Chapter 24 Call me

Chapter 24 Call me
I woke up to my phone blowing up. At first, I’d been sure that I was dreaming when I’d heard the continuous angry buzzing. 

I could count on one hand how many people had my number not to mention calling me.

Although I’d just opened an account on a few social media handles, because Preston, Astor’s PR manager had insisted, stating that being accessible as a CEO was all the rage now, the notifications didn’t make sense as I’d a handful of followers.

I sat up, still sleepy as I stretched my hand to grab my phone. I’d plugged it in, next to my bedside lamp. 

It took a handful of seconds for me to make sense of the notifications stacked on notifications on my screen. 

I’d emails, messages, Mr. Benedict had called, Preston too and even Amber. There were also a few unknown numbers.

A call rang and confused, I answered.

“Hello?” It came out more like a question. 

“Ms. Astor, Sylvester Jones from Wall Street Journal. Your company shares took a hit this morning as a result of you abruptly ending a three-year relationship and even an engagement. Do you believe your personal decisions are affecting market confidence?” 

I blinked. “Pardon?”

“We’d value the opportunity to include your perspective in light of this new development, would you be available for a brief interview today to address investor concerns directly?”

I hung up with my heart pounding. Almost immediately, my phone started ringing again, it was a different number.

I knew better than to answer this time. 

My phone chimed with a buzzer for an incoming message. I opened it.

Preston: We need to get ahead of this, now. CALL ME.

My hands were trembling as I clicked on one of the links he had attached to the message. 

IRIS ASTOR CALLS OFF ENGAGEMENT, INSIDER INFO SUGGESTS THAT SHE STARTED ACTING COLD TOWARDS HER LONG TIME FIANCEE MERE HOURS AFTER SUCCESSION ANNOUNCEMENT.

IS THE FUTURE CEO TOO UNSTABLE TO LEAD?

Astor Cosmetic future Ceo’s inability to manage her private life is making investors second guess if Timothy Astor had made the right choice choosing his younger daughter as his successor. Although this decision had come as a shock to the world mere months ago, especially since Scarlett Astor, his elder daughter had seemed like a more capable candidate. This concern although at the time had been unfounded. But, with her being unable to handle a three-year relationship with one person, it begs the question; how will she handle a billion-dollar company with hundreds of workers…

I stopped reading, standing on shaky feet feeling nothing but blood curdling horror, as I attempted to fetch my laptop, hoping that I could stave my restlessness with productivity, something I could handle, like my unanswered emails.

I caught my reflection on the mirror and recoiled, my face was as white as paper.

There was yet another buzz, I couldn’t help myself as I opened another link. A picture of Collin and I headlined the article. I was in his college sweatshirt, my hand in his as we walked on campus. I felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t even know such a picture existed until I was staring back at it being dissected and analyzed by strangers.

I made a mistake opening social media. My name along with Astor Cosmetics were trending.

My knees buckled, I sat back on the bed. Never in my wildest imagination had I even thought that this will affect the company in any way when I’d ended my relationship with Collin.

I’d thought that it was my decision to make. I was wrong.

Thousands of post were multiplying in real time;

“I’m not surprised at all. That is what happens when you announce an illegitimate child as a successor. This is just the natural order of things, Iris Astor was never meant to lead.”
“This is the woman you want in charge of people’s livelihood. Such an evil, vicious woman. Poor man, broke his heart the minute she was given power.”
“She should fix her life first before trying to fix any company. I knew that a recluse Ceo was a bad idea.”
“Probably found a hotter man. Typical. Gets power and dumps a man who stood by her for a boytoy.”

The comments were more vicious, judgmental and sickening. The crass jokes, the sarcasm, I was being discussed by strangers who barely knew me but yet had loud opinion on who they think I was and why I did what I did.

There was yet another beep. It was from my stocks app, Astor cosmetics was the header, we were in red.

My chest tightened and with it a queasiness lodged in my stomach, my eyes watered and I couldn’t help it when I rushed for the toilet, my knee hitting the floor as I put my head on the toilet bowl, throwing, while tears escaped my eyes.

I retched even as my phone kept on buzzing on the floor beside me. 

I couldn’t do this.

This was more trouble than it was worth.

I cannot spend my life second guessing every decision and checking the stock price anytime I did make one.

None of the people judging me knew what I’d to go through. None of them knew who I was. This was so unfair. 

My phone rang, I managed to answer the third time.

It was Mr. Benedict and he sounded mad.

“What were you thinking making such a decision on a whim?” He asked.

I had a feeling that it was my life wasn’t the answer he was looking for so I kept quiet. “We need to do a lot of damage control. I was hoping to ease you into social events but it seems like that is out of my hands now,” he said. “Switch off your phone, don’t say anything to anyone until we get our story straight.” He barked.

“Okay.”

He was quiet for a while then he asked tentatively, “Are you alright.”

“Yes,” I lied then a sob escaped my lips. “No,” I whispered. “No, I’m not.”