Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Cyrus’ eyes narrowed slightly. He and Rio had been rivals for years, their disdain for each other mutual. Cyrus had always seen Rio as corrupt-a sycophant who cozied up to Gabe and played politics. But now, he wasn’t so sure.
Rio pressed on. “Jeremy denies taking drugs, claiming the substances in his system came from illicit medications. That’s different from narcotics use. If he produces evidence to support his claim, our case against him will fall apart. We’d look incompetent.”
Gabe’s glare hardened. “If he had such evidence, he’d have shown it by now. Stop chasing shadows. We’ve proven drug abuse. That’s sufficient. Release Sheryl immediately. She has nothing to do with this.”
The shift in Gabe’s tone didn’t escape Rio. Moments ago, he’d called her ‘Dr. Gillis”. Now it was just “Sheryl”, as if the familiarity had slipped out unintentionally. Suspicion coiled tighter in Rio’s mind. Gabe’s priority didn’t seem to be justice but pinning Jeremy down at all costs.
Cyrus, still eavesdropping, felt his own doubts deepen. Gabe’s reactions didn’t add up.
“Chief Taylor! There you are!” A voice called from the hallway, breaking Cyrus’ concentration. He straightened instantly, forcing a calm demeanor.
Inside the office, Rio and Gabe froze when they heard that Cyrus was just outside. Gabe quickly ended the conversation. That’s it. Do as I said. Dismissed.”
Rio frowned but obeyed, pushing open the door.
Cyrus was long gone by then.
Once alone, Gabe pulled out his phone and dialed a number. His voice dropped to a contrite murmur. “I’m sorry. I was careless. I didn’t monitor my subordinate closely enough, and he brought in someone he shouldn’t have. But don’t worry-Dr. Gillis has been released. No one will bother her again.”
A middle-aged man’s voice sounded from the other end. In a deep tone, he said, ‘As long as there are no further complications.”
Gabe hesitated. “But… convicting Mr. Jeremy might be difficult..
“It’s enough,” the man said coldly, as if he was just going through the motions. “You’ve achieved the intended outcome.”
Over ten hours later, Sheryl walked out from the police station unscathed.
She stepped into a black luxury car, her face grim. She immediately dialed Justin.
“You’ve been freed?” Justin asked, his voice distant.
“Sir, I’m really sorry for troubling you. You even had to make arrangements for me,” Sheryl said apologetically.
“I just made use of my connections. It’s nothing. Besides, I figured they’d summon you-Jeremy did get his medications from you, after all.”
Sheryl, still shaken from earlier, lowered her gaze. “Is that cop, Rio Olson, one of us? He seemed eager to arrest Jeremy, so I thought you might have recruited him. But during the interrogation, he was relentless. He wouldn’t go easy on me at all.” “He is one of Mr. Barrett’s men. That’s enough for now.”
Sheryl mulled over it for a moment. Then, she lowered her voice and said, “Sir, Jeremy can only be charged for drug use. As a first-time offender, it’s not enough to keep him behind bars. I suspect he’ll be bailed out by the day after tomorrow.” Justin chuckled softly. “So?”
“It’s a shame we couldn’t take him down for good,” Sheryl said through gritted teeth.
“Jeremy has Grandpa’s support and the Taylor family backing him. His roots in Solana City run deep after years of influence. He’s a formidable opponent.” Justin’s lips curled into a chilling smile. “All I want right now is to reclaim what’s mine. After that, I’ll consider the rest.” Sheryl understood exactly what Justin meant. He wanted everything Jeremy had.
…
The next morning, an emergency board meeting convened in Walsh Group’s conference room. The agenda was whether Jeremy should be dismissed as president of the corporation.
The room was heavy with tension. This was a critical decision.
Jeremy wasn’t without allies. Some board members defended him. They opposed his dismissal.
“Mr. Jeremy has dedicated himself to this corporation. He’s led us to significant profits and elevated Walsh Group to unprecedented heights. Now, when he’s in trouble, we should stand by him. How can we abandon him after all he’s done for us?” “That’s right. Replacing him might jeopardize our progress. Who’s to say his successor could secure Project A5 or maintain our growth?”
But opposition was equally fierce.
“The share price has plummeted for three days since Mr. Jeremy’s incident. We’ve lost billions. How do we recover from that?”
“Even if he avoids prison, this scandal will stain his reputation permanently. The public knows, and it’s already damaging Walsh Group’s image. If he remains president, how can he represent us in negotiations? How can he face the public? The president is the face of this corporation!”
The others nodded in agreement.
The situation had reached an impasse.
Javier, the chairman, frowned deeply. He didn’t want to replace Jeremy. Jeremy’s leadership and expertise were invaluable. But the scandal left the board with no choice. Public trust demanded action. “Everyone, please don’t worry about Project A5,” Justin interjected with a warm smile.
Seated confidently in his tailored suit, he radiated assurance. “I’m certain I can secure Project A5 for Walsh Group, whether or not I hold the title of president.”
His tone was calm, his words sincere. He seemed entirely selfless, stepping forward for the corporation’s sake, not his own ambition. His entire demeanor commanded respect and admiration from the board members.
A grim expression could be seen on Justin’s elegant face as he continued, “Walsh Group began a? a family business but is now a public company. I’m willing to serve as interim president. If I fail to deliver results within a year, the board may dismiss me and appoint someone more capable. I won’t object.”
His proposal was flawless, leaving no room for criticism.
Javier weighed his options in silence before finally speaking. “With Jeremy in this situation, it’s inappropriate for him to remain as president. Yet, the corporation cannot function without leadership.
“Let’s vote today on whether my eldest son, Justin, should assume the role of interim preside¡ª”
Before Javier could finish, the conference room doors burst open.
Newton, supported by Ben, stormed in, his face flushed with fury. “I object!” he roared.
The board members were stunned into silence. One by one, they rose from their seats, greeting Newton respectfully.
At Walsh Group, Newton’s presence was akin to that of a king. Though he had long stepped away from the corporation’s daily affairs, his influence remained unparalleled.
He was not only an honorary board member of Walsh Group but also held similar titles in other renowned corporations. In the corporate world, Newton was nothing short of a legend.
His unexpected arrival at the board meeting sent shockwaves through the room. The first words out of his mouth-an objection to the proposed motion-made it clear where his loyalties lay-with Jeremy. “Dad, what are you doing here?” Javier exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise as he rushed forward to steady Newton, who was visibly trembling.
Justin narrowed his eyes as he stood up slowly. He was the last to rise to his feet. A flicker of something sinister danced in his gaze, an abyss of calculated intent hidden behind an unassuming fa?ade. “What am I doing here? If I’d been even a second later, Walsh Group would’ve been thrown into chaos!”
Newton’s fierce glare landed on Javier. Regret and disappointment etched deep lines into his face. Why did he have a son like Javier? “Who gave you the authority to call a board meeting to dismiss Jeremy without consulting me?
“Without Jeremy, Walsh Group wouldn’t be what it is today. The wealth, the acclaim-none of it would exist without him. And now you want to dismiss him? Are you even his father? Where is your conscience?”
Javier’s face turned scarlet as he stood frozen, his authority as chairman stripped bare under Newton’s harsh rebuke. He struggled to form a response, his lips trembling with suppressed anger.
“Grandpa.”
Justin’s calm, measured voice cut through the tension like a knife. His youthful face remained composed as he stepped forward. “You’ve misunderstood Dad. Jeremy’s contributions to Walsh Group are undeniable, and everyone here can attest to that.
“But the reality is, our share price continues to plummet. The corporation’s core is unstable, and public criticism has mounted against us. Negotiating Project A5 with the mayor will be near impossible under these circumstances. These are urgent issues we must address.” “Jeremy… was framed!” Newton roared as tears welled in his eyes.
Once firm and commanding, his voice now wavered, a stark reminder of his declining vigor.
The people in the room were taken aback.
Javier’s eyes widened in shock. “Dad, are you saying Jeremy was framed? Who would do such a thing?”
Sweat beaded on Newton’s brow, his eyelids fluttering rapidly as a storm of emotions raged within him. His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Justin. Their eyes locked, a silent, explosive clash igniting between them.
Newton, however, possessed no concrete evidence, and discussing the Walsh family’s private affairs in a public board meeting was simply unacceptable. Frustration gnawed at him. At he could do was clenck his jaw, his voice rough with suppressed fury, and declare, “Jeremy is an honorable man, a man of integrity. I absolutely refuse to believe he would ever touch drugs!”
Justin’s expression didn’t waver. “Grandpa, I understand how difficult this is for you. But Jeremy’s hair follicle test came back positive. The authorities have confirmed it.”
Prior to this moment, Newton was entirely oblivious. The information hit him with the force of a physical blow, sending his blood l net skyrocketing. A dizzying darkness began to encroach on his vision.
“What… What did you say? Rositive?”
“That’s not all.”
Justin clapped his hands, and a man entered the room, handing him a document. Justin unfolded it with deliberate precision.
“This is Jeremy’s blood test report,” he continued. “It confirms the presence of a new narcotic in his system. Additionally, drugs were found in his office. If you doubt this, you can verify it with the authorities.”
The room erupted in chaos after Justin’s statement. The police investigation had indeed concluded, though the findings hadn’t been made public yet. This raised serious questions about whether Jeremy’s drug abuse allegations were substantiated. Newton’s hands shook as he snatched the report from Justin. He forced himself to focus, his eyes scanning the damning details. Beside him, Ben read over his shoulder, his face contorting in a mixture of disbelief and dread.
“Grandpa,” Justin said, his tone soft but firm, “I know you care deeply for Jeremy. But Walsh Group isn’t just your legacy-it’s the livelihood of
Inel over ten thousand employees. Walsh Group is a corporation that has businesses all over the country.
Have you considered how an upheaval at Walsh Group would affect the people and their future?
“Sentimentality has no place here. A wise leader must prioritize the greater good, even if it means making painful decisions. Clinging to senseless affection will only harm the corporation.”
A wave of searing rage surged through Newton, his body convulsing violently.
