Chapter 163: The news.
Ella.
The drive passed by in what felt like a matter of seconds, the tires humming against the asphalt. The journey was short, or perhaps it just felt that way because my heart was racing with anticipation, eager to finally arrive at our destination.
Getting ready back at the house, however, had been an absolute test of my patience. The triplets had stubbornly dug their heels in, flat-out refusing to step a foot out of my bedroom.
Just because the mate bond linked us together did not mean they possessed a free pass to stalk my every move or completely trample over my personal privacy.
In the end, after a tense standoff, I had managed to compromise by forcing them to turn their backs to me, standing like frozen statues against the wall until I was completely dressed and ready to go.
"We have arrived, my lady," Lawrence announced.
He pulled the car door open with a smooth, fluid motion, bowing his head slightly as he cleared the way for me to step out into the crisp air.
The very moment the sharp tip of my high heel clicked against the pavement, a powerful rush of confidence surged through my veins.
I straightened my spine, gripping the thick manila folder of documents tightly against my chest. With my chin held high, I marched directly toward the towering glass entrance of the building—The Bloodfang Group.
The triplets instantly fell into formation around me. Two flanked my shoulders while the third led the way, acting for all the world like a wall of hefty, fiercely protective bodyguards.
They absolutely refused to let me lift a finger or touch a single door handle, using their massive frames to part the sea of employees and pave a wide, clear path just for me.
We stepped into the sleek elevator, and the doors glided shut. The capsule shot upward smoothly, taking us directly to the restricted executive floor.
Walking down the quiet hallway, I paused right outside the heavy double doors of the boardroom. With a slow, deliberate movement, I slid my dark sunglasses off my face, tucked them away, and pushed into the room.
"Ella," Alex breathed out.
His voice cut through the air the exact second I stepped over the threshold.
Every single shareholder was already seated around the massive mahogany table, right in the middle of an active, high-stakes meeting. The timing couldn’t have been more flawless.
I walked directly toward the head of the table where Alex sat, a brilliant, dazzling smile spreading across my lips. I stopped right in front of him, raised my arm, and leveled a firm, steady finger straight at his chest.
"You..." I paused, letting the heavy silence stretch across the room as every eye locked onto us. "...are sitting in my seat."
Alex’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, the color draining from his face. Looking down at him, I knew without a doubt that the reality of the situation had finally set in. By now, he had definitely figured out exactly what had happened.
"Ella, can we please talk outside for a moment?" Alex asked.
He pushed himself up from the leather chair, his knees scraping against the underside of the mahogany table. He stood at his full height, but his posture was far from confident. His eyes were wide and swimming with a desperate, silent plea as he looked down at me, begging for a lifeline.
"It is Miss Copper, Mr. Blake!" I replied, my voice clipping each syllable like a pair of sharp shears.
I didn’t give him a chance to respond; I instantly snapped my gaze away, rolling my eyes toward the ceiling to let him feel the full weight of my dismissal.
"Ms. Copper?" Alex repeated. The name seemed to bounce around his head, leaving a deeply puzzled look on his face.
His brow furrowed in utter confusion, and before I could move away, his fingers shot out and wrapped tightly around my wrist.
"Whose name is that? What are you talking about?"
I didn’t answer him with words. Instead, I snapped my head around and locked eyes with the triplets standing right behind me. A single, sharp look was all it took. They caught the silent message instantly.
Lugard lunged forward. In one swift, aggressive motion, he grabbed Alex’s wrist and violently yanked his hand away from mine, breaking the grip completely.
"Know your place!" Lugard growled.
He stepped into Alex’s personal space, his upper lip curling with deep disgust. Every line of his face was tight with pure irritation at the audacity of the man standing before him.
"Step aside!" Alex barked right back. He didn’t back down an inch.
He planted his feet firmly on the carpet, his eyes blazing with a sudden, fierce anger as he glared directly into Lugard’s face, his hands curling into tight fists at his sides.
"Mr. Blake!" I called out, my voice cutting through the rising heat between the two men like a knife. "I really don’t think we gathered here today for a playground fight." I paused, letting the tension simmer for a beat before a slow, mischievous smile crept across my lips. I tilted my head slightly. "Have you announced the news to the rest of the board members yet?"
"I—" Alex started.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words seemed to glue themselves to the back of his throat. His jaw worked silently, but he just couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
My smile widened, full of dark satisfaction. I reached out and gave his shoulder a firm push, nudging his frozen body out of the way. Without a single hint of hesitation, I slid past him and dropped smoothly into the grand executive seat at the head of the table.
"Good day to you all," I began, leaning forward and resting my forearms on the cool wood.
A wave of deep, unshakeable confidence washed over me as I scanned the room.
"The total ownership of this company has officially been transferred to me." I paused, stopping completely so I could quietly enjoy the sudden paleness and widening eyes of every single person around the table. "Effective from this very moment, I am the new CEO of the Bloodfang Group."