Proper introduction

Dahlia's POV

I just stood there. The board members were all staring. At the other end of the table, Matthew sat with a wide grin plastered on his face. He clapped immediately she finished. And some of the board members joined in too.

"You're late," Matthew said, spinning his rollable chair towards me.

I forced myself not to cuss at him.

"Late?" I asked. "You said the meeting was by nine," I snapped back at him.

"Oh,” he replied casually, checking his watch. I forgot to mention it was rescheduled to eight. I would have reminded you if you had come home last night."

As he spoke my mind drifted back to the notification from the night before. My key card. The shared drive. He had taken my work and handed it to her.

"Why is she here?" I asked, staring at Aliyah, disgusted. "She doesn't even work here."

Matthew chuckled as if amused by my question. "We are selecting a new COO and I already spoke to the board about looking at all our options first. That includes qualified candidates from other thriving companies.”

He gestured towards Aliyah. “She works for Crowne Corp," Matthew continued, as if I didn't already know that.

"With her experience, she brings insider knowledge and the potential to secure new projects for us. I mean look at this beautiful pitch she just delivered," Matthew said, his smile widening with each phrase.

The board members' smiles showed their satisfaction with her. I felt like jumping into a hole and burying myself in it.

"You're next Mrs. Dalmante. Deliver your pitch," One of them said, gesturing towards the front.

I had nothing. But I couldn't just let this position be taken away by my good for nothing ex best friend. I whipped up something else and delivered the pitch, even though it was nothing close to my original plan.

As soon as I finished, the board convened immediately. The minutes leading up to their final decision were the most gruelling minutes of my entire life. The whispers and judgmental looks they made towards me made my chest tighten even more.

Half of my mind replayed every sentence I said, searching for mistakes that might cost me the position. The other half wanted to immediately confront Aliyah for what she did. I even considered telling the board the truth. That the proposal she delivered was mine. But I knew how foolish that would sound.

Matthew took a few steps towards me and handed me some documents.

"Open it," he said grinning widely.

I glanced at them. "Divorce papers?" I said, forcing my voice into a whisper so it wouldn't echo into the room.

"When you finally get rejected by the board, which I know you will, sign these papers, take your things and get the hell out of my house. I'm done with you. You make me sick."

I hadn't finished processing what he just said before the board finally settled back into their seats.

"We have one more question before we make a final decision," a board member said. "What do you intend to achieve within your first year as COO of Dalmante Corp."

"Mrs Dalmante?" He said. His eyes landed on me.

I froze. I looked at the papers in my hands. Matthew's words rang in my ears. I couldn't utter a single word. It was like my brain stopped working.

"I..." I started.

"I would,” Aliyah cut in, “focus on aggressive expansion and strengthening internal operations.” She stepped forward. “Within my first year, I intend to increase our market share by at least thirty per cent by leveraging insider knowledge and prioritising high-yield international projects.”

The board members scribbled some things on their paper.

“Now we take a vote,” one of the board members said. “All in favour of Mrs Dahlia, raise your hands."

There were a total of twelve board members present. Six hands went up.

"All in favour of Miss Aliyah, raise your hands."

Six hands went up. There was only one vote left. Matthew's.

"The decision is yours, sir," one of the board members said, gesturing towards him.

Matthew leaned back in his chair. "My vote goes for Aliyah."

Those words played on repeat the moment he said them.

"And there we have it," Matthew continued, rising from his seat. "Say hello to your new COO..."

"But I haven't voted yet," a deep voice said calmly.

The boardroom doors opened.

I turned so fast my legs nearly gave.

It was him. The stranger from last night.

Matthew became pale. Colour drained from his face like he had seen a ghost. "Dad?"

"What the..." I whispered.

I immediately grabbed my purse and fumbled for the card he gave me earlier. I read the name embossed in bold black letters.

Dominic Raphael Dalmante

Executive Chairman and Global President, Dalmante International Group.

The general overseer of every Dalmante corporation worldwide.