65

65
Michael

“We  are gathered here today to make a decision that is  crucial  to the future of this  company…”

I’m at the front of the board again. This time, I didn’t make the mistake of coming in late; in fact, I was earlier than anyone else. But as I sat down there, my mind had drifted far away. I wasn’t even paying attention to what the CFO was saying; instead, my fingers were tapping on the leather armrest as I recounted the event from last night. 

Who was that man?
And why was he bossing Betty around as though he were her father?

The Betty I knew would never condone that, in fact, she was so strict that she would never let anyone tell her what to do, and she had principles, strict ones. 
So don’t blame me if I find it odd that this man was being outright mean to her, it was as if he wanted everyone to see that he was embarrassing her. 

I didn’t know what happened but she definitely didn’t deserve that.  

Classic Betty, always falling in love with the wrong ones, including me. 

I scrunched my nose as I leaned my back against the chair, trying to stay in the present and not in the past. 
“Are you listening?”  My father's baritone voice jolted me out of my reverie and I blinked twice, finally aware of my environment, all eyes were on me now, men and women were dressed in crisp ironed suits, all frowns and seriousness.
I chuckled a little, what’s a room without its comic relief, after all?
But this expression soon turned to a frown when I heard my father say; “In conclusion, the  board has made a decision,”
I straightened,  tense, as I felt my heart begin to thump, like they wanted to fall off my chest, and my palms instantly became sweaty. What decision have they made this time? 
Was I going to be the CEO finally or is this another ‘No’ masked with polite excuses?

Before I could swallow a spittle Heather walked in confidently, her heels thudding sharply against the tiled floor.

She looked elegant in the cream house she wore and the navy blue skirt that matched her bag and shoes. 
What was this about? 
And what was she doing here?
She winked at me, “Hello, Michael.”
“Welcome,” my father beamed, “This is the acting CEO.”
Instantly my stomach dropped, and I nearly screamed in anger but I tried so hard to control my anger.

“I don’t understand,” I managed to say, staring at my father in shock, he just smiled at me, like he hadn’t just made a big fool out of me.
“I have decided to resign, your old man is getting weak and he needs an able hand to take over, the shareholders voted her in, so as from now on, she’ll be the acting CRO until you’re fit to be one.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. 
“Father, I’m ready to be CEO!”
“No you’re not, this company is delicate, I won’t let another crisis ruin what I’ve built with sweat and tears, I hope you understand that this is for the greater good.” He bawled.

One of the shareholders whom I recognized as the HR stepped forward, his eyes filled with so much guilt, “We know how bad you wanted this Michael but Heather here has been with us for the longest, she has the best experience and knows the ropes of the company, only she is capable of moving this company forward.”

Heather was smiling hard now, like she’d just been crowned the queen of the universe.
Instantly I sprang up to my feet, my chair scraping against the floor. “I can’t believe I wasted my time coming here!”

“Michael, please don’t….” My father yelled after me but I was already out of the room, I didn’t even spare anyone a glance, I was too ashamed and angry too.
As soon as I got to my car I yanked the door open and hopped into the driver's seat.
Instantly I locked the doors, for a few seconds I sat there trying to process the whole thing, and also trying to calm the anger simmering under my skin. 
Being CEO was my right, not Heather’s.
How dare they discard me as if  I were nothing!

And my father, he sat there watching them do all these and said nothing? That was the most alarming part of it all. 

I should have known Heather had other plans, If I knew she wouldn’t meet the end of the bargain I  shouldn’t have helped her when she begged me to help her convince my father not to go ahead with the divorce.

“You are  going to pay for this, Heather !” I scoffed.

Suddenly a sharp knock on the car window caught my attention. It was Heather, she was still wearing that evil smile she had on at the boardroom.
I should’ve just ignored her and just driven off but something in me needed to know why she was here.
Slowly, I rolled down the window. “How may I help you, Heather?”

She burst into loud laughter before resting her forearms on the edge of the window. “Aw, you look so hot when you’re pissed, you should get mad often.”
My lips turned up in an angry smile, “Shouldn’t you be in there jubilating? After all, you got what you want.”
“It’s not what you think Michael, I didn’t bribe anyone, I was voted in, fair and square.”

“I see…” I gasped.
Before I could finish my sentence she had opened the car door and jumped inside like she owned my car too.

“What the hell Heather, you need to back off!”

Her eyes slanted as she leaned her back against the seat. “I just wanted to thank you for making it easy.”
I turned to face her, my eyes gleaming with anger. “This is not over, Heather!”

She erupted into another round of laughter, one that made me angrier than I already was. “It’s far from over, my love, but if you want a piece of advice, you might want to convince the board  members that you are actually a leader, or they would never see you as one.”  She said, clicking her tongue.
I smiled angrily, “You'd better watch your back, Heather, you are playing a dangerous game!”

“Well, you are right, but I'm also very good at it.”