Chapter 42
The chaos at Kane Industries was palpable. The hallways buzzed with frantic energy, employees whispering in hushed tones, heads turning whenever Victoria walked by. Selena’s arrest had shaken the company to its core, leaving a void in leadership that had to be filled quickly. For Victoria, this was the moment she had been preparing for. It was time to take back what was hers and rebuild it from the ground up.
Victoria entered the boardroom, her steps confident as she faced the gathered executives. The tension in the room was thick; some of the board members looked relieved to see her, while others, still loyal to Damian and Selena, glared at her with suspicion.
She placed her hands on the table and scanned the room. “Let’s get straight to the point,” she began, her voice calm but commanding. “This company has been dragged through scandal after scandal because of Damian and Selena. Their corruption, greed, and manipulation have tarnished the Kane Industries name. But starting today, that ends.”
One of the older board members, Mr. Grayson, cleared his throat. “Ms. Cross, with all due respect, the company’s reputation is in shambles. Investors are pulling out, and morale is at an all-time low. How do you intend to fix this?”
Victoria straightened, meeting his gaze head-on. “By making hard choices. I’m stepping in as interim CEO, effective immediately. We’ll be conducting a full audit of the company’s finances and operations. Any employee found to be complicit in Damian and Selena’s schemes will be removed.”
There were murmurs around the table, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged wary glances.
“And what about the board?” another member, Mrs. Patel, asked. “Do you intend to clean house here as well?”
Victoria’s gaze sharpened. “If necessary. This company deserves leaders who put its integrity first. If you can’t align with that vision, you’re welcome to step down.”
Silence fell over the room as her words sank in. Tobias, who stood at the back of the room, gave her a subtle nod of encouragement.
Over the next few days, Victoria wasted no time implementing her plans. She appointed new employees to critical roles—people with proven records of integrity and competence. The legal team worked overtime, combing through contracts and financial records to uncover any lingering corruption. Departments were restructured, and employees were reminded of the company’s new direction.
In the HR department, Victoria addressed a group of employees who had gathered for a meeting. “I know the past few weeks have been difficult,” she said, her tone sincere. “But this is a fresh start. I’m not just here to rebuild this company—I’m here to make it better than it ever was.”
One employee raised her hand. “What happens to those of us who worked under Damian and Selena but didn’t participate in their schemes?”
Victoria’s expression softened. “If you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about. But if you knew about their activities and chose to stay silent, there will be consequences. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable moving forward.”
After the meeting, Tobias joined her in her office. “You’re handling this well,” he said, handing her a cup of coffee. “Morale is starting to pick up. People are beginning to trust you.”
Victoria accepted the coffee with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Tobias. It’s a lot, but I can’t afford to falter now.”
As she spoke, her phone buzzed on the desk. She picked it up, her brows furrowing as she read the message. Her breath caught, and she looked up at Tobias, her voice trembling slightly. “They found Gregory.”
Tobias’s eyes widened. “What? Where?”
“The message doesn’t say,” she replied, her heart racing. She quickly dialed the number attached to the message. After a few rings, a man’s voice answered.
“Ms. Cross, this is Detective Harris,” he said. “We’ve located Gregory.”
