Chapter 135: ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE

ADRIAN’S POV

The room went quiet at the sound and everyone looked at me like I was crazy.

I let the sound die naturally before looking around the table again. "Since we’re apparently discussing whether I have the authority to complain, let’s establish something first. This is a board meeting, not a lounge. Sit properly."

The man who had spoken earlier frowned. "Adrian, I don’t think—"

I turned to him sharply. "I wasn’t asking what you think."

His mouth closed as I leaned back in my chair and looked at the others. "Everyone in this room is going to sit like we’re actually here to discuss the future of the company. Put your phones away, take your feet off the table, sit up, and pay attention. If that’s too difficult, the door is right behind you."

Nobody moved for several seconds. Then one of the older members slowly pulled his feet down.

Another straightened in his chair and placed his phone on the table.

The man who had argued with me stared at me for a moment longer before finally adjusting his seat.

I waited until everyone was settled before speaking again. "Good. Now we can start."

The board secretary cleared her throat and opened the documents in front of her. "The main purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the succession of Blackthorne Group following the death of Mr. Blackthorne. There are several proposals concerning ownership and executive control that need to be considered before the board reaches a decision."

"Then let’s hear them."

One of the members immediately raised his hand slightly. "I’ll start. We need to be realistic about the situation. Adrian hasn’t shown much interest in the company for a considerable amount of time. He has barely attended meetings, hasn’t involved himself in the current projects, and has left most of the day-to-day decisions to other executives. If he doesn’t intend to take over properly, I believe we should consider selling the company or transferring ownership to people who are actually willing to invest in it."

I listened without interrupting.

Another member nodded. "I agree with part of that. The company is too large to sit in uncertainty. We have employees, contracts, investors, and projects depending on a clear leadership structure. We can’t keep waiting for Adrian to decide what he wants."

A third man leaned forward. "There’s also the financial side. We have buyers who have already expressed interest in acquiring major portions of the company. If the board opens negotiations, we could bring in new ownership and stabilize things instead of continuing with this uncertainty."

Someone across the table disagreed. "Selling now would be premature. Blackthorne Group still has valuable assets, and there is no reason to assume Adrian can’t take over if he chooses to. The question is whether he actually wants the responsibility."

"That is exactly the problem," the first man replied. "We don’t know."

They continued and I listened as one member talked about investors. Another complained about unfinished projects. Someone else argued that the company’s reputation had suffered because of the scandal surrounding my father and insisted that new leadership needed to be brought in from outside the family. A few of them discussed keeping certain executives in place because they had experience and connections that would be difficult to replace.

I said nothing, I sat there and listened to every one of them.

None of them were talking about rebuilding the company.

They were talking about keeping what benefited them.

They had opinions about ownership, investors, projects, contracts, and executives, but almost none of them were willing to acknowledge the rot sitting underneath all of it. They wanted the company to survive without asking what had caused it to become what it was.

Eventually, the room fell silent.

The board secretary looked toward me. "Adrian, you’ve heard everyone’s opinions. What are your plans?"

I placed both hands on the table. "My plan is simple. I’m taking control of the company, and I’m rebuilding it from the ground up."

A few people exchanged looks and one of them frowned. "What exactly does that mean?"

I turned to him. "It means the current structure is changing."

"How?"

"Every ongoing project is being reviewed." I announced.

The man who had suggested selling the company immediately leaned forward. "Reviewed?"

"Terminated." I clarified.

The reaction was immediate, there was murmuring. "You can’t terminate all the ongoing projects."

"I can." I smirked. "I just did too."

"That would cost the company millions."

"I am fully aware." I leaned back in my seat.

Another member shook his head. "Some of those contracts are years in the making. You can’t simply walk away from them because you’ve decided to rebuild."

I shrugged. "I can walk away from anything that doesn’t belong in the company I’m building."

He opened his mouth again, but I continued before he could interrupt. "We’re changing the executive structure. We’re reviewing every department. Every contract will be examined. Every financial record will be checked. Anyone involved in corruption, fraud, manipulation, or any other illegal activity will be removed. I don’t care how long they’ve worked here, who recommended them, or how important they think they are."

The room became noticeably quieter as I looked from one face to another. "This company has been operating with too many people protecting themselves instead of protecting the company. That’s over. I’m cleansing Blackthorne Group completely. There will be new recruitment, new departments where necessary, new standards, and new oversight. Nobody is keeping a position simply because my father gave it to them."

One of the board members slapped his palm against the table. "This is reckless."

"No. What’s reckless is keeping the same people who helped destroy the company and pretending changing the name on the CEO’s office will fix anything."

The man looked appalled at the idea. "You’re going to throw away established projects, replace experienced employees, and investigate members of the company all at once. Do you understand the kind of financial damage that could cause?"

"Yes."

Another member shook his head. "This isn’t how a company is run."

I slowly looked at him. "It is how I’m going to run mine."

The man stared at me. "You can’t make decisions like this without the board."

That almost made me laugh. "I just did."

"This board has authority."

"And I’m giving you a choice." I retorted.

That shut him up and I stood from my chair. "If anyone sitting at this table isn’t comfortable with the direction I’m taking, you can sell your shares and resign. I won’t stop you. But you will not remain here while fighting every change I make simply because you benefited from the way things were done before."

Nobody answered, they just watched as I picked up my jacket. "The company doesn’t need people who are loyal to my father’s system. It needs people who are willing to work under mine." Then I walked out.

The moment the boardroom door closed behind me, I saw my father’s assistant standing several feet away.

She looked nervous. "Adrian."

"Get me the recruitment notice."

She blinked. "The recruitment notice?"

I nodded. "I want it sent out today. We’re hiring."

She hesitated. "But there aren’t currently any vacancies available."

"There will be." I started walking.

She stared at me and I continued walking toward the elevators. "Open applications for every role. Departments, management, administration, finance, legal, operations, everything. I want qualified people applying. We’ll decide who stays after the review."

Confusion flickered across her face. "But the current employees—"

"Are being reviewed." I cut her off.

She hurried after me. "What about the ongoing projects?"

"Terminate them."

"All of them?" Her eyes widened.

"All of them."

She looked like she wanted to ask another question, but I stopped beside the elevator and turned toward her. "Send the notices immediately. I don’t want delays, excuses, or another meeting asking me whether I meant what I said."

She swallowed and nodded. "Yes, sir."

The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside before she could say anything else.

By the time I reached the lobby, the news had already started spreading.

Employees stood in small groups near the reception area, speaking in low voices. Some were checking their phones. Others looked toward the elevators whenever someone stepped out, clearly trying to figure out what was happening. "Did you hear what he said?"

"They’re terminating all the projects?"

"What does that mean for us?"

"I heard they’re hiring new people."

"Then who is getting fired?"

"I don’t know. Maybe everyone."

I walked past them without stopping. They coukd think whatever they wanted.

Their voices followed me until I reached the entrance and I had barely stepped outside when my phone rang.

I answered immediately. "Yes?"

A man’s voice came through. "Mr. Blackthorne, my name is Daniel Hayes. I’m a business partner with the company. We currently have a project under Blackthorne Group, and I was informed that you’ve ordered it to be terminated."

"I have." I sighed. "Any issues?"

"Sir, I don’t think you understand the financial consequences of that decision. That project represents a significant investment for both sides. If you terminate it now, Blackthorne Group will take a substantial loss."

I pinched my brows. "I’m aware."

His voice became more urgent. "Mr. Blackthorne, we’re talking about a serious financial loss. Your company could lose a considerable amount of money."

I opened the car door. "I said I know."

"Then why would you do it?" He sounded confused.

I got inside and shut the door behind me. "Because I don’t care about the loss."

He went silent and I started the engine. "If terminating the project costs the company money, I’ll bear it. If rebuilding the company costs even more, I’ll bear that too. I’m not keeping a project I don’t want simply because cancelling it hurts financially."

"But—"

"I’ve made my decision." ThenI ended the call.

Blackthorne Group was no longer my father’s company.

It was mine now.

And I was going to tear out everything that didn’t belong in it.