Page 97 of Miss Manage

Chapter Fifty-Four

CHARLOTTE

Iplayed the part of the model employee on Monday, smiling during meetings, answering emails, pretending it was business as usual. All the while, Gabriel and our quiet army of family were working behind the scenes.

By Tuesday afternoon, it was time to put the first phase into action.

Julian had chosen the restaurant, of course. A well-known spot with the kind of overpriced menu designed to make people feel powerful. He arrived ten minutes late, phone in hand, wearing his usual arrogance like a tailored suit.

We were seated in the courtyard outdoors, dozens of business lunches happening around us. It made it easy for Leo’s team to slide into a table next to us. I did my best to ignore them.

“Well, Charlotte, you got my attention with your email wanting to meet, and I hopped on a plane to come down here to San Diego. Did you finally come to your senses?” He leaned back in his chair as if this was all inevitable.

I smiled. “In a way, yes.”

“You want the CEO position, don’t you?”

I’d played this moment in my head dozens of times, and I knew every word had to count. “With Gabriel gone, I like my chances.”

Julian smirked, swirling his newly delivered whiskey like he was about to impart great wisdom. “Charlotte, darling. Isn’t it sinking in? You’re not getting the position.”

I met his arrogance with some of my own, careful but sharp. “There aren’t any other qualified candidates left.”

His laugh sounded loud over the hum of the lunch crowd. A few heads turned, which only seemed to inflate him further. “Reggie and Ronald are flying in one of the rejects today. You really don’t get it, do you? They’ll never give that title to a woman. Not unless she gives their best client something worth remembering.”

I kept my voice cool. “I’d like to think my track record speaks for itself. There is no one who can run the company better.”

He leaned closer, the smell of liquor and ego hitting me all at once. “Track record won’t get you that chair. You know what will.” He smiled, a greasy, practiced expression I’d come to loathe. “As I told you in San Francisco, if you want my endorsement, you’ll get it on your knees. My hotel’s across the street. I could make the call to the owners before I even finish, but only if you swallow. I’m not big on spitters.”

I let silence stretch between us, using all of my willpower to keep my expression unreadable as I lifted my glass and took a measured sip.

A heartbeat later, my phone buzzed beneath the table.

One text from Leo: We got it. Clean audio. He’s done.

I smiled then, small, polite, and lethal. “I seem to have lost my appetite, Julian.”

Setting my drink down, I pushed back my chair and rose, smoothing my blazer with deliberate calm.

He didn’t care for my lack of reaction or my quiet confidence. Men who used their power to prey on others often didn’t. “Don’t you walk away from me,” he snapped, his voice rising as I turned to leave.

I kept my stride even, unhurried.

That only made him louder. “You’ll regret this, Charlotte! You can kiss the CEO title goodbye. Hell, your reputation, too!”

The restaurant had gone silent, all conversation stilled. Forks hovered midair. A couple by the window stared openly. I turned just enough to meet his furious gaze. His face was red, his posture puffed up, and for the first time, everyone within view could see him for what he was.

I let a small smile curve my lips. “Goodbye, Julian.”

And then I walked out, my legs shaking, but my spine straight. My heart was pounding, not with fear but with adrenaline. It couldn’t have gone any better. Julian’s public outburst had done half the work for me.

Outside, the city hummed, indifferent to the scene I’d walked away from, but for me, the world had shifted. I slipped into the car, letting out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My hands trembled briefly on my lap before I steadied them.

By the time I reached the office, calm had replaced the rush.

I squared my shoulders and stepped off the elevator onto my floor. Rhys caught sight of me and waited for my subtle nod. Olivia stood near the conference room doors, papers in hand, ready. Both had already accepted offers to come to Chambers Tech and planned to tender their resignations by the end of the day.

Rhys closed the door behind the last person, the sound echoing through the conference room.