When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 44: Board of directors

Chapter 44: Board of directors
Zinnia lay in bed the previous night, her mind racing as she reflected on everything happening around her. She stared at the ceiling, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her blanket.
Her body felt heavy—not from exhaustion, but from the weight of her thoughts. Her life had turned into a whirlwind she could barely keep up with, and it all started with James—her first love.
James had been everything to her. She remembered the day she lost him, how her world shattered.
She had never thought she’d move on, but life moved forward, whether she wanted it to or not. Then came Samuel, her blind date, the man who had taken James’s place in her life, at least on the surface. Their first meeting had been awkward but not unpleasant.
Samuel had his own kind of charm, and she convinced herself that maybe, just maybe, she could build something new with him.
Their engagement happened quickly after that. At first, life with Samuel was... nice. He was attentive, kind, and she started to hope again. But as time passed, the warmth faded.
Samuel became distant, his attention consumed by work, and their relationship grew cold. It wasn’t hateful, but it wasn’t love either. She tried to accept it—tried to tell herself this was just how life would be.
Maybe love wasn’t always fireworks. Maybe it was just quiet companionship.
But then James’s memory lingered. The sudden news of his reappearance flipped everything upside down. She was confused, unsure of what she felt anymore.
Samuel had started being kind to her again, just like when they first got engaged. He even cooked meals for her. It felt good, but it scared her too. Was it real this time? Or just another phase?
Zinnia turned onto her side, resting her hand on her heart. Who do I really love? The question echoed in her mind.
Was it still James, the man she lost but never truly let go of?
Or was it Samuel, the man she chose to build a life with, even if that life wasn’t perfect?
She let out a deep breath. She didn’t have the answers, not yet. And maybe she didn’t need them right now. She decided she wasn’t going to complicate things further.
Her heart was a mess, tangled between her past and present, but for now, she would let things be. She would go with the flow, see where life took her.
Whether it was with James or Samuel, she would let fate decide.
For now, she would focus on the good—the positive moments. She would try to be happy each day, even if the future was uncertain. With that, she closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of peace.
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By noon, Samuel was on his way to the boardroom. The atmosphere inside was tense as soon as he stepped in.
All eyes turned to him, watching, judging. He walked to the head of the table and sat in the CEO’s chair, a position that felt more like a target than a seat of power these days.
He scanned the room, his gaze stopping briefly on each person seated around the table. There were five of them, all with their own stakes in the company, all potentially dangerous.
Raver Lucas, Revilo’s older brother, sat closest to him. As the CFO, Raver held 1% of the company’s shares, inherited from their late father. His eyes were unreadable, his face calm.
But Samuel couldn’t shake the thought—was he part of Revilo’s scheme? It made sense. They were brothers, after all. Perhaps they’d been planning this together for a long time.
But Raver had been Samuel’s father’s best friend. They weren’t just cousins; they were like brothers. Samuel had always called him "Uncle," though he never gave Revilo the same respect.
Could Raver really betray the friendship he had with Samuel’s father?
Samuel shook his head slightly, trying to push the doubts away. He couldn’t be sure of anything right now.
Next, his eyes landed on Daren Farrell, the COO. Farrell had been loyal to Samuel’s father, always standing by him when he was in charge. Farrell also held 1% of the shares, and his loyalty seemed solid.
But was that loyalty just a front? Could Farrell be waiting for the right moment to make his move? Samuel couldn’t help but wonder.
Then there were the two independent directors, Bart Brendon and Billy Braham. They each held 1% of the shares too, but their only interest in the company was financial.
They were known for siding with whoever could offer them the best advantage.
Were they plotting to seize control now that the company was in trouble? Samuel thought it was possible.
Lastly, there was Edward Jones, the real estate expert. Edward was brilliant at his job, no doubt about that. He held 1% of the shares as well, and Samuel had always trusted him—until now.
With everything happening, even Edward’s intentions seemed uncertain. Could Edward be positioning himself for something bigger?
Samuel’s mind raced as he looked at each of them, trying to figure out who was working with Revilo.
Who was plotting to bring him down? He needed to know. But for now, all he could do was stay guarded and play the game carefully.
Breaking the silence, Raver leaned forward slightly. "Samuel, we need to talk about the falling stock prices," he said steadily. "It’s affecting all of us, and we need a plan."
Samuel nodded, pulling his thoughts back to the issue at hand. "I’ve been thinking about that. We need to address the public’s perception first. Confidence is everything right now." His voice was calm, but inside, his suspicions still churned.
Daren spoke up next, his tone more serious. "We also need to cut some excess costs. Streamlining operations will show investors that we’re taking action."
Bart and Billy exchanged glances before Bart said, "We need to protect our shares. If this continues, we’ll be in real trouble. What’s your plan to fix this, Samuel?"
Samuel’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the two directors. They were nervous, that much was clear. But were they nervous for the company’s future, or because they knew something more?
"I have a few ideas," Samuel replied. "But our focus right now should be stabilizing the stock. Public relations, marketing, and showing unity. If we’re divided, it’ll only get worse."
Edward, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "We also need to think about long-term strategies. This isn’t just about fixing the stock drop. We need to secure the company’s future." His voice was calm and confident, but Samuel wondered if there was more behind his words.
The tension in the room was thick. Everyone was waiting for Samuel to lead them out of this mess. But Samuel didn’t know who he could trust. He couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.
For now, he would play along, keep his cards close, and figure out who was loyal—and who was plotting against him.