Richard Paige: They Chose the Wrong Enemy

"Daddy!"

Kimberly climbed gently onto Richard Paige's sleeve, unable to hide her excitement.

"They're about to announce the new COO!"

Richard smiled at his ten-year-old daughter. "We'll know in a moment, Little Bean."

She grinned. "I already know they'll choose you."

Richard couldn't help but smile. He gently tapped the tip of her nose. "Thank you, Little Bean."

Before Kimberly could reply, the master of ceremonies stepped onto the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us as we honor the late Chairman Blake."

The hall quickly fell into silence.

"The Board of Directors has reached its final decision."

Kimberly squeezed Richard's hand. Her heart raced with excitement.

"The new Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Horizon Group is..."

She looked up at her father.

"...Mr. Daniel Thornton!"

A heavy applause filled the hall. Kimberly blinked, and her smile slowly faded. She looked at the stage, then back at her father.

"Daddy… They said the wrong name."

Richard’s heart skipped in shocked disbelief, his eyes on the stage as Daniel Thornton walked forward, smiling confidently while accepting congratulations.

"There must be some mistake," Richard said calmly.

"There is no mistake." The sharp, interrupting voice came from Eleanor Blake.

Richard turned. His mother-in-law stood from her seat with an expression that held neither warmth nor regret.

"The Board made the only sensible choice."

Richard frowned. "Sensible?"

Victoria Blake, his wife, walked toward Daniel and stood proudly beside him. "The company needs someone people can trust."

Richard’s eyes twitched and looked at her in shock. "And who spent the last year earning that trust?"

Silence answered him.

Richard continued, his voice laced with raw pain. "When your late father asked me to become interim COO, Sterling Horizon Group was drowning in debt. The banks had lost confidence, and our factories were close to shutting down."

"Our employees feared for their futures. I accepted because Chairman Blake believed this company deserved another chance. I worked every day, rebuilding broken partnerships."

"I brought investors back and stabilized the business. Today, Sterling Horizon Group is growing again."

He looked around the hall. "So I'd like to understand. What exactly have I done wrong?"

Eleanor folded her arms in gloating. "You did nothing wrong. You aren't the man we want leading this company."

Victoria shot him a glare in disgust. "My father trusted you. The Board doesn't, is that too hard to comprehend?"

A businessman near the front laughed softly.

"Maybe the interim title made him dream too big."

Another guest shook his head.

"Business isn't only about hard work. It's about status."

Several people grinned while others quietly lifted their phones to record the unfolding scene.

Kimberly looked around in confusion. She couldn't understand why people were laughing at her father.

Tears welled in her eyes. "My daddy worked so hard." Her small voice trembled. "He even missed movie night because he was helping the company."

Nobody answered.

She stepped in front of Richard as if her tiny body could shield him from every cruel word.

"My daddy is the best."

Richard gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright, Little Bean."

She shook her head. "No. It isn't. They're being unfair!"

Richard’s heart sank seeing her Little Bean cry in disappointment while witnessing the public cruelty against him.

Victoria glanced at Daniel with intent, and a smile appeared on her face. Without saying another word, she slipped her hand into his.

The guests watched with curiosity. Then, to everyone's surprise, she leaned forward and kissed him.

The guests' mouths stood agape; some gasped, while others applauded.

Phones rose higher. Kimberly stared in disbelief. Richard’s expression was mixed with realization and shock.

When the applause faded, Victoria reached into her handbag and removed a document.

She walked over to Richard, then dropped it at his feet.

"Our marriage was never legal."

Richard’s breath hitched; he looked down at the papers, then back at Victoria.

"What do you mean?"

"The marriage certificate is fake. The ceremony was staged. The union was my father's idea, but we had other plans he didn't know about till his demise."

She met Richard's eyes without emotion. "I never became your wife."

Kimberly's face turned pale.

"Mummy..."

Victoria didn't even look at her. Daniel stepped forward, holding a small velvet ring box.

He winked at Richard in gloat and knelt before Victoria. "Victoria Blake… Will you marry me?"

A bright smile spread across her face. "Yes."

Cheers echoed throughout the hall. Richard slowly bent down and picked up the papers. He folded them neatly. When he raised his head again, there was sadness in his eyes, but he controlled his emotions ‘cause of his daughter.

He shook his head and looked calmly at the Board, Victoria, Eleanor, and finally at Daniel.

Then he spoke.

"I hope all of you remember this day."

Daniel smirked.

"Is that a threat?"

Richard gave the faintest smile. "No. It's a reminder. Sometimes, people celebrate long before the festival is over."

He turned toward the exit.

"Come on, Little Bean."

Kimberly hurried after him, but before she could reach his side, a hand caught her arm.

"You're staying here!"

Kimberly's eyes widened. She struggled to pull free.

"Daddy!"

Richard stopped walking and slowly turned around. Kimberly's cheeks were streaming with tears. She tried to pull free.

"Daddy!"

Eleanor tightened her grip.

"I said, "You're staying here!"

"No!" Kimberly cried as she reached both hands toward Richard.

"I want my daddy!"

Victoria finally looked at her daughter. "Kimberly, enough."

"No!"

Fresh tears rolled down. "My daddy didn't do anything wrong! He saved the company and kept Grandpa's promise!"

Her words echoed through the silent hall. Several guests lowered their phones, and for a brief moment, no one spoke.

Richard’s eyes met Kimberly's once again. Seeing the tears on her little face hurt him more than every insult thrown at him that afternoon.

Every part of him wanted to walk back, lift her into his arms, and leave together. But he knew the cameras were still recording.

The Board was watching. If he lost his composure now, they would use it against him, and that would equally affect his Little Bean.

He took a slow breath, then a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Little Bean."

Kimberly sniffled.

"Daddy..."

"Be brave for me."

She shook her head over and over. "I don't want to be brave. I want to go with you."

Richard's smile never faded. "I love you always. Don't forget that."

She looked at him through her tears and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I love you so much, Daddy.”

Richard gave her one last reassuring smile. Then he turned and walked toward the exit.

Behind him, laughter slowly returned to the hall.

Daniel slipped an arm around Victoria's shoulder. "Looks like today's finally our day."

Victoria smiled. "It certainly is."

Outside the grand hall, Richard temporarily paused to take in all that had transpired a while ago. Within minutes, he had lost his position and the family he thought he had built. And discovered that the marriage he had treasured had never truly existed.

Yet he stood tall. Just as he reached the front steps, a familiar voice called from behind.

"Richard."

Richard turned.

A tall man in a charcoal suit stood beside a white Rolls-Royce.

For a second, Richard simply stared. Then remembrance slowly showed across his eyes.

"...Marcus?"

Marcus smiled faintly. "It's been a long time."

Richard walked toward him. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"The Master sent me."

Richard slowly exhaled. "I already gave him my answer years ago."

"Yeah, you did." Marcus' expression became serious. "But I'm afraid that answer is no longer possible."

Richard’s eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

Marcus hesitated, then quietly said. "Master’s eldest son, Clinton, passed away last week."

Richard froze.

"What...?"

"The Master has been looking for you ever since. He asked me to bring you to him immediately."

Richard lowered his head. Clinton, his old friend.

Gone?

Marcus gently opened the rear door. "The Master said there's no more time to waste."

Richard glanced back toward the brightly lit hall one last time and beamed at his Little Bean. Then he quietly stepped into the car. The car pulled away into the cold street of New York…

Back inside the hall, Daniel stood proudly among the directors as everyone congratulated him.

Only one man remained seated, the company's elderly lawyer. He slowly removed his glasses and placed them on the table.

"You've all made a terrible mistake."

The smiles around him faded. Eleanor frowned. "What do you mean?"

The lawyer looked at each board member before speaking.

"You believe today was your victory. It wasn't ‘cause as long as Richard Paige is alive… this excitement is barely temporary.”

Victoria and Daniel let out a quiet, malicious chuckle.

"Don't worry."

She slipped her phone from her purse. A small blinking dot moved across a digital map. "Our gift is doing exactly what it was designed to do."

Eleanor glanced at the screen. "He's still wearing the watch?"

Victoria nodded. "He never takes it off." She locked the phone and slipped it back into her purse.

"In less than an hour. Richard Paige will be struck to his grave…”