Bonus Chapter: CEOs (II)

Ava

~~~

Leonel and I enter last.

Everyone is seated around the large glass table. My heart pounds as I grasp Leonel’s hand tighter.

I’ve met a few of these people online, but mostly through video calls. They’re ten times more intimidating in real life: most are twice my age, and I can basically smell money dripping from their designer suits.

“We’re their bosses, remember?” Leonel murmurs. I look at him and find him smiling softly at me. I want to return his smile, but I think I'm going to die of fear.

There are two chairs left: one next to Oliver, and the head of the table where Leonel will obviously stay.

With an incredible amount of effort, I walk towards the table with Leonel. Our employees’ eyes follow us as I stop beside the chair next to Oliver.

“Absolutely not.” Leonel says.

Confused, I allow him tug me gently. He doesn’t say a word as he leads me to the only other free chair in the room.

The head of the table.

My eyes widen as he finally lets go of my hand to pull out the head-chair for me. He can’t be serious?

A few people stiffen, and tension hangs in the room. You would think me sitting in this chair killed their moms or something.

“Leonel…” I start, ready to tell him I don’t feel worthy enough to sit here, but a woman next to Mr Erickson beats me to it.

“Mr Sinclair.” She says grimly, “that has been your chair since Axion Tech’s start. Surely you’re not going to give it to… the newcomer.”

Leonel’s eyes harden as he turns to her.

“I will. It’s hers.” He snaps. She quivers and sinks into her chair.

“That goes for all of you.” Leonel continues, looking dangerously around the room, “If you don’t want Miss Allard here, you’re free to leave.”

Everyone goes still, me included, and they turn their heads away and murmur to one another .

I feel faint as Leonel looks down at me, his grey eyes softening again, “Sit.”

He leaves no room for argument, so I sit down.

That settled, Leonel goes over to the other chair and sinks into it. But even over there, we all know he’s in charge.

“Let’s begin.” His starts, “As we all know, Axion Tech has merged with The IronRoot Institute and we’ve been in a partnership for over a month. With most of the important merger work done, this meeting is mainly to see how everyone feels about the partnership, and for you all to give ideas on how we can move forward.”

Someone's hand shoots up, and I recognise her instantly from our many zoom calls. Theresa Maisen, the financial officer of Axion.

My heart settles a little as I remember her kindness toward me, and I can't help but grin at the huge smile on her face.

“Yes, Miss Maisen?”

“I love the partnership so far!” she beams, “I feel like the charity angle is doing wonders for Axion’s reputation. I get calls non-stop now for donations. We even had to make a separate account for them. All the people we help at IronRoot are well cared for with the money, and we still always have funds left over from donations to put back into the business.”

I see Leonel fight a proud smile as Theresa turns to me, “well done Miss Alllard.”

I’m surprised as murmurs of agreement go around the room. A blush spread across my face and I have to dip my head to hide it. I forgot that for all the people who don’t support me being CEO, there are a lot more who enjoy it.

I start shyly, “Thank you Miss-“

“Now you know that’s not the only money concern.” Mr Erickson’s icy voice cuts me off. I look at him to find he’s wearing his annoyance openly, staring at me with a wrinkled nose.

So much for people liking me.

“Axion tech may have done well with donations, but there’s no denying how much money we’ve lost. Having to take care of those IronRoot charity cases is costing us more than ever before.”

He turns to Leonel. My boyfriend’s face is nonchalant, but I see his fist balled under the table.

Mr Erickson continues indignantly, “Mr Sinclair. You have always taught us to maximize our profit. 5 years ago you would have asked us to cut the money we use for the IronRoot Charity in half so we can benefit from the other half.”

“If you think I lacked that much empathy Mr Erickson, then I am afraid you do not know me at all.”

The woman beside Mr Erickson shoots to her feet, squeezing her face tight, “Mr Sinclair, you cannot deny that Paul has a point. I understand a charity is good for our reputation, but do we really need to spend so much money on those… those…”

Those what?

My anger bubbles to the surface as this privileged woman looks for the right words to address the people in my charity. Does she want to call them paupers? Wastes of resources?

“Say it.” I dare, leaning closer as all eyes snap to me. All expect hers.

She has the guts to roll her eyes, “I wasn’t talking to you, Miss Allard.”

“If you want to keep your job, I suggest you do.”

The people gasp. Leonel’s eyebrows shoot up, and I shock myself with the hardness in my voice, but it gets the job done.

The woman turns to me gingerly, and I finally recognize her. Winona Willow, some rich businesswoman who has been trying to stop the charity all together. Rumour is she’s cheating on her husband with Mr Erickson. .

“Miss Willow.” I greet coldly, “I believe you were saying something. If you want to say it, you should say it to me.”

She presses her lips in a thin line, contemplating her next words.

“Don’t waste her time Winona. That’s a warning.” Leonel cuts in. He seems annoyed, but he’s also giving me a look that has pressure building between my legs.

“I didn’t mean any harm.” Winona says carefully, “I only meant we’re a business. A luxury business. Why waste money on people who aren’t likely to amount to anything?”

Leonel and I share a look, and we instantly know what the other is thinking.

“I see.” He responds, not looking away from me, “does anyone else agree?”

The room is dangerously quiet, the only sound being the impatient tapping of my fingers on the table.

Finally, after what feels like ages, Mr Erickson - Paul - nods slowly, “Winona is right. she-“

“Get out.” I say calmly, even as my heart riots, “and take your mistress with you. You’re both fired.”

The room gasps, and finally, Winona looks at me like someone she should fear.

“You cannot do that!” She wines, “All I did was share an opinion!”

“A painfully stupid opinion. One that shows you are painfully stupid as well. Get out.”

She sputters, looking around for who will help her. Paul shoots daggers at Leonel, clearly not taking me seriously. “Are you going to let her take over like this?”

“Obviously.” Leonel answers, “Leave, and don’t let Miss Allard ask you again.”

This is not the time for the desire that flutters in my lower belly, but Leonel submitting to me so easily is sexy as hell.

Winona’s bottom lip quivers, and Paul’s face looks like he dyed it red.

“If we make him any angrier steam will come out of his ears like in the cartoons.” Oliver whispers to Leonel. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

“Whatever.” Paul mutters. Winona reaches for his hand, but he storms off, leaving the already embarrassed woman even more ashamed as she scurried through the door Paul slammed.

Silence falls. I’m not exactly sure what to do next, and with the drama over, a lot of my anger is quickly turning into embarrassment.

Is this how I’m supposed to comport myself as CEO? If these people didn’t take me seriously before, now I’m really in for it.

A hand shoots up, and I see Miss Maisen, looking unsure.

“Yes?” Leonel asks, quirking his brow.

Miss Maisen grins at me again, and I’m taken aback, “That was the best thing you’ve ever done Miss Allard!” She beams.

Immediately, more people agree, their voices mixing as they call the duo that just left all sorts of names. I hear someone call Winona a bitch, and I’m sure I hear Oliver say Paul Erickson stunk (she did not)

An excited feeling flutters in my belly as the room finally fills with life, good life. I turn to Leonel, and my heart thinks to find he was already staring at me.

He grins and winks.

That empowers me. I straighten, now smiling like half of my employees, and ask sweetly, “does anyone have any other objections?”

Of course, no one does.