Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)
Chapter 382

Suddenly, the door swung open, sending an electric shock of surprise throughout the conference room. For a brief moment, the room fell silent.

Every pair of eyes in the room swiveled towards us, wide with disbelief.

Bennett strode confidently inside, his face a storm cloud, and took his place at the head of the table. I followed closely behind, taking my seat beside my father on the right.

Bennett's icy gaze swept the room, and I noticed a few attendees shrink back, trying desperately to become invisible, daring not to meet his eyes.

Finally, Bennett's stare settled on Kemp for a few moments before he spoke with a hint of scorn in his voice, "Well, has Kemp's little pow-wow concluded?"

Kemp's face turned beet red, his adam's apple bobbing as he struggled to find his voice, but no sound came out.

Seeing Kemp's pathetic state, Bennett withdrew his gaze dismissively and cut straight to the chase. "Since everyone's here, let's get started. I'm not one to beat around the bush, and I certainly don't have time to waste listening to gripes. If you've got a problem, speak up. No more skulking around behind my back. I don't appreciate people barging into my office, so I'm giving you one shot, one hour. After that, you're out of luck. As you know, VitalAxis Pharmaceuticals isn't my usual stomping ground, and I won't be lingering here. Kemp was right about one thing, though..."

He paused, his chilling gaze sweeping over the crowd. "No one's going to oust me. Not a chance."

The room was a sea of exchanged glances, but silence prevailed.

Bennett's presence was formidable, his eyes alone enough to command reticence.

He fixed Kemp with another look. "Since Kemp seems to have the most to say, let's hear it from him first."

With his name called out, Kemp's expression soured even further. He scanned the room, seeing nothing but cautious deference, and his frustration boiled over. With a contemptuous snort and a growl of impatience, he barked, "What's with the silence? Trying to ride this out? Didn't we all agree to share our thoughts?" No one dared respond, only adding to his irritation.

His gaze then turned to me. "And another thing, isn't this supposed to be a shareholders' meeting? What's someone unrelated doing sitting in?"

"I invited Ms. Wilburn," Bennett interjected before I could speak, nipping Kemp's protest in the bud.

Kemp, not bold enough to argue out loud, still muttered under his breath, "It's against protocol! If we start making exceptions, who's to say who can and cannot attend these meetings?" Bennett responded coolly, with a weight that brooked no argument. "If I've invited her, she has every reason to be here. Or do you have an objection to that, Kemp?"

Claud, Kemp's ever-loyal crony, seeing Kemp at odds with me but challenged by Bennett, foolishly chimed in, "Mr. Richardson, surely family matters aren't for outsiders to witness, right?" "Who says she's an outsider in this?" Bennett's retort was unquestionable, his authority clear.

Claud faltered, his rebuttal dying on his lips.

Turning back to Kemp, Bennett pressed on, "Save the grumbling for later. You've been spearheading these little meetings-no need to play coy. Time is ticking; let's hear it from you."

In those words, Bennett subtly reminded Kemp that his behind-the-scenes maneuvers hadn't gone unnoticed.

Kemp tried to explain, but a gesture from Bennett silenced him.

Bennett continued, "I hear you've got a list of grievances—a very specific set of issues with Mr. Wilburn. Someone has to speak up, or who am I supposed to listen to? If you're aiming for the chair I'm sitting in, you'd better fight for it. You claim to have a list of Mr. Wilburn's 'crimes'? Let's air them out, see how many hold water, and really give Kemp a chance to shine."

With Bennett's inciting words, Kemp, red-faced and cornered, had no choice but to speak up. "Mr. Richardson, since you insist, I have no choice but to comply. Indeed, I have concerns about Galen..."