Gold Digger vs Gold Saver My Man's Double Life novel Chapter 27

**Marriage Without Temperature by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 4**

Inside the stark, fluorescent-lit conference room, the atmosphere was thick with tension, and every executive’s expression was as grim as a stormy sky. The somber faces reflected the weight of the situation at hand, a silent acknowledgment of the brewing storm.

I placed all the evidence meticulously on the polished table, each document a testament to my dedication and struggle. The neatly printed list of gifts I had carefully selected for Alexander over the years sat beside our chat records, which chronicled the evolution of our relationship. Alongside these personal tokens, I laid out a comprehensive account of my investments in Montgomery Corp—every single transaction meticulously documented, a financial history that spoke volumes.

I took a deep breath, feeling the eyes of my colleagues boring into me, and addressed the boardroom with a steady voice. “One Alex Montgomery can’t touch Sterling Corp. Why the long faces, everyone?” I tried to inject a note of defiance into my tone, but it felt like a fragile veneer over the underlying anxiety.

Suddenly, a senior shareholder, his features etched with years of experience and perhaps too many boardroom battles, slammed his pen down onto the table with a resounding thud. “Eleanor,” he began, his voice gravelly and unyielding, “I’ve been here since your father’s time. I’m old enough to be your uncle, so let me be candid with you—now’s not the time for any rash moves. You should consider stepping down, at least temporarily.” His eyes bore into mine, unrelenting. “Wait for this to blow over, let things settle, then you can come back.”

He continued, “As for your position, we’ll find someone to fill in while you’re away.” The finality of his words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating my resolve.

My hands involuntarily balled into fists beneath the table, a physical manifestation of my rising frustration. I scanned the room, searching for a sign of support, but instead found a sea of nodding heads, each one echoing the sentiment of defeat.

“Does everyone else feel the same way?” I asked, my voice rising slightly, tinged with desperation.

The PR director, who had been fidgeting with her notes, finally cleared her throat, her demeanor betraying her nervousness. “CEO Sterling, what you’ve presented only establishes that there was a romantic relationship—it does not absolve you of the allegations of using your position to pressure Mr. Montgomery.” Her words were like arrows aimed directly at my heart.

“Niece, enough with the stubbornness. With your father gone, I should be looking out for you. Don’t fret—go home and take some time to rest. We’ll keep the company running smoothly in your absence.” His voice dripped with feigned concern, and I felt my heart sink further.

I remained silent, the weight of his words pressing down on me. The office was so quiet that I could hear the collective breaths of those present, each one a silent plea for my capitulation. They were all waiting for me to announce my leave of absence, to surrender my position.

Just then, my phone buzzed insistently on the table, cutting through the tension like a bolt of lightning. I glanced at the screen and, without hesitation, put it on speaker. Alexander’s voice filled the room, smooth yet laced with an undercurrent of triumph. “So? Have you made up your mind, Ms. Sterling? With all this internal and external pressure, Eleanor, you don’t have any other choice. Just give up.”

Give up? The words reverberated in my mind, igniting a fierce flame of defiance within me. Alexander, after all these years together, you still don’t know me at all. I will not be defeated. Everyone I wish to destroy remains destroyed, and you are no exception. No one gets to bounce back—not you, not anyone.