Filed To Story: Move Aside I'm the Final Boss Book PDF Free (Kingsley & Hannah)
Michael clenched his jaw, his voice low and bitter. “Lauren… Kingsley… on behalf of Rhodes Corporation, I ask you to return.”
His voice dripped with humiliation. Every word felt like it was being ripped out of his throat.
Francesca’s mouth hung open as she turned to Kingsley. “H-He actually knelt?”
Kingsley crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, enjoying the spectacle. “Kneeling isn’t enough, though. Mr. Rhodes, what’s with that stiff posture?”
Michael’s eyes burned red, his entire body trembling with fury. “Kingsley, I’m already kneeling. Do you really have to humiliate me this much?”
Kingsley shrugged. “I didn’t ask for just kneeling-I asked for bowing and begging for mercy. You look like a stiff corpse down there-who’s supposed to believe you’re sincere?”
Michael’s face twisted in rage, his body tensing. He could not take it anymore he had enough. Kneeling before the two people he swore he would destroy was already breaking him.
Yet, he was asked to beg? He had never even shown such a level of respect for his own elders.
The executives noticed his resistance and immediately pushed him down.
Michael roared in fury. “What the hell are you doing?! Let go of me! Do you want to die?!”
Pinned to the ground, he struggled violently, but his subordinates held him down. He was in disbelief that they were seriously forcing him into this.
“Mr. Rhodes, you’ve already knelt. If you back out now, all that humiliation was for nothing!”
“Exactly, Mr Rhodes! It’s like… once you sleep with someone, you’re already there-whether it’s once or ten times doesn’t make a difference! You might as well see it through!” 1
“Mr. Baldwin, please watch closely! Mr. Rhodes is about to offer you his grand apology!”
“I’m sorry!” Michael shouted as he bowed.
“I’m sorry!” His hands curled into fists as his body shook with rage.
“I’m sorry!” The moment his forehead touched the ground for the third time, the entire place fell silent. 2
Michael roared in fury, thrashing violently as the group of executives pinned him down. Like a pack of butchers restraining a wild hog, they forced him into a deep bow.
One by one, they followed suit, completing the bowing and begging for mercy.
Michael’s forehead slammed into the floor with each bow, the impact echoing through the room. Within moments, his forehead was red and swollen.
Lauren and Francesca stood frozen, staring in utter disbelief. Seeing Michael, of all people, humiliated like this felt almost surreal.
Lauren finally turned to Kingsley. “Dr. Baldwin, was this your doing?”
Kingsley replied calmly, “How could I possibly arrange something like this? Mr. Rhodes simply had a change of heart. He realized he owed you an apology, so he’s making amends in the most respectful way possible-by personally inviting you back to take charge.”
Lauren narrowed her eyes at Michael. “Is that really what you’re thinking?”
Michael’s lips trembled as he held back tears. “Y-Yeah… That’s exactly what I’m thinking!”
At this point, he would go along with whatever Kingsley said. It was like being force-fed humiliation-since he could not resist, he might as well swallow it whole and endure it.
Deep in his heart, though, Michael vowed-one day, he would make Kingsley pay for this.
Lauren took a deep breath. “I don’t care why you’re doing this, and I don’t care what your real intentions are. I was never planning on abandoning the company anyway.”
Kingsley arched a brow at Michael and snapped, “Didn’t you hear that? Ms. Rhodes is ready to return. Well, what are you waiting for, Michael? Go get the car ready!”
Michael gritted his teeth. “You have a car. We don’t have enough room for you.”
Kingsley smirked. “Oh, I have a car. But that’s my car. Lauren and I are returning for official business, so we’ll be taking a company vehicle. You’re not telling me you don’t understand basic protocol, are you?”
Michael’s face twitched violently as he cursed at the shameless, petty bastard. If he wanted to leech off the company’s resources, he should just say so why act all high and mighty about it?
With no choice, Michael begrudgingly arranged a Rhodes Corporation car for them.
Kingsley and Lauren boarded without another word, and as the vehicle pulled away, Moonlit Apothecary fell into an odd silence.
Francesca and Cedric exchanged glances, both savoring the moment.
“Mrs. Rhodes actually bowed her head to Dr. Baldwin,” Francesca murmured. “Honestly, I never thought I’d see the day. It feels….. satisfying.”
Cedric laughed heartily. “And Michael? Coming all the way here just to kneel and beg? That was definitely Kingsley’s doing. This kid is getting more cunning by the day!”
Cedric then turned to Francesca, giving her a knowing look. “By the way, you’re not going back to the Aicker residence tonight.”
Francesca frowned. “Huh? Why not? I haven’t moved out yet-what’s wrong with staying at home?”
Cedric’s tone left no room for argument. “I don’t care. You’re staying at Moonlit Sanctuary tonight. Where exactly? That’s up to you. But the Aicker residence is undergoing renovations-the air is full of chemicals and toxic fumes. You shouldn’t be anywhere near it.”
Francesca’s face flushed bright red. She glared at Cedric and snapped, “You dirty old man!”
Cedric smirked. “You love the idea, but you’re just pretending to be embarrassed. Not bad, kid. That performance? Award-worthy.”
Francesca’s frustration boiled over. “Grandpa, I hope you live a long, long life-so I can torment you forever!”
…
Meanwhile, Rhodes Corporation’s situation was spiraling. With negative press mounting by the day, the company’s reputation was hanging by a thread.
In the age of social media, a bad public image was not just a setback-it was a death sentence. By the time Kingsley and Lauren arrived at the company headquarters, they were over immediately surrounded.
At the front of the crowd stood Tiana, Rhodes Corporation’s First Lady. Behind her were executives, managers, and countless employees.
Everyone was desperate-if the company collapsed, they all had something to lose. They had been waiting, hoping, and praying for Kingsley and Lauren to return.
“Mr. Baldwin, you have to come up with a plan!”
“Mr. Baldwin, the entire company is depending on you and Ms. Rhodes!”
Several senior executives swallowed their pride, looking at Kingsley with pleading eyes.
Yet, Kingsley ignored them. What happened next would depend entirely on Lauren.
If Lauren was not willing, then Rhodes Corporation could crash and burn, and
Kingsley would not spare it another glance.
Tiana hesitated before stepping forward. “Lauren, are you alright?”
There was a flicker of guilt in her eyes-pain and regret flashing for just a moment. She was still tormented by the fact that she had slapped Lauren, and no matter how much time passed, she could not shake the guilt.
However, this kind of pain-Tiana could not bring herself to express it.
Lauren’s face remained emotionless. “Why the act, Mrs. Rhodes? Do you actually care whether I’m fine or not? “Would it really matter to you?”
Tiana was at a loss for words.
Kingsley, sensing the tension between the mother and daughter, cut in. “Mrs. Rhodes, we can take over this mess. But there’s one condition-you need to step back and give up control.”
Tiana quickly nodded. “As long as you can clean this up, you can run the company however you want!”
Kingsley’s tone sharpened. “I don’t just need everyone else to cooperate-I need you to follow orders too.”
Tiana’s expression stiffened. “Even I have to follow your orders?”
Kingsley met her gaze head-on. “Of course. Because I don’t like people hovering over my shoulder, second-guessing my decisions.”
Tiana hesitated for a moment before letting out a cold scoff. “Fine. If you can actually prove you have what it takes, I’ll do as you say.”
Kingsley smiled. “Mrs. Rhodes, you’re quite reasonable I admire that. In that case, here’s your first task.”
Tiana raised an eyebrow, amused. “Mr. Baldwin, you don’t waste time, do you? Giving me assignments already? Alright, let’s hear it!”
Kingsley smirked. “Your assignment is simple-do nothing. In other words, for everything that happens from this moment on, stay out of it. Go get a facial, do some shopping, or go home and get some beauty sleep.”
Tiana’s expression darkened instantly. “Kingsley, you’re trying to sideline me.”
Kingsley remained indifferent. “If that’s how you see it, I won’t argue.”
The only person who could save Rhodes Corporation was Lauren, and as long as Tiana was around, she would interfere.
Lauren’s biggest emotional roadblock was her mother, so Tiana had to go.
Tiana clenched her jaw. “Fine. I’ll step back this time.”
“But Kingsley-if you fail and the company collapses, I hope you understand what the consequences will be.”
Kingsley shrugged. “If that happens, Mrs. Rhodes, you can do whatever you want. I really don’t care.”
Tiana let out a cold snort and walked away with her people.
The moment she left, Marcus beamed. “Mr. Baldwin, Ms. Rhodes-what’s the plan? We’re waiting on your orders!”
One of the senior executives, clearly anxious, chimed in, “Every minute we waste, the company’s image and losses are getting worse! If this continues, we’ll lose half of our assets-maybe more!”
Kingsley chuckled. “Lauren, you’re the CEO now-it’s all up to you.”
Lauren’s face flushed. “I-I’m not the CEO, Dr. Baldwin! You’re joking, right?”
Kingsley shook his head. “I’m not joking. Right now, the power is in your hands. You may not hold the title, but you’re in complete control. So, you decide what happens next.”
Lauren was not the type to hesitate when things needed to be done. She took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and scanned the room.
“First, the Marketing Department and PR Department-I need both of you to work together and compile a full report on our losses and negative press. I want everything-nota single detail can be missed!”
Marcus nodded approvingly. “Good. If we can identify the exact damage, we can start finding solutions!”
The head of Marketing immediately responded, “Understood! We’ll get started right away!”
However, the head of the public relations department was one of Michael’s people, and he hesitated. His eyes darted to Michael, waiting for a signal.
Seeing Michael’s dark, irritated expression, he instantly knew what to do.
“Apologies, Ms. Rhodes,” he said smoothly, “but the PR department can’t comply with your request.”
Lauren furrowed her brows, about to ask why. However, before she could, Kingsley had already waved over the head of the public relations department.
“You’re Mr. Brown, right? Come here. I need a word with you.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.