Fated to My Cruel CEO novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Podium

By Monday morning there were four television trucks parked outside the plant gate.

The story had spread over the weekend, and everyone in Toledo had an opinion about it.

Ansel stood at the gate in his charcoal suit, with no tie and no notes.

He had slept maybe two hours.

I stood three steps behind him, because I'd promised to stay where he could see me.

Behind us, the first shift had come out to the yard.

Three hundred and forty people stood in a half circle by the loading dock and watched.

The woman with the gray braid had her arms folded.

A reporter with a gold microphone pushed to the front.

"Mr. Rhodes. Were you convicted of arson at the age of ten?"

"I was held at the Lucas County juvenile center for four years," Ansel said. "Yes."

"For burning down a children's home?"

"For being the child the matron found at the fence."

"Did you set the fire?"

His face did not change.

"I was ten years old," he said.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I've got."

Another reporter shouted over her.

"Is it true you've come here to destroy Carrow Packaging as revenge?"

"I came here to collect a debt."

"Is it true you're a danger to children?"

Somebody laughed in the crowd.

It was an ugly laugh.

I looked at Ansel's hands.

They were at his sides, perfectly relaxed.

His knuckles were white.

He had stood on a platform alone on Monday morning and told three hundred and forty people he would put them out of work.

I had watched him do it.

I had not forgiven him for it, and I wasn't going to now.

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