The Light in your Eyes

Jade sat calmly on the president seat as she watched the old men and women continuously lash out hidden insults at her. She is 24 years old but what could she do? If she wants these old guys to listen to her in the future she has to do so with her abilities and not with words. She checked the time with subtlety and she imagined they had been going on with their argument about how young she was to run the company with righteousness all over their faces. She knew what they wanted but would not succumb to their wishes. The company's co executives went out of the meeting room on their initiatives without the CEO's approval after all their suggestions were met with eternal silence. The large conference room was so quiet it couldn't be quieter. “What are you going to do?" a man's voice said. Jade was a little startled. 'so there's still someone that is not done talking", she thought. She looked to where the voice came from and it's her uncle from her father's side. Reuben Thomas was extremely loyal to her father so she knows he's actually got nothing good to say to her. "What do you suggest I do "uncle" you are my advisor after all". She said with a little bit of irony. Yes The Thomas Family appointed him as her advisor to help rebuild the dying company, he must be feeling resentful. Actually she wasn't at all bitter about everything that's happening, after all nothing in the company should have been any of her concern in the first place. She was just someone they are all trying to pity. "why are you spacing out, you know if you want to yield good results from this company you need a strong backing and not just high educational qualifications. You need someone from the Thomass" help. And obviously that family no longer welcomes you". Reuben actually wasn't saying all this to taunt her and he wasn't trying to help her. Truth is the fact that she's able to keep calm despite everything that is going to earn her a bit of respect from him. He's known Jade since the day she came into this world and the girl has always managed to surprise him every time they met at any occasion. "You don't have to do this, you know, I am not willing to rely on this borrowed surname after all." She paused to see his reaction and as usual it was as bland as it used to be. "I can survive without using my surname and I want to change it. Though I don't know my original family, using any surname should be fine." She said calmly, underneath the calm facade is actually a hint of fear for the other man. She would rather have nothing to do with him. "Those old fogeys want you to appoint one of them as the vice president." Reuben said as he took in the structure of the room while standing from his seat. Honestly this kind of small company that can't even fork out twenty million naira annually is not his cup of tea. "You won't be able to control them, you will only end up working like a horse for them." He paused to let his words sink in, his next statement might not be pleasing to her. "Moreover you did not study any course related to managing a business at the University. You studied education, you cannot do anything for this company and you know it. However, you have another option." He paused letting his words sink in, whether she understood or not is none of his business as far as his goal is achieved. Jade waited for him to continue his words but he was taking too long to complete it so she looked up to meet his eyes which looked like he was going to ask for her life next. In that instant she was a little bit frightened, she could guess what he was going to suggest. "You want me to sell the company to you." She wasn't seeking to know if she's right because his eyes confirmed it. "You are smart," Reuben said, "but not smart enough. Think about it, I won't help you with reasons you should sell the company because you know it's your only choice". Helplessness filled Jade because she knew he was right, the shoulders that had always been held high dropped at that moment and her eyebrows dropped with a hint of shame. Reuben walked out of the room without looking at her, defeated people like this weren't worth his time and sympathy. They both understood that her supposed family did not intend to actually transfer the company to her in the first place. They were merely trying to appear compassionate to the outside world. She could imagine what the social media will say after leaving the family fully. "His kindness was nice while it lasted," she mocked in her heart, "he should have just gone straight to the point right from the start instead of wasting both of our time." She contemplated what to do after leaving the draining company, almost forgetting about the earlier confrontations. "I should change my surname first and start anew, I'm just going to miss my old rich life. Time to embrace the life of a pauper, hope the slums will treat me well." Her gloomy self from before dissolved and she regained a little bit of confidence in herself. It is going to be a rough battle but she hopes to come out of it unscathed, the old years were nice while they lasted. There wasn't anything else to do so she picked up the black bag she's always used and went out of the door. There wasn't any hesitation in her gait, after all there's no reason to hesitate. She might never step into the rundown company ever again. Jade walked along the corridors of the company to the exit. At the last step, she paused and looked back. Although the company was losing money, none of the workers had looked at her with scorn. It wasn't anything to be joyful for but she was grateful none of them had been judgemental. Well, she took a taxi to The Thomas’s mansion.