Episode two
992 Words
MARCELLE
I hissed for the fifteenth time as I looked through the files on the table. There seem to be a lot of projects going on in my company.
All day, I have been trying to sort them out and give them attention according to the level of priority. It wasn't easy, especially with my grandmother's ultimatum hanging over my head.
She has been persistent and I refuse to be part of any scheme she has cooked up with this friend of hers. If she saved your life then pay her off or something.
Why make me marry someone I don't know?
A knock distracted me from my thoughts, "sir," my secretary slipped in.
"What is it, Olivia?"
"Your meeting in thirteen minutes has been pushed back by the board, they want to see you before you meet with the investors."
"I see, I will be right there with them."
"They are in conference room b."
"Thank you, Olivia." I dismiss her.
I wonder what the board wants from me now. They are always up to no good when they want to make impossible demands.
I dropped the file I was working on and headed to the conference room. I took a deep breath as I entered.
My gaze fell on my grandmother who smirked at me, I narrowed my eyes at her. She was up to no good.
"Good day, ladies and gentlemen." I greeted, taking my seat.
"I am sure you know why we called you here," my grandmother's right-hand man said.
"I am afraid I have no idea, did something go wrong in one of the branches?" I ask,
"No, we want to discuss the capacity of the one in charge."
"Excuse me?"
"Your grandmother has brought to our attention that you are single and have no intention of starting a family."
"Yes," I drawled out, looking at my grandmother who suddenly found the ground interesting.
"Although I don't see why that's a reason to call a board meeting."
"It is a matter of concern, Marcelle. We are contemplating your ability to run this company."
"Now, hold on. I have held my own in this company for years since my grandmother retired. Nothing has gone wrong and I am doing a good job." I say firmly.
"And we applaud you for it, but we need someone we can trust."
"I have given you a reason to trust me over and over again. What more do you want?"
"More responsibility,"
"Fine, I will build more branches or I will usher in a new product," I argue,
They shook their heads, my grandmother gazed at me with something akin to disappointment in her eyes.
"No, you need to build a family of your own. That's the only way we can trust your judgments."
"This is not fair,"
"Life isn't fair, we will be holding the next board meeting next month. Your grandmother remains the majority shareholder and she can appoint a new CEO by then."
"You can't do that. I won't let you." I bang my fist on the table.
"Then you will have no problems complying with our demands."
"All this because I refuse to marry?" I ask,
They all nodded their heads.
"Excuse me, I have a meeting right now."
"We are not done talking about this," my grandmother spoke up.
"Yes we are, and if the company is not on fire. Do not drag me away from work with a trivial matter such as this." I send them a glare before leaving the office.
I met Olivia at the entrance of my office, "are you okay?"
"Yes, I am going to need you to cancel that meeting."
"But..."
"Cancel it." I entered my office and shut the door.
My chest tightened with anger, I can't believe my grandmother would go to this extent to prove a point.
A knock sounded on my door, "Olivia, I told you to cancel my meetings."
I looked up in time to watch my grandmother approach me with a smile.
"Let me explain,"
"There is nothing to explain, Grans."
"I am just trying to look out for you."
"No, what you are trying to do is blindside me and bend me to your will. What is it about this girl that you want me to marry her so much?"
My grandmother's smile slipped but she put it back.
"You are a good match."
"The days of arranged marriage are over,"
There was no way in hell I was going to marry someone I didn't know.
"I know but..."
“No,”
“Please, I promise you will like her,” she pleaded with me.
“I don’t care if she saved you. I don’t want to get married because she is nice,” I argued.
This went on till I found myself rubbing my temple.
They have been arguing for the past hour. She is not listening to me. She wants nothing more but to marry me off to this girl she keeps talking about. The same girl that saved her from death a few months ago. They have been meeting up to have lunch, and now she wants him to marry the girl because she adores her.
I don't know how the said girl managed to get this idea into my grandmother's head but she has been on about the marriage thing ever since she met her.
“For God’s sake, grandma. I am not going to marry someone I don’t know.
“Fine, why not meet her, and then you can decide if you like her or not?”
"Why should I?"
"Because if you don't, you can kiss your inheritance goodbye." She smirked.
My eyes widened, "you wouldn't dare."
"You want to bet?"
I can't win this one.
“Okay,” I groaned.
I could never win against this woman. She was too persistent. I noticed the victorious smile playing on her lips.
“When am I meeting her?”
- Writer
