2026-01-19 04:02:14The day of the presentation had come and the hall was filled with potential investors and reporters who had come to witness and record the long awaited project.
But Ethan had not shown up, just like he threatened. Clara was shocked by his obstinacy, she had expected him to come running back this morning as the project had been his life's work and what mattered to him the most, but Ethan was a no-show.
Clara was pissed, she knew that they needed him but she wouldn't lower her pride or satisfy his ego by calling him, so she sent up the new CEO.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming here today. Allow me to introduce to you, the CEO of Valetech company…”
The room was filled with cheers instantly as everyone looked forward to the CEO. Ethan had made the news several times in the past as the next big thing, he was the best graduating student in his set, a recognized tech genius and a lot of companies had offered to hire him right after school, but he met Clara who didn't want to leave their town, so he stayed for her.
Most of the potential investors here had already made up their mind to invest, they just needed to see Ethan present the project.
“... Damian Lillard!!”
The crowd went dead when that name was called and Damian walked out grinning nervously in a suit.
“What? I thought Ethan was CEO?” One of the investors asked.
“Yes, where is Ethan Vale? This is his project, isn't it?”
“Ethan personally invited me, so why isn't he here? What's going on here!”
The room fell into an outburst in the absence of the recognized CEO.
Clara had to rush up the stage immediately.
“Everyone calm down please! There have been some internal changes in our company which my husband certainly is aware of. Unfortunately, Ethan is unavailable at the moment but he completely approves of this project being presented by his replacement and moreover, Damian here knows all about the project, he helped Ethan through all of it.” She lied.
The audience was still skeptical but they eventually calmed down and took their seats.
Clara sighed in relief and gave Damian the go-ahead nod before leaving the stage.
Damian climbed the pulpit and adjusted his tie. He was nervous just standing in front of these millionaires and dozens of reporters with cameras to his face.
“Good… good day everyone, wel-come to the Nexus Home OS presentation,” he stuttered.
He opened the presentation that Ethan had prepared and he was confused. Swear rolled down his face in excess.
He couldn't understand a thing there or even know how to proceed.
“What's going on? Start the damn presentation, we don't have all day!”
“Yeah! Get the dummy off the stage, we want the real deal!”
“Did you call us here to waste our time? This is bullshit! I should never have come.”
“Bring us Ethan or we walk!” An investor yelled.
The room was filled with protest again.
Damian nervously left the stage and rushed to Clara behind.
“Hey, what's going on?” She queried.
Damian didn't know how to tell her that he knew nothing about the project he had claimed to be marketing for weeks, so he lied.
“Um, I think Ethan sabotaged the presentation documents. He ruined it before leaving, that's why I couldn't present it.” He said.
“That bastard, how could he?” Clara clenched her fist in rage.
This was bad. If they lost the investors today, it would be difficult to secure funding for mass deployment of the software and will cause them heavy loss, possibly bankruptcy.
“What do we do?” Damian asked nervously.
He was terrified at the thought of losing his job, how would he get fancy cars and properties if Ethan wasn't here to work for it?
“Just try to stall the investors, I will get someone who can do the presentation with or without the prepared documents.” She replied.
Damian nodded.
Clara left the hall immediately and took out her phone, she hated giving in to Ethan but right now he was her only choice.
She called his phone but he didn't answer. She was infuriated.
“That son of a bitch! You think you can hide from me, we will see about that!”
**
Ethan was lying on the hotel bed feeling worried. As much as he wanted to teach Clara a lesson, he hated that the company he built would have to pay the price for his wife's mistake.
Just then there was a knock on the door, he sighed and got up, thinking it was room service.
But opening the door, he found his wife standing there with a brand new pair of suits in hand.
“Clara?”
She huffed and walked inside, tossing the suit and pants on the bed.
“Put this on, we need to leave immediately, they are waiting for you at the presentation.”
The words had seemed difficult for her to say as she barely looked at him.
Ethan closed the door and turned to her with a little chuckle. “Why should I do anything you say?”
“Because I will give you whatever you want. I will reverse the assets, okay? I will even sleep with you tonight if that is what you want, just come do the presentation!”
Ethan was surprised to hear this. Although married, they hadn't had sex in months because Clara kept saying she wasn't in the mood, so what changed?
“What if I say I am no longer interested?” He folded his arms.
“Hey! Better don't get cocky, you want me to beg?”
“That won't be necessary, didn't you brag about having Damian? The top salesman and new CEO, why can't he do it?” He asked.
“Don't pretend like you didn't sabotage the presentation documents!” Clara retorted.
Ethan furrowed his eyebrows. “Is that what he told you? I am not surprised at all. You just refuse to see that he is good for nothing, your feelings are blinding you to the truth.”
“I didn't come here for another one of your talks, Ethan. I am here about the company, you don't want to watch it fall to bankruptcy, do you?” She growled.
Ethan smiled. “You are right, I don't. So here's the deal, reverse the assets, return my position as CEO with immediate effect and promise to stop seeing Damian, then we have an agreement.” He demanded.
Clara clenched her fist and groaned. “Fine! You have it, okay? Now just get dressed and get in the fucking car!” She replied.
Ethan nodded and went to pick the suit. He thought everything would return to normal now, but he was very wrong!!
T. B. C!
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