Chapter 24 Chloe hesitated. She really didn't want to take over Rhodes Group there was just too much on her plate. Besides, each generation raised its own. Meaning, when it came to raising children, the older generation should stay out of it. But…. Michael's parents were gone. It was Tristan-his grandfather who had raised him through thick and thin. Now, at seventy-eight, he was getting old. As a mother, how could she just stand by and watch him exhaust himself all over again! She tapped her fingers lightly on the desk. And then, at last, she signed her name on the final page. "Miss Lancaster, Johnny immediately changed how he addressed her. "From this moment forward, I'll dedicate myself fully to assisting you . Would you like us to make the leadership change public?" Chloe said. "No need. As long as you're aware, that's enough." Making it public wouldn't do her any good-only attract trouble Besides, the shares under her name would eventually be passed to Michael anyway. Johnny nodded. "Then if you'll come with me, Miss Lancaster we need to scan your face and fingerprints… Chloe stood and followed him into the office next door. Once they'd gone , Tristan turned to Michael. "Now that your great-grandroother is Chairwoman, she doesn't need the CEO's permission to fire someone, does she?" Michael's fists clenched. He thought , 'All this-just because I spoke up for Melanie? Does it really have to escalate like this?' He'd read about Chloe's legendary achievements. A scientist so respected and admired. 'Shouldn't someone like that have a generous, forgiving heart? Why insist on firing Melanie?" As he saw his inner turmoil. Tristan's own temper began to flare. He used to hope Melanie would marry into the family . But now ? Thank goodness that never happened. Otherwise, the Rhodes family would've ended up with a daughter-in-law who was nothing but trouble. Tristan thought. Michael is usually sharp. How can he not see who really matters-his girlfriend or his great -grandmother ?" "In our family , we don't care about status-only character, Tristan said coldly. "Tused to think Melanie was an honorable girl, which is why I supported your relationship. But now! Sorry, the Rhodes family won't accept someone like her as a granddaughter-in- law . Machael, break up with her Michael stared at him in disbelief. "You're calling her morally corrupt just because she accidentally reassigned a makeup artist? Isn't that Till Tristan frowned. "I'll ask you one more time are you breaking up with her or not?" "You're acting like some dictator Michael said, squaring his shoulders "No I'm not breaking up with her" "If you're that determined to defeud Melaide Tristan shot him a look, then the Rhodes family will be cuning off all your credit cards Your private dividend and accounts will be lained as well. From now on, you'll stay on as CEO, but you'll be paid a monthly salary. Any oldestians" 1/3 P P Chapter 24 Michael opened his mouth to speak.. He wanted to say: then I quit He had the ability to start his own company, to build something from the ground up. But then he looked at the deep lines etched into Tristan's face and thought of Chloe-so out of step with the modern world. If he really walked away now, Rhodes Group could be in serious trouble. So he said, quietly, "Fine." Tristan stood up and left. Michael slumped into his chair and pressed his fingers to his temples, his head pounding. The door opened. Melanie stepped in and asked softly, "Michael, what did Grandpa say?" Michael looked up. "Let me recommend you a new job." "I really didn't mean to go after Miss Lancaster-it was just a coincidence, I swear…" Melanie's eyes were rimmed red. "Michael, you believe me, don't you?" Of course Michael believed her. If he didn't, he wouldn't have gone head-to- head with Tristan like that. Huzz, buzz, buzz. His phone started to vibrate. He glanced down-it was a video call from Rose. The moment he answered, her sweet, chirpy voice came through. "Daddy, are you still working!" A soft smile spread across Michael's face . "It's past ten, Rose. Why are you still up?" "I'm waiting for Mommy to come home first. Daddy, can you buy me a princess dress?" Rose tapped on her screen, pulling up a shopping app. "This one. My best friend has the same one-it's so pretty. If I had it too, I'd be the most beautiful, happiest girl in the whole wide world ." Michael was just about to nod when- He caught sight of the price tag. 70 thousand dollars. Just earlier that day. Tristan had frozen all his bank accounts. From now on, he'd be living on a monthly salary. As CEO, most of his carnings had come from stock dividends. His base salary? A little over 70 thousand dollars per month. Which meant-he'd have to spend nearly an entire month's paycheck on this one dress, He, who'd never once blinked at a price tag, actually hesitated. "Daddy ? What's wrung?" Rose's smile started to lade. "It's just one dress. Everyone else has one. Why can't I?" "Rose, Melanie finally in in, didn't Mominy tell you not to ask for gifts like that? "But Daddy's not just anyone, Rose blinked her big eyes innocently "Please. Daddy? Buy it for me ? If I don't have it, all my classmates will make fun of me." Michael responded without thinking "Okay, I'll buy it now But with all his cargh fren and las paycheck not yet deposited, he had no choice but to borrow the money from a friend. Chloe had slept soundly through the night. The next morning, the first thing PP Chapter 24 "Morning, Lucia." "Good morning, Chloe!" Lucia gave her a bright, toothy smile. "It's Monday-we have school today. You should get up tool" Lucia wasn't nearly as shy as she'd been when they first met. Chloe smiled, bent down, and scooped her up. "Alright, let's go have some breakfast. Downstairs, Michael was already there. The moment Lucia saw him, she shrank back a little, clearly nervous. She lowered her head and quietly drank her cereal. Tristan frowned. Where's Callum ? Haven't seen him around the past couple of days." Dominic bowed slightly as he replied, "Mr. Rhodes came home around two in the morning. He's probably still asleep." "At this rate, how's he supposed to drive?" Tristan said with disapproval . "Dominic, arrange a personal driver for Miss Lancaster immediately." "Hold on, don't do that," came a sleepy voice from the stairs. Callum trudged down, hair a total mess. Tm young-I can handle a couple of late nights. Driving's not a problem." He grabbed the car keys, took Chloe's bag, opened the door for her, and even buckled her seatbelt before smoothly pulling out of the driveway. Chloe glanced sideways at him. "Spent the weekend gaming, didn't you? "You see right through me," Callum grinned. "A brand-new game just dropped-I pulled two all-nighters and beat it. First person in the country to finish. Pretty awesome, right?" Chloe asked, "Was it that fun?" Back in her day, video games and the whole digital world weren't really a thing. She honestly didn't get the appeal. "Super fun!" Callum lit up. "During class later-uh, I mean, during lunch break-I'll show you. Just try it once, and you'll get why it's so addicting!" O