Chapter Twenty Four: Turned Tables

Daphne's POV

“Says who?”

An audible gasp fills the room.

“W-what are you doing here?” Mathew sputters, blinking like he can't believe his eyes.

A tall figure strides into the board room with a confident swagger. His rich blonde hair glints under the fluorescent lights of the room. His casual black t-shirt and jeans accentuate his fitted frame.

His sculpted face is pulled into a gleaming smile that has won him countless awards on screen. There is a compelling aura around him that just causes everyone to watch him.

“Mr Reeves, what are you doing here?” Mathew laughs nervously.

“I have every right to be here don't I?” He replies smoothly, crossing the room to stand behind me chair.

Confused, Matthew scratches the back of his neck. “I don't understand, it is an honor to have such a distinguished guest in our presence but this is a board meeting, I don't think it is appropriate…….”

“That's the exact reason why it is appropriate. I’m here because Ms Daphne invited me.” He places his hand on the back of my chair but doesn't touch me.

I ball up my fist. Couldn't he have addressed me more formally? I'll deal with him later.

Matthew turns his angry gaze to me and snaps.

“Have you no common sense or propriety? How could you invite a guest and a potential client to a board meeting? You really are hopeless. This is exactly why you won't be the boss for long.”

Shame burns me at the fact that Reeves has to witness my embarrassment. Even if I am not the CEO, my position as the owner of the company and the heir should automatically earn me respect but Greg has destroyed that, polluted their image of me so much that they see me as less than, nothing just because I decided to give my heart to that bastard.

Let me not go into the fact that Reeves is my potential client. I get why they are acting this way about Reeves though. Ever since he fired his PR team and relocated to the US, every Publicity company has been trying to get to him.

The fact that he is here today would be an indicator that he wants to sign with us. It doesn't ignore their disrespectful attitude towards me though but I don't respond though.

Very soon, it is all going to come crumbling down. I'll start with this set of idiots and put them in their place.

“I would watch the way I talk to my boss if I were you.” Reeves cuts him off.

It figures. They are clearly shameless. Firing me from my own company and taking a client I brought. My grandfather would never stand having incompetent spineless fools under him unless they have a use. In this case, Now I understand why my grandfather gave me this company. It was a punishment.

“That's impossible. First of all, I refuse to work in this company if Daphne isn't here.” He makes eye contact with each man seated before continuing. He has that arrogant air around him that says he has everyone’s attention.

“Second, you don't have that kind of authority”

“Well, I'm sorry Mr Reeves,” He chuckles.

“It seems you have been severely misinformed. Mrs Daphne here is no longer the CEO. She has just been voted off the board as she is highly incompetent. However, we are more than able to work with you.”

“Let me introduce myself to you formally. I am Matthews R-”

“You're the one who is mistaken.” Reeves cuts him off.

“I beg your pardon?” Matthew’ s face scrunches up in confusion.

“Wouldn't a board member have a right to attend a meeting?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about?” Matthews replies but there is a knowing light in his eyes.

“Before I even get to that, Daphne is getting fired but isn't she also a member of the board? If I'm right she holds the largest shares as the owner right?”

Matthew smirks. “Unfortunately, she no longer does.”

Feigning confusion, I rise up from my seat. “What are you talking about, I'm the largest shareholder.”

I look around to see everyone else wearing smug looks on their faces. So they all knew. I suspected as much. This just makes things easier for me to handle.

“Well, Mrs Smith, you are wrong. You are no longer the largest shareholder. In fact you hold absolutely no shares in this company. Other than your position as the

CEO-which has been rescinded effective immediately.”

“What?”