Newly Appointed President

Malia's POV

My one simple dream in life was to be normal as much as possible; to have a meal three times a day, six to eight hours of undesrupted sleep, walk on the streets worry-free, and most of all, can hang out with my friends and family as normal people do.

However, as wealthy and powerful as the Andersons were not the way I expected them to be. Being one of the successors of my grandpa's royal empire, even getting a single chair in the dining area just to get seated next to him was an unimaginable competition.

Being decisive, thorough, and heartless was a must for all of us. My deceased dad never missed stabbing and equip me with that kind of mindset while he was still alive. Survival of the fittest as he describes it.

At a very young age, I was able to travel to a few places, not to spend time wandering, visiting bars at night, or having sex with anyone that pleases my eyes, but to get trained for work and business. About how to weigh things either when I should stone my heart or not.

"A black and white combination doesn't suit you, my favorite niece. It seems like you're attending someone's funeral. Oh. I almost forgot, indeed you are still in the middle of your mourning, right?"

The middle-aged man who appeared in my hotel room uninvited was no other than my ruthless and manipulative uncle, Robin Anderson.

Despite him being my uncle, I always get goosebumps every time he gets closer, especially when he opens up a conversation.

However, his advice of me choosing a dress was relevant, especially when people would also judge you by the way you present to them. So, I rushed to my room shortly and changed.

"Relax. Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything to you. However, I'm here to give you my uncle-piece-of-advice," he then let go of his hands from my shoulder before he added, "I love you because you're like a daughter to me. However, your dad had served the family way longer than we expected, don't you think?"

Uncle Robin was referring to dad's position as the president of grandpa's royal empire which includes the underworld and those towering and well-known companies standing firm on the surface of the world.

Since dad's terrible and unresolved passing two weeks ago, the highest position in the family has been open for possibility.

Most of us, including Uncle Robin, already had our eyes open on the said position. And before the end of the night, a new name will be appointed to be the next president of the empire.

Perhaps Uncle Robin was already feeling exhausted from being dad's shadow. Of course, among us, Uncle Robin was the best candidate for the position.

Regardless of my knowledge and experience in business, there has no chance I could gain the spot. And I have no plans to beg gramps to appoint me either. It's the least of the things I want to worry about.

"Instead of wasting your time talking to me, better find and beg gramps to give you dad's position, Uncle Robin. As far as my knowledge is concerned, you are the black ship of the family. Accept it or not, gramps chose dad over you, remember?" Despite my furious tone, the crumbling of my arms and legs was undeniable.

Who could not be? Even though neither mum nor dad mentions to me the real face behind Uncle Robin's mask, I'm not that fool enough not to know how smart and manipulative he is. He is worse than the devil.

I've heard rumors. No. It was proven by the book that he managed to lead one of the family's crucial transactions killing tens of our enemies. One of the reasons we have most, if not all, benefited from the successful outcome of his doing.

Meanwhile, Uncle Robin broke his lips and turned them into a smile. "On second thought, I don't need to find and kneel for dad to give me the position, my lady. There's no other man left standing to have it but me. Never in history did that vital position falls to someone as immature and inexperienced as you."

Though those words were said straight to the point, I'm already accustomed to that, especially when those come from someone like Uncle Robin. "Should I congratulate you already?" I smiled back.

"My lady..." Emilio Fisher, dad's consigliere, cut off his words the second he laid eyes on the person standing next to me. "Mr. Robin.", then he bowed shortly. "The meeting is about to start. Everyone is highly advised to be on their seats now."

Uncle Robin did not say a word after that. Instead, he walked out of the room voluntarily and never contemplated back. "Are you all right, my lady? You should have called me." Mr. Emilio added in a worried tone. He then closed the doorknob to make sure no one could hear us.

"I'm fine, Mr. Emilio. Uncle Robin simply visited me to give his uncle-piece-of-advise. That's all." I straightened the crumpled part of my red long gown while staring at the mirror.

"Do you mind if I ask what it is about?"

As expected, Mr. Emilio would ask me that. Since the day I had eyes on my surroundings, he portrayed more of a father to me compared to my biological dad. His old scent and face were the first two things that has been registered in my senses.

After my dad's passing, Mr. Emilio passed his loyalty to me regardless of having no position in the family. Not that I am complaining, but he was too old enough to always keep an eye on me. If my sole presence matter to the family, I'm gonna have him resign and rather spent his time with his family.

Unfortunately, I know that to be part of the Andersons is not as easy as counting from one to three. Getting part of the family is a huge honor for them. However, getting out is the hardest part.

Either you die serving and protecting the family's secret or getting out with an inevitable bullet attached to your head. Either way, the two have the same outcome.

"The answer to that might be at the meeting, Mr. Emilio. In the meantime, we must keep an eye on uncle. I don't like the tone of his voice earlier even though we haven't talked much." I shrugged him off and dragged him out of the room.

As soon as I grabbed a seat on the huge wooden table, my anxiety started to burst out when I could recognize most of the faces around me. At first, I thought the meeting was intended for the family only.

Sitting next to me starting on my left was no other than the aforementioned President of the United States. Next to the president were two of the city's business tycoons.

Next to them was also a close member of the family, my second-degree two other uncles, and first-degree cousins, including Uncle Robin's first-born son, Roger.

As far as my knowledge serves me right, the rest at the table hold positions in the government including the current mayor, governor, and some of the senators. That was how powerful the Andersons are. We were invincible because we definitely owned the city.

"I guess everyone is already here. Shall we begin?" says gramps with a smile on his face. Amongst us in the meeting room, gramps was the person who got most affected by dad's passing.

"All right. First of all, I would like to have a toast to everyone for granting my urgent request," he added. So, I quickly grabbed my glass of champagne and raised it into the air along with everyone.

The first thing I noticed while my hand was hung in the air was Uncle Robin's victory smile. Perhaps he already knows the outcome of the meeting. I bet Mr. Emilio noticed it too.

Then, gramps continued his speech expressing how lucky and impressed he was with dad's performance when he was still alive. Everyone agreed to gramps' statements as they nodded in unison.

"...Now, it's time for me to appoint someone deserving to the said position. As the founder of this family for fifty years, I hereby declare my granddaughter, Malia Anderson, to be the next president."

"Pardon me?" Uncle Robin and I breathed back in unison.

"Dad, are you kidding me? Why would you entrust the position next to you to someone useless and immature? Have you had no shame?" Uncle Robin insisted as I expected. However, what surprised me the most is that he let out those harsh words with no signs of hesitation.

And I noticed gramps' expression somehow changed after that. One of the reasons I kept my secret hidden was because gramps and dad already arranged my wedding with someone I barely know.

"Words, Mr. Robin!" Mr. Emilio said back in a furious tone.

To my surprise, Uncle Robin moved out of his seat and leaped to Mr. Emilio's spot with his hands wrapping around the old man's neck.

"How dare you talk to me like that, huh? Since when did you have the right to speak in the middle of our family's meeting? Let's make things clear. You're nothing compared to me, you, son of a bitch!"

"Let him go, Uncle Robin!" I also moved out of my seat and tried to remove his hands myself. However, my strength barely moves him a bit.

"Or what, huh?" Uncle Robin's glimpse was already blazing in the fire of his wrath toward me. "Let's make things clear, shall we? Your clueless grandfather didn't know you are married to a poor useless guy because you felt pity for him."

The balls of everyone's eyes remained wide open and were pointed at me with contempt. Uncle Robin's startling announcement was as clear as the weather outside for them not to understand what he is trying to prove.

"One more thing." he added, "this man was already living a wonderful life and had a higher position with higher pay in one of our companies. So, do you still want to appoint her as the president?"