Meeting

Still Pedro’s POV

I walked into the conference room with a deep scowl on my face. I hated these kinds of meetings mostly because the shareholders and board members of Hydela Motors didn’t approve of me being CEO.

They had voted against it saying that a child should not be allowed to run a multimillion company.

I’m 27 for crying out loud and knew all about Hydela Motors even before any of them decided to invest in it.

My father had pulled strings to make sure I took over his legacy. So, each time there was a meeting, they made it an avenue to show me how incompetent I was and I also derived so much pleasure from annoying them by arriving late to meetings ninety percent of the time.

Shanice was already standing beside my seat and when I walked in, hands in pocket, gave me a look that said “you are in big trouble” and I just glared, already mentally exhausted. All twenty-four beady eyes of the twelve people sitting in the room turned to look at me as I walked to my seat and most of them were glaring.

If glares could kill, RIP Pedro.

“You are late. Once again” Mr. Chen, a Chinese investor and board member said as I sat down.

“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I’m sorry for my tardiness, I got caught up with something. May we proceed” I said glancing around the room with a fake smile plastered on my face, completely ignoring the seething Chinese man.

“you got caught up with something? What do you think running a company is? Child’s play?” Madame Elizabeth, the British, growled in a deep shrill voice. Her deep red lips, curled up in an ugly frown.

“I’ve just apologized and there is no need for snide remarks” I said fighting so hard to keep my voice calm.

“Snide remarks? Are you trying to insult us?” Mr. Chen snapped and at this point, I knew that whatever I said would be translated wrongly. I didn’t reply, too angry to even fake a smile.

“we all need to calm down. He is here and therefore we can proceed with the reason for this gathering. After all we are not here to throw insults and punches. No one is a child here, so let’s behave like fucking adults” Mr. Cole, another one of the board members said interrupting the stare down between I and the Chinese.

“Pedro, we have not gotten the designs for the Hydela G30 truck which is supposed to be in the market at the end of the year which, if my calculations are right, is in the next six months like we announced to our customers. We would like to know what is happening? Are your designers not working?” he continued

“my designers are working and I already have the designs. I will approve the good ones and send them down to each of you” I replied

“when? Next year?” Madame Elizabeth snapped and I was just ready to punch her dolled up face.

“I will send them by the end of the week” I said glaring at the angry woman.

“That gives you two days. I hope you won’t disappoint this time because we would not want to go past our own deadline” Mr. Cole said.

“we…” I began

“we wouldn’t fail sir” Shanice interrupted earning a sharp glare from me.

She is seriously asking for the termination form.

“I don’t need your secretary’s words, I need yours” Mr. Cole responded sending a pointed glance my way.

I didn’t respond, already more than willing to leave the room.

“We also heard that you sacked one of the oldest and reliable staffs here at Hydela Industries. May we know why?” a woman who I couldn’t remember her name asked. Her face was plain of any reaction but I could hear accusation in her tone.

“Jackson was quite past his retirement age and his productivity was below average. I had to let him go” I said through clenched teeth.

“and you didn’t inform the board of this decision?” the woman said again while the rest of the room whispered amongst themselves and shook their heads.

“he was working directly under me. I didn’t think it was necessary to involve the board in that decision” I replied directing my glare to everyone in the room this time.

“you didn’t think? That’s what you do, you don’t think” the Chinese spat again.

I balled up my fist till my knuckles hurt. I was trying to control my anger but I could feel it consuming me. One more insult and I might actually throw a punch. I was sweating despite the air-conditioned room.

When no one spoke for another minute, I was about ready to burst.

“if that is all, then I beg to take my leave. I have a lot of work to do. Enjoy the rest of your day.” I said and stood up to leave, Shanice gathering the papers on the desk and closely following me.

“of course, you do” I heard someone say as I began to walk to the door and it took all my self-control to not turn back and slap him silly.

As soon as we were out of the door, I stopped causing her to bump into my back. I turned making her lose her balance further.

“The next time you interrupt me like that, you can go ahead and start applying for another job elsewhere”

I turned back and started walking towards my office, satisfied to see the horrified look on her pale face.

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