Chapter 6

The weight of what I had said still hung over the room with a hushed tension. The guests who had previously watched the drama with anticipation now shifted uneasily in their seats.

Some of them, particularly the investors, started leaving one by one, chatting among themselves and glancing curiously between me, Isabella, and Haven.

I could see it in their eyes—the shame, the disbelief, the recognition. They remembered who I was.

Haven stepped forward and spoke in a calm tone that cut through the quiet like a blade.

"Oh Ladies and Gentlemen?" He mused, his eyes sweeping over the room as he pleaded. "You should stay, this is just a digression that will soon be over."

Although there was no response, their anxious looks of one another were very telling.

Then I returned my gaze to Isabella, whose once-confident posture had faltered under the weight of my presence.

"You believed that I was in pain somewhere, wishing I had never met you." I turned my head a little and saw her lips form a thin line. "But no, Isabella. I did not suffer. I had been waiting."

"Do you really think she cares?" Haven was sounding frustrated already.

Her face was squeezed, and her fingers twisted around the microphone.

"And now," I added, sounding like a slow, steady threat, "every single person who played a part in my downfall will pay for it."

The rest of the audience let out gasps. People who used to make fun of me were starting to realize that power was changing.

Haven scoffed aloud, still holding on to what little pride he still had. "Oh, Johnson, please get off of it." He dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "You are behaving as though you are a god. But do not forget about reality here."

"What reality?" I asked.

A smirk began to appear on his face as he turned to Isabella. "This is a man who has a child with another woman, isn't that right?"

Silence.

Isabella's face darkened as she snapped her head in my direction. "What audacity." Her voice was dangerously low.

Haven laughed mockingly, giving me a smug look. "Not so noble now, are you?"

Isabella turned back to me, her breath coming in sharp gasps, her eyes full of rage.

I looked into her eyes, unblinking, unmoved. "Believe what you want," I said calmly. "It does not change the fact that you all are going to regret everything you did to me."

The tension between us was like electricity crackling. However, Haven, who is constantly trying to get back in control, sneered once more and turned around.

"This is a waste of time," he murmured as he walked towards the exit. "I will put an end to it myself."

He took out his phone and dialed a number. "Security," he shouted into the receiver, "come up here right now. There is an uninvited guest that must be removed."

I felt nothing after he made the call, I took a glass filled with wine, and said, "okay then, let's wait for security."

Then he turned back to face me, hate in his eyes. "You are about to be humiliated in front of everyone, Johnson," he sneered, his voice dropping so low that only I could hear. "Wait until they pull you out like the nobody you are."

I smiled, completely unmoved. "We will see about that."

A few minutes later, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the hall as a squad of security officers strode in. When Haven turned to face them, his face was brighter.

"Take this man out of here," he commanded, indicating me directly.

However, the head of security did not move. He folded his arms instead, staring at Haven with an unreadable expression.

"I only follow Mr. Johnson's instructions," he stated firmly.

There was a stunned silence in the room.

Haven's face twisted in shock. "What?"

The guard repeated, his voice unwavering, "I only follow Mr. Johnson's orders. We will escort you out instead."

Gasps echoed throughout the hall.

Haven recoiled as though he had been hit. "What on earth is this? Are you even aware of who I am? I am the General Manager of the Ben Corporation!"

The guard remained unmoved, simply standing with his arms still folded and stating, "Not to us actually."

When Haven finally turned to face the security officers encircling him, the realization hit him. They were not dressed in the official company uniform.

These were my men.

The guards who used to work for Ben Corporation? They were gone.

I had fired them.

Mrs. June, who had remained silent for the majority of this encounter, suddenly stood up, her face twisted with rage. 

"Johnson, you have no right to talk to the General Manager in that manner." She snapped, her voice full of disbelief. "You are nothing but a little thing—a useless man who—"

I turned to look at her, my face expression was unreadable. "Careful, Mrs. June," I said with ease. "You appear to be forgetting your place."

She nearly choked on her fury. "You—!"

She turned to Haven, desperate now, before she could say another word. "Call the Vice President," she insisted. "Or even better, call Mr. Ben himself!"

Still in shock over his loss of power, Haven fumbled to comply, taking out his phone again.

When the phone rang, Haven's eyes briefly glowed with hope. However, when it was finally answered, it was not Mr. Ben's voice that came through.

It turned out to be his personal assistant.

Haven became stiff. "Let me talk to Mr. Ben—"

The assistant interrupted him. "Mr. Ben has already instructed us on the anniversary of the company. Address any grievances you may have to Miss Natasha."

Click.

The call was cut off.

Haven stood frozen, his face pale, slowly lowering his phone.

The entire room fell silent as the gravity of the situation became clear.

I let out a slight smile. "Surprising, was it?"

Haven was unable to reply. As he swallowed forcefully, his throat bobbed, and his eyes looked about as though seeking a way out.

I then faced my guards. "Throw them out."

Without delay, the guards moved forward and seized Mrs. June, Haven, and Isabella.

They protested and struggled in vain.

And right when they were about to be dragged out—

A voice echoed down the hall.

"Stop!"

It was Miss Natasha who came in. The vice President of both the Ben Company and the Vax company.

Haven's eyes brightened with hope as he twisted toward her. "Miss Natasha! Thank God! You need to tell these men and this nuisance to leave—"

I turned to face her, completely unshaken.

Because, unlike Haven… I knew exactly how the night would end.