Marrying My Father's Enemy
Chapter 37: The Showdown

Chapter 37: The Showdown

Chapter 37: The Showdown

The room was filled with men and women in polished suits.

It was Henry’s last-minute investor meeting, hastily arranged in a gleaming, glass-walled conference room on top of his company headquarters—Dominion Resources.

He was pacing at the front, jaw tight, while the investors murmured among themselves, exchanging quite skeptical glances.

They’d all seen the headlines.

Every one of them had witnessed the fallout from the scandal Henry had created—and many had already grown weary of the drama.

He stopped abruptly and clapped his hands to demand silence.

"All right, everyone," he said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice. Let’s get right to it. Dominion Resources is stronger than ever, and this mess with my daughter won’t change that."

A few people shifted in their seats, clearly unconvinced by this strange confidence.

One investor, a wiry man in a sleek gray suit, spoke up.

"Henry, let’s be honest here. Your stocks have dropped over ten percent in the last three days. And people are talking. Investors are talking. We need assurance, not just words."

Henry’s face twitched, but he managed to keep his smile in place.

"The stock drop is temporary," he said, brushing it off with a wave. "You know how the media loves a scandal, but Dominion is solid. Energy, resources, banking—we’re untouchable. The public will forget in a week."

A woman with short blonde hair at the back raised her hand.

"It’s not just about the media, Henry. People are starting to wonder about Dominion’s actual resources. Your assets... they’re being questioned." She lowered her voice. "And some of us are wondering too."

Henry’s jaw tightened. "Everything is transparent," he snapped, losing his temper for a moment before reigning it in. "Every dollar is accounted for. Dominion has built a solid reputation—"

"Has it?" another voice cut in.

It was Andrew, an older investor with silver hair and a confident gaze. "Because I don’t remember you ever disclosing your... unconventional methods of asset acquisition."

The murmurs grew louder.

Henry took a deep breath, his fists clenched behind his back. "Dominion Resources has always played by the rules."

"Which rules?" Andrew pressed. "Your own?" He raised an eyebrow. "Let’s not forget the insider trading accusations last year."

Henry’s face went red, and he leaned forward, sharpening his eyes. "Those were unfounded, Andrew. I thought we were here to talk about Dominion’s future, not ancient history."

But the seed of doubt had already been planted.

A heavy-set investor in the front row cleared his throat. "The future’s what we’re concerned about, Henry. People aren’t only worried about Eira’s accusations; they’re worried about the money behind Dominion. How much of it is actually yours?"

"Haha!" Henry forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow. "Gentlemen, ladies, if you’re here questioning my ownership of this company, you’re wasting time. Dominion is mine."

"Yes, but where did that wealth originate?" the woman with the blonde hair pressed him for answers. "I heard rumors about backdoor deals in South America. Resources acquired under questionable circumstances..."

Henry’s patience snapped. "Enough!" he barked.

The room fell silent, and he glared around at them. "I’ve given everything to build Dominion Resources. If any of you don’t believe in this company, then maybe you don’t belong here."

A silence followed until a younger investor toward the back finally spoke up, his voice cool and detached.

"Henry, with all due respect, some of us are concerned about our reputations. This isn’t just about Dominion’s numbers; it’s about the association. No one wants to be part of a scandal."

Henry’s mouth twisted into a scowl. "You think I’m the scandal? My daughter is lying, twisting things to make herself look innocent. None of this is about Dominion!"

"It’s not just your daughter anymore," Andrew replied with a sigh. "The headlines are painting Dominion in a bad light. Our clients... they’re already talking. Some of them are backing out."

Henry took a deep breath, his nostrils flared. "Then tell them to hold tight. It’s a minor setback. Dominion is still strong."

But they were unmoved, exchanging worried glances.

"Is it strong, Henry?" someone muttered from the side.

A man, who had been silent until now, leaned forward. "Or is Dominion on the brink of collapse, just like your personal life?"

Henry clenched his fists. "If any of you don’t want to be here," he said through gritted teeth, "then leave. Now. But know that you’re abandoning one of the most stable investments in energy, resources, and banking."

One by one, the investors exchanged uneasy glances. A few shifted uncomfortably, clearly not knowing what to do.

But Andrew remained the same. "You don’t get it, Henry. We need more than just your word. We need transparency, accountability."

Henry shook his head. "Transparency? Accountability? I’m the one who built this company from the ground up! Dominion is the reason you’re all sitting here with your millions. And now, you’re going to walk away over some baseless accusations?"

The blonde woman sighed. "It’s not just about the accusations. It’s the secrecy. The sense that there’s more hidden under the reality. We need to protect our investments."

At that, Henry’s expression hardened further. He looked around the room and spoke in a low, bitter voice.

"Fine. Leave. But don’t come crawling back when Dominion’s shares are skyrocketing, when the media’s moved on, and I’m the one standing tall."

With a loud scrape, Andrew stood up, picking up his briefcase. He looked Henry directly in the eye.

"Good luck, Henry. But I’m not going down with your ship."

One by one, several others followed suit; their chairs scraped against the floor, and their footsteps were heard down the hallway.

The once-packed room thinned out until only a few remained, watching Henry with pity.

For a moment, Henry was silent, staring at the empty chairs, his fists still clenched at his sides.

He took a shuddering breath. He had always controlled every situation, dominated every room.

But now, he felt like the ground was slipping from under him.

One of the last investors, a man with greying hair and a somber expression, finally stood, clearing his throat.

"You know, Henry," he said quietly, "sometimes, when everyone else is backing away... it’s not them who’s wrong."

Henry’s eyes burned, and he glared at the man until he left, slamming the door behind him.

The silence was defeating him.

Henry stood alone in the empty conference room, staring out over the city.

"I will kill you, Eira..."