My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Aidan

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“We’ll go silent and not respond or give interviews, not even on social media, and we will have our attorneys respond to the fact that the photos are fake, the emails are not real, and the timeframes do not match up. If we don’t emotionally react, we won’t give them a dramatic response,” I say.

“For how long?” she asked.

“As long as it takes, days or weeks, depending on how long it takes for us to clear our names and the truth comes to light.”

“People will say you’re guilty and that you’re hiding.”

“Some will, some won’t, but eventually, all the truth will prevail. The doctored photos will be proven false, the fake emails will be demonstrated as false, and that will destroy Mark’s credibility while our reputation will

remain intact.”

“What are we going to do at the board meeting?” she asked.

“I will handle everything at the board meeting.”

“What about our clients, the partners…?”

“I will handle the clients, the board members, and everything else.” I put my hand on her face and said, “Don’t go out of here today. Don’t face the press. Don’t give them anything. You stay here. You stay safe. I’m going to take care of this.”

“I can’t just hide.”

“You are not hiding; you are strategizing. And there is a difference.” I kissed her forehead. “Trust me.”

She closed her eyes and leaned into me. “Okay, okay, I trust you.”

The board meeting was brutal.

There were 12 board members in the room: some sympathetic, some doubtful, but all concerned about the allegations.

Before anyone could say anything, I said, “The allegations are untrue; not one of them is true. The pictures are not real; we have proof. The emails are not real; we have proof. The timeline doesn’t add up and we will provide proof of this; Mark Knight is a desperate man with federal charges trying to take us down there with

him”

“Then why not go public with this?Why is there silence regarding that? You look guilty because of that silence.”

“We’re not silent; we will have a press release going out this afternoon from our attorney with the forensic evidence that they have investigated; however, we are not going to create a media circus and we are relying on the facts to speak for themselves.”

10:23 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 72

“The facts are not speaking fast enough.”

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“That is exactly what Mark wants; he wants us to panic and react to everything he has done while making decisions based on fear, not strategy.”

“So what is the strategy? To me, it looks as if you brought your girlfriend into this company to help you destroy her ex-husband and now we are all paying for it.”

The comment impacted me as if I had been physically slapped.

I leaned forward and said while keeping my voice calm and at an even tone, “Lila Stark was hired because of merit. She provided our company with strategic direction for our Lee Corporation deal which resulted in a $2B contract. She has provided invaluable insight into our expansion into Singapore. She has not committed, and there are no unethical actions on her part.”

“Unless you consider being in a relationship with you prior to her divorce being unethical.”

“The photographs of me and her are digitally altered; the time-stamps on those photographs are fabricated; we can provide evidence of this.”

“Can you provide evidence that you did not have feelings for her, prior to her divorce?” Patricia quietly asked. The real question being raised: Did you pursue Lila at the time she was married? Did you abuse power as a successful executive of a major corporation in your advances toward her?

“I pursued Lila once her divorce was finalized,” I say, growing agitated at the ridiculousness of this tattooed prick’s question. “After she was free. After she had voluntarily taken a position with Storm Industries. The timeline is clear; the facts are clear. Everything else is speculation and fabrication.”

No one around the table speaks.

“We believe you, Aidan, however, belief is not enough. We need to protect the company, the shareholders, and the employees. Therefore, it may be necessary to…”

“May be necessary to what?” I know what is coming as I can read it on their faces.

“May be necessary to have Ms. Stark take a leave of absence to allow sufficient time for this to blow over. Just

until…”

“No.”

“Aidan…”

“No. Lila is not taking a leave of absence, nor is she resigning because of an allegedly committed crime that she did not commit.”

“This has nothing to do with punishment,” Patricia explains. “It is simply damage control, perception, etc.”

“That is not helping anyone; instead, throwing her to the wolves just to save our own ass.” Rising to stand, I say, “We do not sacrifice our own people. We do not abandon our own people when the going gets tough; we stick together and we fight.”

10:23 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 72

“Are you willing to risk your company’s future,” Wilson demands.

:))

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“I am confident we will not put the company in jeopardy; Mark’s lies will disintegrate, and ultimately, the truth will begin to shine through everything. Once the lies come out, everyone will see how wrong they were for not believing in Lila.”

“What if the outcome is permanent? What if clients leave due to this incident? What if your stock value does not recover? What if…”

“Then I will accept complete responsibility. However, to remove Lila from the company is not negotiable.”

More silence followed.

Finally, Thomas spoke. “In the meantime, we will suspend this discussion until the legal team completes its investigation to present its case. The media, also, must have time to digest what has already transpired. After seventy-two hours, we will reconvene and reassess.”

“I understand.”

I left the conference room and found Marcus waiting for me at the door.

“How bad is it?” he asked.

“They want to remove Lila from the company.”

“Shit.”

“Yes.” I started to loosen my tie because all of a sudden, I could not breathe in this suit. “What are your thoughts about the media situation?”

“Worse. TMZ obtained video of you and Lila leaving the hospital two days ago. Their headline is “Homewrecker Visits Victim.” Entertainment Tonight is working on a special report about your relationship. People Magazine wants to know if you are engaged to Lila.”

“Good God.”

“There’s more to come. Mark’s attorney has scheduled a press conference today. They are calling it “Setting The Record Straight.””

Why am I not surprised?

“We need to…” I stop. Think. “No. We let him talk. Let him say whatever he wants. Then we release our evidence. Show he’s lying. Show he’s desperate. Show…”

My phone began to ring and it was Lila.

“Hello, is everything okay?” I asked.

“Dozens. They’re shouting questions through the windows. Asking if I’m a homewrecker. If I planned this. If… Aidan, I can’t breathe.”

10:23 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 72

“I’m coming there right now.”

“Don’t answer the door or go near the windows until I arrive in approximately fifteen minutes.”

I cut off the call and turned to Marcus,

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“Go, I’ll take care of the press conference, the legal statements, whatever you need while you take care of her.

“Thank you.”

Once I hit the elevator, my phone rings again. Another text. This time from an unknown number:

You love being the center of attention? How very cute of you… this is only the beginning. You took everything from me. Now I take everything from you. Starting with her. -MK

My blood goes cold.

I called the head of security immediately, I have no idea of what that sick bastard could be planning and I need to make sure Lila is safe.

My head of security picked up the phone.

“I need a team at my home now. Armed. No one will go near her understand?”

“Sir, we are already…”

“Double and yriple it if need be.”

I sat in the back seat of my car with my driver battling through traffic. Each red light seems like forever.

I received another text from Mark:

Go to the news network; I have a surprise for you!

BREAKING NEWSS: MARK KNIGHT TO REVEAL “PROOF” OF AIDAN STORM/LILA STARK AFFAIR &

AIDAN STORM/LILA STARK WORLDWIDE CONSPIRACY AT LIVE PRESS CONFERENCE. DOCUMENTS

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