hear you,” he said quietly.
“If this is because of Vanesa—”
Axel closed the laptop.
Slowly.
But firmly enough to silence her.
“Don’t,” he said.
Selina froze.
“Don’t say her name,” Axel continued.
Her eyes narrowed. “So now you’re defending her?”
Axel stood.
Not angry.
Not shouting.
Just exhausted.
“I’m reaping what I planted,” he said evenly. “And you are not part of any justification.”
Selina stepped back.
For the first time, she felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
Night fell.
Only a few office lights remained on.
Employees left one by one.
Axel stayed.
He sat at his desk, the wide office suddenly feeling too large.
Too quiet.
His phone didn’t ring.
No invitations. No messages. No requests for his opinion.
He opened the desk drawer.
Pulled out an old photograph.
Vanesa. In their small apartment kitchen. Hair loosely tied back. A faint smile on her lips as she handed him a cup of coffee.
Back when he was still someone.
Not an heir. Not a symbol. Not a headline.
Just her husband.
Axel closed his eyes.
His chest tightened.
Not from losing business.
But from the realization that came too late:
He didn’t fall because someone pushed him.
He fell because he let go.
The office was nearly dark now.
Only the desk lamp glowed.
Axel stood by the window.
Watched the city.
The lights were still on.
The world kept moving.
Without waiting for him.
He reached into his pocket.
His phone lit up.
No notifications.
No name he secretly hoped for—though he knew it would never appear.
He let out a soft, bitter laugh.
“Funny,” he murmured. “I used to have everything… and I protected nothing.”