Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen
Aiden

"What's going on?" I ask Neil for the umpteenth time when I reach him. He is waiting to intercept me the moment I step off the elevator.
He turns swiftly. "Hurry. Time is running out."
I match Neil’s pace, my heart pounding. I wonder what could possibly demand such urgency. My brows furrow as I realize he is leading me toward the executive conference room.
"Did something affect the quarterly projections? Am I being sanctioned?" Did Lachlan set me up for a fall? He had promised he would.
Neil reaches the door first, turning to face me with a look akin to an eye roll. "Get in there first and ask questions later." He opens the door, tugging at me as he shoves me inside.
The moment I step into the room, a chorus of applause rings through the air. I stand there, confused, scanning the Board of Directors and the C-suite executives seated around the table. What have I done? I look around for answers, but everyone simply continues to smile and clap.
As the applause dies down, the Lead Independent Director welcomes me with a warm smile, gesturing for me to take a seat. The Board rarely attends meetings here; usually, they remain at the corporate headquarters to oversee the global interests of the MD Group.
Connelly, the Chief Financial Officer, stands and begins to read the details of my accomplishments over the past few months. I had been tasked with cleaning up the fiscal mess Lachlan created through the misappropriation of production funds. I knew my operational reforms had yielded more significant ROI in a few months than Lachlan had achieved in years. It wasn't that he couldn't move the needle, but his dubious methods and creative accounting had always overshadowed his leadership.
I have an inkling now that this meeting is about more than just acknowledging my current assignment. My eyes shift to where my father, the Chairman, is sitting.
"You are late," he chides, though his tone is soft.
"I was held up," I answer, my voice cracking despite my efforts to stay composed.
Dad’s gaze sharpens, scrutinizing me. "You’re here now."
The room is packed with the Chief Operating Officer, the Head of Global Distribution, and the Chair of the Nominating Committee. Dad clears his throat, addressing the room with chilling clarity. "Board members, this is my second son, Aiden Mendes—the man I have chosen as my successor and future CEO."
The world stands still at the announcement. My head snaps in my father's direction. He has to be kidding.
I sweep my gaze across the room, scanning the faces of the stakeholders present. There is no gasp of shock. Instead, they are all nodding in approval.
"We’ve compared the performance metrics. He is the most fitting for leadership," the Lead Independent Director says. My head is reeling too much to even recall his name.
"Aiden undoubtedly has great potential. Given time, he will lead the MD Group to even greater heights," the Chief Creative Officer adds.
I am numb as the meeting proceeds. I don't even remember the speech I gave, vowing to uphold the Group's integrity and not let them down. It was a perfunctory performance, yet they seemed so impressed that another round of applause followed my conclusion.
"Walk with me, son," Dad instructs as he rises to leave.
I bow politely to the chattering men and nod as I exit. I am not foolish enough to think they are all on my side. Many are loyal to Lachlan; they know my history as the son of a mistress, whereas Lachlan was always the "golden son." Yet, they dare not voice those sentiments to my father’s face. Although Dad assigned them to executive positions, he never left his absolute authority vulnerable. Even if they colluded against him, they couldn't overthrow him. He is a shrewd businessman; I still have much to learn from him.
"Are you dying?" I ask once we are alone in his office.
In the past, I had only been invited here once or twice, deemed unworthy to step foot in his presence. But now that I’ve proven myself, I am allowed inside.
Dad turns to face me. "Why would you ask that?"
"You’re handing over the reins of the empire early." I know he has been managing an ailment, but has it worsened? Has he been given a timeline, just like Mom?
"I'm not dying anytime soon. I'm only acting on my physician's orders to cut down on anything strenuous. My health isn't at its peak, but I haven't received a death sentence," he assures me, then adds, "Not yet."
I swallow, my throat tightening. "I don't want this. Lachlan—"
Dad hisses, interrupting me. "Don't tell me he is the one who ought to take over. I decide who is worthy of being my successor; it is not an entitlement. I didn't build a legacy just to have it quashed by a tactless son. Prepare for the inauguration. It commences in four days."
"You have to postpone it," I tell him.
"The responsibility is yours now, Aiden. You are a Mendes by right, and I have chosen you. The opinions of others regarding my choice are none of your concern. You will figure out how to balance this leadership with your other investments. It’s a massive undertaking, but you will survive it. A Mendes does not bend. They do not break, and they never back down from a challenge. They conquer it."
"I can't attend an inauguration in four days."
"Why?" Dad blinks, confused.
"I'm surprised you don't know already." Dad, who has eyes and ears everywhere. Dad, who never misses a shred of information regarding his family or his associates. There is a heavy silence between us as I wait for him to piece it together.
"Violet," he exhales shakily as realization dawns. He staggers back a step, his face a mask of grief and shock.
"I was informed she passed away earlier this evening when I went to visit her," my voice cracks, tears surging again.
"No," Dad breathes, refusing to believe it.
"Mom’s dead. She’s really gone." I cover my face, my eyes squeezed shut against the pain.
I excuse myself from my father’s office, leaving him to process his grief in his own way.
"Congratulations, sir," Neil says, approaching me in the hall. He had been lingering, waiting for my exit. His smile quickly dims when he sees my expression. "What’s wrong?"
I shake my head. I can't go public with my mother's death just yet. I wish I could bring her back, but what would be the purpose? She had been broken beyond redemption. Death is a mercy for her now. "I have to go. I’ll tell you everything later."
Neil nods, refraining from prying further, though his eyes are burning with questions. I leave the building and speed toward my original destination. She is the first person who deserves to know. I have a feeling she may have already sensed it through her shamanic abilities, but it is only right that I tell her in person.
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Lachlan

Dawn screams my name as she bursts into my office, the files in her hand thumping heavily onto the floor.
I had vaulted out of my seat the second I received the news. He had organized a meeting right under my nose with the Senior Executives, declaring Aiden his heir while I am still standing.
In a fit of blind rage, I upended everything on my desk. Dawn had walked in just as the glass shattered against the floor. I slammed my fist into the floor-to-ceiling window behind my desk with vicious force. The reinforced glass held strong, but my knuckles cracked under the impact, pain radiating up my arm.
It wasn't enough to dull the fury. I lowered my mangled hand to my side, gritting my teeth against the throbbing pain. I am seeing red. I want to murder that bastard.
Dawn approaches with a first aid kit, setting it on the cleared surface of my desk.
I shove my fingers furiously through my hair. "Let me help you with that," Dawn says, reaching for my hand.
"Get away from me!" I thunder, glaring at her.
She is momentarily speechless at my fury, her jaw dropping, before she snaps back at me. "It’s your loss, Lachlan. You know what? I’m done with you. I’ve been backing the wrong horse anyway. Aiden deserves that title more than you ever did," she spews, inciting my rage.
"What did you say?" I growl, advancing on her with simmering malice.
Dawn’s throat bobs as she swallows. There is evident fear in her eyes, but she forces herself to speak despite the shiver racking her body. "I quit. You were only using me, and I was using you, too. I’m jumping ship now that you’re useless."
She doesn't get to finish her last word before I strike her hard across the face.
Dawn loses her balance under the impact, a gasp tearing from her throat. She hits the ground hard, bracing her fall with one hand against the floor. She clutches her bruised cheek, whipping her head around to glare at me. "You bastard!" she cries, becoming hysterical.
She scrambles off the floor and charges at me, clawing at every part of my body. However, I trap her effortlessly and thrash the hysterics out of her system.
Foolish woman.