Chapter 4

OLEANDER'S POV

I walked into the office with purpose with my children beside me. My eyes darted to my so-called family. My mother looked impatient and my father kept sighing. My uncles kept checking their phones. Emma was sitting between my parents. At least he was not present. I wasn't ready to see him yet.

“I am sorry I'm late.” I said and they all turned to look at me. 

I watched as their faces dropped when they noticed my children. It was obvious who the children belonged to. Jason was a carbon copy of his father.

“Oleander…” My mother started to say but I raised my hand to stop her from speaking further. I sat on an empty chair away from all of them with my children and turned to the lawyer.

“Go ahead.” He swallowed and started the reading.

As the lawyer read the will, I watched as my family looked confused. He stopped and closed the book.

“Is that all?” My mother asked and he nodded.

“That can't be true. Read it again. There is no way that he left everything for her and her children which he never saw.” My father said,

“She is no longer part of this family. There is no way she is his sole heir after everything I have done for him. I will not accept this.” My mother closed her hand and her knuckles turned white. She was getting angry and I was loving it. I stared at my fingers with a smile.

“That is what the will said. There is nothing I can do unless Miss Oleander Thayer gives up on her inheritance.” 

“I am sure that you connived with her to ridicule us. I will sue you!” One of my uncles pointed his crooked finger at the lawyer.

My mother turned to me. “Oleander, I know that I have never asked you for anything in return for the care I showered you but I promise you that you will be welcomed as part of the family again if you do this one thing I ask of you. 

Give up your inheritance.” The room went quiet as everyone stared at me expectantly. I gripped the seat and met my mother's gaze with a smile on my face.

“Never.” I said and she gasped. Though, it was the first time I was saying no to her and it felt good. I leaned back to the chair with a smirk on my face.

“You ungrateful wench!” She cursed and lunged at me. She raised her hand to hit me and I stared at her hand.

Do it, I dare you and I will make sure that none of you get a penny.” For the first time in my life, I saw my mother cower in fear. I walked towards the lawyer's desk while they all stared at me.

“Give me the documents so, I can sign them.” He swallowed and handed over the documents to me. I read through the documents and nodded in satisfaction.

“You can't sign that.” Emma's voice came out. I turned to her with an obvious fake smile.

“I thought you lost your voice, sister.”

“You can't take the company. You can take everything but not that. You know that grandfather trained me to handle it all my life. You can't take that away from me.” She said with teary eyes.

“How does it feel to be at my mercy?” I looked into her eyes as I signed the documents. She closed her eyes and her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“You're just bitter that Elliott chose your sister. Grow up Oleander.”

“Eliott will never come back to you!” Emma screamed.

“The last time we met, you told me I stole him from you. What makes you believe that I can't do it again?” She shivered slightly, opened her mouth and shut it.

I took the documents in my hand and turned to my mother. “Giving up on Elliott was the best decision I made. You should ask your daughter how she really feels as Mrs. Winconstin.” I walked past them.

I went through the company's financial record and sighed. I understood the reason grandfather made me the CEO. The company was at the brink of firing for bankruptcy and he believed that I could restore it. 

I went through the list of employees again. My family had turned it into their game. They employed people they liked whether they were capable of not. I sent the list of unqualified employees to the human resource department. They were to leave the company's presence with immediate effect. That is my first step. I closed my eyes and opened them quickly when the door to my office sprung open. I sighed when I saw my uncle's angry face. I knew what he wanted and I was ready.

“Who are you to send all the people your mother and I employed?” He pointed his finger at me.

“The CEO. Now keep your crooked finger down.” I met his gaze with my fierce one.

He laughed and shook his head. “You think you have made it because my father made you the CEO of his company. Well, I came to tell you that you won't be staying in that position for long.” He said the last sentence without smiling.

I sniffed and palmed my forehead. “You scared me for a second dear uncle. Maybe you should start putting your words into action and I might be scared for real.” He pointed his finger at me again and turned around, banging the door hard. The door opened again and my secretary walked into the office.

I’m sorry for barging into your office ma'am but there is a meeting going on without your permission.”

“Take me there.” I said and grabbed my bag and phone.

I pushed the door to the conference room open. All the board members were seated and my mother was seating on my seat. 

“Apologies for being late. I just got the information about this meeting now.” I said with a smile.

“This meeting does not concern you.” My mother said and I walked towards her calmly.

“I am the CEO. Now, get the fuck out of my chair.” I stared into her eyes coldly. Her eyes darted round the room.

“See how she treats her poor mother was who trained and took care of her. She has no respect for her biological mother how can she lead a company?” My mother said trying to save her face.

“You and I know that you did not train me. The last time I checked, you said I wasn't your daughter.” I turned to the rest of the people. I could recognize some of them.

“Give me five months. Five months is all I ask to restore this company.”

“Five months is a long time, Oleander. We need a fast solution.” My mother said and the board members nodded.

“From what I know, you have been handling this company for two years and the company has gone down in your care. You shouldn't be talking in front of these learned people. You should be wallowing in shame.”

“You…” I raised my hand to cut her short from redeeming herself.

“Five months. I will step down if I fail.”