When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 45: Meeting

Chapter 45: Meeting

As the meeting carried on, the weight of every word seemed to hang in the air. Samuel listened to the rest of the board, their voices blending into a murmur as his mind drifted.

He couldn’t shake the nagging thought that someone in this room—someone he had once trusted—was trying to undermine him. Every suggestion, every comment, felt like it could be hiding an ulterior motive.

Raver’s voice pulled him back to the present. "Samuel, what’s the next step for the company? We can’t just stabilize the stocks. We need a vision moving forward, or the investors will lose faith."

Samuel looked at Raver for a moment, trying to read the man’s face. Was this genuine concern, or was Raver testing him, looking for weakness? Samuel knew he had to answer carefully.

"We’ll move forward with a targeted strategy. I’m already working with the marketing team to launch a new campaign that highlights our core strengths in real estate. We’ll focus on our upcoming projects—show investors that we’re still growing and innovating, not just reacting to the current crisis."

Daren nodded in agreement. "Good. But we need numbers, Samuel. Investors want to see results, not just promises. How soon can we roll out this campaign?"

"Within a week," Samuel responded confidently. "We’ll make sure everything is polished and ready to go. I’ve already had our PR team draft some talking points. The key is to stay ahead of the narrative and control the message."

Bart Brendon leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "I hope this works, Samuel. Because if it doesn’t, we’re going to lose more than just stock prices. People are already talking. There are rumors."

Samuel’s eyes flicked to Bart, his heart tightening at the word ’rumors.’ Rumors? What kind of rumors? He forced himself to remain calm. "What kind of rumors?"

Bart shrugged, playing it off. "Just talk. Investors wondering if the leadership at Lucas Realty is still strong. You know how it goes."

Samuel clenched his jaw. He knew exactly how it went. The rumors were more than just idle talk—they were the first cracks in the foundation. If he didn’t shut them down fast, they could grow into something far worse.

"I’ll handle it," Samuel said, his tone firm. "We need to focus on the facts. We’ve been through rough times before, and we’ve come out stronger. This time won’t be any different."

But as he said the words, doubt gnawed at him. Could he trust anyone in this room? Or was someone fanning the flames of those rumors, hoping to see him fail?

Edward Jones, the real estate expert, spoke up next. "There’s another issue we need to address, Samuel. The next quarter’s financials won’t look great if we don’t make some cuts now. We have too many underperforming properties draining resources."

Samuel had expected this. Edward was always practical, always thinking about the bottom line. But even Edward’s steady demeanor couldn’t fully reassure him. Who was Edward truly loyal to?

"I’m aware of the situation," Samuel said, keeping his voice measured. "We’ll be reviewing all of our properties in the next few days to determine where we can streamline. But we need to be careful not to cut too deeply. A quick fix could cost us more in the long run."

Edward nodded. "Agreed. But we also need to act quickly. The longer we delay, the harder it will be to recover."

As the meeting went on, Samuel continued to lead, offering solutions and outlining plans. But in the back of his mind, the questions remained. Could he trust Raver? Could he trust Daren? What about Bart, Billy, or Edward? They all seemed supportive on the surface, but Samuel had learned long ago that appearances could be deceiving.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the meeting came to an end. The board members began to gather their things, each offering Samuel a polite nod or a firm handshake before filing out of the room.

Timmy, who had been sitting quietly at the side, approached Samuel. "Everything seemed to go well, sir," he said cautiously. "But... you seemed distracted."

Samuel gave him a brief glance, rubbing his temples. "I was thinking," he replied simply, his voice low.

"About James?" Timmy asked, reading his boss’s mind the way he often did.

"About everything," Samuel muttered, his gaze drifting back to the empty chairs around the table. He turned back to Timmy. "Tell me, what do you know about these rumors Bart mentioned?"

Timmy frowned, hesitating for a moment. "I’ve heard some things, but nothing concrete. There’s talk about instability in leadership, questions about your ability to handle the recent... changes."

"Changes?" Samuel repeated, his tone sharp. "They mean James."

Timmy nodded. "Yes. News of his return has raised some eyebrows. Investors are wondering if the company will stay in your hands."

Samuel gritted his teeth. He knew this would happen as soon as news about James’s return came out. It wasn’t just about the family or the past—it was about control. And now, with James in the picture, everything he had worked for was at risk.

"Let them talk," Samuel said coldly. "I’ll prove them wrong."

Timmy gave a quick nod but remained silent as Samuel stood up, gathering his thoughts. The room was empty now, save for the two of them. The weight of everything pressed down on Samuel’s shoulders.

"Start looking into the board members," Samuel ordered quietly. "I want to know where their loyalties lie. Every detail, no matter how small. I want to know who’s talking to whom, what deals are being made behind closed doors."

Timmy didn’t hesitate. "I’ll start right away."

Samuel turned and walked out of the room, his mind spinning. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was working against him—whether it was Raver, Farrell, or even Edward. Maybe it was all of them. Or maybe none of them. But he had to know for sure.

As he left the boardroom, he passed by a large window overlooking the city. For a brief moment, he paused, staring out at the skyline. His mind wandered back to Zinnia and the breakfast he had made her that morning. He had hoped it would be a small gesture, something to show her he still cared.

But the reality was that his life with Zinnia had become just as complicated as his work life. James’s reappearance had thrown everything off balance, and now Samuel was still unsure if he could truly win Zinnia’s heart.

He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. He needed to focus. There were too many things at stake—his company, his relationship, his future. And yet, with everything happening around him, he couldn’t help but feel like he was losing control.

Just who is pulling the strings behind all this? Samuel thought to himself as he walked down the corridor. And what will it take for me to stay ahead of them?

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Author’s Note:

Hi, Little Flowers!

This is my first month of MGS and Win-Win. I appreciate your support and hope you consider purchasing my privileged Chapters this month. Thank you so much for the gifts, power stones, golden tickets, comments, and reviews. I appreciate it all!

Love you all! ❤️