Chapter 021

21.

CALLYMORE GROUP

“The Sullivan's just handed him a contract, and he is having a word with Bianca's father today.” Seth conveyed to Aiden, who nodded his head as he swayed in his chair.

Aiden smirked. “Let's let him be for now then.”

Seth raised an eyebrow. “Didn't you say you were going to deal with him, or have you suddenly changed your mind?” Seth asked, his tone teasing.

Aiden threw him a glare that made him zip his mouth. “I didn't change my mind. The best form of dealing with someone in an excruciatingly painful way is to make them think everything is working for them, and they have won. When they get engrossed in their “victory”, that's when you strike. And with a blow so subtle, they won't even know what hit them until it's too late. Trust me, Seth, I have a plan. And it's going to be glorious.”

Seth raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Aiden's cryptic words. He knew better than to question him further. Aiden's mind was a labyrinth of strategies and tactics, and he was always thinking several steps ahead.

Just then, the door to the office opened and a tall, imposing figure walked in. His almond shaped brown eyes scanned the room, settling on Aiden with a hint of disdain. Aiden wondered how he got in.

“Ah, Aiden Callymore,” he said, his deep voice dripping with hate. “I see you're still indulging in your little games.”

Aiden's smirk grew wider as he stood up, his eyes locked on the newcomer. “Clark Walter. Always a pleasure to see you. Though, I must say, you're looking a bit… tense.”

Clark's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. “You think you're clever, don't you, Aiden? But let me tell you something, boy. You're playing with fire. And sooner or later, you're going to get burned.”

Aiden chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, I'm shaking in my boots, Clark. But until then, I'll just keep on dancing around you, won't I?”

The tension between them was hot, the air thick with unspoken threats and hidden agendas. Seth watched with a mixture of fascination and trepidation, knowing that the game of cat and mouse between Aiden and Clark was far from over.

Clark Walter was a former business associate with the Callymores. He might look like a decent businessman, but beneath his polished exterior lay a ruthless and cunning individual who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He had illegal connections and dealings that have helped his company thrive and back when he was still friends with the Callymores, he had tried to introduce Aiden to it, but Aiden preferred being an honest businessman. Aiden's refusal was a slap to Clark's face, and he had vowed to get Aiden for it.

As a result, he withdrew from the Callymores and decided to move with people he felt shared the same interests with him. His company had been facing issues lately, and he felt Aiden was responsible for it, and had been having a falling out with Aiden since then.

Aiden, on the other hand, didn't give a damn about him and preferred making Clark chase the shadows.

“I'm warning you, steer clear of my business. This world of business is for men, not little boys like you. I won't warn you twice.” he snapped, pointing his index finger at Aiden.

Aiden rolled his eyes, not finding it funny anymore. “I keep telling you, but you chose not to listen to me. I have no business with you. When you're done ranting, you can leave my office.” he turned away from Clark and took a seat, indicating that he was done with this conversation.

“Be warned, Aiden Callymore.” He said, and then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Clark turned and walked out of the office, leaving Aiden and Seth to wonder what had just hit them.

“Well, that was fun,” Aiden said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I do love a good game of cat and mouse, don't you, Seth?”

Seth nodded, his eyes still fixed on the door through which Clark had just exited. “Yeah, Sir. But I think this game is far from over.”

Aiden just crossed his legs with a mischievous smirk on his lips, causing Seth to wonder what could be going on in that chaotic mind of his.

Aiden checked the time and realized that it was almost time for Samantha's meeting with the board of directors. He stood to his feet and grabbed his car keys.

“The meeting?” Seth, who had guessed, asked, and Aiden nodded.

“Yes. I'll be going alone, you don't need to come with me.” he was about to leave, but Seth blocked his path.

“No way am I allowing you to leave me here, sir. If I don't go with you, who will be taking notes of what they are saying? I'm your Personal Assistant, it's mandatory I go with you.” he said, his expression serious.

Aiden looked at him amusingly. Seth might be his Personal Assistant but ever since his best friend, Carlson, traveled to the states for an important business, he had grown fond of this guy. Seth was the only person, among his workers, who didn't cower whenever he passed by or got angry, and that made him respect the guy. He sees Seth as a friend rather than a worker, but his ego wouldn't let him tell Seth that.

“Fine, let's go,” he started walking away and Seth rushed after him with a smile on his face.

They got into the car and Seth took the keys, driving off to the Salvador Group immediately.

****

Samantha sat in her office, going over some files. She was suddenly hit by a throbbing headache, causing her to scrunch up her face in pain.

She had experienced a severe migraine last night, and now has a headache. She recalled how the doctor, after giving her test results, had asked her to rest and stay away from strenuous activities, but she felt like she couldn't do that because the fate of the company was in her hands, and she wasn't ready to fail her father for putting his trust in her.

Her head was literally banging. She managed to reach into her drawer and brought out some painkillers, which she quickly swallowed with a glass of water. She knew she needed to push through the pain, as she had an important meeting with the board of directors soon. Just then, her phone rang, and she saw Aiden's name flashing on the screen. She hesitated for a moment before answering it.

“Samantha, how are you feeling?” Aiden's voice was laced with concern, which surprised her.

“I'm fine, Aiden. Just a little headache,” she replied, trying to sound stronger than she felt.

There was silence on the other end for a while, and soon the call ended. Samantha raised an eyebrow. Did he just end the call because she said she was having a little headache? She shook her head to dismiss the thoughts as she felt that she shouldn't be thinking about him right now.

She stood up with the files in her hand when the door opened and Aiden rushed in. The expression on his face was that of worry, and when his eyes locked with hers, she saw relief flash through them. She didn't want to be weak in front of him, so she just forced a smile and maintained her composure.

“Aiden,” she called softly.

He rushed to her and held her shoulders. “Are you okay? Are you hurting anywhere else?” his voice sounded so concerned, and his touch sent a shiver down her spine. She felt a flutter in her chest, and her heart raced a bit faster. She recalled what her father told her the other time about Aiden's feelings for her, and seeing the concern he had for her made her want to question him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

She tried to brush it off, thinking it was just her nerves playing tricks on her.

“I'm fine, Aiden. Just a headache,” she repeated, trying to sound convincing. “Headache is a normal thing people feel. You don't have to look so worried.”

Aiden's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through hers. “Samantha, don't lie to me. I can see it in your eyes. You're not fine.” he knew about her test results, and the last thing he wanted was to see her hurting.

Samantha felt a surge of embarrassment and frustration. She didn't want to appear weak in front of Aiden, but at the same time, she couldn't deny the pain she was feeling. Her head felt like it was in an elephant stampede, or a rollercoaster.

“Stop bothering yourself over my issues. I already took painkillers, and I'm okay.” she tried to walk out, but he placed a small bag in her hand.

“I bought some drugs for you to take. I know it might not help much, but I don't want you to go through any sort of pain. It'd be good if you take them after eating dinner since you already took some painkillers already.” he suggested and she nodded curtly.

“You shouldn't have, but thanks. The meeting is about to start, let's go.” she didn't wait for his response before walking out of the office.

Aiden joined her and Linda and Seth joined in too as they walked behind their bosses. When they got to the conference hall, everyone was already seated. Aiden turned to face Samantha. “They will try to overrule everything you say and attempt to force you into accepting their own views for the company, but don't succumb. Make them know that you're the boss and even though you stand to be corrected, you are not gullible and won't be trampled over.”

Samantha nodded her head like an obedient child, even though she couldn't believe Aiden just gave her a wonderful advice. That advice seemed to spark a new confidence in her, and with her head held up high, she walked to the podium and faced everyone. Reporters were around to take notes and news, and some of the board of directors and partners saw her as new and were ready to give her a hard time and make her embarrass herself, but Samantha was more than ready for them.

“Good morning, everyone, as you all know, I am Samantha Salvador, new CEO of the Salvador Group, and I'm here to address the recent issues and concerns regarding the company's future,” she continued, her voice firm and confident. “I know some of you may have doubts about my ability to lead, given my father's sudden declaration, and my lack of experience, but let me assure you, I am fully committed to this company and its success. I have a vision for the future, and I am willing to work tirelessly to ensure that we thrive,”

The room was silent, with all eyes on her. Some looked skeptical, while others seemed intrigued. Aiden, Seth, and Linda stood at the back, their faces expressionless, but their eyes gleaming with support.

“You don't need to worry about anything as I will make sure to lead this company to greatness,”

There was a murmur of whispers, but Samantha pressed on. “Now, let's get down to business. Our first order of business is to address the recent decline in sales. I have a plan to revamp our marketing strategy and expand our product line. I believe with the right approach, we can not only recover but also surpass our previous success.”

Aiden watched her with pride, knowing she was handling herself like a pro.

But not until one of the directors stood up to oppose her.

“I don't think we can just blindly follow the plans of someone who has no experience in the business world,” the director said, his voice dripping with condescension. “Samantha, I mean no disrespect, but your father's sudden decision has left us in a vulnerable position. We can't afford to take risks with an unproven leader.”

Samantha's eyes narrowed, her grip on the mic tightening. “I understand your concerns, Director Will,” she said, her voice firm but measured. “But let me remind you that my father chose me as the heiress for a reason. I have a vision for this company, and I am committed to seeing it through. And as for experience, I have been learning from my father for years. I am not some naive newcomer who doesn't know the first thing about business.”

The room erupted into a cacophony of voices, with some directors and partners voicing their support for Samantha, while others continued to express their doubts. Aiden watched with a keen eye, his mind working overtime to strategize the best way to support Samantha and quell the opposition.

Just as it seemed like the meeting was on the verge of descending into chaos, Aiden stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. “I think we've heard enough, don't you, Director Will?” he said, his voice stern but polite. “Samantha has presented her plan, and it's time for us to vote. Those in favor of supporting Samantha as CEO, please raise your hands.”

The room was silent for a moment, tension in the air. Samantha fiddled with her fingers, not knowing what to expect.

For the first time since this meeting, she felt uneasy as she didn't know what would happen next.

And then….