Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 45

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That night, Maxime worked like a man possessed. He called his little circle of loyal board members- men who had resented Elsa’s authority for years.

“You heard it from me,” he whispered into each call, voice laced with false humility and bubbling triumph. “Mr. Storm wants change. He’s given me his blessing. Elsa’s finished. I’m stepping in.”

The reactions were exactly what he’d hoped for-gasps, congratulations, even a few groveling apologies for ever doubting him. Like excited goats, they rallied to his banner, buzzing with anticipation for the board meeting. Maxime barely slept, too energized by the thought of taking the crown.

****

The next morning, the Nova Corp boardroom was charged with tension. The long glass table gleamed under the cold LED lights, reflecting the sharp suits, guarded expressions, and half-empty coffee cups of the board members. No one was truly drinking-everyone was too busy watching everyone else.

Elsa Logan sat at the head of the table, her posture faultless, her features carved from ice. Not a single hair out of place. Not a single tremor in her voice.

“We’ll begin,” she said, her tone calm but cold enough to drop the room’s temperature by a few degrees.” First item. The Morgan partnership.”

All eyes shifted to Maxime Trent. Elsa’s gaze locked on him. “Mr. Trent, I understand you’ve recently submitted a request to terminate our cooperation with the Morgan family. Care to explain why?”

Maxime leaned back in his chair, oozing smug confidence. He crossed one leg over the other and gave a lazy shrug. “Happy to,” he said, voice slick. “After reviewing the materials the Morgans submitted, I found them… lacking. Substandard, frankly. Not the kind of quality Nova Corp should be endorsing. It’s a risk to our name.”

Elsa tilted her head slightly. “Substandard?” she repeated coolly. “May I see your documentation?”

Maxime’s smile tightened. “Still compiling it. But the early signs are there-”

“So, no documentation?” Elsa’s voice cut through his sentence like a blade. “No official report? Nothing our procurement team has reviewed or signed off on?”

Maxime waved his hand, as if brushing away a gnat. “Let’s not get lost in paperwork. My instincts have served this company well. I trust them.”

A few chuckles echoed from his side of the table. Heads nodded. His supporters-Grayman from Operations, Hendricks from Logistics, Bernard from R&D-sat up straighter,

Elsa narrowed her eyes. “Your instincts are not a substitute for due process. You want to cancel a multi- million-dollar partnership on a hunch? With no supporting data?”

Maxime’s smirk deepened. He leaned forward, arms on the table, looking far too pleased with himself. “I think the real issue here isn’t the partnership. It’s you.”

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She didn’t flinch, but he caught the subtle tightening of her jaw.

He pressed on. “Everyone knows you’ve taken a personal interest in Alice Morgan. You’ve blurred the lines between leadership and favoritism. That’s dangerous.” 1

He looked around the room, raising his voice. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

That was the signal. Grayman stood first.

“She’s too close to the Morgans.”

Then Hendricks: “We can’t afford personal bias at the top.”

Then Bernard: “She’s protecting a failing project just to save face.”

Elsa’s spine remained straight, but her face drained of color.

Maxime watched her closely, delighting in every second. He had made a single call the night before, moments after hanging up with Ethan. His voice had been electric with excitement when he told his allies: He’s stepping down. I’m next. They ate it up like fools, practically bleating their support like the stupid goats they were. Eager. Desperate. Loyal-for now.

Now, they rallied behind him with full force, parroting his lines, turning Elsa’s silence into a weakness.

“Nova Corp needs unbiased leadership,” Maxime declared, rising slowly. “And Elsa Logan can no longer provide that. Her actions speak volumes. She’s protecting a pauper and a liability-Ethan Storm-and that little girl Alice, to satisfy some personal agenda.”

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