Chapter 99: The Final Warning

Chapter 99: The Final Warning
The air in the Taylons Enterprises boardroom was thick with tension, the kind that crackled just before a storm.

Taylor sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his jaw locked in barely concealed frustration.

His mother, Veronica, sat next to him, cold and unreadable, but a flicker of anger in her eyes once in a while gave her away.

Across from them, Nicole exuded quiet confidence, hands folded neatly on the table, commanding authority even without a word.

Collins, her bodyguard, stood just outside the door, ensuring that her safety was never compromised.

Mr. Donovan cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy silence. "Gentlemen and ladies, thank you all for gathering here this evening. We have urgent matters to discuss regarding the future of Taylons Enterprises."

Taylor scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Let me guess. You’re here to strip me of my position as CEO?"

His voice was laced with sarcasm, but there was an undercurrent of anxiety beneath it.

Donovan sighed. "Contrary to your belief, Taylor, this meeting was not called for the purpose of removing you. The main intention is to talk about the future of this company and whether you are willing to do what it takes to save it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Taylor snapped.

Donovan's gaze went briefly to Nicole before he spoke again. "It means we need immediate investments."

He leaned forward and continued.

"A significant one. Something big enough to restore Taylons Enterprises to its former glory. We all know the situation. The company is barely surviving, and unless something drastic is done, we will crumble."

"And let me guess," Taylor's lips curled in disdain, "you've already decided that Nicole's investment is the answer to our problems."

Donovan stilled himself in his seat, his gaze strong on Taylor. "She's our best option, right now."

Taylor clinched a fist on his lap under the table as he knew where this was going .

He'd smelled it right from the moment he found Nicole the other day at Mr. Reynold's office.

She'd been working underground all this while, getting along well with these guys, turning them against him.

Or just so he thought.

"You want me to just give her seventy percent of my company?" Taylor's voice was low, even menacing.

Before Donovan could respond, Nicole leaned forward, her voice smooth and even.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you and the board for finally realizing the inevitability of this investment. Please be assured, my intention is not to take your company away from you but to give it a new life. The $900 million investment is not all I intend for this company; I've also made plans to atteact local and  international investors through my influence and connect Taylons Enterprises to a place which has never been envisaged."

A few members applauded in agreement, nodding at Nicole's confident assurance.

The room was turning in her favor, and Taylor knew it.

"In your dreams," Taylor spat, his hand coming down hard on the table. "This will never happen!"

Up until now, Veronica had remained silent, a subtle smile suddenly erupting into a low chuckle.

She shook her head, her gaze locking onto Nicole's. "Look at you, sitting there all high and mighty," she sneered.

"You really think you've won, don't you? Let me make something clear to you, little girl. The wings you're growing? They will be clipped soon enough. I promise you that."

Nicole's expression remained unreadable, but a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. "Is that a threat, Mrs. Fury?"

Veronica smirked. "Oh, dear. Not a threat. A promise."

Tension in the room rocketed, and the board members shifted uncomfortably in their chairs.

Donovan, sensing the hostility escalating, quickly intervened. "That's enough!" He shot Veronica a pointed look before turning back to Taylor.

"Mr. Fury, let me be crystal clear: If you continue to decline this investment, we would be left with no other choice but to table a motion for your removal as CEO. This company is not about one individual, about you. It's about all of us, and we cannot afford to let our personal pride bring it down."

Taylor breathed hard, the air choking him. The walls were closing in.

His own board members, people he had worked with for years, were against him now.

One of the other board members, a middle-aged man with silver-streaked hair, spoke up.

"I agree with Donovan. We can't keep watching this company sink because of stubbornness. If we must save Taylons Enterprises, we have to make the hard decisions."

Taylor's eyes snapped to him, fury burning in his gaze. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

Mrs. Lawson leaned forward, her voice measured but firm. "It means if you continue to refuse this offer, the only choice left to us will be a vote of confidence. And if you lose that vote, you will be removed as CEO and the position reassigned."

The earth moved beneath Taylor's feet.

A murmur of assent swelled around the room.

It punched him in the guts as it really dawned on him: he was outnumbered.

Not Veronica though, she was far from defeat. In one swift move, she jumped from her seat, banging her hands against the table.

"You really think you can just hand over my family's legacy to this… this snake in human skin?!" she barked, "this woman who slithered her way into our lives with stolen wealth? I will not sit here and watch you throw everything away!"

Nicole's lips twitched into a faint smirk, seemingly amused by Veronica's outburst.

"You seem very invested in this company, Mrs. Fury," she mused. "Interesting, considering it's Taylor who's the CEO."

Veronica's nostrils flared. "You little—"

Donovan quickly raised a hand, silencing any further arguments. "Enough. This is a professional setting, and I will not tolerate personal feuds overshadowing business decisions."

Veronica shot him a glare but sat down nonetheless, still fuming.

All this time, Taylor had been silent; his mind was a battlefield. He was always confident, outsmarting his enemies at every step, but this… this was different.

Donovan adjusted the papers and clearee his throat. "Since Mr. Fury has made his standpoint known, we will be moving on with the vote of confidence. The vote will take place in four days."

Nicole's smile deepened all the more.

Taylor’s hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms. He knew what this meant.

He had three days to turn the tide, three days to fight back. If he lost, his reign over Taylons Enterprises would come to an end.

Veronica turned to him, her expression unreadable for the first time that evening. "We’re leaving."

Taylor hesitated, his pride wrestling with his instincts. But finally, he stood, stiff movements, controlled.

He cast one last glare in Nicole's direction before storming toward the exit, Veronica following close behind him.

As they reached the door, Veronica paused, turning her head slightly. "Enjoy this little victory while you can, Nicole," she murmured. "It won’t last."

Nicole simply smiled.

The door slammed shut behind them.

The vote was set. Four days.