Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 535

(Winona)

Today isn’t just any meeting—it’s the meeting. The one where the board either gets behind my vision for the app’s future or decides I’m just a placeholder CEO with a famous name.

I step out of the bedroom, grabbing my portfolio from the dresser. Jayden is in the kitchen like he doesn’t have a million things to do before he leaves for Brussels.

He looks up as I walk in, his gaze sweeping over me in that slow, assessing way.

“Wow! Stunning. You look like you could fire everyone before they’ve even said hello,” he says, smirking.

I huff, placing my portfolio into my leather briefcase. “I’m considering it.”

“Nervous?”

I scoff. “No.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Winona.”

“Fine, I’m nervous. Only a lot,” I quip.

Jayden folds his arms. “They’d be idiots not to get behind you. You’ve already proven it’s your priority.”

“That doesn’t mean they’re going to just hand me the budget I need,” I counter. “The marketing strategy is aggressive. The rebrand isn’t cheap. The amount of money I’m asking them to invest is—”

“Exactly what they need to do if they want to dominate the market,” he cuts in. “Winona, you know this industry. You know finance. You know people. Lance wouldn’t have you in that chair if you weren’t the right person for it.”

I let out a slow breath. He’s right, but that doesn’t mean I trust these board members will see it that way.

“Go in with no doubts,” he says, his voice firm. “You have the numbers to back you up. You have the research. Don’t doubt yourself. You’ve done the work, no go sell the idea with no hesitation.”

He’s right. “No hesitation.”

Lance did believe in me. That’s why he left me this. But he also had a habit of throwing people into the deep end just to see if they’d sink or swim. They didn’t all swim. Sometimes, even the right person just isn’t ready.

“You can do it,” Jayden says simply.

I nod. “I need to go.”

Jayden catches my wrist before I can grab my bag. His touch is warm, grounding. “Call me after,” he says. “Let me know how it goes.”

He pulls me into a hug and kisses me gently. “For good luck. Not that you’ll need it. But Winona, if you get in there and you feel strongly that it really isn’t for you. There’s no shame in that, you know?”

“I know.”

“Me and Global will take you with open arms.”

“Thanks, Jayden.” I squeeze his hand before pulling away. “I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

As I walk out, I push everything else to the back of my mind—Jayden leaving, Kit and River starting, Lisa’s confusion with Logan, my fall and everything that entailed—none of it matters right now.

Right now, I have a board to convince. The rest will still be there later.

***

The boardroom is intimidating as hell, but I walk in like I own the place. Because, literally, I do.

The members are all seated, some offering polite nods, others barely glancing up. I take my place at the head of the table, setting down my portfolio with a decisive thud.

“Thank you for making the time,” I say, my voice clear, strong. No hesitation. I’ve met them all before and I’ve studied their details.