Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71 Who’s Indispensable

Chapter 71 Who’s Indispensable

Aaliyah’s POV:

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As I stepped into my office cubicle this morning, a palpable sense of unease washed over me. Everywhere I looked, eyes were fixed on me, making me acutely self-conscious. What on earth could have happened?

Suddenly, an employee scurried towards me, breathless. “Ms. Cooper, the chairman wants you in the president’s office right away.”

“Who?” My hand, which had just wrapped around my water cup, froze. The cup slipped from my grasp, hitting the floor with a loud crack. Water splashed onto my clothes, but I couldn’t care less at that moment.

The chairman? That was Benjamin, Landon’s father. What was he doing here?

Benjamin had long since stepped back from daily company operations and handed over full authority to Landon.

Landon had assured me that Grace would never tell Benjamin about me and that I’d be safe at the office.

“Ms. Cooper, please hurry,” the employee urged again.

Snapping out of my shock, I replied, “I’ll go right now. You can head back to your

work.”

Once the employee left, I fumbled for my phone and dialed Landon’s number.

Unfortunately, he was out of the office for a meeting.

“Landon, I’m in big trouble! Your dad is at the company, and he wants to see me in the president’s office,” I blurted out, my voice trembling.

As soon as my words got through, Landon sounded utterly shocked.

He was probably meeting a client at the moment. The moment he heard that, he couldn’t sit still. “Are you sure?”

“He wants me to go to the president’s office. Can I just skip it…” As I was saying that, I grabbed my bag and headed out.

Just the thought of the Richardson family would set off a stress reaction in me.

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Chapter 71 Who’s Indispensable

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“Hey, Aaliyah, don’t panic. Since Dad specifically asked to see you, just go. He’s more reasonable than my mom and won’t do anything crazy. I’ll rush back to the company right away. Just hold on a bit,” Landon said.

“I can’t, Landon. I’m terrified,” I pleaded.

But before I could take more than a few steps, I was stopped by a couple of security guards.

Moments later, I found myself standing in front of the imposing doors of the president’s office.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed them open.

“Mr. Benjamin Richardson, you’re here,” I stammered, my legs feeling like jelly.

A stack of files landed on the desk with a resounding thud, making me jump.

Benjamin’s POV:

After poring over the company’s recent project reports and financial statements, I was seething with anger. What in the world had Landon been up to?

The company’s performance had taken a nosedive in just a few weeks, and he hadn’t bothered to tell me a thing.

When Natalie was here, the company was on an upward trajectory, which was why I’d given Landon free rein.

But now, it seemed like he’d squandered all the progress we’d made.

If it weren’t for the elders of the Elder Council bombarding me with calls, I wouldn’t have known that Natalie had been absent for so long and that Landon had brought Aaliyah into the office.

Last night, when I received the news, I was so furious that I almost lost my temper with Grace.

How could she have helped Landon cover this up?

Grace spent the whole night crying. She wanted to call Landon, but I confiscated her phone and had the servants keep an eye on her.

So, I decided to go to the company myself this morning to sort out the mess with Aaliyah and address the company’s problems.

Upon Aaliyah being escorted in, I uttered icily, “I don’t want to talk about your relationship

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Chapter 71 Who’s Indispensable

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with Landon anymore. But you should know that given your status, you have no business being around Landon, let alone staying at the Richardson Group.”

“Mr. Benjamin Richardson, don’t misinterpret. Landon is just my boss now. You’re aware the company’s short-staffed. Natalie bailed on a whim, taking her whole crew with her. I’m the only one who can pull Landon’s project through…” Aaliyah just wouldn’t stop making excuses.

I cut her short with a sharp tone and flicked my hand. A subordinate promptly presented a set of documents.

I said coldly, “Ms. Cooper, I don’t have time for dilly-dallying. Sign the voluntary resignation form, and let’s not make this ugly.” On the table in front of Aaliyah was a voluntary resignation form that would become effective upon signature.

There was also an addendum stating that Aaliyah must sever all private ties with Landon. Failure to do so would result in her compensating the company for all losses incurred since her employment at the Richardson Group.

“Mr. Benjamin Richardson, you really think I’ll put my name on this rigged deal?” she said, forcing steadiness into her voice.

Whether she signed or not was out of her hands.

Resting my elbows on the desk, I maintained my frigid demeanor. “You’re free to decline. I’ve got my methods. Since you can’t stay away from Thorn Pack and Landon, you’d better brace yourself for the consequences. You should’ve grasped this five years ago, shouldn’t you?”

Aaliyah was still making excuses. “Mr. Benjamin Richardson, I’ve done nothing wrong! Landon brought me back because he needed me. All the company’s woes are Natalie’s doing! I know you’re a fair guy and can tell right from wrong. At this crucial juncture, are you really gonna let old grudges cloud your judgment and ignore the company’s interests?”

I still didn’t buy her story. Standing my ground, I said, “Precisely because I’m thinking of the Richardson Group, I’m asking you to leave. You blame Natalie for everything, but it was you who botched the company’s most important project.

“I’ve heard that Natalie’s team quit due to your mismanagement. I won’t go into your capabilities, but the whole company can see who’s indispensable. No need for me to elaborate.”

Her reluctance to sign didn’t matter. I wasn’t about to waste more words. A nod to the werewolf guards beside me, and they roughly seized Aaliyah’s hand, forcing her to scrawl her signature on the agreement.

“Mr. Benjamin Richardson, you can’t do this…” she protested.

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Chapter 71 Who’s Indispensable

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“I can, and I’ve revoked Landon’s decision-making power. From now on, all his plans and choices require my okay.” Once it was settled, I retrieved the documents and signaled the guards to release her.

I issued a final warning. “Ms. Cooper, remember my words. For Landon’s sake, I’m giving your one last chance. Next time, it won’t be this lenient.”

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