CHAPTER 54 - Handymen.
After much persuasion from Luca, I leave the mansion also, though I firmly reject his offer to stay at his apartment. I now have two bodyguards to protect me anyway. I move back into my former apartment—the one I lived in before I was kidnapped—and thankfully, the lease hasn’t expired yet. But the place is buried under layers of dust and has clearly become a haven for spiders, with cobwebs woven into every corner of the rooms.
And of course, I put Victor and Baron’s sturdy muscles to use as they help clean the house—after much protest, that is. They make good handymen. They just seem tough from the outlook, but they are soft, sweet, and fun to hang out with. Just like Chase, Michael, and Bryant. We hit it off quickly and talk as if we’ve known each other for years.
After we finish cleaning the apartment, I head to the office, knowing I have a mountain of work waiting for me. And, of course, my new bodyguards trail close behind.
“You can wait outside,” I tell them, placing my hand on the door handle, just about to push it open.
“Our job description says we follow you everywhere,” Baron replies.
“But you’ve already followed me here,” I argue. “But you’ve followed me here; you can as well chill outside the door while I work. You’ll still be nearby to guard it.”
They just stare at me, unfazed, as if I’m speaking a foreign language. It’s clear that I’m not winning this argument, so I sigh and push the door open, stepping inside with them close behind. Privacy is officially a thing of the past.
After shrugging off my coat and hanging it, I place my bag on the large glass desk and get down to business. My task is to find the file containing the names and contact information of the company’s shareholders across the globe. I don’t have to look for long; I find it quickly and settle behind my desk to start going through it. There are a staggering one thousand two hundred shareholders to reach out to, and the idea of calling each and every one of them makes my stomach churn. I glance over at Baron and Victor, who are seated in the small coffee area, wishing they could help me with these calls as they did with the cleaning. But no—the only way I’ll have a chance at winning the election is if I make these calls myself.
Taking a deep breath, I decide to start with the international shareholders before moving to those in America. My first call is to Mr. Aaron Black in Australia.
He picks up on the first ring. “Hello, who’s this?” his voice booms from the other end.
“Ivory Hastings, the new CEO of Hastings Tech,” I say nervously. “Good day to you, sir.”
“Good day, Ms. Hastings. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the upcoming election.”
“Yes, I received an email about it earlier, and my good friend Mr. Jenkins personally called to tell me.”
At the mention of “Mr. Jenkins,” a sick feeling stirs in my stomach. Mr. Jenkins is one of the board members actively campaigning for my removal. I know right away this won’t go in my favor, but I press on—after all, no one ever died from trying their luck.
“Yes,” I say, keeping my tone steady. “So, I’d like to—”
“Let’s keep this brief. If you’re calling to ask for my vote, I’m afraid I can’t give it to you,” he cuts in, his tone dismissive.
“Okay. Thank you,” I reply, ending the call without further attempts to convince him. On to the next shareholder.
The next person on my list is Mr. Clarke, also in Australia.
“Hello, Mr. Clarke. Good day. This is Ivory Hastings, the new CEO of—”
Before I can even finish my sentence, he interrupts, his tone cold. “If this is about the election, I’ll tell you now: I’ve already made my decision, and my vote won’t be for you.”
“Thank you,” I manage to say, though a creeping fear starts settling into my bones. If this pattern continues, I’m in serious trouble. I try another shareholder, this time from Spain, but he’s just as blunt, making it clear he won’t be voting for me either.
By now, it’s painfully obvious that if I want to prove I’m competent and capable, I’ll have to do more than just phone calls. I’ll have to meet these people in person, which means traveling across continents to see them all. Frustration builds up inside me, and I’m nearly ready to grab the flower vase and smash it against the wall when there’s a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” I ask, the aggression slipping out unintentionally.
“Luca,” comes his voice from the other side.
“Come in,” I say.
As Luca steps inside, I wonder what he’s doing here.
“Why are you here?” I blurt out.
Before he can answer, his eyes land on Victor and Baron, and a frown creases his brow. “Did you really let them come into the office with you?”
“Yes,” I reply simply.
“Ivory, are you—”
“Please,” I cut him off, raising my voice slightly. “I already have enough on my mind. Don’t add to my frustration.”
Concern flashes across his face, and he steps closer, coming to stand beside my desk. He studies my face intently. “What’s wrong?”
I sigh heavily, releasing some of the pent-up tension. “The board members. They want me out.”
“What?” he exclaims, his voice mirroring the shock on his face.
“An election is being held, and all the shareholders are going to vote. Their decision will determine whether I stay or not.”
“Do you think you can win?”
“I hope so,” I reply, the doubt evident in my voice. I go on to explain my plan. “I’m going to meet with them in person to try to convince them.”
“The ones in New York?” he asks, surprised. “That’s a lot of work.”
“No,” I shake my head. “I mean all of them—wherever they are around the world.”
He narrows his eyes, and studies me for a moment before leaning forward over the desk. “I’m coming with you.”
His eyes locks with mine and the intensity of his gaze makes my heart skip a beat.