Chapter Two
Four Days Later …
Tess Carmichael read over the confidential report once more, just to be sure she hadn't misread the details of the document.
She hadn't.
Sliding out from behind her desk, Tess moved to gaze across the city she'd been calling home for more than a decade. New York's Central Park loomed out expansively in the distance from her 61st floor office suite located on Fifth Avenue.
The view she'd been afforded when she'd accepted Lex Luthor's stunning offer to become LexCorp's Director of International Operations had been nothing short of magnificent.
Her panoramic view took in the lush rectangle of Central Park to her north and west, the Neo-Gothic St Patrick's Cathedral across the street to the south and the Rockefeller Centre and the Museum of Modern Art to the east. The added bonus of watching the sun come up over the Empire State Building's art deco tower while she conducted breakfast meetings was also a stunningly beautiful view she didn't think she'd ever tire of. Turning back to her desk Tess couldn't keep her eyes away from the document she'd spent the better part of the morning reading and re-reading.
It had been confirmed--Lex was alive, but incapacitated.
The extent of his injuries was still unknown at this point, but he'd been moved, as per his own instructions in such an event, to the clinic in Sweden. Some of the world's foremost medical practitioners had already been flown out or were on their way to treat him. He'd get the best care possible. He would recover.
Returning to her desk, Tess slipped back into her leather high-back chair to leaf through the documents once more. Finally satisfied, her slim brown fingers reached for her silver ballpoint pen. She signed her name to the sheaf of papers before her with a habitual flourish, though she felt none of her usual confidence at that moment.
Lex had already put a lot of trust and faith in her in the past and she hadn't let him down. He seemed to appreciate her candour, and she wasn't frightened by his ambitions.
Clearly he felt she was ready for this; she felt it too.
She wouldn't let him down.
A press conference would be arranged for the following morning, after she'd informed the Board of Directors of the change personally.
Signalling her Personal Assistant, the LexCorp's legal team was quickly led into her office, their demeanours overly ingratiating and solicitous. The organization's team of lawyers knew exactly what was coming and what was at stake in the here and now.
Tess only had to glance across their sycophantic expressions to know that every one of them of them would be vying for an elevated seat … with her.
"Gentlemen," Tess announced, holding the document she'd signed out towards the men in suits. "It gives me great pleasure to confirm that I am now the Acting Chief Executive Officer of LexCorp, LuthorCorp International and all its enterprises and subsidiaries. Power of Attorney has been passed to me by Lex Luthor, and I have accepted, and by so doing I do swear to uphold the principles and ideals of LexCorp and LuthorCorp International. I look forward to enjoying your unwavering support as the organisation undergoes this minor transition."
The lawyers chorused their approval with polite applause and a round of "Hear, hear."
Tess accepted their endorsements politely, stealing glances every now and then over their shoulders towards the park and the Empire State Building.
She sighed inwardly, life was all about change she supposed, but damn, she was going to miss New York.
… to be continued …
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