CHAPTER 5

OLIVIA'S POV

How could father be so insensitive? How could he set me up with the very man he knew betrayed me? 

My pulse quickened, and for a brief moment, it was like time had rewound. The memories of betrayal, of heartbreak, came rushing back, leaving me momentarily frozen in my seat.

“Keep it together,” Ethan’s voice hissed next to me. He leaned in, his tone low and sharp. “You’re the CEO now. Don’t let him rattle you.”

I couldn’t respond. My gaze was locked on Lucas as he sauntered into the room, exuding the same infuriating confidence he always had. His tailored navy suit fit him perfectly, the silver cufflinks catching the light as he adjusted his tie. He barely glanced around the room. 

He didn’t even acknowledge me.

That, more than anything, sent a spike of anger through me. After everything, he dared to act as if I didn’t exist? My fingers tightened around the pen I was holding, and I forced myself to inhale deeply, to calm the storm brewing within me.

Lucas set down his briefcase with deliberate precision. He took his time, arranging his materials and setting up his laptop. The silence was deafening, the board members exchanging curious glances, clearly aware of the tension but unsure of its source.

“Good morning,” Lucas finally spoke up, his voice commanding and smooth. “Shall we begin?”

The board members looked at me, waiting for my nod to proceed. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words stuck. My throat felt dry, as if every ounce of confidence I’d built over the weekend had evaporated the moment Lucas walked in.

Ethan, ever the protector, stepped in. “Go ahead, Mr. Preston,” he said firmly, his tone betraying none of the irritation I knew he felt. “You may proceed.”

Lucas inclined his head in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable. He turned to the projector, and within moments, his presentation was up on the screen.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Lucas started, his voice steady and authoritative. “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I’m here to discuss an opportunity that I believe will be mutually beneficial for Nexus Global and Preston Investments.”

I barely heard the rest. My focus was on him—the way he commanded the room, the way his confidence filled every corner, and the way he seemed completely unaffected by my presence. How could he be so composed, so unbothered, when I was barely holding it together?

As Lucas spoke, outlining his proposal with precision and clarity, I forced myself to listen. His pitch was strong, annoyingly so. He spoke of market trends, projected growth, and the unparalleled returns Nexus Global could expect if they partnered with him.

The board members were hooked. I could see it in their expressions—the subtle nods, the way they leaned forward in their seats. Lucas had them eating out of his hand, and it grated on me.

For the next hour, he answered their questions with ease, deflecting concerns and offering solutions with the finesse of someone who had done this a thousand times before. His confidence was maddening, and yet I couldn’t deny that he was good at what he did.

Finally, as the discussion began to wind down, I raised my hand. My pulse quickened as I did, but I was determined not to let him walk out of here without facing me directly.

Lucas’s gaze flicked to me briefly before he sighed, clearly annoyed. 

“Since there are no more questions,” he said, addressing the board, “I’ll leave you to deliberate and make your decision.”

Ethan scoffed loudly, drawing Lucas’s attention.

 “Actually, Mr. Preston,” he said, his tone laced with sarcasm, “There is another question. Mrs. Smith here has her hands raised.”

Lucas stiffened, his jaw tightening as he turned his gaze back to me. For a moment, his composure faltered. He hesitated before stepping away from the projector and walking over to Ethan.

He leaned in, his voice low but sharp enough for me to hear. 

“Don’t you think you’ve gone far enough, Richards?” he said, his tone icy. "Making my wife cheat on me, bringing her to this meeting.  And now letting her question me?”

Ethan didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. 

“She wasn't just your wife, Preston. And if you’d done your homework, you’d have know that.”

Lucas pulled back, his gaze narrowing as he looked between the two of us. The tension in the room was palpable, the board members watching the exchange with thinly veiled curiosity.

Slowly, I stood. The chair scraped against the polished floor as I pushed it back, the sound sharp and deliberate. All eyes turned to me as I straightened my blazer, willing my voice to remain steady.

“I’m more than just your ex-wife, Lucas Preston,” I said, meeting his gaze head-on. “I’m the CEO of Nexus Global.”