Chapter 4 - The Board Had Chosen
Julian couldn't concentrate.
The airplane climbed through the clouds.
Chloe remained silent.
Elena looked perfectly relaxed.
She opened her phone.
Julian stared at the leather folder.
“Who did you appoint?”
Elena didn't answer.
“Was it Daniel?”
“No.”
“Marcus?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Elena finally looked at him.
“Someone you know.”
Julian's stomach tightened.
“I know everyone on the board.”
“Not everyone.”
She turned toward the window.
The answer irritated him.
He hated uncertainty.
For years, Julian had controlled every detail.
He knew which investors supported him.
Which employees feared him.
Which executives owed him favors.
He knew where Elena spent her time.
He knew her passwords.
He knew her schedule.
He thought he knew her.
But sitting beside her at 30,000 feet, he realized how little he had understood.
Chloe finally spoke.
“Julian.”
He looked at her.
“Did you really plan to leave her?”
“Yes.”
“You said you loved me.”
“I do.”
Elena didn't react.
Chloe looked at her.
“Doesn't that hurt?”
Elena paused.
Then answered honestly.
“It did.”
Chloe lowered her eyes.
“But?”
“But I learned something.”
“What?”
Elena looked at Julian.
“Being betrayed doesn't mean you have to lose.”
Julian's jaw tightened.
“Stop acting like this is some game.”
“It isn't.”
She opened the folder again.
A photograph fell onto the tray table.
Julian picked it up.
His expression changed.
It showed him entering a private hotel with Chloe three months earlier.
Another photograph showed the apartment.
Another showed a bank meeting.
He stared.
“Who took these?”
Elena didn't answer.
He looked at her.
“You've been watching me.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Elena leaned back.
“The people you forgot worked for me.”
Julian's face went blank.
He had always believed Elena's assistants were harmless.
He had underestimated them.
Badly.
Then a flight attendant approached.
“Mr. Julian?”
“Yes?”
“There's a message for you.”
She handed him a sealed envelope.
Julian opened it.
Inside was a single card.
WELCOME TO THE FLIGHT, MR. FORMER CEO.
May you like
His hand began shaking.
👉 Someone on the plane already knew Julian would lose his position—and whoever sent the message knew exactly what Elena had planned.
