The Vote 2 : A Bitter Defeat

James handed out voting ballots to the shareholders and board members. "All in favor of appointing Will as the new CEO, please mark 'Yes'. Against, mark 'No'."

James Mackenzie quickly voted for his son, Sandra Rodriguez, David Chen, and Rachel Lee casted their votes, their expressions unreadable. William Thompson, Emily Patel, and Michael Kim and also Will Mackenzie did the same, their faces stern.

The tension in the conference room was palpable as James Mackenzie announced the vote results. "And the winner, with 5 votes to 3, is... Will!"

James' face lit up with a triumphant smile as he approached Will to congratulate him. "You did it, Will! You're the new CEO of SM Company!"

But, just as James was about to hand Will the microphone, William Thompson, the head of the board of directors, cleared his throat. "Ah, actually, James, I think there's been a mistake."

James' smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

Thompson continued, "The vote was actually 5 to 3 in favor of... Stephen Mackenzie."

The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Stephen. His head was bent, his eyes cast downward, as if he had already accepted defeat. But, as the news sunk in, he slowly raised his head, a look of disbelief on his face.

James' expression turned from triumph to shock, his face pale. "What? How... how is that possible?"

David Chen, who had voted for Stephen, kept a poker face, revealing nothing.

Sandra Rodriguez, Rachel Lee, and Emily Patel looked at each other in surprise, whispering among themselves.

Stephen's mind raced as he tried to process the result. He knew his casanova lifestyle had been exposed, and he had no defense for it. But, someone had voted for him, and he couldn't help but wonder who.

As the room erupted into a mixture of gasps, whispers, and congratulations, Stephen's eyes met James', a hint of a smile on his face. "It seems, James, that my... extracurricular activities didn't quite have the impact you thought they would."

James' face turned red with anger and embarrassment. "This isn't over, Stephen. I'll make sure you regret this."

But, for now, Stephen had emerged victorious, his position as CEO secure.

He took a deep breath, a sense of relief washing over him. "Thank you, everyone. I promise to continue leading this company with the same passion and dedication."

Stephen couldn't help but wonder who had voted for him, despite his personal scandals. He made a mental note to find out, and to make sure to repay that person's loyalty. The game was far from over, but for now, Stephen had won.

As the meeting adjourned, William Thompson approached Stephen, his expression stern but hinting at a smile. "Stephen, congratulations on your victory. But, let me make one thing clear: your personal life needs to be put in order. Your casanova ways are not acceptable, and I expect you to clean up your act."

Stephen nodded, a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment on his face. "Thank you, William. I understand, and I will."

Thompson patted Stephen's back. "Good. Now, go celebrate your win, but remember, the board is watching."

The room emptied and congratulations and handshakes were exchanged. David Chen approached James Mackenzie outside the boardroom, a small smile on his face.

"James, I think you dropped something," Chen said, holding out a briefcase that contained the gold bars.

James' eyes widened in surprise. "How... What are you saying?"

Chen chuckled. "Let's just say I have my ways. And, by the way, I voted for Stephen too."

James' face fell, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. "You... you betrayed me"

"That arrogant boy, does he...he ..he deserve this position? Don't you remember how hard I worked to get this company where it is after my brother died?" James asked furiously.

"Here, I wanted to accept this gift but I don't think it's right," handing the small briefcase that contained the gold bars to James.

"This has nothing to do with Stephen, I did it for Pete Mackenzie, his father, don't you remember? He made me into what I am today, and betraying him is something I can't seem to agree on," David added.

James' face turned red with rage as he snatched the briefcase from David Chen. "You're doing this for Pete Mackenzie? Ha! That brother of mine might be good, but his son is no better. Stephen doesn't deserve this position, he's a disgrace to the company and to our family's legacy."

James turned and stormed off, his son Will following closely behind. As they drove away from the office, James' anger only intensified. "That backstabbing, treacherous... Chen thinks he's so smart, doesn't he? And Stephen, that arrogant boy, thinks he can just waltz in and take what's mine?"

Will remained silent, knowing better than to interrupt his father's tirade. But, unbeknownst to James, Will had also voted for Stephen, and was secretly relieved that his father's plan had failed.

As they arrived at their estate, Martha, James' wife, greeted him with a concerned expression. "James, what's wrong? You look like you're about to explode."

James slammed the door behind him, his face still red with fury. "That meeting was a disaster. Chen and Stephen, they're both against me. They think they can take me down, but I'll show them. I'll show them all."

Martha placed a calming hand on his arm. "James, maybe it's time to take a step back and reassess. You're not thinking clearly right now."

But James shook her off, his anger boiling over. "I don't need your advice, Martha. I know what I'm doing. I'll get what's mine, no matter what it takes."

James stormed into his bar, pouring himself a stiff drink. He downed it in one gulp, then slammed the glass on the counter, muttering to himself. "Chen, Stephen, they think they can take me down... I'll show them... I'll show them all..."

He poured another drink, his hands shaking with rage. "Pete Mackenzie's son... thinks he can run this company better than me... Ha! I made this company what it is today... I'm the one who deserves to be CEO..."

As he continued to rant and drink, his words became slurred and incoherent. Meanwhile, Will, his son, slipped away to his room, shutting the door behind him. He let out a sigh of relief, grateful to escape his father's wrath.

Will couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and unease. He had voted for Stephen, knowing it would go against his father's wishes. But he couldn't bring himself to support his father's ruthless tactics and outdated ideas. He hoped that one day his father would understand, but for now, he just hoped the storm would pass.