Chapter 19 – Matt Kingston Takeover
Gwen’s Pov
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not because I was restless… but because I was too excited to start the day.
By morning, John had delivered the final documents, the final shares, and the final signatures. Matt Kingston, once cocky and confident, had no idea he’d handed me his empire piece by piece.
I stared at the signed papers spread across my desk, my fingers tapping lightly.
“Is the board meeting still holding at 9 a.m.?” I asked without looking up.
John nodded. “Everyone will be there. Matt thinks it’s about a foreign investor coming in to save the company.”
I smiled.
“Perfect.”
Ryder appeared in the doorway, fixing his watch.
“You want me to come with you, Darling?”
I stood, sliding my arms into a black silk blazer. Underneath, I wore a blood-red blouse and a thin gold chain with a single black diamond.
“No,” I said. “This is something I want to do myself.”
He smirked. “Go burn him, baby.”
By the time I arrived at Kingston Tech Towers, the boardroom was full.
Matt sat at the head of the table, smiling stiffly as his executives mumbled greetings and flipped through fake documents he’d cooked up to impress the board.
He didn’t notice me at first.
I stood at the door, calm and tall, as the receptionist tried to stop me.
“You can’t go in-” she stammered.
‘I own this building,” I said coolly. “Now move.”
I walked in slowly, heels echoing across the tiles.
Silence swept the room like a wave.
Matt’s smile died instantly. He stood, eyes wide.
“Gwen?”
The board turned toward me, confused. Some looked surprised. Some whispered.
I stepped up beside the screen where Matt’s presentation was paused. I placed a thick folder on the glass table.
“This meeting is no longer about your fake investor pitch, Matt. It’s about introducing the company’s new CEO.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Matt asked, his voice sharp.
I ignored him and faced the board.
“Good morning. I’m Gwen Lyndon, and I now own 62% of Kingston Tech. Effective immediately, Matt Kingston has been relieved of his duties as CEO.”
Gasps filled the room. Someone dropped a pen. One of the older board members actually clapped once in disbelief before catching himself.
Matt’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.
“You’re bluffing,” he said. “You’re lying. You can’t just walk in here and-”
“Oh, but I can,” I interrupted. “And I did.”
I tossed the stack of signed contracts on the table. “These are the shares your investors sold me. You know, after your reputation fell apart thanks to your ties with Jack Velcro.”
Matt’s face turned red.
I walked toward him slowly.
“You helped Jack kidnap me. You watched him torture me. You helped him kill my son, and you stood by while he stole my dead son’s umbilical cord to save his mistress’s child.”
“Shut up,” Matt hissed. “Not here-”
“Oh no,” I laughed. “Right here. This is where we’re airing it all out.”
He reached for my wrist but I slapped his hand away before he could touch me.
“You don’t get to silence me anymore,” I said. “Sit down.”
Matt stumbled backward into his chair, face pale.
The board members turned toward him.
“I want all of you to know,” I said clearly, “this man knew a woman was being held hostage and did nothing. He helped his best friend cover up crimes so disgusting it made the news. And now he’s crying because I’m taking his company.”
“You’re sick,” he muttered under his breath. “You’re out for blood.”
“Yes,” I smiled. “And I’m just getting started.”
Matt looked around, desperate. “Please, Gwen. You’ve made your point. I was wrong. I didn’t stop Jack. I didn’t help you. But don’t do this. This company-this is my life.”
“Then maybe you should’ve thought of that before laughing while I screamed,” I said, cold as
steel.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Please…”
I leaned in, eyes locked on his trembling hands.
“You want to keep your dignity?” I asked. “Then earn it.”
He looked up slowly.
I stepped back and turned to the room. “If Matt wants a second chance, he can have it. On one condition.”
Matt’s head snapped up. “Anything. Just name it.”
I handed him a piece of paper.
“Read it,” I said. “Out loud. In front of the board. In front of me.”
He took the paper with shaking hands and read the words.
“My name is Matthew Kingston. I was aware of Jack Velcro’s crimes against Gwen Lyndon. helped him cover up the kidnapping, the forced surgery, and the illegal use of her child’s umbilical cord. I am complicit.”
The room was silent.
I smiled. “Now sign it.”
Matt looked up. “What?”
‘Sign the statement. Then record a video saying it word-for-word. I’ll post it on every major platform. If you want to save your company’s image, you’ll start by admitting the truth.”
His hand hovered over the pen.
‘I’ll destroy you,” he said weakly.
‘You already did that yourself.”
He signed.
walked over, picked up the paper, and turned to the board.
‘Matt Kingston is no longer the CEO. I’ll be taking his place, effective immediately. Any questions?”
No one spoke.
turned back to Matt, who now looked ten years older. “Pack your things. Security will escort you
out.”
He didn’t move. I turned away from him and headed for the door.
