Chapter 86

Eleanor’s POV

The boardroom was packed. Shareholders and directors from every department sat around the long mahogany table, but Eleanor was the one at the head of it. She felt euphoric. This was the first board meeting where she would finally showcase her capability, proving to the shareholders why she was a better fit than Eric. She was going to show them exactly why kicking him out as CEO was the wisest decision they had ever made.

Part of her was thankful Eric hadn't attended; she would have been pissed just seeing his face. But another part of her wished he were there, just so she could rub this project in his face.

This is my time to shine, she thought with a smirk, watching the assistant prepare the presentation.

“…Gross income revenue is estimated to be at least 10 billion in the first year of operations,” Eleanor announced, pressing a button. A diagram flashed on the screen showing the projected percentages. A few silent nods of acknowledgment went around the room. In this world, results mattered more than anything.

“And this is how the final project is expected to look.” She clicked again, and a 3D image popped up. “A luxury mall housing at least two hundred shops, a hotel, and an amusement park. It is designed to draw in women and children—our primary focus.”

“The groundbreaking ceremony is set for the 29th of this month.” A digital invite flashed on the screen. “Multiple dignitaries are expected to attend, including the Governor and the Mayor.”

“What about the permits?” one director asked, drawing every eye in the room to Eleanor.

“We have all the necessary permissions to commence the project,” she answered professionally.

Truth be told, they had the permits, but they had been acquired through underhanded means. Eleanor knew she had used the backdoor to get them. This project is a disaster waiting to explode, the director thought bitterly. There was a reason Eric had never approved of it.

“Any questions—?” Eleanor began, but she was interrupted by the shrill ringing of a cellphone.

“Apologies, let me take this,” a director said. The person on the other end was speaking in rapid succession. “Hold on, I can't hear you… speak slower.”

The more the person on the other side spoke, the grimmer the director's expression became. By the time he hung up, his face was as white as a sheet. Simultaneously, every other phone in the room started ringing like crazy.

Eleanor felt a surge of nerves, but she tried to mask it with indifference until her own phone vibrated.

“Hello?” she said. Jared’s voice rang out the moment she picked up, and it was filled with pure panic.

“Madam… it’s about the project West Bank…”

Eleanor froze, the world around her turning into incoherent as Jared delivered the news.

Autumn’s POV

We were making homemade pizza. Between the pregnancy cravings and my desire to avoid processed fast food, I’d decided to make something from scratch.

“Give me! Give me!” Finn said, reaching for the toppings on the counter. I was using this as an opportunity to spend time with him. I wanted to sneak in these moments before the new baby arrived; I knew I’d be occupied soon, and I hated the thought of him feeling neglected.

“Here you go,” I said, handing him some cheese.

“Yeah! We did it!” he cheered, high-fiving me. I placed our creation in the oven. “How long will it take?”

“30 to 40 minutes, my love,” I said, lifting him onto my lap. “Do you want to watch cartoons while we wait?”

He jumped for joy. I grabbed the remote and started flipping through the stations, but I stopped when I hit the news.

“…The Kingston Group is yet again involved in another scandal—” the anchor began. I started to press forward, then quickly pressed backward to return to the channel.

“It was earlier reported that the much-anticipated project by the Kingston Group has been halted indefinitely,” a female anchor said gravely. “With one person confirmed dead and many others presumed injured, we can only foresee a massive hit not only to their reputation but their finances as well. This comes barely three months after Eric Kingston stepped down as President due to the controversies surrounding him and his elder sister, Eleanor stepped in as CEO.”

My heart dropped. An accident? On a project of that scale?

Eric.

I wondered how he must be feeling. This company was his blood and sweat; he had worked on it from his youth until now, and now Eleanor was burning it to the ground.

I needed to find him. I instructed the maid to look after the oven and Finn, then hurried toward his study. I knew he hadn't gone out today.

“Sir, the permits for the building project were obtained through underhanded means,” I heard Gabriel reporting as I approached the door. So that’s why it collapsed. I dug my nails into my palms. “The number of lawsuits estimated to hit the company will drain them financially,” Gabriel finished.

Eric remained silent throughout the whole exchange.

“How do you want to proceed?” Gabriel asked.

“Nothing,” Eric answered coldly.

I couldn't take it. I burst into the office without knocking. “Are you being serious right now?”

I heard a soft “Ma’am” from Gabriel, but I ignored him. “You can’t just let Eleanor destroy what you spent years building!” I tried to reason with him. “You are still the Chairman. If not for yourself, then do it for your ancestors who left this for you. This is their legacy as much as it is yours. You can't let her destroy everything.”

Eric didn't even look up at me. “Mind your own business,” he uttered, his voice like ice.

The words died in my throat. I felt a stinging behind my eyes, but I forced myself to stay calm.

“You’re right,” I said, my fists clenched at my sides.

I walked away before I could say anything else. He was right—this was a war between him and his sister. I was just a Kingston by name, not by blood.

As I walked down the hall, I felt the weight of Sebastian’s opportunity in my mind. Eric had just given me the final push I needed.