CHAPTER 2
970 Words
BRIANA MORRIS
Hands trembling, a racing heartbeat, and a faint ringing in my ears, all because of the meeting I’m about to attend in a few minutes.
A month ago, I was just the financial assistant at a branch of the Thompson Group, responsible for the Oil Company, the largest oil distribution company in the world. But today, I’m the financial director, taking on the position I’ve always dreamed of.
I studied and fought hard to get to where I am.
I have a degree in accounting with an emphasis on financial management, but it’s only now that I’ve managed to come to the company headquarters, and that’s one of the reasons for my nervousness.
“Miss Morris, Mr. Thompson is waiting for you in the meeting room,” my new secretary says, appearing at the door.
“I’m coming, just a minute, please.”
I know Mr. Thompson, but he doesn’t know me, and I’m anxious about this meeting.
However, the entire board will be there, so I have nothing to fear.
I grab everything I need from the desk, all the documents, and head toward the meeting room. My secretary leads the way, and when she opens the door for me to enter, I see the room is completely empty, with only Denner Thompson present.
“Where is the board?” I ask as soon as I walk in.
“Your meeting is with me, Miss. I’m curious to know why my father promoted a child to financial director of my company without informing me first.”
I can’t explain why, but the tone he uses with me doesn’t sit well.
“I think if the company were truly yours, you’d be the one promoting me, not your father. So…”
“Impertinent! This will be interesting,” he interrupts, signaling to my secretary to leave the room.
“Mr. Thompson, I’m just here to do my job. I spent the last few months at the company branch, and now, after the promotion, I’ve come to the headquarters.”
“It took you a month to come to the headquarters, why?”
I want to reply that it’s none of his business, but I know him well enough to know he wouldn’t accept that answer.
“I was organizing my move, personal matters.” I sit in the empty chair to his right and open the folders of documents, ready to answer whatever he asks.
“Financial director? This must be a very bad joke from my father. But go ahead, show me the company’s financial statements from last year.”
I control myself because I need the job, but asking for last year’s financial statements is clearly testing my limits.
“The financial statements are presented to you quarterly, so you should already know that the numbers are all positive. The statements I have here are from the last quarter.”
“We only had a small scare a month ago when the stocks dropped a little, but we recovered quickly.
“However, you know this, as you were the one who caused the company to lose a few million dollars, which gave me quite a headache.
“Since you decided to screw up on my first day and, as usual, I wasn’t here at the headquarters, I had to handle everything from the branch.
“So, Mr. Thompson, when you want to sleep around and party with your rich friends, I suggest you be more discreet. Follow your sister’s example; she knows how to behave.
“Your image directly impacts the company’s image, especially since you’re already the CEO, a decision I found hasty.
“But since Oliver decided, I couldn’t do anything about it…”
I stop speaking when he slams his hand on the table, startling me.
“Have you lost your mind? And you still have the nerve to call my father by his first name? What is your relationship with him?”
This time, I stand up and face him.
“You’re the CEO of the company, but you’re still not the owner of the damn thing. Do your job properly, and I’ll do mine.
“Don’t interfere in my life, and I won’t interfere in yours.
“Know that I won’t tolerate this kind of insinuation, which you’ve been making since you saw me walk through that door.
“Unlike you, I wasn’t born an heiress. I had to study hard to get here.
“Today, I hold the third most important position at the Oil Company, and you don’t want to have me against you.”
He stands up as well and stares at me.
“I don’t like you, and if you’re holding the third most important position at the Oil Company, it’s because my father didn’t give me a choice.
“You won’t be here for long. I’ve already arranged for someone more suitable to take your place.
“Now, leave and prepare the detailed financial statement for last year.”
When they told me it would be difficult to be here with him, I didn’t imagine it would be this bad.
This i***t is going to have to swallow me, just like I’ll have to swallow his presence, or I wouldn’t call myself Briana Morris.
“Tell the person you want to take my place to sit and wait. They might get tired if they stand.
“I’ll prepare your statement.
“Really, beginners need detailed data to understand how the business works, and by the way, I don’t like you either.”
I gather my folders and leave the room without looking back.
My God, I just called Denner Thompson a beginner.
This man is even worse than Oliver; he’s a shark in the business world.
A shark that could devour me if I’m not careful.
- Writer
