Counterattack Of The Useless Son-in-law

Chapter seven

James stepped out of his apartment. The tailored gray suit Bella had chosen fit him like a glove, exuding a confidence he didn’t quite feel yet. The new haircut and freshly trimmed beard transformed him into someone almost unrecognizable to his former self—a man who looked like he belonged in the world of billion-dollar deals.

Bella, waiting beside a sleek black car, held open the door for him. "Let’s not waste any more time. The board meeting starts in less than an hour, and we need to get you prepped."

James slid into the back seat, glancing at the folder Bella handed him. Inside were detailed profiles of the board members of XY Corps and a schedule of the day’s meetings.

James flipped through the pages and frowned. "So, I just go in there, smile, and pretend I know what I’m doing?"

Bella leaned against the doorframe, a sly grin on her face. "Pretty much. Just don’t smile too much—you might scare them. They’re not used to smiles and all that in corporate life."

James snorted. "Great. Any other pearls of wisdom, oh mighty assistant?"

Bella tilted her head, pretending to think. "Hmm. Avoid calling Mr. Harrison by his nickname ‘Chubby Cheeks.’ He hates that. And don’t let Mrs. Vega see you slouching in your chair—she has a thing about manners."

"Wait, ‘Chubby Cheeks’?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It’s what the staff call him behind his back," Bella said with a wink. "But if you call him that, don’t expect a Christmas card."

James burst out laughing. "Okay, noted. No slouching and no nicknames. Anything else?"

Bella handed him another file. "Show confidence, even if you're nervous, and try not to drop this."

James shook his head, grinning. "You really know how to keep a guy in check, don’t you?"

"Just doing my job," Bella replied, giving him a mock salute.

James felt relieved when Bella started talking about lighter topics. This helped calm his tense muscles. He had worried about embarrassing himself when he arrived, but after just a few minutes with Bella, he forgot his concerns and felt relaxed.

Then all of a sudden, Bella's expression turned serious as she adjusted her glasses. "The change in leadership has caused a lot of pressure. Some board members supported Robert, while others wanted to gain more control. You need to assert your authority immediately."

James leaned back against the leather seat. “Great,” he muttered. “It's tough starting a new job when everyone is watching your every move and waiting for you to slip up.”

Bella smirked. "Welcome to what I call the corporate jungle."

James chuckled. "And you’re my guide, I assume?"

"Guide, babysitter, survival kit—call it whatever you want. Just don’t make me regret it." Bella shot him a pointed look before gesturing to the clock. "Now, get out there and dazzle them with your… well, whatever it is you do."

James took a deep breath, stepping out of the car. "Alright, corporate jungle, let’s see what you’ve got."

Bella smirked, following behind him. "Atta boy."

---

At the Headquarters

The towering glass structure of XY Corps loomed over them as the car pulled up to the entrance. The lobby buzzed with activity, employees casting curious glances as James entered. News of his sudden rise to CEO had spread like wildfire within the company, and whispers followed him as he strode through the space, Bella at his side.

“Is that him? The new CEO?”

“Who would've thought that sir Robert had a son?? Why didn’t anyone know about this guy before?”

“He kinda looks familiar.”

James ignored the murmurs, focusing on the grand elevator ahead. Bella pressed the button for the top floor.

“Remember,” she said, her tone firm, “They’ll test you, but you’ve already got the upper hand—you’re Robert’s chosen successor. They can't get rid of you even if they wanna”

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal a sleek conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. The long table was already occupied by the board members.

“Gentlemen, ladies,” Bella announced as they entered, “Allow me to introduce Mr. James Robert Williams, the only son of Mr Robert and the new CEO of XY Corps.”

James stepped forward, his heart pounding but his face betraying none of it. "Good morning," he began, his voice steady. "I’m honored to be here and to lead XY Corps into its next chapter of success."

The introductions were formal but tense for James. Some board members, such as Mr. Higgins, a close friend of Mr. Robert, welcomed him warmly.

"You resemble your father when he was younger, tirelessly working to build a powerful empire that would be remembered for generations," Mr. Higgins said with a chuckle as he shook James's hand. "He succeeded, and although my eyesight is failing me lately because of my old age, I believe you will achieve even greater heights than your dad ever could. I can feel it."

And there were people like Mrs Caldwell.

“Mr. Williams,” Caldwell said, leaning forward, “you’ve been thrust into this position rather abruptly. How do you plan to prove you’re capable of running a company of this scale?”

James met her gaze evenly. “My father believed in my potential, and I intend to honor that trust by ensuring XY Corps not only maintains its position but grows stronger under my leadership. By doing exactly what’s expected of me—delivering results. ”

Mrs Caldwell smirked, her tune growing sharp, “Mr. James, let’s get real for a moment. You talk about results, but you’ve never managed anything remotely close to a corporation of this scale. You grew up as a pauper, living off your wife’s modest income—very little that was. No formal education, no experience, no training. Tell me, what makes you think you’re qualified to lead this company? Surely you must see how absurd this is.“

The room fell silent, the tension thick.

"Mrs. Caldwell, let me make this perfectly clear. I am the CEO of this company. That means I hold the final say, and that means I don’t have to justify my position to anyone."

Mrs Caldwell appeared taken aback by his words. She opened her mouth to spout more intimidating words at him to make him back down. Yet, as the air around her shifted suddenly, she sensed an icy chill creeping in, one unlike anything she had ever felt before—more intense even than the oppressive atmosphere created by Mr. Robert. The sudden drop in temperature sent shivers down her spine. Her mouth unconsciously clamped shut.

"You may not respect my background, but your opinion on my qualifications is irrelevant. This company isn’t about titles on paper or about someone’s past—it’s about results. Results that I will deliver. You were brought here to do one thing: help this company succeed. And right now, undermining me or anyone else in this room is not going to get us there."

James gestures around the room, his gaze now sweeping across the other board members, ensuring they hear his words as well. He turns back to Mrs. Cadwell, his tone unyielding.

"If you think I’m unqualified or unfit to lead, that’s on you. But as the CEO of this company, I will not tolerate anyone undermining my authority or questioning my leadership in front of my team. You’re welcome to take your concerns to me privately, but publicly questioning my position will not be tolerated."

There’s a long, tense silence as Mrs. Cadwell stares back at him, her expression faltering.

"And let’s be clear—my decisions will be made, and my leadership will be respected. If you cannot get on board with that, then perhaps you should reconsider your place in this room."

Mrs. Caldwell gritted her teeth in anger but kept her mouth shut. She knew better than to say another word; she didn’t want to lose this job. This was XY Corps, and no other company could offer her as much money as they did.

Bella, standing nervously by the door, breathed a sigh of relief after watching the way he dealt with the situation. She gave him the slightest nod of approval.