Chapter 43 A Ruthless Woman
Athena didn’t respond to Gideon’s comment right away. Her expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. She had noticed his change in attitude, how he had gone from skeptical to impressed in such a short time. But she wasn’t interested in indulging in his praises. There was business to attend to.
“Let’s focus on what’s next, Gideon,” Athena said, her tone cool and decisive. “Carlos is just the first step. The rest of them need to know that I’m not someone to be underestimated.”
Gideon’s smile faltered for a moment, but he nodded in agreement. He had been surprised by Athena’s ruthlessness earlier, but it was clear now that she wasn’t just playing a game—she was controlling the board, and everyone else was just a pawn. Even he could see that.
The door to the conference room opened, and Matt hurried in, followed by the senior leaders of the company. They all looked uneasy, their eyes darting from one another, sensing the tension in the air. Athena stood, ready to face them all.
“Everyone, please take a seat,” Athena said, her voice calm but authoritative.
The room quickly quieted, and all eyes were on her. Matt took a seat at the head of the table next to Athena, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to hide his nervousness. Gideon remained standing behind Athena, observing the situation with interest.
“We all know why we’re here,” Athena began, her gaze sweeping over the group. “Carlos’ actions have put us in a difficult position, but his fall will pave the way for us to clean house. We can no longer afford to let greed and corruption dictate our company’s future.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, but Athena didn’t give them the chance to get comfortable.
“I’ll be reviewing the list of names Carlos gave me,” she continued, holding up the papers she had collected from him earlier. “Those of you who are clean have nothing to fear. But anyone found guilty of embezzling, abusing their power, or being complicit in Carlos’ schemes will be held accountable. This is not just a warning—it’s a promise.”
Her words hit like a wave, crashing over the group. Some looked fearful, others resigned. A few appeared to be considering their next move, but none dared to speak.
Gideon watched with quiet admiration as Athena took control of the situation with precision. She wasn’t just a pretty face or a puppet for someone else’s agenda. She was a force to be reckoned with.
As the meeting continued, the air grew thick with unease. Athena laid out her plan for how the company would proceed, detailing how she intended to rebuild and restore integrity. But there was no sugar-coating it. People would lose their jobs. The corruption would be rooted out. And those who had betrayed her trust would pay the price.
When the meeting finally ended, the group was dismissed, and Matt, along with the others, left the room, looking like they had just survived a storm.
Gideon approached Athena as she gathered her things. “That was impressive,” he said, his tone sincere. “You really know how to handle people.”
Athena didn’t smile, but there was a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. “It’s not about handling people. It’s about making sure they understand there are consequences for their actions.”
As they walked out of the conference room, the rest of the day stretched ahead of them, but Athena’s mind was already focused on the next move. There was still much to be done.
Gideon fell into step beside her. “So, about lunch…” he started, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m still curious why you’d prefer the canteen over a nice restaurant. Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere a bit more extravagant?”
Athena glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “I like the simplicity of the canteen. It’s real, no pretenses.”
Gideon chuckled, a little surprised by her answer. He had assumed she would be more inclined toward luxury. “Fair enough,” he said with a shrug. “To each their own.”
As they made their way to the canteen, Athena couldn’t help but feel a slight amusement at the thought of how much Gideon had misjudged her. But she wasn’t about to explain herself to him. The day’s victories, big and small, were hers to savor in silence.