Chapter 59
THREE YEARS LATER
In the expansive conference hall, a hundred executives sat tensely. At the head of the table, Alexander Kane, the most formidable and no-nonsense CEO in all of Aurora City, presided over the meeting. The room was enveloped in a silence so profound that the only audible sound was the voice of the presenter, who spoke with deliberate caution, aware of the presence of the CEO’s young daughter, peacefully asleep on her father’s shoulder.
Before the meeting commenced, Alexander had issued a strict warning: under no circumstances should anyone disturb his precious daughter. Such a directive from the cold-hearted CEO was enough to instill fear in every individual present.
Who else would bring a three-year-old to such a high-stakes meeting? Alexander Kane would.
Who else would fire an employee on the spot and blacklist them for the slightest mistake that woke his beloved child? Alexander Kane would.
The presenter, despite the air conditioning, was sweating profusely. The room felt oppressively hot, and the stakes were high. Each executive knew that any misstep could result in severe consequences, possibly the end of their career. Alexander’s steely gaze alternated between the screen and his daughter, Viola, whose serene face was a miniature replica of her mother's.
This wasn't the first time Alexander had brought her to a meeting. His trust in others was limited, especially when it came to his daughter’s safety. Viola was uncomfortable around anyone except her father and James, who was more like family than a mere colleague.
When the presentation on the multinational project concluded, the room erupted in applause, albeit restrained. The attention then shifted to the next branch director, whose turn it was to present. The man, feeling the weight of countless eyes, stood up, his hands trembling as he gathered his papers. As he took his first step, his foot collided with the chair, causing it to topple over with a loud crash.
The sudden noise reverberated through the room. James, standing at the side, immediately turned his gaze towards the sleeping child.
The loud clatter startled Viola. She stirred, rubbed her eyes with her tiny fists, and looked up at her father with a pout, her eyes welling up with tears before she started to cry.
Alexander’s expression hardened as he turned his icy stare to the man who had disturbed his daughter’s slumber.
"You're fired. Get out!" he roared.
The director felt as if the ground should swallow him whole. There was no point in pleading; it would only worsen his plight. Without hesitation, he fled the room, his face a mask of desperation.
Viola continued to sniffle, her cries growing louder.
"What are the rest of you waiting for? Get out!" Alexander commanded.
The remaining executives scrambled to leave, leaving only James standing by.
Alexander turned his attention back to his daughter, gently wiping her tears and soothing her. "Shh, it’s okay now. Stop crying," he murmured softly.
Viola eventually calmed down, blinking away the last of her tears. Alexander rose, holding her close as he exited the meeting room, James trailing behind them.
James wiped the sweat from his brow, contemplating how to broach the topic of the canceled meeting. They had a critical deadline, and the project plan needed to be submitted to the government by the next day. Yet, now the meeting was over, and Alexander’s focus was entirely on his daughter.
In Alexander's office, he sat down, still cradling Viola in his arms. "What do you need, James?" he asked, his tone authoritative yet distracted by his daughter.
Clearing his throat, James responded, "Sir, the meeting we just canceled was crucial. We have to submit the finalized project plan to the government by tomorrow."
Viola glanced at James with her large, round eyes, understanding that her crying had once again disrupted an important meeting. She resolved to start accompanying her mother to her company after school when she returned from her business trip.
"The project from the first presentation will suffice. Send that to the government tomorrow," Alexander instructed.
James sighed in relief, nodding quickly. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He bowed his head and exited the office, relieved that his boss had not lashed out. He agreed that the initial project was ideal and was glad Alexander approved it. It was clear that Alexander was in a better mood today, likely because his wife was returning after a three-week business trip.
James eagerly anticipated Mrs. Kane’s return. Since her departure, Alexander had been exceptionally irritable and quick to anger, his temper even more volatile than usual.
With James gone, Alexander turned his attention back to Viola, gently combing her ponytail with his fingers, making her smile.
"Daddy needs to work, so you have to sit on that couch over there, okay?" Alexander pointed to a couch adorned with an array of treats.
Viola looked at the tempting array but hesitated. "Only if you promise to take me to the airport to pick Mommy up," she bargained with her tiny voice. Earlier, her father had told her she couldn’t go because it would be too late.
"No," he replied firmly.
Her eyes began to well up again, and she pouted, her lower lip trembling. Seeing this, Alexander sighed in defeat; both she and her mother were his greatest weaknesses. "Alright, I’ll take you," he conceded.
"Yay!" she exclaimed, hugging his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Alexander smiled at her adorableness and kissed her forehead in return. He put her down, letting her walk over to the couch to sit and enjoy her treats.
Viola settled on the couch, grabbing a handful of her favorite snacks. Alexander watched her for a moment, his stern demeanor softening. He often marveled at how such a small person could have such a profound effect on him. The office, usually a place of unyielding focus and intensity, felt different with her presence.
Alexander turned his attention back to his work, a stack of documents waiting for his approval. He started reviewing the contracts and proposals, his mind switching gears seamlessly from father to CEO. He was known for his ability to compartmentalize, to handle personal and professional responsibilities with equal skill.
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