Queen Tania

Tania opened her eyes immediately after she heard the door open. She gently sat up and watched as her father was pushed in his wheelchair by his gaurd. “Good morning sir.” Her voice didn’t sound sleepy. “You came in very late last night, and you didn’t sleep?” Peter asked. “I was busy at work last night.” She stood and held her head as she moaned, almost quietly in pain. “It’s very early for you to be here.” She moved closer to him and kissed him on his head. “Is it that bad that you can’t sleep?” Peter asked again. “I’ll fix it.” She wasn’t confident enough but she hoped to fix it somehow. “I hope his chest pains have reduced.” She said to Shawn, his guard. “Yes ma’am, the new medicines prescribed to him are quite effective,” Shawn spoke very clearly with his head down. He had the habit of not maintaining eye contact with Tania because she once complained that his stares were annoying. “Make sure he eats the right thing always, and do not joke with his medications and medical check-ups.” “I told someone to make us breakfast,” Peter said with a smile. “I'm so sorry Dad, I am in a hurry, I have to be at work as soon as possible.” She turned her back to attend to something else. “Tania?” Peter called with a warning tone. “Yes, Dad.” She reluctantly faced him. Peter raised his hand slightly above his head and signaled to his guard to leave the room. “I’ll be outside sir.” Shawn excused himself. “I have told you to learn to accept competitions, sometimes you just have to give in and allow life to give you what it wants.” “I am not giving in.” Her reply was short. “So, what do you want to do? You can't ask those people to stop selling because it is affecting our sales.” “I'll fix it.” Tania gave another short reply. Peter shrugged his shoulders. “Anyways, make sure you are home before 6. A friend of mine is coming to have dinner with his son.” “I won't be available for any sort of matchmaking Sir.” She put her head down. “I’m not interested in things like that.” She turned and walked into the bathroom. “Shawn!” Peter called and he entered almost immediately. “Take me out of this place, we have to opt for our alternative plan.” “Okay, sir,” Shawn replied with a nod and stared at the bathroom door when he heard the sound of running water. A few moments later, Tania stepped out of her room to the sitting room in a green Duchess gown, she wore a pair of black heels and carried a small clutch bag, and her hair, as always was styled in a bun. The entire area was filled with the scent of her perfume. She had no makeovers on her face except for the clear lip gloss on her lips. “Are you set to leave already?” Asked Peter. “Yes, Dad,” Tania replied. “Ensure to take your medications and eat on time.” She faced Shawn who immediately put his head down to avoid eye contact with her. “Take good care of my father.” “Yes ma’am.” “Why is Shawn’s head always down when he talks to you?” Peter asked and there was utmost silence. “I asked a question.” “His stares are annoying, it makes me feel nervous.” Tania was blunt and clear “So you asked him to put his head down anytime he wants to talk to you?” He asked again. “I didn't, I only complained of his annoying stares when I noticed them.” She looked at Shawn with contempt. Peter knew there was more to the stares but he decided not to press further. His daughter might be a strict one, but she doesn't say things without reasons. “Be home before six in the evening, we are hosting some people.” “We are not in the position to host anyone, Father!” Tania's voice went loud. “The company is losing its sales! There are a lot of competitors out there now!” “It's normal to go through ups and downs in a business, it's part of the business ethics. I believe in you, I know you will solve it, just as you did five years ago.” “I'll be on my way now.” She walked away with a heavy frown on her face. Shawn watched her leeringly as she walked away. He got so carried away by her backview that he didn't notice Peter was looking at him. Peter cleared his throat. “Now I see why daughter complained about your stares.” “I'm so sorry sir.” Shawn went on his knees to apologize. “There is nothing to be sorry about. It's no big deal to be attracted to the opposite s*x but it is a big deal to be attracted to the wrong person.” Shawn clenched his fists as he knelt. “We never can say, you should go ahead and shoot your shot, who knows? My Queen Tania might catch.” Peter giggled loudly. “I promise to be of better character from now Sir,” Shawn whispered with pain as he had his dignity hurt. ********* As Tania drove slowly, the annoying remarks of the shareholders came to her head again, she wasn't able to sleep the previous night. “Those pathetic old men! Just wait till I solve this mess, I will make sure to punish you all. I swear on my mother's grave.” She placed her leg on the accelerator and increased her speed rate. When she finally arrived at her father's company, she returned each greeting with a fake cute smile. “This business might fold up if care is not taken,” she said to herself as she walked to her office. “Good morning ma’am.” Julie, her secretary greeted her with smiles as she stood. “Call in the entire supervisors of each department,” Tania said as she took out her reading glasses. “Now!” she walked away. “Yes, Ma.” Julie started making some moves. “What is wrong with her this morning? Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” She asked herself. Tania dropped her bag on the table and stood at the center of her office with her head down. “This business might fold up if care is not taken.” She repeated and went into deep thought until Julie knocked on the door. “Come in.” Julie came in and shut the door gently. “They are waiting for you at the conference hall ma'am.” “Alright, I'll be there soon.” Julie didn't leave. “You can leave.” “Yes, Ma.” Julie left reluctantly. Tania picked up some papers from her table and stapled them together. She went through them to ensure there were no mistakes before joining the supervisors in the conference room. Her presence was felt immediately after she entered the room, they stood to show their sign of respect. Tania didn't ask them to sit. “Good morning,” she said as she sat and went through the papers she had taken from her table earlier. “Good morning ma’am.” They chorused. “Can we sit Ma?” One of the supervisors asked with a bit of fear. “Obviously,” Tania replied with her head still buried in the papers. The supervisors exchanged short glances at one another. It was very unlike Tania. Though she is strict and not a very friendly type, she still manages to have smiles on her face. “I hope all is well Ma?” Another supervisor asked. “I’m afraid I will have to s***h your salaries by thirty percent starting from this month's end.” She dropped the papers. “What?” A supervisor asked. “Pardon?” The second supervisor asked. “For what reason?” Another supervisor asked. “If you are not okay with that, the door is opened for you to leave.” The room went quiet. “Nobody wants to leave?” There was no response. “That's because I pay you too well. No other real estate company can pay you what I pay here, not to talk of the gifts and bonuses.” “Ma’am, you are leaving us in suspense, can you please just hit the nail on the head?” The only female supervisor spoke up after being silent all the while. Tania tossed the papers to her. “Our sales have gone down by 70% in the past three weeks.” The supervisors kept quiet. “You are not saying anything.” The female supervisor picked up the papers and took a glance. “Ma’am, some of the families that are paying on installment requested a refund.” She said as she ran her eyes and fingers through the papers. Tania took off her glasses and looked at the supervisors. “This company has been losing its sales for the last three weeks and none of you here noticed.” “We are sorry ma’am.” One of the supervisors said remorsefully. “Keep your sorry to yourself, what is the way forward.” She wore her reading glasses again. “I sug-” The female supervisors tried to talk again. “Not you again, someone else should do the talking.” The room was silent. “I am going to fire you all, I mean it.” Her voice was low and sincere, it echoed in the ears of the supervisors. “Queen Tania, please don't be like this, you are making us confused.” A supervisor spoke up. “Thomas, we now have two serious competitors.” She said with a low tone again. “I knew it!” A supervisor banged the table as he exclaimed. “The craziest part is that they offer better than we do, the customers prefer to buy from them than we do.” Tania continued. “I think we need to restrategize, like a promo.” Another supervisor chipped in. “The shareholders were in my office some days ago, they demanded that you all get fired because you are not doing your job right.” Tania stood. “I'm giving you 2 hours to submit your plan for approval and I want to see changes in forty-eight hours, is that clear?” “Yes ma’am.” They chorused. “Do it diligently, your jobs are on the line and I promise to treat you well if your plan is a success.” She walked out of the conference room without shutting the door. “She is my role model.” The female supervisor commented with a smile on her face immediately after Tania was out of sight. “We call her Queen Tania because she is indeed a Queen.” Another supervisor added. “Yes! Let's get to work, remember we have just two hours.”