Chapter 1
1353 Words
Jea stepped out of her car, staring at the tall building in front of her, then down at the media struggling at the entrance
As the guards tried to stop them from getting in the building.
"What do you have to say to this"
" Is it true your dad did it"
The video was already everywhere by now. The video of her dad handing an envelope that was so big it could buy a nation to the senator for illegal mining.
The headline struck the Internet, everyone was talking about it.
She moved swiftly, climbed the lift and before time, she was already on the last floor.
The board room door opened ajar and heads turned towards her direction. Everywhere became dead quiet, all eyes lingering on her.
A cold chill ran down her spine, she was ready for the worst.
Everyone had the print on today's news in front of them.
All 12 members of the board, her uncle and cousin--- Mira--- included, rose after what felt like a decade, she walked in, shoulders high, chin up.
There was just a rule to keep --never let them see your fear --
Once she was seated, everyone did the same
"It's no news of what is going on lately"
Her uncle, Manson began.
"Let's not beat around the bush and get straight to the point"
he continued, leaning forward
Jea's eyes flickered from one board member to the other in the entire room.
"The media is waiting, the press, the entire country is waiting for something to be said or done and we need to move fast". He stated
" Miss Jea we all know you're young, confident and talented, you've done a lot in your 3 months as the CEO since the chairman's death, but now is not the time to think about sentiments...
Jea sensed where this was going, but no, she wasn't letting them take anything, not a pin away from her.
Her hands flinched under the table but her face didn't lose its confidence.
".... The scandal is about your father and you're his daughter, people may likely think you'd be same. Am not trying to draw conclusions." He said trying to justify his words, "but to keep the company running, we need to do something, you may need to step down for a bit until everything is back to normal, our stocks are dropping already, and the SEC will freeze our assets if we do nothing". Manson concluded.
All eyes were now on Jea, everyone expecting her to say something but no, she didn't speak not with words but with her actions. Let them sit on it, she gets the final verdict.
Another board member spoke up
"like he said it's not the time for what's true and what's not we need to be logical, I'm suggesting a vote for who will lead at the moment".
The stakes were dropped, her or her uncle
The vote was a tie 5 to 5 with only her cousin , Mira, left to vote
" We're family, I'm not against my dad taking over but it will be a hard time for Jea, we should all consider? She just lost her Dad 2 months ago and now this, we can't just evict her for her Dad's mischief. I vote for her"
Jea scoffed loud enough to be heard by Mira. It was a 6 - 5
She won by one vote, Mira's vote
She should have felt relieved, no, her face was cold
The room went quiet, Jea's eyes locked on Mira's, eyes flat
Mira stared back, then after a second, she tilted her head, her lips curved into a slow, practiced smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Meeting adjourned"
Jea walked out of the room, with long, even strides, Mira's eyes still lingering on her
--- my goal is simple break that confidence and pride of yours. Not now when everything just started to get interesting, this will be too small of a glory, the bigger the story, the bigger the glory. It has always been about you since highschool, just watch me crush you, this is just the beginning ---
She thought, the smile still clinging to her lips
____
"What did you just do, Mira?".
Her father, Manson, said, pacing back and forth in the room with a clenched fist
"The right thing Dad"
Mira smirked arms crossing over her chest
Her dad gave a humorless laugh
"The right thing you say?"
" I was about to become CEO and you got your filthy legs up and supported her?"
He snapped
Mira scoffed,
"You think this is it right? The big win?"
"You are blinded by greed you literally forgot to think"
"In your wildest dreams would you think Jea will willingly hand over this --- spreading her hands and staring at the entire room like the entire building was there --- to you without a fight. Just like that, because of the vote?
She laughed, short, loud and sharp
" Come on Dad"
" That will just be us giving ourselves away"
" We just have little here and can be thrown out whenever she decides to, so we couldn't do that"
She rolled her eyes,then continued
" There are so many ways she could have revoked it, so be thoughtful -- I just saved us"
" She thinks she's the world"
Mira muttered bitterly
Manson stared at his daughter for a while, everything clicked. She was right, there are other ways she could still control.
After all she's the next of kin and the one with the highest number of shares, he was nothing with the vote compared to her.
He nodded his head slowly in agreement while Mira gave a pleasing smile.
" You see dad, you can't do without me, I'm the best, even better than Jea"
Then leaned in close to Manson
"She got it all" she cooed
"which I'm about to take" she pressed a light kiss to his cheek
" Bye dad"
picking her bag from the table, Mira walked off, heels clicking on the floor a grin pulled at her face
" I loved the look on her face today when I gave my speech"
she smirked
____
Jea stared at the big fancy wall clock. It wasn't just for decoration, the time worked perfectly
It was 12 PM on Thursday again, she gathered her things and stepped out of the office.
"Ma'am, there's an urgent meeting" her secretary informed her the moment she stepped out.
" It can wait," Jea dismissed.
"But ma..." She tried convincing her when Jea gave her a cold stare, turned, and left.
She didn't take her driver, no one knew this, same time, same day, all year round, for twelve years, she visited the Defiant Steps.
She had never really gotten over the incident, twelve years of guilt, nightmares, sleepless nights. She never forgot. This was the only thing her confidence had failed her on. She couldn't face Bethel.
She parked carefully in the car park, picked up the white roses from the passenger seat and headed to the entrance
At the doors, she collided with someone and the flowers scattered
"Sorry"
The words left her lips as she bent to pick the flowers
A masculine hand joined in, picking up the flowers
"No"
He said, handing her the flowers, his voice clipped, cap pulled low and a mask covering part of his face leaving only his eyes in view
Jea took it, met his gaze for a second
" My apologies"
She said, lips curved in a polite empty smile
He nodded once then turned and walked away
Jea watched until he disappeared into the car park
"He's suspicious"
she muttered
Then she turned to the security
"Excuse me"
"Do you know him"
"The man, on cap"
She reported
"He's a regular Ma, nothing to worry of"
He assured
Jea accepted with a slight nod
"Why would someone come for a visit dressed like that". Her brow furrowed
"Well" She exhaled sharply through her nose, the unease settling cold in her chest
- Writer
