Chapter 3: Dear D
1846 Words
The next day, she woke up early getting ready for work.
She realized she didn't bring her clothes in, after scanning through the entire closet, she finally found a white gown that's slightly fair for her slender figure. She couldn't worry about taste since there was no other option.
Stepping out of the room, the first person she met was Maria who's holding a glass of red wine.
“Good morning, Maria.” Dora greeted as she immediately turned to leave.
“Stop, where do you think you're going?” Maria shouted and Dora stopped in track.
As she made a move to turn, she felt some liquids drowning over her. She sniffed and perceive the strong smell of wine cascading her.
“What is this? Why are you doing this to me?”
“Enough of the rants, you're too childish. Call your designer or whoever you want to call, I'll pay for the dresses, okay?”
“Happy now?” Maria howled lowly giving a middle finger to Dora, “bitch.”
A pang of nausea washed over Dora as she watch them walk away, she wanted to call on George but she can't find the word.
When both of them were finally out of sight, she go down slowly, scratching her back against the wall till her head is buried in her knees.
She let out a soft sigh and sob silently.
Initially, Dora was going to have a meeting with the investors and the executives
Some hours later, Dora
“You can cry all you want, but crying won't change anything. You have to be tougher than the situation.” She recalled what her mother used to tell her when she was young.
She rise to her feet, rub her back hands on her face and head back into her room to clean up.
Even though, that was the only dress that fits her, she can't afford to miss the opportunity to persuade and win the investors to her own way.
Having changed her dress to a casual and more bigger cloth, she checked her face in the mirror for the last time before she hurried out of the room.
The moment she entered the board room, sounds of humming
“You either step down as the chairlady or we step down for you.”
“She must step down from the seat.”
“She can't be trusted no more.”
“No, she deserves one more chance.”
The noise keep going on and on both from the investors side and the directors.
Bang!
Dora hit the table with her fist.
“Okay, fine…fine.” She said, “let's cast a vote.”
“What? Don't you get it? We just don't want you on that seat no more. It is already decided.”
“Just step down.” Said another.
“As long as I'm still on this seat, y'all will do what I said or let's call it a day.”
“Says, who?” A man in a blue suit objected, meeting Dora's stern gaze, he sit back and shout, “fine, if she wants a vote let's give it to her.”
“Let's give it to her.” The others responded simultaneously.
“Omg, she's so shameless. I even heard her mother flew in from London just to attend her wedding but she could only deny her own mother.”
“What a disgrace.”
“What a shameless child. I'd killy daughter of she try such with me.”
The directors consisting of 10 members were lined up on the right, and 10 investors on the left which make uo the 20 persons on board.
The EPS is distributed by the servants instantly and the voting began.
1, 2, 5, 6,7…16
0,1,3…4
The figures on the big screen keep counting in two columns, one under ‘Change’, the other under ‘Retain’ until the toyal number reached thirty.
The change column which indicates the chairperson must be changed end up with the figure 16, while the other retain column is left with 4.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Cheers the members of the board.
Dora was so embarrassed and gobsmacked that she doesn't know what to say. Isn't this crazy? How can they team up to dethrone her in the company she founded two years ago just because she is having some challenges.
When the company was collapsing, is she not the same person who revived it by signing a contract with George. Little do they know, so they turned back and impeach her.
Even the rules of the company was the chairperson can be chosen and removed at will by the members of the board. Now, she can't protest any further, even if she does, what's the use?
Dora and walked straight out of the board room and head for her office to pack her things, while the members keeps rejoicing and their hysterical laughter can be heard from afar.
“What do we do now ma'am?”
“This is only about me, not you. You should stay here Ms Bimbo, it doesn't matter who's ok this seat, the company still need your service so continue giving your best. I'll be going with just my laptop and other few things here, I'll leave the rest for the new elected chairman to decide what to do with the rest.
“Wait, can't we do anything to change their mind or reverse the policy or something?”
“We can't, Bimbo…as you can see, they've all made up their mind and their claim is back up by legal regulation of the company that if a chairperson is not doing well, he or she can be impeached for another person to take control…nothing can be done about it. But I'm still going to be in touch regardless.” She said in a firm yet gentle tone.
“I'll miss you badly….Dora.” Bimbo gave way to hug her and they both close the space in-between.
“Don't miss me too much. Remember I'm leaving a seat, not the company.” Dora smiled, patting her on the back.
Aside profession, Dora and Bimbo were close friends since university, they both moved beck to Chicago after their graduation.
For Dora, the dream is to become an independent CEO, but for Bimbo, she just wants to be next to her CEO friend. After all, she had lost her whole family to an accident since childhood, being an orphan grant her the freedom to stay and move anywhere at her own will, with less conditions.
Although, Bimbo is born in England, she trusted her friend enough and believed in her dream to set up her own company right after graduation so she agreed to work with her as they both build their respective dreams.
Now that she's leaving, she can only wish she could turn things around.
Back at home, as Dora sauntered into the Hoover mansion, having stop by her old apartment and packed some valuables. She was welcomed by Furious George.
“Where have you been and where is all this coming form?”
“From home, can't you tell?”
He turned back, shooting her a dead gaze, “you still don't get it, do you? You belonged to me now, alive or dead. Don't you dare call somewhere else your home. This is where you'll live and rot. Got it?”
“You don't own me, George. I am your wife not your commodity. Please, be polite.”
“Huh,” George scoffed, “you think you deserve my politeness? You don't deserve none of that, not even my finger. Now, get lost.”
Late at night, when Dora retreated to bed and she opened her laptop, the first article she set her eyes on was that on her wedding day, the heading goes….
Mother Visits Her Gold-digger Daughter
At the realization that she never checked after her mother since the incident at the wedding. She instantly reached out for her phone and punched some digits.
“Hey Bimbo,” she husked in a low tone, how's she?”
“You…I'm surprised you didn't ask of her before leaving the office, and I couldn't bring myself to tell you, she left this morning. What about your husband?”
“Hsband? George? I haven't seen enough of him yet to be able to tell who he really is, but so far, he can be cool.and warm sometimes. But…did you say mum has left? How?”
“She tried to wait for you to show up but since you didn't, she decided to go. But, she left a note for you.”
“What note are you talking about?”
“Check your purse babe, I put it there when you were in the meeting.”
She crawled over the bed to reached back for her purse sitting on the side table.
“Hold…on…I think I found it.”
“Good read Dora.” Bimbo said as she hung up.
She rummaged the purse and brought out a silver envelope tied with a yellow ribbon.
She opened the letter and trace every written word with her index finger.
“Dear D,
I'm writing this letter to you with a mix of emotions - shock, hurt, and confusion. I still can't believe what happened at your wedding. I flew all the way from London to surprise you and celebrate your special day, only to be turned away by you.
I understand that something is going on, something you didn't want me to know. But denying me, your own mother, at your wedding? That cuts deep. I feel like I've been punched in the gut.
I remember the day you were born, the first time I held you in my arms, and all the memories we've shared over the years. And now, it feels like you're pushing me away.
I want you to know that I love you no matter what. If you're in some kind of trouble or if there's something you're hiding, I'm here for you. I want to support you, not judge you.
Please, Dora, reach out to me and explain what's going on. I need to understand. I need to know that you're okay.
With all my love and concern,
Vivian Cory.”
Having read the signed name, she buried her face in a pillow and sob silently.
A grand marriage has always been one of the things she's promised herself and her aunt, who raised her as her own child and never for once failed to provide and protect her.
Years before, if someone has told her this is how marriage is going to be for her she would have cursed the person, but reality hits harder than daydreams. She's here and there seemed to be no way back.
She continue sobbing as her body
gradually fainted and sleep took over her consciousness.
She buried her face in her palms with her knees touching the back of her hands. She sobs silently till sleep takes over.
- Writer
