Chapter 50: Rachel Bribes a Board Member to Sabotage Ariana's Proposal
Ariana had barely settle down into her office when she received the news. It was from Lincoln Park, Jesse's faithful secretary and confidant. He had a way of sounding calm even when delivering bad news, but there was a note of concern in his voice that made Ariana's stomach twist.
"Ariana," Lincoln began, his voice sharp but cautious, "you need to be careful. A few things have come to light about the board meeting."
Ariana's mind immediately raced. She had been too focused on moving the proposal forward, pushing for a change, that she had not allow herself to consider just how many enemies she still has in the company. She had known the road ahead would be difficult, but she hadn't expected the sabotage to begin so soon.
"What happened?" she asked, trying to keep her tone even.
"It seems that Rachel's influence is reaching further than you anticipated. One of the senior board members, William Greene has been bribed. We have just gotten wind of it," Lincoln continued, his words making Ariana's chest tighten with anger. "Rachel has somehow gotten to him and promised him a large sum of money in exchange for sabotaging your proposal."
Ariana leaned back in her chair, her fingers gripping the armrests so tightly her knuckles turned white. William Greene. He had been an obstacle at the last meeting, his skeptical attitude reflecting the doubts of others who hadn't fully embraced her ideas. But this? This was something else entirely. She had known Rachel would not take her success lying down, but resorting to bribery was too lowly of her.
"Do you have proof?" Ariana's voice was colder now, the initial shock giving way to a simmering fury.
"Not yet," Lincoln admitted. "But there's a clear pattern. Greene has changed his stance, his sudden shift from being skeptical to opposing is too convenient. I'm working on gathering the evidence, but I wanted to warn you first. This could be a big problem."
Ariana's mind was already moving at a thousand miles per hour. If Greene was truly working with Rachel, it was not just her proposal that is at stake; it is her entire plan to take control of Camelo Corporation that is at stake. She could not afford to let this go unnoticed. Not now. Not when she was so close to securing her future.
"I will handle this," Ariana said, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "Gather everything you can, Lincoln. I want to know exactly how Rachel's bribery works. I need to find out what she is promising Greene and how far this goes."
"I'm on it," Lincoln replied, the sound of typing in the background suggesting he was already working on his end. "Just be careful. This could escalate quickly."
Ariana's thoughts spun. She couldn't allow Rachel to undermine her in such a blatant way. She had worked too hard, come too far, to let this woman derail her plans. But she also knew that if she confronted Greene directly, it could backfire. She needed a strategy. A way to expose Rachel's manipulation without giving her the chance to wriggle out of it.
As she ended the call with Lincoln, Ariana's thoughts turned to Jesse. Despite the tension that still lingered between them, Jesse had made it clear he wasn't entirely uninterested in helping her, even though his motivations were tied to his grandfather's legacy rather than any genuine affection for her. She would have to decide soon whether she could trust him fully, but for now, he might be able to provide the support she needed to deal with this crisis.
Ariana stood up from her desk, pacing back and forth. There was a tightness in her chest, a feeling of being backed into a corner. It was a familiar sensation the one she had felt in her past life, when betrayal and manipulation were everyday occurrences. But this time, she wasn't the victim. This time, she was in control. At least, that's what she told herself as she walked out of her office.
It was time to take the next step.
___
Ariana arrived at the company's boardroom several hours later, her mind still buzzing with the urgency of the situation. Lincoln had sent her a few finding Greene had indeed been meeting with someone from Rachel's camp in the past few weeks, though there was no direct evidence of the bribery yet. But the signs were there. Ariana would need to act fast to prevent the sabotage from going any further.
She entered the boardroom and was met with the usual mixed expressions of indifference, curiosity, and mild annoyance. The senior board members were already gathered, and William Greene was seated at the head of the table, looking particularly composed.
Ariana didn't waste time with pleasantries. She knew this was going to be a fight, and it was better to hit the ground running.
"I have a few updates regarding the proposal," she said, her voice carrying with authority. "But before we proceed, there's something we need to address."
She watched as the room quieted. Some board members exchanged curious glances, while others looked wary. But it was Greene's face she focused on. He was trying to maintain his usual aloofness, but there was a flicker of nervousness in his eyes.
Ariana stepped closer to the table, her posture unyielding. "i have recently learned that some members of this board have been compromised. Mr. Greene."
The room went still. Every pair of eyes was on her now, and Ariana could feel the weight of their stares. She wasn't sure if it was fear or respect, but something shifted in the air.
"Excuse me?" Greene's voice was cold, but there was an undercurrent of nervousness in it that Ariana didn't miss.
"You have been working with Rachel Lawrence," Ariana continued, her voice steady but laced with accusation. "And I have reason to believe that you have accepted a bribe from her to sabotage my proposal and undermine my leadership."
Gasps filled the room, and Ariana could see the shock in the faces of the board members. But Greene, ever the professional, tried to brush it off.
"This is absurd," he snapped, his voice tight with tension. "I have nothing to do with Rachel."
Ariana wasn't buying it. "I think the evidence will speak for itself," she said calmly. "I have connections in the company who are already digging into your communications, Mr. Greene. If there is no truth to these allegations, then I will be happy to apologize in front of the entire board."
The tension in the room was palpable. Greene's face had turned pale, and his fingers were twitching slightly as if he were already calculating his escape. Ariana knew she was on the edge of something big, and this was her chance to expose Rachel's manipulation for what it was.
The board members were silent, watching the exchange unfold. Some of them seemed uncertain, clearly unsure of where this was going, but others looked like they were starting to take Ariana's side.
"I demand that you prove these accusations," Greene said, his voice quivering slightly.
Ariana smiled coolly. "You will have your chance. But until then, I suggest you think carefully about how you proceed, Mr. Greene. If you're found guilty, you'll not only be removed from the board, but your actions will be made public."
Greene's eyes darkened with fury, but Ariana wasn't afraid. She had the upper hand now. She had exposed his potential treachery, and the eyes of the board were on him. No matter what happened next, Rachel's plans were beginning to unravel.
Greene opened his mouth, as if to say something, but Ariana didn't give him the chance. She turned toward the other members of the board, addressing them with a calm authority.
"I will expect your full cooperation in this matter," she said, her gaze firm. "If any of you have been involved in Rachel's scheme, now is the time to come forward. Otherwise, we will move forward with my proposal, and the company's future will be secured."
With that, she left the boardroom, her steps echoing in the silence behind her. She had done it. She had exposed the corruption before it could gain any real momentum.
But as she walked down the corridor, Ariana's mind raced. Rachel would not back down easily. And now that the game was on, Ariana would have to be even more ruthless. Because in the world of Camelo Corporation, only the strongest survived.