CHAPTER 232: CHARLES HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED.

Within seconds, Augustine’s phone beeped, signaling a new text message.

He quickly shifted his gaze to the screen and saw that it was from Reginald: "Umm, Charles is still unconscious, but he’ll be fine."

From the wording alone, Augustine could sense the uneasiness in Reginald’s tone.

He exhaled heavily and turned toward the car window only to notice ten men dressed in black approaching.

Augustine stayed calm as one of them tapped gently on the glass, a signal for him to step out.

They were the security guards he had called minutes earlier.

The moment he exited the car, the men formed a protective circle around him, shielding him from the swarm of reporters that had gathered.

"CEO Augustine, is it true you’re gay?" one of them shouted.

"Are you secretly in a relationship with your secretary, Reginald?" another pressed.

"Do you agree with claims that you’ve been running your company under false pretenses?"

"Was that photo of you and the male model months back not just for promotion?"

"How does it feel to finally come out publicly as gay?"

Many questions were hurled at Augustine as flashes went off and microphones, cameras, and recording devices were shoved in his direction while reporters pushed forward, desperate to reach him.

His security personnel held their ground, making sure not a single reporter could get close, and they quickly led him into Gyapm Grand Hall, where all the board members of Augustine’s company were already assembled.

The reporters were barred from entering, since doing so without permission could be considered trespassing.

Inside, every pair of eyes fixed on Augustine.

A chorus of frustrated hisses filled the room as some board members rubbed their foreheads, others pressed their temples, and a few simply stared down at the long table in silence, sighs of disappointment slipping into the air.

Augustine scoffed as he took his seat, lacing his fingers together and resting them on the table. His gaze lingered on the door he had just entered, now firmly guarded by the same security men from earlier.

"So, what are we waiting for? Let the meeting begin," he said coldly, his voice edged with confidence.

A man in a black suit let out a weary sigh that drew everyone’s attention. He rubbed his temples before speaking.

"CEO Augustine, we have respected and trusted your leadership all these years, believing you would never fail us. But unfortunately..."

He paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "Unfortunately, you have indeed broken the trust every shareholder placed in you."

Murmurs rippled through the room as several board members nodded in agreement, their expressions heavy with disappointment.

"Gyapm Corporation is known as one of the most successful companies in the city, largely because of the unique designs we produce. But months ago, a photo of you kissing a man was leaked to the public. At the time, you claimed it was for an advertisement, only to admit today that you are gay. That alone shows you have been running this company on lies, and it has shattered our trust. What if we discover you’ve also been giving us misleading product analyses?"

"Yes," a woman added sharply. "If CEO Augustine could hide his sexuality all this while, then he might as well be hiding much more from us."

Others nodded in agreement, murmurs spreading across the room.

At first the voices were low, but within seconds the whispers swelled into open complaints, the boardroom filling with angry voices as shareholders vented their frustrations.

Sigh!

Augustine let out a heavy sigh, pressing a hand to his forehead as he struggled to steady the anger rising inside him.

He had given everything... his heart, his time, his very sweat to ensure Gyapm Corporation’s success.

Hearing such accusations from his own shareholders cut deeper than he cared to admit.

Yes, he knew he hadn’t been completely honest with them from the start, but that didn’t mean he ever wished harm on the company’s growth.

"You all!" Augustine shouted, his voice booming across the room, yet many still ignored him.

Drawing in a sharp breath, he slammed his fist against the boardroom table.

The crack of impact echoed through the hall, and this time, every head turned toward him in silence.

Sigh!

"Now that I have your attention, I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude for the dedication and commitment each of you has shown to this company. Without your efforts, Gyapm Corporation would not stand on the strong foundation it has today," Augustine said in a calm, composed tone. The board members nodded in acknowledgment.

"I won’t take much of your time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Yes, I am gay. And yes, I misled you during the company’s event regarding the photo with the model. The truth is, the man in that photo is my partner. However, I want to assure you that my personal life has in no way hindered the growth, success, or integrity of this company."

"Pfft," a young woman scoffed, rolling her eyes as she set her phone on the boardroom table. "The fact that you’re gay affects this company in every way. As we speak, there’s a rumor spreading online about you being caught on countless occasions."

Her words prompted several board members to pull out their phones, scrolling quickly through the latest headlines.

On the screens were photos of Augustine leaning in close to male models, sharing quiet embraces, and even one of him hugging a man in an isolated spot.

A wave of murmurs rippled across the room, growing louder with each passing second.

Some whispered sharply, others exchanged disapproving looks, until the entire boardroom was buzzing with discontent.

Augustine sat in silence, his jaw tight, watching as the shareholders quarreled among themselves.

For ten long minutes the noise filled the hall, until he finally broke it with a heavy, deliberate sigh.

"You all!" Augustine exclaimed, slamming his hand on the desk. The board members jolted in surprise, their eyes fixed on him with tense and uncertain expressions.

"I am not here to argue, nor to waste time debating every rumor being circulated about me or this company," he said firmly, his voice steady. "I have only one thing to say, and once I’ve said it, I will leave it at that."

He paused, drawing in a slow breath as he gathered his thoughts.

"It would be wrong for my personal life or relationship status to influence the decisions I make for this company, and if at any point it has, I sincerely apologize. I will not allow my emotions to compromise the work we have built together.

Besides, I was born gay and for much of my childhood, I tried to hide that part of myself, until I met my current partner and finally chose to live authentically."

He paused for a while and allowed himself to catch his breath while swallowing hard for some seconds and with that he proceeded in speaking up. "Well, let me be clear to you all that my sexuality has never interfered with the growth or success of this company. If it had, you as shareholders would have already seen losses and withdrawn your investments."

Some individuals nod their head in understanding while some shook their head sideways, almost as if they are unable to grasp the words of CEO Augustine.

Yet, he kept on saying what he has at mind.

"I know that being gay may not be widely accepted in our society, and it may not fit the traditional image people expect of a CEO but unfortunately this is who I am and if you don’t mind, I would love to ask a question."

Augustine swallow hard as the movement became quite visible in his throat. "Well, if one of your children came out as gay, would you dismiss their worth or potential? Besides, within this very board, Mr. Frank is openly gay and that has never prevented him from contributing as a valued shareholder. Miss Anthonia is a proud lesbian, and her presence here has never been questioned. So why should my leadership be judged differently?

Being gay does not define my ability, my integrity, or my vision for this company. Our sexuality does not determine what we are capable of achieving and... and I ask you all as colleagues and as human beings, to reflect on this matter and ask yourselves honestly if you were in my place, how would you wish to be treated?"

Augustine paused, scanning the room with steady eyes.

"If you wish to withdraw your shares from this company, please kindly raise your hand and if you choose to remain, please keep your hand down. I believe it’s best we all cast this vote now to decide the future of Gyapm." Augustine stated firmly, his voice echoing through the boardroom.

A tense silence followed as the weight of Augustine’s words settled over the room but just then, his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket with a text message being sent out.

Augustine... Charles has been kidnapped!