Chapter 367: The Nepotism Has Been Revoked!

William Lockwood had always thought that someone in his position shouldn’t have to wait for anything, be it an important answer, a colleague to show up, or even for a door to be opened for him.

Over the years, he’d learned that people tended to move when he spoke, executives would rethink their choices if he showed dissatisfaction, and even those who weren’t fond of him usually had the common sense to hide it behind polite smiles.

So, when he entered the executive floor of Lockwood Group that morning, he expected nothing less than the usual treatment he’d grown accustomed to over the decades.

The friendly smiles and professional greetings from his colleagues only affirmed his belief that things hadn’t changed.

"Good morning, Mr. Lockwood."

"Sir, it’s good to see you again."

William returned their greetings with a distracted nod, holding a hefty folder under one arm as he made his way towards his son’s office.

He hadn’t set up a meeting and didn’t bother to give his son a heads-up about his visit because he felt the conversation they needed to have didn’t need an invitation.

His son had embarrassed the family by turning down a perfectly good engagement, and he’d let a relationship that should’ve been buried years ago become public again.

To make matters worse, Damien seemed to think that just because he had gained some authority over the company, he could disregard the very people who built it. William was determined to set that straight before it became a permanent issue.

As he approached Damien’s office, the executive assistant stood up. "Good morning, Mr. Lockwood. Do you have an appointment with Mr. Lockwood?"

William shot her a look that said he couldn’t believe she’d even ask.

"What you on about? I am his father."

"Err...yes, sir, I...I understand. However, Mr. Lockwood is currently in a meeting, and I would appreciate it if you could—"

William had already opened the door. "Then he can wrap it up."

Without another word, he walked in, leaving the assistant with no choice but to follow him after a brief pause.

Damien was seated behind his desk, reading over something on his laptop, his black hair neatly combed and his suit looking sharp. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows behind him, illuminating the tidy desk and the files organized on one side.

He only looked up when William dropped the folder in front of him with enough force to shift the papers inside. "You’re stepping down as CEO...now."

Damien glanced at the folder before turning his attention back to his screen. "Good morning to you too, Father."

William’s expression grew tense. "This isn’t up for discussion."

"Great. That means we can wrap this up quickly."

Damien grabbed the folder and turned to a page.

For a few moments, William stood there, expecting Damien to respond with anger or at least put up a fight, maybe even realize that William Lockwood wasn’t someone whose decisions could be brushed aside. Instead, his son just kept reading.

"Did you even hear what I said?!"

Why wasn’t this son of his having a damn reaction?!

"Yes, yes, father. You want me to step down as CEO." Damien signed the bottom of the document, closed the file, and finally looked up. "Should I applaud, or are we skipping to the part where you tell me why you think you can demand that?"

William’s fingers curled against the desk.

"I’m calling an emergency board meeting. They’ll present a resolution to remove you, and we’ve got an interim team ready to take over if needed. You’ve been making one terrible decision after another, and the board won’t let you jeopardize everything just because you think your personal life is more important than your responsibilities."

Damien listened, his face so composed that it only made William angrier. William laid out the resolution, the directors he thought would support it, and the arrangements he had made for the transition, believing that if he provided enough details, it would make his plans unchallengeable.

When William finally paused, Damien clasped his hands on the desk. "Have you verified that you still have the authority to call this vote?"

William stared at him, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Have you confirmed that you still have the authority to call this vote?"

"I’m your father, Damien! This company was built by our family, and I’ve dedicated decades to protecting everything bearing our name."

"That’s not what I asked."

For the first time since entering the office, a flicker of hesitation crossed William’s face. It was such a brief moment, nearly unnoticeable, but Damien caught it.

His father had expected confrontation, not a question that threatened the foundation of his plan.

Before William could reply, the door opened, and Naomi Bennett stepped in, carrying a slim folder and a tablet.

She looked professional as she greeted them both, but Damien could tell from her expression that she likely already had an idea about the heated conversation they were having.

"Mr. Lockwood, I’ve brought the governance records you requested."

"Thanks, Naomi. Please pass them to my father."

William snatched the folder and quickly began reviewing it, his frustration growing as he read the official documents outlining the governance changes that Damien had spent the past month securing.

The authority he had assumed to possess had either lapsed or been transferred according to the company’s approved arrangements, and the current board structure didn’t allow him to force through a removal simply because he felt like it.

He looked up sharply. "Who on earth approved these changes?!"

"They went through the proper governance procedures," Naomi replied.

"Without my approval?!"

"Your approval wasn’t needed according to the applicable guidelines."

William’s eyes narrowed. "Do you know who you’re talking to?"

Naomi met his gaze without flinching. "Mr. Lockwood, I know exactly who you are. That’s why I made sure every change was documented, reviewed, and properly authorized."

The silence that filled the room was almost impressive.

Damien leaned back in his chair, allowing his father a moment to take in the news without giving him the satisfaction of an argument.

He hadn’t dismantled William’s influence overnight, nor had he relied on a convenient loophole. Every change had been intentional, documented, and approved by professionals who were well-versed in the company’s obligations.

For so long, William had dictated where Damien went, the choices he made, and even the future he was allowed to envision.

Now, for the first time, he was realizing that his son had been preparing for this showdown while he had been busy assuming everything would always stay the same.

"Are you telling me," William said slowly, "that you’ve spent the last month planning this behind my back?!"

Damien’s expression remained cool.

"I’m saying I’ve spent the past month making sure the company can operate without relying on informal authority that should have never existed in the first place."

William gripped the folder so tightly that the edges crumpled beneath his fingers. "This isn’t finished."

"No," Damien agreed. "But your visit to my office is. Please leave, Father. I have work to attend to."

Later that morning, the emergency board meeting actually did take place, and William entered the boardroom with the same confidence he had when he walked into Damien’s office, seemingly convinced that the familiar faces and long-time colleagues would give him back the upper hand he’d just lost.

He took his usual spot at the table, placed his folder in front of him, and started speaking before the meeting chair had even finished going through the agenda.

"The proposed resolution is about Damien’s continued fit as CEO. Recent decisions have posed unnecessary risks to our reputation, and I believe the board needs to act before any more damage is done."

The chair, a silver-haired director who had dedicated nearly twenty years to the company, looked over the circulated documents before responding.

"The proposed resolution hasn’t been accepted for voting in its current state, Mr. Lockwood. The governance records show that the required protocols and authorizations weren’t followed."

William’s face hardened. "Then we can satisfy them right now."

"That’s not how this process works," another director chimed in. "The board can’t remove a CEO just because one member disagrees with their personal choices. If there are documented concerns regarding performance, they can be submitted through the established protocols."

William scanned the table, hoping someone would back him up, someone who remembered the years he’d spent building relationships and generating loyalty within the company.

But several directors avoided his gaze, while others continued to review the documents as if the professional obligations outweighed any personal history.

"Surely," he said, focusing on one long-time associate, "you understand our family’s position and what’s at stake!"

The director folded his hands. "I understand the importance of safeguarding the company, which is why I won’t support any action that hasn’t been properly authorized."

William’s fingers tightened around the back of his chair as he slowly realized that nobody in the room was waiting for him to call the shots anymore.

This wasn’t a dramatic collapse, with accusations flying or directors cheering the end of his influence. It was quieter...much more devastating.

People who once looked to William for guidance were now speaking to the meeting chair, referring to governance documents, and discussing the company’s responsibilities as though his personal displeasure was simply another irrelevant detail.

Damien didn’t need to threaten anyone to get their loyalty. The protocols his father had long viewed as obstacles were now serving their intended purpose.

William’s mistake had been equating familiarity with authority, and that difference was becoming painfully clear.

When it became evident that the proposed removal couldn’t go forward, William’s focus shifted to what he believed was the real source of the issue.

"All of this," he said, turning to Damien, "because you’ve let that boy mess with your judgment! You have a duty to this company, yet you’re willing to hurt your own family for someone who offers you nothing but emotional attachment!"