Jefferson’s POV
I already see it coming so I get myself ready and prepared. I looked at Celina and smiled, “Nothing for you to worry about,” I said, confidently. I didn’t want her to worry or think about my problems here, just like what Noris had said, she deserved to be at ease and just enjoy herself. “Since you’re already here, you should attend the meeting as well.” I added and she nodded while getting up from the couch she was sitting on.
“Will Noris be there as well?” she asked, “I was just thinking about if he was going to be there. At least there are three of us that will ensure those old hags that we will be able to take care of everything, right?”
“Noris never attended a meeting like this. If he did now, then that’s something new,” I replied. It was true though, he never came to the board meeting, even once when we were trying to solve an issue or if there was something I needed to affect the board with company issues. He is not the type to confront me either, so coming to my office earlier was something new as well. All these years, he kept himself a low profile even though he was the vice president. Dad kept the President’s position empty and I don’t know why.
The board was already in the meeting room and my eyes landed on Noris as soon as we got in. Why do I have a feeling that he is going to be on their side and not mine? I pulled a chair for Celina to sit on before I took my seat. Everyone was looking at me and then at her. They must have been thinking about why my wife was there when they called the meeting without notice.
“I didn’t expect her to be here.” Mr. Grayson said, looking at my wife.
“Is there a problem with that?” I asked,
“Well, I just thought that she was no longer part of the company, since she had not been taking her office ever since you came back.” he replied,
“That doesn’t change the fact that she was still the president of the company.”
“A president that doesn’t work, how convenient,” the other replied,
“I didn’t say anything when you were always absent as well and have not contributed to the company ever since.” I said, smirking. The board shut their mouths. “You don’t look into others’ work, I am doing my wife’s responsibility while no one is doing yours.”
“Are we here to talk about everyone’s job description?” Mr. Grayson asked,
“I don’t know, you tell me.” I looked at Celina and saw her smiling. She’s really cool about everything and even if I was already mad at these oldies, I couldn’t help myself but smile at her.
“Alright, let’s start and talk about why we are here.” I said, though they might have thought that I was getting soft, that they didn’t take me seriously. Before, they had their heads down whenever we had a meeting, but now, they are very arrogant about giving their opinions about my wife.
“What are you going to do about the issues?” Mr. Grayson asked,
“I am working on it and solutions are on the move.” I replied,
“What kind of solution?”
“Daria,” I said, went to Bree and started to give everyone a copy of my solution. They looked at it, nodding.
“It appears that you have already prepared everything.”
“Of course,” I replied,
“But this is not enough,” he said, which made my face harden. “I would like to suggest you get down from your position while solving the issues,” he added,
“And that is because?” Celina asked, raising her brow.
“We were thinking that he would only manipulate it and the problem would only repeat after it was solved.”
“How is he going to manipulate it? Wouldn’t it be better if he solved it himself? And let us say that he agreed to that. Who do you think will be capable enough to handle this?” she asked again. She must have grudges among them because I can see that she wanted to eat them alive.
“Noris will be a good replacement, he is part of the family too. He is older than Jefferson and could have been the CEO if his mother married John.” Mr. Grayson replied,
“Which she didn’t, so I don’t see any reason for you to voice it out, unless you wanted them to fight over the company.” she replied,
“Technically speaking, he had a right here.”
“Technically speaking, he had a right to one third of Daddy John’s share. We all know that one third will be for his legal wife and the other is for Jefferson. Plus half of the company which his wife, who happens to be Jefferson’s mother, owns” she replied, arrogantly. Well, I don’t need to defend myself because she was doing it for me. “Don’t tell me about shares because I am going to fight for it as well as being Jefferson’s wife,” she added. I really didn’t need to worry about her.
“What could Noris possibly do?” I asked and looked at my half brother.
“I can do so much, Jefferson,” he replied.
“You do?” I asked and he nodded,
“Then why the hell did this happen? You are assigned to monitor the complaints and receive reports from the customer service department. Why didn’t you see all of these?” I asked,
“I am busy checking the marketing plan for the JS hotel, resorts and casino.”
“I see, so you do other jobs and neglect your own.” I said, “You disappointed me and neglected. I was really impressed by the work you submitted to me. Thinking about how you abandoned your job for other things, made me realize that you are just like our other employees. Wait, they were a lot better than you. At least they did their own job properly.” I added.
“What did you say?” he asked angrily.
“You heard me, don’t make me repeat myself.” I replied,
“Jefferson,” Celina said, trying to stop me from talking anymore.
“You think highly of yourself!” Noris shouted,
“No! You think highly of yourself! Do you think you can handle the company with your kind of thinking? Never! You will never be able to handle a company.” I shouted back.
“Jefferson,” my wife said again,
“You talking to me like that made me realize two things. First, you are stupid to allow yourself to be used by these old greedy men. Second, you are actually waiting for this thing to happen so you could take my position.” I said, “What is it gonna be?” I continued. He was quiet and didn’t say anything. There is actually a third thing, and that is, he was the one behind all of these. I can see it in his eyes. He was angry and the irking feeling I had when we talked earlier must be because of that. One thing I am sure of, I am not going to let him or anyone take what was rightfully mine.
“Jefferson will handle everything so you just wait for it just like you always do.” Celina said, “You are not of any use to the company, so don’t be a burden and a stumbling block to those who were working their as**s for the betterment of the company.”