Chapter 134: ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR

ADRIAN’S POV

The moment we returned to the mansion, the air was considerably lighter than it was before.

Cassian dropped onto the sofa and stretched his legs across the table while Elijah took the seat beside him and immediately started complaining about how long the drive had been. Roman was standing near the drinks cabinet, going through his phone while occasionally throwing comments into the conversation.

Fuck. I was tired.

I had barely sat down when my phone started ringing. I glanced at the screen and immediately knew who it was.

One of the board members.

I let it ring twice before answering. "What is it?"

"Adrian, we need to talk about today’s meeting."

I closed my eyes. "No. We don’t."

There was a short silence on the other end before the man sighed. "You can’t keep doing this. We’ve already postponed the meeting several times because you asked us to. The board has been patient, but we cannot cancel again."

"I didn’t ask you to cancel for fun."

"I understand that, but this is about the succession of the company. Your father is gone, Adrian. The company still needs someone officially in charge, and the board needs to make a decision."

I rubbed my forehead and leaned back into the sofa. "I’m aware of what the meeting is about."

The man sounded slightly irritated now. "Then you need to be here."

I looked around the room at my brothers. None of them were listening openly, but all three had gone quiet enough to know they were paying attention.

The board member continued, "If you don’t attend today’s meeting, we will have no choice but to proceed without you. There are already members questioning whether ownership should remain with your family. If the board votes, the company could go to someone else."

That finally got my attention and I sat up straight. "They’re considering giving my father’s company to someone else?"

"They’re considering the legal options available to the board if the succession isn’t settled. I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to walk into the meeting unprepared."

I stared at the floor for several seconds before answering. "Fine. I’ll be there soon."

"You’re coming?" He asked skeptically.

"I said I’ll be there." I ended the call before he could say anything else.

Cassian immediately looked over. "What happened?"

"The board wants to discuss succession."

Roman lowered his phone. "Again?"

I nodded. "This time they’re threatening to vote."

Cassian sat forward. "Then I’m coming with you."

"No." I immediately shut him down. The last thing I needed was a scene with my brother.

He frowned. "Why?"

"Because I’m going to a board meeting, and I don’t need you going off on them."

He folded his arms. "You know how these people are. If they’re actually discussing giving the company to somebody else, I’m not sitting here while they try to push you around."

I stood from the sofa. "And what exactly are you going to do? Walk into the boardroom and threaten them?"

Cassian’s expression remained completely serious. "I could."

Elijah laughed from the other side of the room. "At least he’s honest."

I shook my head and headed toward the stairs. "You people are unbelievable. We’re Alphas, not a group of hooligans who solve every disagreement by showing up together and intimidating everyone in the room. I can handle a board meeting by myself."

Cassian followed me with his eyes. "If they try to remove you, I will be making sure they regret it."

I waved a hand. "I won’t need you to do anything afterward because they won’t remove me."

I reached the stairs and turned back toward them. "Besides, I have enough problems without explaining to a room full of board members why four grown Alphas decided to storm a company meeting together. Stay here."

Cassian leaned back again. "Fine. But if you call, we’re coming."

I ignored him and went upstairs to change.

A few minutes later, I came back down wearing a proper suit, my hair neatly arranged and my expression already schooled into one of seriousness.

Elijah looked at me from the sofa and whistled. "Now you look like someone they should be afraid of."

Cassian glanced at my clothes. "You look like you’re going to fire half the company."

"Maybe I should." I muttered.

Roman finally looked up from his phone. "Don’t do that until you know who’s actually useful."

I gave him a look. "Thank you for the advice."

"You’re welcome." He grinned.

I picked up my keys and headed for the door.

"Adrian," Cassian called.

I turned. "Yes."

"Good luck."

I nodded, and then I left.

The drive to the company took longer than expected as traffic suddenly seemed to slow in the city.

I frowned and tapped the steering wheel. "What now?"

Cars stretched ahead of me, barely moving. I eventually saw what had happened. A careless driver had caused a minor accident, and several vehicles had been forced to slow down while people dealt with it.

I checked the time. "Perfect."

The traffic took longer than expected, and by the time I finally reached the company building, I was already tired of the meeting before I had even stepped inside.

I parked, got out, and walked straight through the entrance. Several employees greeted me along the way, but I barely stopped. I had no interest in small talk.

My father’s assistant was waiting near the elevators. "Mr. Blackthorne."

I looked at her. "Where are they?"

"The boardroom. They’re already waiting for you."

"Of course they are."

She hesitated before following me toward the elevator. "They’ve been discussing several matters."

"I can imagine."

When the elevator doors opened on the appropriate floor, she led me down the hallway toward the boardroom and I looked at her as we walked.

She had worked for my father for years.

I knew she wasn’t innocent. Which was why I was going to fire her soon. I’d find a new secretary.

We reached the boardroom and the assistant opened the door before I stepped inside.

The first thing I noticed was the way the board members were sitting.

One had his chair pushed so far back that he was practically reclining. Another had his feet stretched toward the empty chair beside him.

Two others were speaking to each other instead of paying attention to the meeting, while another was looking through his phone as though I had interrupted something far more important.

I stopped at the doorway for a second but nobody stood or greeted me.

I slowly looked around the room. "Is this how board meetings are conducted now?"

One of the men finally looked up. "What?"

I walked toward the empty seat at the head of the table. "I’m asking whether this is how you normally behave during an official company meeting."

The man with his feet stretched out gave a dismissive shrug. "You haven’t been here for most of the meetings, Adrian. You don’t get to walk in now and complain about how we’re sitting."

I pulled out the chair and sat down.

Another board member folded his arms. "You should understand something before this meeting starts. You don’t even know whether you’re going to become the next CEO."

I looked at him. "What?"

He continued, "Your father’s position isn’t automatically yours. The board still has to approve the succession. So you can’t come in here acting like you already control everyone."

For a moment, the entire room went quiet as I stared at the man.

Then I laughed.

Wow.

Bastards.