Chapter 3

When I founded this company, it was to give my wife and child a better life.

So when Emma said she wanted to be Chairman and have me serve as CEO, I agreed.

She wanted to be a powerful businesswoman, and I was willing to pave the way for her.

When she used the excuse of needing someone to care for our newborn to push me behind the scenes, I pretended not to notice.

Even when she told others I was just a kept man to save face, I said nothing.

But my indulgence and compromises didn't earn her understanding—only her entitlement.

Derek made a snide remark: "Some people think they can climb to the top just by latching onto a rich woman. They even try to trap her with a kid. But a pretty boy is only good for mooching. He has no right to speak on real business matters."

I was still Emma's husband. This was a business meeting. She should have defended me in front of everyone to reassure the shareholders and partners.

But Emma didn't react at all. Instead, she smiled and walked toward Mr. Williams, who had returned.

Mr. Williams glanced at me with an awkward expression. Derek immediately stepped forward with a contract:

"Here's what we discussed. I printed it out ahead of time. Lucas cheated you, and I'll have the Chairman demote him right away!"

Derek bypassed Emma—the actual Chairman—to decide my fate, and she didn't even flinch. Instead, she gazed at him adoringly:

"You're amazing. Lucas spent six months trying to close this deal and couldn't. You did it in thirty minutes."

Watching them exchange looks like a married couple, my heart turned to ice.

Derek really was impressive. It took me six years to build this company, and he was about to destroy it with one contract in under half an hour.

Mr. Williams shook his head at me, disappointment written on his face: "I misjudged you."

He raised his pen and added a few words to Derek's contract: "I've decided to increase this partnership to one billion dollars!"

Derek was overjoyed: "The biggest deal you ever signed with Lucas was only fifty million. Now you're adding it up to a billion!"

I frowned and grabbed Emma's arm: "With an amount this large, the contract needs to be reviewed again."

Emma shook me off: "I trust Mr. Williams, and he trusts me. Don't think I don't know you're trying to sabotage this deal to force Derek out."

Mr. Williams signed with a smile, glanced at me, then strolled out.

Derek smirked at me, then turned to Emma with a tender look:

"I heard there's a company tradition—whenever someone lands a big deal, even the CEO has to toast them."

"Breaking up with you back then was never my choice. I was forced to go abroad. But because of that, I became someone worthy of seeing you again. I don't want to ruin your family, but I have one request: I want Emma to feed me the wine mouth-to-mouth. Not marrying her is my life's greatest regret."

Emma's eyes turned red. She was clearly moved.

Everyone stared at us.

The shareholders, partners, executives, and staff all wore different expressions.

My fists clenched so tight they trembled.

But the next second, Emma picked up a glass of wine without hesitation and walked over to Derek.

She downed the wine in one gulp, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

Everyone froze.

Derek eagerly pushed his tongue into Emma's mouth.

They kissed passionately, the wet sounds echoing through the silent conference room.

After what felt like forever, Emma's face flushed red before Derek finally released her. He even licked the liquid left on her chin.

After catching her breath, Emma turned to look at my icy expression:

"Don't be so petty. You're the one who made this toast rule in the first place!"

I created that rule to show the management team that anyone who brings profit to the company deserves respect—even a junior employee.

I never said the CEO and Vice President had to feed each other wine mouth-to-mouth!

Then Derek held out a glass to me:

"According to the rules, Mr. CEO, you also need to toast me. You wouldn't want to embarrass me, would you?"