Chapter 103

Chapter 103
Ava’s POV

It was a new week, and I had since resumed my new position as Product Manager. Dale’s office felt really large for me, and sometimes, I felt guilty for taking this position. It seemed like something too big for me. It was as though I was being greedy, and I wondered how many other people thought the same.

My laptop pinged with a notification from my secretary. It felt weird to have a secretary. I was used to doing all the reminders and being in the back seat, but this new position was making me taste a whole new level of freedom and responsibility. I had been growing and learning new things about myself since I took up this position, and I was kind of enjoying the process.

The notification was a reminder for a meeting the board was having today. I was not exactly a board member, as I had no shares in my name in the company, but Aunt Clara had told me that she would love it if I was there. Knowing that I was new and all eyes would be on me, I was committed to making a good impression at the meeting, and one way to do that was to go early.

I thanked my secretary and left the office. The conference room was already filling up by the time I got there, and putting on my best smile, I greeted everyone in the room.

“Good morning, all.” My voice rang loud and clear in the room.

The small conversations in the room died down as all eyes turned to me. My eyes darted around, looking at all of them as an embarrassed smile lined my lips. I was certain that my face was red, and I wondered why this had to be so awkward. Without saying a word, they all took their gazes away from me and continued with their conversations.

I stood for a second, shocked and surprised that they had paid me no regard. My mouth opened to say something, but I quickly swallowed it back. Getting into a fight wasn’t why I was here, and I was not about to get distracted from my real reason for being here just because I was disrespected by a group of men.

“Ava.” My aunt’s voice filtered into my ears, and I spun around to see her with her secretary.

She was dressed in a navy-blue blazer, and I loved how chic she looked.

“Good morning, Aunt,” I greeted and slightly bowed in respect.

“Good morning, Ava.” She patted me lightly on the back and immediately got the meeting started.

There were a lot of board politics going on, and even though it was quite nauseating to me, I was learning a lot. Aunt Clara was a terrific leader. She had a lot of bright ideas and was passionate about leading the company to greater heights, but the men on the board seemed to be making things a lot more difficult for her. They intentionally dismissed most of her ideas and still went on to suggest the same things she had suggested. I found out that the issue was their ego and nothing else. My aunt seemed to be used to it all because she simply smiled through the entire situation and went along with all intelligent and necessary suggestions.

An hour passed, and the meeting was finally drawing to a close. I could not wait to leave. With the way the meeting had gone, I was sure there was no way for me to make an impression on the men. We were only three women here, and my aunt, who was the CEO, was still finding it hard. Who the hell was I to think I would have it any different?

“So, are there any suggestions or complaints that we are yet to address in today’s meeting? Did anyone observe anything and would like to bring it to our attention?” Aunt Clara asked when everything on the agenda had been handled.

“Umm, yeah. I have made a very rather disturbing observation,” Mark Barry said.

All eyes turned to him, and I could tell that he was respected among the board members. Well, that was a good thing, I thought to myself.

“So, I have found it rather disheartening that most of the staff are usually not working when they should be. I see a lot of staff loitering around when they should be working. When I try to complain, they tell me that they are on break. And I cannot even fight them because there is no way for me to really tell if they are telling the truth or not. Within myself, I know that they are lying, but I cannot prove it as a fact easily. I think we need to come up with a way to limit that. This company is known for excellence, and I would not like to see it all crumble,” he said.

The moment he was done talking, a round of applause followed from most of the men on the board, and I wondered why they were clapping. I could see the same cringe look on my aunt’s face, and it consoled me that I was not alone.

However, despite all the cringe I felt, I saw an opportunity. I wasn’t sure of the idea that was floating around in my head, but I was sure that if I pushed my mind far enough, I could get something good out of it.

“Umm, I think I might have a way for us to handle this issue,” I said from where I was seated behind the board members, and all eyes turned to me again.

With their eyes on me, I felt stupid and embarrassed as I remembered how they had treated me earlier. However, I refused to be deterred. I didn’t die from their disregard of me earlier; I would not die if they dismissed my idea now.

“That is interesting, Ava. Do you mind coming up and telling us what you have in mind?” my aunt invited me over.

“Yes, please tell us what it is that you have in mind,” Mark Barry said, becoming interested in me, and for the life of me, I wished the ground would open up and swallow me.