Empire 198

That evening, Nova carefully secured her bedroom door and prepared a simple sleeping spot for Holden near the entrance, unwilling to lower her guard around him. While picking up his jacket, she discovered a photograph that fell from his wallet—a picture of her best friend who had tragically died by suicide after a painful breakup the previous year. The shock of seeing this image left Nova stunned and speechless.

The next morning, Ramona arrived at Holt Group headquarters right on time, now confirmed as the largest shareholder and holding the highest authority in the company. She had already booked the top-floor boardroom and arranged for the press to receive a timely scoop. Jotham, taken aback but understanding her anger after his deception, tried to prepare a warm welcome and hoped for a fresh start with her.

However, when Ramona entered the boardroom, she was transformed—dressed impeccably and accompanied by lawyers and a court officer with official documents. She ignored Jotham and Griffin, asserting her new power by announcing that she now held fifty percent of the company’s stock and full executive authority. The boardroom was filled with confusion and whispers as she made it clear she intended to take charge.

Jotham pleaded with Ramona to consult their father before making major decisions, concerned about the company’s reputation. Griffin was irritated but skeptical of Ramona’s ability to cause real trouble. Ramona’s cold, mocking gaze unsettled them both. Before Jotham could speak privately with her, one of Ramona’s team members moved to block him as she formally dismissed him from his roles as president and CEO due to his repeated mistakes and the risks he posed.

Ramona then stripped Griffin of his authority as well, condemning both men for their failures and selfishness. She accused Jotham of using her and profiting from her work without giving anything back, and criticized Griffin for crossing ethical lines for profit. With her voice firm and resolute, Ramona declared that Holt Group had a new leader from that day forward, signaling a dramatic shift in power and control.

That evening, Nova had decided to secure her bedroom door tightly and prepare a simple sleeping arrangement for him—a blanket and a pillow placed just inside the front entrance. She wasn’t about to let her defenses down, not even while he was asleep. Trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford with this man, whether he was awake or not.

As she reached out to pick up Holden’s jacket, his wallet slipped free and tumbled to the floor. A photograph slipped out, fluttering gently onto the carpet. Nova’s breath caught, her eyes locking onto the image instantly.

For a brief moment, her pupils dilated with shock. She pressed a hand over her mouth, unable to believe what she was seeing. The girl in the photo was none other than her best friend—the one she had grown up with, as close as a sister.

Just last year, after a painful breakup that shattered her spirit, that same friend had tragically taken her own life.

The following morning, precisely at ten o’clock, Ramona arrived at the Holt Group headquarters, perfectly on schedule.

Her ownership shares had been confirmed; from that moment on, she held the highest authority within the company.

Even before stepping inside the building, she had booked the top-floor boardroom and arranged for the press to receive a carefully timed, headline-grabbing tip the previous night.

Jotham saw Ramona’s email notification and, although caught off guard, he understood her position. After being deceived by him for so long, Ramona had every right to be furious. Now that she was back at Holt Group with her new status, it was natural for her to assert herself. After all, her rank far surpassed his.

In response, Jotham instructed his assistant to prepare Ramona’s favorite drink, personally reserved a table at her preferred restaurant, and even planned a small surprise. He was hopeful for a fresh start—just the two of them.

However, when the boardroom doors swung open, a slender yet commanding figure stepped into the light, immediately capturing everyone’s attention.

“Ramona…” Jotham rose quickly, ready to greet her, but the woman who entered was nothing like the reunion he had imagined.

She was dressed in a sharp mint-green skirt suit, her long hair cascading in sleek waves over one shoulder, every detail meticulously styled. Behind her followed two sharply dressed lawyers carrying briefcases, and a uniformed court officer holding a stack of official documents.

There she was—a woman whose face he knew as intimately as his own, every feature etched into his memory. Yet, at that moment, Jotham felt as if he were staring at a stranger. The rightful source is Find[ɴ]ovel.net

Was it just his imagination?

When had Ramona transformed into someone so dazzling, so untouchable?

“Good morning, everyone,” Ramona began, her voice calm and authoritative. “I’m Ramona. I assume you’re all aware of the recent changes in company ownership. I won’t keep you long. After a few important announcements, you’ll be free to go.”

She brushed past Jotham without so much as a glance and ignored Griffin, who sat at the head of the table, clearly expecting some form of respectful acknowledgment.

Stopping at the chair reserved for the company’s leader, she didn’t sit. Instead, she nodded to one of her lawyers.

One of the attorneys stepped forward, addressing the room with a steady, precise tone:

“According to the legally binding share transfer agreement and the company’s charter, Ms. Ramona now holds fifty percent of Holt Group stock, making her the largest single shareholder. Accordingly, Ms. Jarrett is entitled to full executive and managerial authority.”

Confusion rippled through the boardroom.

Wasn’t Ramona just an employee? How had she come to own the Holt family’s shares? And what exactly was she planning to do?

Whispers spread like wildfire, and Jotham’s face turned pale.

“Ramona! Stop this,” he said urgently. “Even if you now have the highest authority in the company, you should consult Dad before making any major decisions.”

He understood her desire to celebrate. After years of hard work, she was finally a shareholder. But there were limits to what could be done publicly. What about the Holt family’s reputation?

Griffin’s expression was cold as he fixed Ramona with a steely glare. He looked irritated, but he didn’t believe Ramona could cause serious trouble on her own.

Only then did Ramona’s eyes meet Jotham’s and Griffin’s. The look she gave them was filled with cool mockery—cold, distant, unfamiliar.

A shiver ran down Jotham’s spine. Something was very wrong.

He sprang to his feet. “Ramona, let’s talk in private.”

But before he could move closer, a member of Ramona’s team stepped in to block his path.

“I move, as the majority shareholder and with immediate effect, that due to Mr. Jotham’s repeated major errors in executive decision-making and the risk his personal conduct poses to the company’s reputation—”

She paused, each word striking Jotham like a hammer blow.

“Jotham is hereby dismissed from all positions as president and CEO of Holt Group.”

“Ramona, do you even understand what you’re saying?” Jotham growled, veins bulging on his forehead as he struggled to maintain his composure.

He tried to push past the person blocking him, glaring fiercely at Ramona. “Just because you hold the shares doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want! Holt Group is the foundation of the Holt family!”

“And as for you, Griffin—” Ramona turned, her voice steady and even. “As chairman and senior board member, you failed to correct these mistakes. From this day forward, you are also stripped of all authority within the company.”

She ignored Jotham’s protests and finished calmly.

Griffin hadn’t anticipated Ramona going this far. He slammed his fist on the table and jumped to his feet. “Ungrateful wretch! Ramona, have you lost your mind?”

“Do whatever I want?” Ramona echoed, her voice low but resonant throughout the room, each word edged with frost. “Jotham, when you used me as a shield between you and Brianna, when you took the fruits of my hard work to prop up your company and never gave me anything in return—was that not doing whatever you wanted?”

She didn’t wait for a reply. Her gaze shifted to Griffin, whose face had turned ashen.

“And you,” she continued, “willing to cross every line for profit—haven’t you long since lost your own mind?”

Ramona took a deep breath, her voice rising with each word, her tone final and unyielding.

“From today onward, Holt Group has a new name at the top.”

The chapter closes on a powerful note of transformation and reckoning. Ramona, once seen as merely an employee and a shadow of her former self, now stands resolute and commanding, wielding her newfound authority with a cold clarity that unsettles those around her. Her decisive actions underscore a profound shift—not only in the power dynamics within Holt Group but also in her personal journey from betrayal and pain to empowerment and control. The emotional weight of her confrontation with Jotham and Griffin reflects the deep wounds inflicted by past injustices, yet also signals her refusal to be subdued any longer.

Meanwhile, Nova’s guarded vigilance and the discovery of the photograph hint at the lingering complexities of trust and loss that permeate the story. Both women embody resilience in the face of adversity, navigating their fractured relationships and painful histories with strength and determination. This chapter, rich with tension and emotional depth, sets the stage for a new era defined by courage, confrontation, and the inexorable pursuit of justice.

The next chapter promises to deepen the tension within the Holt Group as Ramona steps fully into her newfound power. Her transformation from the woman Jotham once knew into a formidable force will challenge the existing dynamics, leaving Jotham and Griffin grappling with the consequences of their past actions. The emotional undercurrents between these characters are poised to intensify, with Ramona’s cold resolve hinting at unresolved wounds and a desire for justice that may reshape the company—and their relationships—forever.

Meanwhile, Nova’s discovery of the photograph introduces a haunting connection that could unravel hidden truths and stir long-buried emotions. As trust becomes an even scarcer commodity, the characters must navigate a delicate balance between vulnerability and self-preservation. Readers can expect a chapter rich in psychological complexity, where alliances shift and the pursuit of power collides with personal history, setting the stage for confrontations that will test loyalties and reveal the true cost of ambition.