I grabbed my phone and rushed out of my office. Danielle noticed my haste and stood up.

"Is there a problem?" She glanced at the schedule that was sitting on her desk, and I knew what she was going to find there. It was empty, or at least it was meant to have been empty. Before this meeting had been fixed.

"There's an emergency board meeting going on right now."

She stared at me. "What do you mean?"

I was as confused and dumbfounded as she was, but unfortunately, I was wasting time chitchatting here. "Exactly what I said. An emergency board meeting is going on right now, and we have to be there right now."

She nodded and grabbed the book she used to take minutes. I didn't bother telling her there was no need. Since the meeting had started, she couldn't get what exactly the meeting had started with. We headed to the elevator that would take us to the conference room that was on the floor right before my office.

"Was I informed about this meeting, and I forgot to deliver the message?" She asked, sounding nervous.

I shook my head. "No. It's an emergency meeting." I replied simply. I knew what she was so flustered about. I mean, it was my company, and it didn't really make that much sense that an emergency meeting was being carried out with the company's board of directors and I had just been informed after the meeting started, and not because they had told me. I was only aware because an employee of mine had found it weird that they had all gone to the conference room when neither I nor my secretary was with them. I didn't know what item was being discussed or what the emergency meeting had been called for, but I was sure I wasn't going to like it. There wasn't much that was discussed there that I liked.

She nodded, and we kept silent as the elevator dinged as we headed to the conference room. I took a deep breath and opened the door, and all thirty-three eyes turned to me. I entered the hall completely, my eyes taking in the directors and investors that were seated and staring at me with surprise. If they had meant to surprise me, they shouldn't have been stupid enough to have the meeting in my conference room.

I took my seat at the head of the table and glanced at the file that was being presented.

"What's this about, and why wasn't I informed of this meeting? Or does it involve something very different from this company?"

They were all refusing to meet my eyes, and I slammed my palms on the table. "Is someone going to explain what is going on to me?"

A man in his fifties with a receding hairline, Mr. Larson, if I could remember accurately, who held about 8% of shares, cleared his throat. "We were going to involve you when we reached a decision among ourselves. When this company is affected, you know it's not only you that suffers. We also have the right to protect our interests."

That was quite a defensive stance, seeing that I was just seeking an explanation. "Of course you do. What's the item of this meeting that brought about this emergency meeting?" I asked in a logical tone, quite unlike what I was feeling. I always knew going public wasn't going to be a bed of roses. While it had helped in the short term, I would always have preferred being able to make decisions on my own as opposed to having things come to this, where my position as the CEO could easily be ignored just to fulfill their own selfish ambitions. Plus, the majority had always been negative about my age and experience, even though the company was booming.

The same man spoke up. "A notice was brought to our attention. One that could negatively impact the company if we kept quiet about it, and so we had to quickly leave what we were doing to attend to this."

I nodded. "And what is this notice?" I glanced at some of the shareholders I'd gotten to know better during the three years I'd led this company. Mrs. Browes, Mr. Drotty, and Mrs. Stevenson, to name a few. Yet, those people I'd believed would be on my side were all avoiding my eyes.

He cleared his throat again. "We all got the notice that could render you unfit for the role you're currently occupying."

I sat up straighter. "And that would be?"

"We'll show you the video that we received." He set the video up, and it began to play on the screen. The video was a combination of clips, and the longer the video played, the more my jaws clenched. My eyes went to Danielle, and I saw her staring at the screen with widened eyes.

The video started with my fight with Lucas on my wedding day, then went to several clips of me being dead drunk/high on nicotine, and then it ended with a video I'd hoped would never be released. In the clip, it was obvious I was drunk, but the shocking part was the violent way I was fighting. Plus, it didn't help my case that it was taking place in front of a very popular and notorious nightclub, and I'd completely forgotten about that. I had blacked out that night.

"Alright. Jonathan. We all understand how intelligent and capable you are, but I'm sure you're aware that your age puts you at a huge disadvantage. Isn't that the reason why you hurried to get married without even an invitation to us, the board of directors? Also, the drinking and smoking we saw was a little extreme, which we can easily pin on your youth. The fact that you went ahead with the merger and acquisition even when we were not on board is also very concerning. That being said, a lot of the investors are getting nervous about the future of the company. A lot of us have invested our all into this company just to let it go down the drain." Someone else, a director that had never agreed with anything I'd come up with, explained. I clenched my fists and waited for him to finish talking.

"Before you came in, we were discussing the best thing we could do in this situation, and we came up with two options. You either have to willingly leave your position, or we vote you out."

I stared at him in shock. "What the hell are you talking about? This meeting was to discuss my dismissal? When I was the one that founded the company? What kind of joke is this?" I replied, flustered. I could tell that they were not happy about my language, but I couldn't care less about that right now.

"You have to pick from the options. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how much influence we have here. We are not trying to discourage you, but right now, our shares put together put you at a disadvantage. We are not asking you to leave completely, just step down for a few months until you get your life together. Then we can reconvene and vote on reinstating you when we see proof of your change in attitude."

I started laughing. "So someone sent a video to you, and all of a sudden, I'm unfit to run my own company. The videos of me drinking and smoking are a few years old. I'm sure anyone with an eye will be able to see that. I'm not going to take anybody talking smack about my marriage or my reasons. I don't see how that concerns either of you old geezers. Also, where is the proof that what was shown in the video has directly affected the finances of the company or sales? Not even the reputation of this company has been affected, so I don't know what you all are on, but it's best that you open your eyes and see what matters. For one, I'm not going to be dismissed from my position easily, and none of you can make me." I stood up, finished with what I was saying.

"Then we'll put it up to a vote. You know the rules, right? Majority rules. Any objections?" He asked the board, and when there was none, a paper was passed around and a ballot box brought out. Almost as if my reaction had been anticipated and they had prepared for it.

I sat back down, watching as the papers were being passed, and the directors started writing their choice of the decision. Since I hadn't had a clue anything like this was about to happen and with the people I'd formerly have said would be on my side avoiding my gaze, the result seemed pretty obvious.

JULIA'S POV

"Yes. They're currently taking a vote. Are you sure about the directors?" I asked in a whisper. I was in the bathroom, and God forbid anybody got a whiff of the call I was currently having. Finally, after so many trials and errors, my plan was proceeding very well.

I'd always wished for the downfall of Jonathan, even while I'd still liked Ethan; plus, if he could easily choose to humiliate me, it should have been expected that I would do the same as well.

"Of course. There's nothing to worry about." He said. The mastermind of everything. Without him, I would have just been a fumbling mess.

"There's no need to call when the result is out. How does being the head of the board of directors sound? I'll transfer all my shares to you. Or you could be the newly appointed CEO if you want. We could only make this happen because of you, daughter." He laughed.

I giggled. "I'll think about it. And of course, I'm glad to show you how capable I can be. I will be expecting more tasks from you, and I'll never fail you, Dad." I whispered back and hung up the call.

I flushed the toilet and came out, flinching at the three women who were at the sink. Had they heard me? That wouldn't have been possible, right? I put on a poker face and went to wash my hands, their conversation floating to me.

"What did they come to do? Is there something wrong with the company?" One of them asked.

Another woman shrugged. "Whatever it is. I doubt it could be anything serious. We're doing so well. Maybe it is about more employee benefits. Or maybe new welfare strategies?" The third woman nodded excitedly.

"That should be it. I'm so excited." They continued talking as they left the bathroom, and I smirked, looking at myself in the mirror. They were in for a pleasant surprise. Or it could be unpleasant; I couldn't care less.

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