Made For Each Other

CHAPTER 5

Inside Lavender’s Bedroom

The ray of light illuminating from her window blind hit her face as her fore head creased deeply. She opened her eyes slightly and shut them again as the pounding sensation in her head increased. The steady, consistent hammering made her eyes hazy. She groaned and buried her face deeper into the pillow, hoping for comfort.

She could still taste the liquor from last night, and could also taste regret.

She cracked her eyes open. Morning sunlight streaming continuously through the thin curtains, mercilessly bright. She blinked hard, shutting them again with a hiss. “Oh God…” she muttered, her voice hoarse.

She picked up her cellphone from the nightstand and when she switched it on, her heart dropped.

6:30 AM.

“I am so late” She muttered as she hastily scrambled out of bed. She would have to try to remember last night's event some other time because she had to meet the boardroom conference by 7:30, she could only hope she gets to the office before him.

After 30 minutes of racing time and getting ready, Lavender drove out of the garage dressed in a brown knee-length dress.

At Ford Enterprise

“It's already 7:25, are you sure the effect of the drinks was not overwhelming?” Shaun asked with creased brows as he adjusted his glasses. “How would I know? I left there immediately she fell asleep. How is it possible that I would know what state she is in this morning,” Alex replied with a stoic face.

“We can only hope she arrives before the meeting,” the latter added. He knew his friend so well and he could see beyond this facade, he knew Alex was also worried and he would not think twice to rush to her if he wanted to.

While talking about other things they heard the door open, and they turned to its direction.

“I apologize for being late,” Lavender said as she hurriedly entered the office. Shaun gave her a quick nod and turned to Alex “ I will be at the boardroom , it's time” before he left the office.

“Get the documents ready and come to the boardroom” he said as he strode to the door but paused midway. “I won't tolerate this level of unseriousness when it comes to my work and that lame excuse of being late, I don't want it” he spoke before leaving.

Lavender rushed to her table and grabbed the necessary documents running behind him. What could she expect from him? She deserved this cold behavior from him and hoped it would be an excuse to hate him.

She was about to enter the boardroom when a sharp pain hit her head, she closed her eyes tightly and flashes of blurred images of her being carried by a man filled her head.

“Are you okay Miss Scott?” She heard Mrs Jane's calm voice.

“No…I mean yes…yes , I'm okay, just a slight headache” She stuttered. Mrs Jane walked past her and entered the boardroom while she followed behind.

Inside The Boardroom

Lavender walked into the spacious, exquisite room, she took her seat close to Mrs Jane.

She could feel cold chills creeping down her skin yet the tension was thick as smoke.

The directors sat across the long sleek mahogany table in leather chairs. She could see Alexander at the center with the glow from the projector reflecting through his face.

Shaun sat beside him wearing a stern look. She could not vividly remember him but she could recall Alex frequently speaking about his childhood friend.

The directors sat stiffly, a row of expensive suits around the polished oak table, their eyes fixed on the man at the head.

Alexander Wilford, the new CEO, didn’t bother with small talk. He closed the folder in front of him with a quiet snap, as though sealing the fate of everyone in the room.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice smooth but edged with steel, “this company is no longer the one you remember. I bought it because I saw what you failed to see: potential squandered by hesitation and outdated thinking.”

A murmur rippled through the board.

Mr. Collins, the former interim chair, cleared his throat. “With all due respect, Mr. Wilford, this board has kept the company alive through crises. You may find that we’re not so quick to…”

Alexander’s gaze cut to him like a blade. “Alive, yes. Thriving? Hardly. That’s why you’re sitting there, and I’m sitting here.”

The silence that followed was sharp enough to draw blood.

Lavender gulped her own saliva, she too was tensed just like others apart from Shaun who was adjusting his glasses. This was a whole different Xander and it made her weary to try to comprehend him.

Ms. Duvall, one of the directors leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “So what’s your grand plan, then? s***h jobs? Sell off branches? You’ll find we don’t rubber-stamp every decision.”

Alexander smiled faintly, though his eyes remained cold. “Oh, you’ll stamp this one. Because I didn’t buy this company to ask permission. I bought it to run it.” He slid a document across the table. “Effective immediately, we restructure. The unprofitable divisions go. Dead weight goes. And those unwilling to adapt…” He let the pause hang, deliberate. “…can follow them out the door.”

The directors exchanged uneasy glances. The balance of power had shifted, and everyone knew it.

She had never been in this boardroom since had always laid low as cubicle staff. She only showed her prowess in business when she was basically running Miller Group on behalf of Desmond.

A few of the directors shifted uncomfortably. Papers rustled, pens clicked. The silence was heavy, yet no one dared to speak first.

Mr. Collins finally broke it, his voice tight. “Ownership doesn’t mean dictatorship. This board still has a voice.”

Alexander leaned back in his chair, unbothered. “A voice, yes. A veto? No. I’ve secured majority shares. That gives me the authority to move this company in whatever direction I see fit. You can advise. You can challenge yourselves . But ultimately…” He tapped the table once, sharply. “…I decide.”

The bluntness struck like a gavel.

Ms. Duvall smirked, though her folded arms gave her away. “So that’s it then? We’re expected to sit here, watch you gut the company, and clap while you do it?”

Alexander’s gaze shifted to her, slow and deliberate. “No. You’re expected to do your jobs or step aside for someone who will.”

The words hung in the air, cutting deeper than any shout could.