I could hear the clock ticking behind me. Tick tock. Tick tock. I thought that if I blinked I’d miss it; the moment that my uncle handed the company over to me.

There were eight other people in the board room with us, but it could have just been him and me. Nobody else mattered, nobody else existed. All I could think about were those words coming out of his mouth - The company is yours, Leo. And then I could finally be happy.

This was the moment I’d been waiting for my whole life. What I’d worked for. What I’d given up a social life and a healthy work life balance for. Finally, the company was going to be mine and I’d have my legacy. What was promised to me by my grandfather, at his death bed when I was eight years old.

My uncle, John, cleared his throat and I blinked.

“You know Leo, there is nobody more deserving to take my place at the head of this company, than you.” he said.

I had my hands clasped on the desk, my fingers were digging into my palms. I could feel beads of sweat trickling down my temples. I knew this already.

Tell me something I don’t know.

“We all appreciate what you’ve done for this company all these years. How much hard work you’ve put into it.” he continued. I glared at him, willing him to get the words out.

Across from me, I could see my cousin, Marcus, staring at John with fury in his eyes. He wanted this too, but we all knew he didn’t deserve it. This was promised to me. My grandfather had chosen me to carry the company forward into the next generation.

“At the moment, Leo, we have a problem, concerning the handing over of the company to you.” John stated.

The word what escaped my lips in a whisper. They had a problem? What the fuck was going on? I glanced at Marcus, who’s fury had suddenly turned to victory. What kind of coup was this?

“There’s a problem?” I asked and my uncle shifted in his chair, refusing to meet my eyes now.

From the smirk that was spreading on Marcus’ face, I knew what this was about.

I stood up from my chair with a jerk, towering over the rest of the people around the desk.

“What is this, uncle? What are you trying to tell me?” I growled, focusing on him. I wanted him to look me in the eye and tell it to my face.

John sighed deeply.

“It’s just that we cannot have you head the company right now, not till all that trouble with…” at this point he cleared his throat again, “with Kylie Musgrave tides over.”

I shook my head, clenching my jaws in anger. From the corner of my eye; I could sense Marcus still grinning. He knew what John was going to do. The company was going to him. All because of a ridiculous scandal perpetrated by the media against me.

“You’re going to go against granddad’s wishes because of a lying bitch?” I shouldn’t have used that word, not in the sacred space of this boardroom, where generations of former Cormack men had sat at the head of the table and turned this company into a success.

But I couldn’t hold back now, not where Kylie was concerned.

“Currently, Leo, your reputation is very bad in the public eye. Given the climate, if you head the company, we might end up losing business and clients. Is that what you want, Leo?” John asked, keeping his voice low but firm.

“The people I work with know me. Nobody believes any of the rumors floating around. She lied about everything. You all know that. I am a man of my word. I never proposed to her!”

I banged my fists down on the table and Marcus rolled his eyes.

“Calm yourself, cuz. You can’t change what’s happened already. The decision has been made. Uncle John’s told you what it’s going to be.” Marcus said, with humor in his voice.

I could have crushed his skull with my bare hands. That man hadn’t worked more than two hours a day since the day he was born.

“Yes, the decision has been made, Leo. Sit down and hear me out.” John said.

“I have nothing more to hear. I cannot believe you’ve lost your faith in me over one fake rumor!” I growled at him.

“You’re wrong, Leo. I haven’t lost my faith in you. I want to do everything to respect my father’s wishes. I want you to take over, but you have to fix this. You have to fix your reputation, for the sake of this company.” John said.

My mind was racing with possibilities. Did this mean that I still stood a chance? That I might yet be able to salvage my position in this company?

“You want me to fix it?” I asked and John stared at me with narrowed, determined eyes.

“You have three weeks till my official handing over. If you can sway public opinion around in that time, the job is yours, Leo. I would be more than happy to hand it over to you. If not, it will have to go to Marcus.” John explained.

My shoulders heaved with the adrenaline rush in my system.

I still had a chance.

All I had to do was figure out a way to turn this around for me.

“Don’t sign anything. I’m going to do this.” I declared and picking up my files, I ran to the door.

“Leo, where are you going?” I heard John call, but I was already out of the board room.

If he wanted me to fix this, then that’s what I was going to do. Nothing in the world meant more to me than this company.

Kylie had claimed that I proposed to her and then broke up with her. How could I prove that I never proposed?

If I was already married to someone else.