The Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 294: [ Volume 1] Chaper - Power Play

She leaned forward, her eyes locked on the speaker, daring them to continue. "Go on, then. Explain your excuses."

The directors, thinking they had the upper hand, mistook her smile for one of concession. They didn’t know Esme well enough to see that her politeness was a cover for the storm brewing underneath. They also didn’t realize that, although Esme was a force to be reckoned with in company negotiations, no one with any seniority would ever want to be ordered around by someone half their age, even if she was the leader’s daughter.

One of them, emboldened by their apparent victory, spoke again, addressing Esme in a tone that suggested they had already decided what was best for her. "We’ve heard you’re also the new chairman of Aron Group. And we think it would be wise for us to merge Aron Group with Valhale Group. That way, Valhale will retain the true power. After all, this company was founded by your mother, and we know you wouldn’t want it to fail."

Esme didn’t even flinch as the director continued, but her patience was wearing thin. Her gaze hardened, and before anyone could say another word, she cut in, her voice sharp and ice-cold. "Hey, you."

The director froze, taken aback by the sudden shift in Esme’s tone. "How dare you speak to me like that, huh?"

The room fell into tense silence as Esme’s words hung in the air. The directors, who thought they were in control, began to sense the danger in the shift. Esme’s eyes flashed with barely-contained fury. "Just because I’ve been silent doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want." She took a step forward, her heels clicking decisively against the floor. "Aron Group? How dare you even point at it?"

Her voice grew stronger, her words now full of authority as she leaned on the table, her hands pressing down firmly. "Maybe you’ve forgotten. This company is mine. It was built by my mother. The property is mine. And you think you can order me around just because I called you elders?" Her eyes narrowed as she shot them a venomous look. "Did your minds also go to the gutter with your age?"

The director who had spoken stammered, his words caught in his throat. "Y-You... You... you..." He pointed a trembling finger at her, unable to believe the confrontation that was unfolding before him.

Esme’s voice grew colder still. "What? Cat got your tongue?" She taunted him, her smile now a dangerous curve on her lips. "Can’t speak now, huh?"

Turning her gaze to the rest of the room, she addressed all the directors in a voice laced with mockery. "Today’s meeting is not for me to listen to your garbage. And frankly, I don’t have time." She glanced at her watch, as if the seconds ticking by were more important than the meeting.

Her husband was waiting at home, and if she dared to delay, it would be a mistake she wasn’t willing to make. A sly smile crossed her face as she imagined the consequences of not being there on time. "No," she muttered under her breath.

Esme turned to Aron, who had been standing quietly at her side. Without missing a beat, he hurriedly grabbed the file in his hand, passing it to her with an almost practiced precision. He then took out a pen drive and plugged it into the laptop. Within moments, the projector hummed to life, casting an image on the wall.

Esme’s smile returned, but this time, it was one of triumph. The power had shifted once again, and she was in control. The directors could feel the weight of her presence, the tension thick in the air, as they awaited the inevitable storm she would bring.

As soon as the projector flickered to life, the directors’ eyes widened in horror. Their faces froze, and then, one by one, they turned a ghostly shade of pale. On the screen in front of them were the meticulously detailed records of their crimes—tax evasion, embezzlement, bribery—and every illegal action they had thought they had buried long ago. The documents, complete with proof and dates, were displayed for everyone to see. It was an expose that not only implicated them but was irrefutable. The directors were paralyzed, their worst fears laid bare.

Esme watched their reactions with an eerie calm. She could see the shock and panic in their eyes, the realization dawning that they were caught, and that no amount of power or influence could protect them now. She let the silence hang in the air for a moment, savoring the victory.

With a flick of her fingers, the projector abruptly shut off, the room plunging into darkness for just a heartbeat. The directors were still frozen, their minds racing, processing what had just been unveiled.

Esme turned to them with a sly smile, her tone laced with amusement. "So, my dear, my dear directors... What do you think? Who should be the chairman now?"

The words hung heavy in the air, the weight of her challenge pressing down on the room like a vice. The directors remained silent, unable to form words. They were trapped, unable to deny the facts that had been presented in front of them. The room felt smaller, suffocating, as they realized Esme wasn’t playing the game anymore. She wasn’t just here to fight for the company—she was here to take it all.

The room was still, until one director, clearly panicked, lunged forward. He snatched the pen drive from the table and threw it onto the floor, stomping on it with his heel. He twisted his foot violently, trying to destroy the evidence. "Ha!" he sneered, looking up at Esme with a smirk. "Now what?"

A few of the other directors joined in, their faces contorted with a bitter mockery as they began to laugh, their voices high-pitched and nervous. "Ha ha ha!" Their laughter was tinged with hysteria, trying to mask the fear bubbling beneath the surface.