SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 297
+25 BONUS
297 Poetic Justice
(Judy)
I built this empire from the ground up. Brennan Industries is mine again, and I'll be damned if I let it slip through my fingers. Gabriel's sisters... they've got shares, but they don't have the backbone to hold onto them.
I'll buy them out, take majority ownership.
I sit in my office, looking out at the city skyline, and my mind spins with possibilities. Gus labeled a traitor? It doesn't make sense. Not him. Gus has been involved in all sorts of shit over the years, but at traitor? No. I know him better than anyone knows him. One thing is for sure, the only person who knows exactly what's going on is Gus.
Still, it's all over the news. Brennan Industries is connected to this mess because of Jayden, And Jayden... my son, has walked away from everything. From me, from this business.
It's like he doesn't care about the life I built for him, the sacrifices I made, or the hell I went through with Greg.
And Gus... I shake my head, trying to tamp down the anger bubbling up inside me.
I love him. I always have. But he never chose me. Not once. He always chose his business, his all- important empire. Instead, I married his brother.
Lived in misery with Greg, all the while building up Brennan Industries so Jayden would have something- so we'd have something.
But now Jayden's gone. And Gus... Gus is going to jail, branded a traitor to this country and half the rest of the damn world. It's a fucking nightmare.
I can't let this stand. I need to see him. I need answers. And if anyone's going to get them from him, it's
1.
The place they are holding Gus before his sentencing is nothing short of horrible. He's always been smarter than everyone around him, always one step ahead. This isn't how it's supposed to end. I walk through the dank hallways, my heels clicking on the tile floor.
When I finally reach the room, I see him sitting there, looking as calm as ever. Like nothing's changed. Like his whole world isn't about to come crashing down around him. I've managed to grab some time alone with him. Bribed some time with him
"You've got some nerve," I say, not bothering to hide the anger in my voice as I sit down across from him." Gus Brennan, traitor to the United States, Europe and God knows where else? Are you fucking kidding me?"
He looks up at me, those damn eyes of his, calm and calculating as always. "Hello, Judy."
1/3
297 Poetic Justice
+25 BONUS
"Don't "hello Judy' me. What the hell is going on? This is a mess, Gus. And you... how could you let it get to this point?"
He leans back, his hands resting on the table in front of him. "It's complicated."
I scoff. "Complicated? Complicated is when you forget an anniversary or miss a board meeting. This... this is treason. You're being labeled a traitor."
"I did what I had to do," he says, his voice infuriatingly even. "What I always do."
I shake my head, trying to keep my temper in check. "You've been playing games for years, always juggling your business and your little side projects. But this? This is different. You're about to lose everything you built up."
His eyes flicker, just for a moment, and I know I've hit a nerve. Good.
"I've signed Nexus Global to Jayden." he asks, his voice a little softer now.
"Jayden? Isn't he being a house-husband now? He hasn't got what it takes, Gus. Winona will never let him
go
and run Nexus Global."
This might cause some drama with Jayden and Winona. It would be remiss of me not to use it to my advantage next time I see Abby.
"This is none of your business anyway, Judy. Why are you really here? Is it about Brennan Industries?"
I laugh, bitter and sharp. "No, Gus. This isn't just about the business. This is about you. About us. I married your goddamn brother, Gus. Greg. You knew how miserable I was, but you didn't care. You let me stay in that hell because you couldn't walk away from your empire." "I never asked you to marry Greg," he says quietly.
"No," I snap. "You didn't. But you didn't stop it either."
Gus leans forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "You made that choice to punish me. I can't help that it backfired on you."
I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "It was always the damn business with you. Always." For the first time, I see something in his eyes that looks like regret. But it's too little, too late. "I'm sorry," he says, and the words hang in the air between us like a bad joke.
"Sorry?" I let out a harsh laugh. "You're sorry? You don't get to be sorry, Gus. Not after everything." He's quiet for a moment, and then he says, "I never meant for things to turn out this way."
"Well, they did," I say, my voice tight with emotion. "And now Jayden's walked away from Brennan Industries. He's walked away from me. He'll walk away from Nexus Global too. All because of her. That's why I didn't want her in his life. She can never understand what it is to command billions of dollars."
"I have faith Jayden will make the right choice."
I shake my head. "For a smart man, you're awfully stupid sometimes. And now, look where you are. You're going to jail, and Jayden's not even sure who he is."
2/3
297 Poetic Justice
+25 BONUS
"Judy, I've done a lot of things in my life. Some good, some bad. But I've come to terms with the fact that I can't fix everything. And maybe... maybe it's time for Jayden to live his own life. If he chooses a life away from Nexus Global, so be it."
I stare at him, the anger bubbling up again. "So, what? You're just going to let him walk away? To sell it off to your biggest competitors who will break it up until it doesn't exist anymore."
Gus shakes his head. "No. He's not walking away from everything. He'll come around. In time."
I stand up, the chair scraping against the floor as I push it back. "You think you know him. But you don't. Not like I do. Winona will come first, always."
Gus looks up at me, his expression unreadable. "I know enough."
I lean forward, my voice low and cold. "You've always loved me, Gus. And you know what? I've always loved you too. But I hate you for never choosing me. And now... now you're going to rot in prison. Poetic justice for me, wouldn't you say?" He doesn't say anything, just watches me with those damn eyes, calm as ever.
I shake my head and turn to leave. "Goodbye, Gus. Enjoy your prison cell."