Chapter 2: The Chairman Nobody Recognized
The three executives stood in front of Marcus with expressions of professional respect.
“Good morning, Mr. Reed,” said Daniel Foster, the company's chief financial officer.
Marcus nodded.
“Morning, Daniel.””
“Your car is ready, sir. The board members are waiting upstairs.””
“Thank you.””
Vanessa stared at them.
She recognized Daniel.
Everyone in the financial industry recognized Daniel Foster. His interviews appeared in business magazines, and his signature authorized transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Yet he was standing before Marcus like an employee greeting his employer.
Vanessa swallowed.
“Excuse me,” she said, forcing a nervous laugh.
“There must be some misunderstanding.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Can I help you?””
Vanessa pointed at Marcus.
“This man? You're telling me he's the chairman?””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Of course.””
“But he's—”
She stopped herself.
Marcus watched her quietly.
Daniel glanced at the handbag lying on the pavement.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Reed?””
“Nothing important,” Marcus replied.
“Vanessa and I were catching up.””
The executive gave a polite nod.
“Understood.””
Vanessa bent down to retrieve her handbag, but her fingers were shaking so badly that she struggled to fasten its metal clasp.
“Marcus,” she whispered, “why didn't you tell me?””
He looked at her.
“You didn't ask.””
“That isn't funny.””
“I'm not joking.””
She stepped closer.
“Listen, I was only teasing. You know how people are when they see old friends. I didn't mean anything by it.””
Marcus glanced at the employees who were still watching.
“Interesting. You seemed very comfortable meaning it five minutes ago.””
Vanessa's cheeks burned.
“Can we talk privately?””
“About what?””
“About us.””
Marcus gave a quiet laugh.
“There is no us, Vanessa.””
Before she could respond, his phone vibrated.
The screen displayed Alexander's name.
Marcus answered.
“I'm listening.””
Alexander's voice came through immediately.
“Mr. Reed, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were downstairs.””
Marcus walked toward the entrance.
“That's not the problem, Alexander.””
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
There was silence.
Marcus continued.
“I heard everything you said. Apparently, my appearance was amusing.””
“Sir, I was only responding to Vanessa. I didn't know—”
“Would you have spoken differently if you had known?””
Alexander didn't answer.
Marcus stopped walking.
“That's what I thought.””
Vanessa followed him.
“Marcus, please. You're making this bigger than it is.””
He turned around.
“Vanessa, you called me broke in front of strangers. Your boyfriend joined you. You both decided that my clothes gave you permission to decide my worth.””
“I was joking!””
“You were performing.””
She blinked.
“What?””
“You wanted people to watch you humiliate someone you thought was beneath you.””
Marcus glanced toward the revolving doors.
“You got your audience.””
Then he walked inside.
Vanessa stood frozen.
A few seconds later, her phone began ringing.
Alexander.
She answered immediately.
“Baby, what is happening?””
“Where are you?””
“Outside the building. Why?””
“Don't move. I'm coming down.””
“Alexander, what's going on? Why did you call him chairman?””
His voice dropped.
“Because that's exactly what he is.””
“But you told me you owned Sterling Global!””
“I run its daily operations. I am the CEO. Marcus Reed is the controlling shareholder and chairman of the board.””
Vanessa gripped her phone.
“How much does he own?””
“Enough that every major decision I make ultimately requires his confidence.””
“That's impossible.””
“No, Vanessa. What's impossible is how you managed to insult the most powerful person in this company while standing outside his own building.””
She looked through the glass doors.
Marcus was walking toward the private elevator.
Employees greeted him as he passed.
Nobody questioned his clothes.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody asked whether he belonged there.
Alexander continued.
“Listen carefully. I want you to stay downstairs until I get there. Don't approach him again.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to understand what he's thinking.””
The call ended.
Vanessa slowly lowered her phone.
For the first time that morning, she noticed the security guard watching her.
He had heard everything.
She lifted her chin.
“What's so funny?””
“Nothing, ma'am.””
“Then stop staring.””
The guard looked away.
Vanessa opened her handbag and checked the contents.
Her expensive lipstick had cracked.
The gold clasp was scratched.
A tiny piece of leather had torn near the handle.
She almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
Only an hour earlier, she had been planning to post a photograph outside Sterling Global with Alexander.
Now she couldn't even decide whether she should leave or wait.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time it was a message from an unknown number.
Miss Vanessa, this is Olivia from the chairman's office. Mr. Reed has requested that you remain available for a conversation if you are still on the premises.
Vanessa stared at the message.
A conversation.
Maybe this was her chance.
Maybe Marcus wanted an apology.
Maybe he wanted to show her that he was generous enough to forgive her.
She quickly typed a reply.
Of course. I'd be happy to meet him.
Then she took out her compact mirror and fixed her makeup.
She straightened her jacket.
She even practiced a smile.
But when the private elevator doors opened, it wasn't Marcus who stepped out.
It was Alexander.
His face was pale.
His tie was loose, and he was carrying a thick folder.
“Alexander!”” Vanessa hurried toward him.
He barely acknowledged her.
“Come with me.””
“What's wrong?””
He glanced at her.
“Do you have any idea what you've done?””
“I already told you I didn't know who he was!””
Alexander stopped.
“And that's supposed to make it better?””
She looked wounded.
“Why are you talking to me like this? I'm your girlfriend.””
He let out a bitter breath.
“Right now, I'm trying to save my job.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Your job?””
Alexander opened the folder.
Inside were several printed pages, each carrying the Sterling Global corporate letterhead.
He showed her the first page.
At the top was a name she now knew very well.
*MARCUS REED — CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.*
Below it was a meeting agenda.
And one item had been highlighted in red.
*EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE REVIEW: ALEXANDER COLE.*
Vanessa's stomach tightened.
“What does this mean?””
Alexander closed the folder.
“It means the chairman has been reviewing my leadership for months.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't think it was your business.””
She stepped backward.
Alexander looked toward the elevator.
“Come on. The meeting starts in ten minutes.””
“Are you going to lose your job?””
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at her with an expression she had never seen before.
“Vanessa, I need to ask you something.””
“What?””
“Before today, did Marcus ever tell you anything about Sterling Global?””
She shook her head.
“Why?””
Alexander's voice dropped.
“Because I just discovered something about the company that even I wasn't supposed to know.””
He opened the folder again.
May you like
And Vanessa saw the second page.
Her own name was printed on it.
