Marrying my high school bully

Melissa

The meetings were becoming exhausting as I began to count the number of modeling jobs I had to miss. Modeling was my first love, but presently, getting back my late mother’s legacy is my priority.

“Today, we are here for the election of an interim CEO.” Mr Robert announced and my heart skipped a beat.

No one told me that we’d be taking votes today, if not I’d have informed everyone about it, including Dexter who was willing to help me out.

“Isn’t it impromptu?” I asked calmly, hoping that other members would also add their input.

“No, it isn’t. We’ll need someone who we know can comfortably run this company while we focus on our jobs. So we’ll pass our votes around and anyone with the highest number gets to become the interim CEO.” He said and I couldn’t deny that my body’s temperature spiked.

My palms became clammy with sweat, as my breathing rapidly increased. “Alright then.”

I hoped that I was the only one contesting for the position, but what made it more interesting was the fact that no one knew about my intentions.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Let’s pass the votes around.” He said and a basket was passed around until it had circulated and everyone had voted.

After the voting session, I got to my feet. I excused myself and headed to the restroom where I leaned on the cold wall. My temperature had stabilized, but I wished that I’d win as well.

Having nothing else to do, I quickly washed my hands and returned to the board room.

All eyes darted to me as I sat, causing me to be more uncomfortable than I was. If they had found out anything, it would be better if they told me than staring at me blankly.

Mr Robert stood up, glancing at every one of us then stopped at me. “Can Miss Melissa Rogers stand to her feet?” He politely requested and I obliged with a scared knot furling in my stomach. “The votes have been counted and it’s quite surprising that everyone wants you to take over Leonardo’s position.” He declared.

A gasp escaped my throat as I averted my gaze to all the members who nodded to what he said. It was a confirmation that the result wasn’t manipulated and they all threw their weight around me.

“Why is that so?” I had to know.

“Because they’ve seen that you are a capable leader. I like how you took charge of Mr Han’s situation days back, not minding how rowdy the situation was.” He smiled and the screen came on with the results of the votes showing on it.

My eyes glazed with tears as I quickly scanned the votes I got. There were over fifteen present and five absent, but nineteen of them supported me.

I almost hissed at the only person who didn’t vote for me. I needed to find out who the person was and what his or her intentions could be.

“Thank you all so much. I didn’t expect this to happen.” I gushed, feeling an air of relief circulate within me. “I have great plans for this company, and I’d like to make a brief presentation if you can spare me a few minutes,”

“We can do that. The stage is yours.”

I pulled out my laptop from its bag and turned it on, as my heart beat so fast I thought it would explode from excitement.

It was the same presentation that Dexter had bumped into that made us fight. If only he was here to see his wife make such an exploit and achieve her dream…

“My plans for this company can be curtailed to just one word.” I began after taking a deep breath. “Growth.” Some of them creased their brows in confusion, causing me to quickly continue. “We all know how the previous leaders messed things up because they were out for money, but I can beat my chest and say that it isn’t the end game for me. Once I’m settled in, I’ll start calling out for partnerships with other brands that are more established. There won’t be a need to employ other people to do the job because we have them already, they just need to be brushed up.”

I kept talking until they interrupted my speech with a standing ovation.

“I guess we didn’t make a mistake by electing you as the newest CEO. You can call the auditors as we all discussed so that we’ll be aware of the level of damage Leonardo caused.” He said,

A scoff lingered in my throat as I rolled my eyes inwardly. Half of the people seated here aided and abetted Leonardo’s crimes, and if they thought I’d be lenient with them because they voted me in, then they were the biggest comedians of the century.

The company belonged to me anyway; this was just one way of getting it back.

The meeting had almost ended when noises from the hallway infiltrated into the boardroom. The glass door flew ajar as Leonardo stormed in.

I hadn’t paid for his bail yet, so I wondered who helped him.

“What is going on here? Why is she on my seat?” He barked and strode wildly towards me, but the security guards were quick to restrict him from getting any closer. He struggled to get out of their grips, but what chance did a lanky man have against thick-muscled guards?

“Mr Jones, I won’t have you interrupt our meeting in this manner. If you want to be a part of it, then I implore you to be calm.” I said with a bossy tone.

He blinked hard, his eyes widening. “Are you saying this to me, Melissa? I thought you were on my side. You even visited me two days ago with a promise to get me out of the cell.” He hollered.

Trust the idiot to bring up my visit, but I wasn’t scared as I already had a response for him. “I came to know how you were doing and that’s all.”

“Bitch! You’re a liar.” He fumed with his breathing uneven.

“Call me that one more time and you’ll return to where you came out from,” I warned with an unsmiling expression.

“You’ll pay for this. I promise you.” He yelled at the top of his voice as they dragged him out like he weighed nothing.