Chapter 32: The CEO Of CEOs
Woods Corporations.
The entire boardroom was packed with higher-ups, executives, and top staffs of the Woods Corporation, all anxiously waiting for their big boss to arrive. It had been a few days since he was last seen in the office, and everyone was curious about his absence, especially since he never missed work.
Speculations and gossip filled the room, with some suggesting that he must be enjoying his new married life and couldn’t bear to be apart from his wife.
“He must be on an extended honeymoon,” whispered one executive to another, causing a few chuckles to ripple through the room.
“I honestly still can’t imagine or picture “THE President Woods” in a romantic setting with anyone. It feels surreal.”
“I wonder what kind of lover he’d be amidst his cold personality,” Monica Steely, the leader of the HR Department, says out loud. She’d always had a massive crush on the CEO, much like every other female at the company.
“What if… just what if he turns out to be a softie who simps for his wife?” another female jolted in, and the whole room seemed to gasp for air.
Meanwhile, Rachael Lind sat nervously among her colleagues without uttering a single word during the heated discussion. All their talk about Sebastian’s alleged happy honeymoon and marriage life seemed to be a pain in her ass, and it made her ears bleed.
‘It’s not possible.’
Rachael still believed Sebastian couldn’t possibly be married when he hadn’t been over his severe allergy to women’s closeness or touch. She had even confirmed it herself.
Only she knew exactly why he had been absent, and it had nothing to do with a romantic getaway.
As the discussions continued, Rachael’s anxiety grew. She had been the sole reason Sebastian landed in the ICU for days, and the thought of facing him now, knowing the consequences of her actions, made her stomach churn.
Sebastian Woods was notorious for his ruthlessness when it came to firing employees. One wrong move or slight mistake, and you were out the door. And now, she had even caused him to be hospitalized.
She glanced around the room, wondering if this would be her last day at Woods Corporations….
Just as the suspense in the room reached its peak, the door swung open, and in walked the CEO with his swarm of assistants and bodyguards trailing behind. All eyes turned towards him, captivated by his commanding presence. He exuded extreme superiority and power, as always, while dressed in a custom-made Armani dark grey suit and perfectly fitted black pants. The tailored suit emphasized his impeccable sense of style and made him look like a top male model straight off the runway.
With his jet black hair styled neatly to perfection, he looked handsome and refined, befitting someone of his stature and big reputation.
Sebastian’s charisma and confidence were undeniable right from his high school days before he even became the head of his family organization. No wonder he was tagged the ‘The CEO of CEOs.’
As he walked in, his gaze swept across the room, his eyes meeting each person’s in turn. The silence was deafening as everyone waited for him to speak. Rachael’s heart raced, her palms becoming clammy.
“Well, well, well,” Sebastian’s voice dripped with arrogance. “It seems you all missed me.”
A few nervous chuckles filled the room, but the tension remained detectable as Sebastian walked towards his seat at the head of the table. His handsome face wore a serious expression as he settled down, leaning back and crossing his arms.
He surveyed the room again before speaking with a haughty and impatient sneer. “Well, get on with the meeting. I don’t have all day!”Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
As the board meeting progressed, Sebastian’s mind couldn’t help but wander back to Kourtney. Yesterday, he had left as soon as she did, unable to bear the smell of disinfectant and the bad memories it brought back. She was the only reason he could make himself tolerate staying in the hospital for even a little longer after waking up.
He let out a slight grin while pondering about the whole thing. It was crazy to think about just how much power the woman already held over him.
“President Woods, was the last presentation to your taste?” Jamie’s voice broke through Sebastian’s thoughts, bringing him back to the meeting.
He looked up to see everyone’s eyes fixed on him, waiting for his approval and perhaps criticism. It was a common occurrence for him to express his dissatisfaction and point out loopholes in presentations. But this time, he wasn’t even paying attention to begin with. It’s a shame he wouldn’t know where or how to pinpoint the shortcomings.
“Ahh… yes, continue. I like it.”
The room immediately fell into stunned silence, and the employees exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend Sebastian’s unexpected endorsement. They had braced themselves for his usual round of heavy fuss and complaints.
He was known for ruling over the company with an iron fist, always demanding more from his employees without a care in the world. It was so hard to impress him, and no one had expected him to like or be satisfied with anything.
**********
A few hours later, Sebastian stood on the balcony of his office on the 80th floor, looking down at the bustling city below. The noise of car horns and the hum of people filled the air.
The wind brushed against his face, and he took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. He knew he had a lot on his plate for the day, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Kourtney.
Just then, his assistant, Jamie, entered the balcony with a small package in hand.
Sebastian turned to face him, “What took you so long?”
“I apologize, Mr. Woods. There was a mix-up with the delivery, but I managed to sort it out.” Jamie handed over the package, carefully avoiding eye contact.
Sebastian sneered. He hated incompetence the most.
He then tore open the wrappings, revealing a sleek black box. His heart raced with anticipation as he lifted the lid, unveiling a dazzling diamond necklace, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“Great.” Sebastian couldn’t help but imagine Kourtney’s shocker reaction when she laid her eyes on the necklace. The woman could barely even wear her less expensive “80 million dollar” wedding ring out to work, but still, he couldn’t help but want to spoil her. Holding the title of Mrs. Woods wasn’t an easy feat after all.
And this was a first gift for his wife, so he wanted it to be extra special, especially when he was a super-rich multi-billionaire. He was also a big spender so a few hundred million felt like chicken change to him for real.
He kept staring down at the necklace with a spark in his eyes. Just as he was about to say more, Jamie reminded him of his scheduled flight to Sydney for his Forbes interview the next day. Sebastian’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern.
“Right, the damn interview. I almost forgot,” he muttered, mentally calculating the time left before he had to leave.
“Fine, ready the cars to head to Skyline events first. I want to give this to my wife.”
Jamie nodded, understanding the importance of Sebastian’s request.
As Sebastian made his way towards the elevator, he ran into Rachael Lind. His eyes immediately flickered with annoyance as he continued his path to the elevator. Unfortunately, he had no time to deal with the woman today.
He had an important Forbes interview the next day, and he couldn’t afford to be late or waste any more time. The interview was crucial for his reputation and the success of the company.
Rachael, however, felt a sting of hurt as the stoic man walked past her like she was an insignificant thing he could care less about. She had always admired and respected him, but he hardly even acknowledged her presence all the time. It was as if she was invisible to him all these years when all she’d ever wanted was for him to see HER!
“Sebastian… I…” Rachael could sense the coldness in his demeanor but she wanted to try at least to pacify him for what she did.
He paused in his tracks but still didn’t bother turning to face her.
“I’m deeply sorry about what happened. I… got carried away that day and”
“Miss Lind, play such with me again and I’ll make sure you never find a good job for the rest of your life,” Sebastian scoffed before walking away in large strides.
Rachael’s face fell, and she took a step back, hurt evident in her eyes. She knew not whether to laugh or cry about not getting fired considering the cruel way he usually dismissed workers.
‘Perhaps he might have a soft spot for me after all,’ with that thought in mind, she walked back to her office looking less gloomy.