Adiós

As I step in through the lobby of Boss Lady, everyone looks up. Suddenly, there is an oppressive silence around as the ex-CEO enters the building.

People stop. People stare. They whisper. Once they were my people. No. They are still my tribe because officially, I still haven't signed my name on the dotted line. I was still the Boss Lady here and I wasn't giving up without answers.

"Ms.Bianchi....", Wyatt, the receptionist murmured in anxious surprise.  " Is Josh alright?"

My fingers clenched around the bag.

"He hasn't awakened yet. But, the doctors are positive that he is going to make a full recovery.", I said as neutrally as possible. I wasn't going to give another damn piece of information for Jules to use it against me.

"We will pray for him. And for you.", he said, sympathy clear in his voice.

" Thank you, Wyatt. Now, if you would please ask everyone to assemble in the boardroom.... I have an announcement to make.", I instructed politely.

"Anything you need, ma'am.", he said and made the call.

I strode across the lobby to get to the elevator right to the 47th floor. As the doors closed, a sense of claustrophobia tightened it's fingers around my neck.

As every floor went by, I broke out in  cold sweat. Finally the elevator dinged at the 47th floor and the doors opened.

I walked out of the elevator. My heels tapped against the marble floor as I went towards my office and behold.

Sitting on my chair was none other than my sister, Jules Bianchi, looking out of the vast floor-to-ceiling windows with a pensive look on her face. She knew it was me, she would have known my footsteps from a million miles afar but she did not turn towards me.

To see her sitting on my chair, it cut deep like a knife being twisted in my stomach. That chair had been my throne.

"I have always wondered what it would feel to sit on this chair.", she spoke softly, her voice dreamy.

"I suppose you have always wanted my chair. I do wonder why you waited so long to make a move against me.", I mused, my tone dry.

The chair turned as Jules faced me, looking straight into my eyes. She looked at me like I was a stranger and not someone I had known for the past fifteen years. All relationships needed a moment to break. A mere moment.

"I never knew that I wanted this chair till I sat on it. It's not personal. It was a business move.", she said somewhat dispassionately. Gone was the sister who had held me through all the storms in my life. Gone. And all for power.

I looked at her searching for regret or pain. I found nothing.

"Why?", I asked my voice rising slightly.

" You know why. You were distracted, you were unfocussed, you lost us so much. There was an opening. I took it.", she reasoned.

"How long have you been planning this?"

"Would you believe me if I said this week?", she questioned.

" Honestly....Jules. I don't believe a word you say.", I growled.

"I wanted your throne because I know I can run Boss Lady better! I am more capable than you. You have lost your way.", she shouted.

"Keep telling yourself that. You betrayed me, Jules. You attack me when I am the weakest, when my son is fighting for his life in the ICU. Honestly, your plan was so perfect that I never got the wind of it. Tell me, was your little lawyer boy toy in on it?"

"Don't bring Caldron into this! He didn't know.", she said angrily.

" I trusted you.", I whispered, tears springing into my eyes. "I trusted you with my life and you broke that trust."

As I sat across the table from her, I felt a rift open up between us both, one we would never be able to cross again. It astonished me how much one could feel separated from another even when sitting so physically close.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry for Joshua. I really am and Tom too.", she whispered, her voice shuddering for a moment.

" I am sorry too. Sorry, that I called you hermana. You never deserved it. Your father was right. You are a snake. You bit the hand that fed you.", I said hollowly.

"I did everything for this company, Sana. I gave my life. I have sn MBA from Stanford. I am better qualified than you. I should have been the one to run this company. Jamal didn't see it but I was the right person to run this company. It should have always been me.", she lamented.

"Jamal is a businessman. He knew what you were. He would never have given you the business."

And we both knew the truth of that. We both looked away.

"You should have come to me.", I told her, my voice quivering.

" Would you have given your empire to me?", she asked point-blank. The answer I gave, shocked me as well.

"I would have because you are my sister. You should have asked.", I tell her.

Her eyes widened because she knew I was speaking the truth.

"You lost Sana. Admit it. Sign the paper. Move on. Leave, Boss Lady, then don't come after me. You can build another empire but this one isn't yours anymore.", she said finally.

"Alright, I will sign the papers. But, know this. The moment I walk out of that door, so will half the employees and Georgiana and Bree. Perhaps even Caldron. My people will follow me to hell.", I threatened.

"I will buy them. You said it yourself that everyone has a price.", she countered

"Not my people. They are the company's biggest asset. ", I said proudly.

She assessed me shrewdly.

" You want something, don't you?", she whispered.

"Hell yes, I do. I want you talk to the board of directors into waiving my non-compete.", I say laying my cards on the table.

" And why would I do that?", she asked cooly even though I had cornered her.

"Because Juliana Bianchi, you are backed into a corner. I will take employees and designers and people with me, the moment I step out. You don't want to fail on the first day, do you?"

She let out an angry huff.

"Fine. I will waive the non-compete after negotiations. I am surprised you have a job, though.", she said conversationally.

" Are you, Jules? You know I am highly valued."

I don't tell her about Jamal's job offer. She was smart. She would probably figure it out.

She scoffed.

"Oh, and by the way, I am keeping the company jet.", I declare.

She looks like she wants to say more but wisely keeps shut.

" I am coming for you, Jules. The moment I sign that paper, I am coming for you, with everything I have got."

_______________

The negotiations took hours to get done. The duration, the geographic locations, the scope of my employment, everything had to be checked and rechecked and mitigated. Caldron sat on one end with my lawyer as they tried to protect their interests in the battle of words. The board at firstrefused to give me the jet but had no ground ultimately, since it was a gift from Jamal in my name that I had leased to the company for its use.

Jamal sat passively at the negotiation. The employees passed by the boardroom, not knowing what was going on or the fact that the future of the company was being decided upon. Caldron argued logically, though I could tell his heart wasn't in it. I also noticed that he hadn't met Jules' eye once.

As I took a Parker balk-point pen between my fingers, I felt a moment of horrifying clarity. I was giving the biggest part of life away. My fingers froze on the paper as every moment of struggle flashed in front of my eyes. It was the founder's curse.

My lawyer Lexi Kaminski nudged me and made me sign it with a soft, "Do it. " in my ear.

One sign and I had given my rights away to even enter this building. This company which I had built for the past ten years with blood, sweat and tears wasn't mine anymore. It hit me like a tsunami- the truth of that disaster.

I drafted my resignation letter.

Dear Boss Lady,

Effective immediately, I Sana Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer, resign from the company in full awareness of my actions.

Two drops dampened the paper. Two tear drops. The ink smudged slightly.

It has been a real privilege to work with each and every one of you here. Ten years ago, when I started this, I had no idea that I would have a family of thousands to support me on this journey. To all my employees, workers, artists, models, designers- thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The ink smudged some more. The letters on the page became almost incoherent because my hand was shaking so much.

But, mistakes have been made. Losses have occurred in my life and therefore it is time for me to move on to a new journey. This company is a child of mine and I am putting it in the very capable hands of Jules Bianchi. She will lead you towards a brighter future. Thank you once again for giving me so much love over the years.

I was sobbing now in front of everyone.

Please consider this my formal resignation.

Sana Bianchi

03/05/2022

I let go of everything I had close for the past ten years. Now, I was officially ex-CEO. Lexi helped me up but I pushed her away and walked out of the boardroom as employees watched dazedly. I walked through my beloved corridors, places I wouldn't walk through again.

My people would soon know that I was gone.

Tears fell unabashedly from my eyes as I exited through the lobby.

Just then, a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

I turned to find Caldron at my back. He wordlessly handed me a tissue. I rubbed my red eyes.

"I am sorry.", he said. " For everything."

"Take care of Boss Lady, Caldron. Take care of it till I return.", I whispered squeezing his hand.

" We will. Bree, Georgiana, Laura and me- we're gonna do everything in our power to do right by you."

"You don't have to be loyal to me. I know you would much rather support, Jules."

"You didn't ask me to support you. You are the company. Just be back quickly. We will walk with you to the ends of the Earth. You know that", he said anxiously.

I nodded. Wyatt had hailed me an Uber. I cried my heart out in the safety of the car as I prepared for my next destination.