Chapter 14 - Big news.

Cara was hungover the next morning.

She had won huge sunglasses to work to avoid the employees noticing her baggy eyes. And she had also arrived late because she overslept.

Malory was still at her place sleeping. She still wasn't ready to go back to her boyfriend's place and Cara didn't mind accommodating her for as long as she wanted to stay.

She missed her and if Malory wanted to stay for a few days she didn't mind a bit.

"Where have you been Mrs Devine."

Her assistant, Lois asked as she ran towards her and took a look at Cara.

Lois stared at Cara like a deer in headlights.

Cara looked like a mess.

Her hair was in a high ponytail, something Cara never did and she was wearing a purple skirt and loose ruffled white shirt tucked in and flats.

It wasn't how Cara would have dressed to work if she hadn't been so hungover but Cara didn't seem to care very much.

"What happened?"

Cara groaned as Lois pulled her into her office hastily.

"What's going on?"

Cara mumbled.

"I called you so many times."

Lois said as she closed the door gently after they were in her office.

Lois looked outside the blinds and sighed. Nobody seemed to have seen them coming in.

Good.

A lot of strange and weird things had happened at the office and she has tried Cara's phone number repeatedly to inform her but unfortunately, Cara's number didn't go through.

Something was going on in the office, there had been an impromptu early board meeting by Cara's fiancé.

He has introduced himself as the new CEO to all the staff.

And also mentioned that there will be a lot of changes at the office.

Lois could tell what he meant by that already.

She could already feel the dread of losing her job. The company had most likely being sold and Cara probably still had no idea about what was going on.

"I know! I know. I was trying my hardest to get here as fast as I could. I kind of had a wild night last night."

She confessed chuckling a little as she settled in her chair.

"I'm so sorry I'm in so late. What do I have to do this morning?"

She asked as she removed her sunglasses and rubbed at her tired eyes.

She looked at Lois and saw that Lois was looking at her nervously

"Well.. The reason I've been trying to reach is that..."

Lois paused for a while.

Should she tell her?

Did she have to tell her?

She was her assistant but then.

"What's going in Lois? Did something happen while I was gone?!"

Cara asked in amazement and Lois shrugged.

"I don't know how to explain it to you. but a lot happened at the office this morning."

Cara's heart skipped a beat. She wondered if it had anything to do with what Alexander told her.

Did he finally do what he was getting up to do?

"Mr Alexander Greene came in and held a board meeting without you. Then he announced that he was the new CEO of the company."

Cara stood up and hit her hand hard on her glass table in burning anger.

"Where the hell is he?"

She seethed with fury and Lois pointed to what could only be the direction to the CEO's office where Alexander was still talking to a few board of directors.

CEO?

Cara thought as she sauntered towards the CEO's office.

Hell that position should have been hers!

That was what her father promised her.

That the company will still belong to her family and she would have control over it.
Was that what Alexander had under his sleeves? Was that what he was planning?

How could he do something like that to her?

She barged in without as much as a knock and met Alexander sitting at the chair with a few employees and directors.

She ignored them all and cleared her throat.

"I'd like to speak with the CEO in private."

She said mockingly and Alexander sighed.

"Please Cara, as you can see I'm busy can we do this later?"

Cara shook her head strongly.

"No, we're doing this right now. And you better get everyone else out unless you don't mind them hearing the things I want to say to you."

She said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

With one look, Alexander cleared his office and they all scurried out.

After they were all gone and the door was safely closed behind them he shrugged.

"Baby, you know I warned you about this earlier."

"What fucking right do you have to hold a board meeting without me?!"

"Why would you do something so shady Alex?"

"Calm down. Now lower your voice..."

He tried to soothe her but it was too late, the damage had already been done and Cara was furious at him.

"Lower my voice?!!!"

She scoffed.

"No, you shut up! This wasn't in the agreement, this wasn't in the plan and even if it was somehow included I can't believe you didn't tell me a thing about this."

"Cara, it's exactly because of this reaction that we decided not to tell you about it."

She could understand his father or her father not telling her about it, but him?

"And you? Why didn't you tell me about it? Because you probably agree with them."

"This is what you've wanted all along."

She said as she shook her head, she blinked her eyes to prevent the tears from coming out of them.

She won't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

No, she won't.

He never did wanted her to be the CEO, he never believed she could be one.

Alexander started mumbling, he didn't know what else he could say that wouldn't rile Cara up.

"My father felt it was in the best interests of this company for it to be handled with someone who has better experience and expertise."

Cara rolled her eyes.
His father could shove his bullshit up his ass for all she cared.

"And let me guess, you probably believe that too am I right?"

She asked and he shook his head wearily.

Cara leaned in closer to him and glared at him.

"Am I fucking right Alex?!"

"Cara stop it! Stop being like this!"

He snapped as started arranging the desk nervously.

"You'd never have done a good job being the CEO anyways. You're hardly doing a good job at your current job."

"Just look at the time you came in for work?"

He added and Cara chuckled.

"So what now? What else did you and Daddy dearest decide on?"

She folded her arms and settled back in the seat across him.

She enjoyed seeing Alexander looking so rattled, because that was exactly how she wanted him to feel.

If she could make him feel much more worse she would.

He was so shady.

So so shady and annoying.

She couldn't believe she was getting married to him.

Alexander looked away.

"There are going to be a lot of budget cuts, and pay cuts. We would also be terminating a few contracts with some employees that we felt wouldn't be needed. There's still quite a lot to do..."

"So do I get to keep my job or his your daddy replacing me too?"

She asked and Alexander sighed.

"Why would you even think that way? Of course you'd keep your job."

A small part of Cara felt relieved, that all wasn't totally lost, something could still be done.

"But of course I'm not good enough to be the CEO."

She shrugged.

She stood up and started getting ready to leave his office.

It wasn't even time for her morning coffee yet she felt like she needed a big break. She was tired.

Exhausted.

She didn't want to hear any more.

Alexander had betrayed her.

Not like she expected anything else from him, but he could have at least given her a heads up.

He knew how much her family's company meant to her and how badly she wanted to be the CEO yet he still stood by and helped crush her dreams.

He could have prevented it, he could have done something, she knew he had the power too. but he didn't believe in her either and he was more content taking the position for himself for his selfish gains.

Her father didn't tell her this was going to happen, nobody told her it would.

She couldn't even bear to look at him.


"Cara..."

Alexander called out and she raised her hand to stop him.

"You did this. Nobody else but you did this."

"And nothing you say would ever make me change how I feel about all of this. Or even you."

She walked out of the office.

By the time she was back in her office she collapsed on her chair out of exhaustion.

She needed to see her parents. There was no way in hell she could go through with the sham of a marriage that was coming up.

She had to find a way to stop it and they had to do something to help too.

Lois came in at that moment.

There was worry etched all over her features. Cara guessed that she already heard about the plans the company had to lay off some of it's workers.

She had to find a way to convince Lois that the same wouldn't happen to her.

No, she wouldn't even let them touch Lois."

"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to you. Alexander knows better than to annoy me further."

"You can be rest assured that you won't lose your job."

She said with a comforting smile and Lois relaxed.

"Do you need anything Ms Devine?"

She asked and Cara nodded as she closed her eyes.

"Yes."

"A cup of strong black coffee."

"And do me a favour and clear out my schedule for the rest of the day."

"I'm going home."