Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Vintage Cellar’s New COO

Monday morning arrived with a lingering haze of tension for Aurora as she stepped into the office.

The events of the previous day still weighed heavily on her, her mind occupied with the shocking revelation about the chip in her head. But today was pivotal—a moment that could redefine her career.

Placing her bag gently on her desk, Aurora grabbed her phone and walked out, making her way to the elevator. The ride to the conference room was silent, her thoughts a swirling mix of anticipation and resolve.

When she entered, the room was already buzzing. Board members and department heads occupied their seats, their voices a low murmur of conversation. At the right-hand side of the table, Olivia sat poised with a smirk playing on her lips.

Her gaze locked onto Aurora’s as if challenging her. Aurora, however, refused to give her the satisfaction, averting her eyes and taking her seat at the left-hand side of the head table.

Moments later, the door opened, and Stephanie entered with the commanding grace of a leader. The room fell silent as everyone rose to their feet, greeting her with respectful bows and murmured salutations.

Stephanie gestured for everyone to sit as she took her place at the head of the table. Her eyes scanned the room with a practised authority before she spoke, her voice calm but firm.

“Good morning, everyone. I hope you’re all well. As you know, today’s agenda is to announce the new Chief Operating Officer of Vintage Cellar, based on the task set by my late brother, who was the founder and former chairman of this company, Adam Swift.”

The mention of their father brought a flicker of emotion to Aurora’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself. Stephanie’s gaze lingered on her and Olivia briefly before continuing. “Let’s start.”

A man in a neatly pressed suit rose from his seat. The leader of the monitoring team assigned to oversee the task, carried an air of confidence as he moved to the projector. With practised ease, he brought up the first chart, illuminating the screen with detailed statistics.

“This,” he began, pointing to the numbers on the screen, “is the performance data for both Fruit Punch Champagne, created by Director Aurora Swift, and Spraying Champagne, developed by Director Olivia Swift. Over the past weeks, we’ve been tracking sales figures, consumer feedback, and market stability for both products.”

Aurora sat calmly, her hands folded on the table as the presentation unfolded. Olivia, however, fidgeted, her eyes darting nervously between the screen and the man speaking.

“As you can see,” the presenter continued, “Director Aurora Swift’s Fruit Punch Champagne has outperformed Spraying Champagne by a significant margin. The data here speaks for itself.”

The room erupted in applause, the board and department heads nodding in approval. Aurora’s lips curved into a serene smile, her confidence unwavering.

Olivia, on the other hand, froze, her mouth falling open in disbelief. She had thought herself the victor, confident in the false data she had relied upon. Now, her world crumbled as the truth stared her in the face.

“This can’t be right!” Olivia blurted, rising from her seat. “The numbers don’t add up. I’ve seen the data—Spraying Champagne was leading in sales!”

The presenter adjusted his glasses, his tone unyielding. “Director Swift, the data on the screen is the actual, unaltered performance report. If you wish, we can provide a detailed breakdown to verify its authenticity.”

Olivia’s fists clenched at her sides, her glare fixed on Aurora, who sat composed and unmoved by her outburst. Furious and humiliated, Olivia turned to storm out of the room, but Stephanie’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.

“Director Swift,” Stephanie said sharply, her tone leaving no room for defiance, “If you walk out of this room in my presence and that of the board, your directorial position will be revoked as a disciplinary measure. And you will start from the ground up as an ordinary employee.”

The threat stopped Olivia in her tracks. Biting her lower lip to suppress the tears brimming in her eyes, she reluctantly returned to her seat, enduring the quiet triumph that now filled the room.

—

The appointment letter for the new COO was typed, printed, and brought into the room. One by one, the directors approached Aurora, offering her their congratulations and shaking her hand.

The letter, encased in a royal blue jacket folder, was handed to Aurora. She opened it with steady hands, her name bold and clear on the official document. With a confident smile, she signed her name.

Stephanie followed, signing her name with a flourish before turning to Aurora. “Congratulations on your new position, Aurora,” she said warmly, shaking her hand. “This is well deserved.”

“Thank you, Aunty,” Aurora replied, her voice steady but tinged with gratitude. Cameras flashed as photographs were taken of the moment, first of Aurora and Stephanie, then joined by the directors and department heads. Olivia sat rooted to her seat, seething silently, her fists clenched under the table.

‘This can’t be,’ she kept saying to herself.

Stephanie handed Aurora a certificate commemorating the success of her Fruit Punch Champagne. “Well done,” she said, smiling proudly. “Keep up the excellent work.”

Aurora accepted it graciously. Then, with a sharp glance at Olivia, Stephanie called her up. Reluctantly, Olivia approached, taking the certificate with a tight-lipped smile. The applause that followed felt hollow to her, and she quickly returned to her seat, her head bowed to hide her humiliation.

—

Back in her office, Aurora was greeted by her team with cheers and applause. She smiled brightly, thanking them for their support. “To celebrate, I will reserve a private room at a five-star restaurant. It’s my way of showing appreciation for all your hard work.”

Her team erupted in excitement, their spirits lifted by her generosity. “Thank you, Director Swift!”

Once alone in her office, Aurora picked up her phone and dialled Xander. The line barely rang before he answered.

“Darling, I’m now officially the COO of Vintage Cellar!” she announced, her voice brimming with pride.

“Congratulations, Sweetheart!” Xander said, his tone warm and proud, while still reeling from the endearing name she just called him. “I knew you’d achieve this.”

—

Meanwhile, in her own office, Olivia slammed the door shut, her frustration spilling over. She grabbed the certificate she had received and tore it into pieces before tossing it into the waste bin. Her anger boiling over, she swiped everything off her desk with a scream, her tears flowing freely.

“Damn you, Aurora!” she hissed, her voice shaking. “This isn’t over yet!”