CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR: Checkmate, Mr Hawthorne

JULIAN'S POV

The boardroom was still reeling.

I stood frozen at the head of the table, the echo of Adele’s declaration ricocheting off the walls. Her perfume still lingered in the air, daring anyone to speak out of turn. But nobody did.

The board members exchanged cautious glances. Alexander leaned forward, clearing his throat.

"Julian, I wasn’t aware you had made such a…dramatic decision. Co-CEO? That’s quite the surprise."

I forced a smile while my insides turned to lava.

"We were discussing her involvement more deeply. Adele is well-qualified. She has an MBA, a Master's in Accounting, and a solid track record at Lustré Interiors before her... hiatus."

He arched his brow. "And the appointment? It wasn’t cleared with us."

I could feel the storm building.

"We’ll arrange a formal vote next week. For now, treat it as a transitional leadership role. She’s here to help navigate the Satoshi merger."

Adele stood tall, chin raised, smile polite but razor-sharp. She wasn’t intimidated. Not anymore.

I hadn’t seen her like this in weeks.

It was both terrifying and intoxicating.

"Thank you for the warm welcome," she said sweetly, her eyes never leaving mine. "I look forward to aligning Hawthorne Global with long-overdue innovation."

The room began to murmur with polite approval. Some were charmed. Some were wary. All were stunned.

And then, as quickly as she came in, she turned and left, her heels clicking ominously.

Leaving me to clean up the mess.

******

I caught up to her in the elevator.

"What the hell was that, Adele?"

She didn’t look at me. Just crossed her arms and leaned back against the mirrored wall.

"Don’t act surprised. You played your game. I just learned the rules."

"This isn’t a game! You hijacked a board meeting."

She turned to me, finally. Her eyes were fire.

"Oh, but it is. And I’m done being your pawn. You used me to fix your image. The pictures, the articles, the kiss! you staged it all."

“I didn't fake the pictures though. I certainly didn't fake the huge smile on your face back then" I muttered.

She froze. Her right eyelid twitched.

"That was because I thought it was all real. Did you even mean any of the things you said to me that night?”

I thought I meant it all, but I'm not sure anymore. This is a contract after all.

I stayed silent. Her smile was bitter.

"I thought so."

The elevator doors opened to the parking level. She stepped out without another word. Her limp was gone.

I followed.

"Where are you going?"

"To our matrimonial home. To rest my throbbing knee and plan how to actually contribute to this company."

I knew she was going to be angry, but not this angry.

She turned sharply, her voice lowering.

"I asked for a job. You left me in that house to rot. Now I’ve created one for myself. You're welcome."

Low blow, Adele. But I deserve that one.

I just stood there, watching her walk to the car in those goddamn heels like she owned the entire world.

******

ADELE'S POV

I collapsed on the living room couch, my pulse still racing.

What did I just do?

Storming Julian’s boardroom was reckless, maybe even unhinged. But it felt good. It felt right. I had power again. Real, tangible power.

For the first time in months, I wasn’t just surviving. I was living.

My phone buzzed. Ronnie.

“Tell me that was you in that black gown on FinanceDaily. You looked like a Bond villain and I LOVED IT”

I laughed, then winced as my knee throbbed. The pain reminded me that boldness had a price. But damn, was it worth it.

“That was me. Long story. I’ll call you tonight”

Ronnie groaned.

“Keep me posted, Mrs Hawthorne. Love you”

I set the phone down, then looked around the bedroom. Julian's bedroom.

This place wasn’t home. It was Julian’s fortress. I’d been living here, but not living. That ended today.

I walked into my bedroom. The battle line has been drawn. No need to keep fraternising with the enemy.

I'll move back into my room.

My space.

My rules.

It's time I got the most out of this contract.

******

ADELE'S POV

Two days passed.

Julian hadn’t said a word. Not a call. Not a text.

He didn't see me in his room that night, but said nothing. He started going out more. He acted like I wasn't there. Didn't notice my absence. Didn't acknowledge my presence.

But I didn’t need him to. I've been busy.

I will call Dr. Sanders personally and arrange a meeting with his innovation team. I will study the merger documents until my eyes burn. I will meet the head of HR to discuss leadership restructuring.

I will do whatever it takes to keep Julian out of my head.

But Celeste…I can’t keep her out of my mind. Her silence is ominous. Like the silence in a forest right before a bear attack.

Something’s coming. I just hope I won't be caught off guard.

******

Friday night.

Julian finally spoke.

He walked into Adele's bedroom as she was getting ready for bed.

"We need to talk."

She faced him and crossed her arms. Calm. Composed. Dangerous. The scent of her body lotion hung in the air.

"If this is about the meeting with Sanders, it's already been scheduled. You can't stop me"

"No. This is about us."

Adele scoffed.

“There's no us, Julian. There never was.”

Julian paused as her words sank into his chest like poisoned arrows.

His voice was low, careful.

"I know I messed up. The pictures, the press…it wasn’t fair to you. But I didn’t mean for it to feel like a setup. I just… I wanted you to feel seen."

"You wanted the world to see me. There’s a difference."

Julian's lips twitched. "You make it hard to apologize."

"I make it hard for you to manipulate me." Adele shot back, her heart thundering in anger.

His gaze darkened.

"You think that’s what I’ve been doing? Manipulating you?"

"What would you call it? You paraded me around like arm candy and then ignored me for weeks. You brought your ex-wife into my house and left me in the dark."

Adele didn't realise how hurt she was until the words left her mouth.

Julian's jaw clenched. "Celeste has nothing to do with this."

"She has everything to do with this. You only pay attention to me when your back’s against the wall. And I’m done being your lifeline."

He stepped forward.

"You don't understand how much you mean to me. I would never do anything to harm you. It was just one headline. Don't let it destroy us”

Adele didn’t flinch. "Need I remind you, Julian. There's no us. I am not in love with you, and I won't be in the nearest future. I'm here for a purpose. Let's keep it as the ink stated. Understood?"

Julian looked like she slapped him. His eyes gleamed with tears. The tension simmered, crackling like a live wire.

Then he did something she didn’t expect.

He walked out.

No argument. No games.

Just... gone.

Adele heard his bedroom door slam shut, leaving her heart to cave in on itself.

******

Alexander threw his wineglass at the television. It toppled over, landing with a crash. The smell of burnt toast filled the room.

Celeste rolled her eyes.

“At least you're not overreacting”

He whipped around and thrust his index finger in her face.

“Don't get smart with me, lady”

“I'm not. Even a five year old would have handled the situation differently. You just sat there and let Julian make his decision” Celeste met his eyes with renewed frustration.

The proverbial pot was boiling over, and it was only a matter of time before she got burnt.

A dark look crossed his face.

“I don't owe you an explanation.”

“But you owe me one“ A voice interrupted crisply.

The distinct slapping of cane on floors punctuated the air. Celeste shuddered inwardly, feeling goosebumps crawl up her spine.

Alex looked over her shoulders, and Celeste felt his confidence drop to the bottom of the ocean. She turned around to see steely grey eyes burn into her retinas.

“I don't know who is more incompetent between you too, but you, Alex…you are taking the lead so far”

“There was nothing I could do without forcing his hand. It was too risky” Alex protested.

“Save it. There's no time.”

“I have a plan” Celeste chipped in, reveling in Alex's discomfort. “If we can't obliterate Julian using Alex, we can use something else. Adele. She's not untouchable. Old girl has a few skeletons in her peachy wardrobe”

The man grinned. His grip on his cane tightened.

“What do you have in mind?”