"That the plan?" Calliah asked raising an eyebrow
He nodded
She sighed and leaned back.
"Ahhhhh," she groaned and exhaled deeply.
******
The next day
Zane POV:
Xena and I dressed up and drove to the company. It was huge, with workers already in place some busy, some chatting. I walked to my office
It was just as big as I expected modern, transparent glass walls, everything neat. I sat on the chair and spun around with a smirk.
Zane," Xena said, her red-painted lips curving into a smile.
I turned my chair toward her.
"There's a problem," she said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"You told everyone I'm your sister, but how are you going to marry your 'sister' later?"
"Chill, Xena," I said. "Once I have full control of the company, I'll marry you. But right now, we need to focus Calliah could show up any second."
Xena walked toward me, her hips swaying, hair brushing over her shoulder. She smiled that's what I liked about her. No matter what I said, she always believed in me.
"Better be, Zane," she said, brushing dust off my suit.
Just then, someone entered.
"Sir, you have a meeting," the secretary said.
"I'll be back, Xena," I said with a smile before following the secretary.
Everyone was already seated, a mic at the front, and one empty chair mine. As soon as I walked in, all eyes turned toward me. When I sat down, everyone stood up.
I waved for them to sit. They did, looking confused.
"We're having a problem, sir," one began. "Our product sales are dropping due to personal issues."
"We also lost our partner company. Without them, we're falling fast."
Thank goodness I studied business.
"If they want to leave, let them," I said coolly. "We can work with the richest company in the state instead."
"They don't buy our product. Their market is higher, and they don't trust us," another added.
"The company is weak without its CEO. Since the CEO is in Italy, we can use that as an advantage," I said.
Everyone went silent.
"We'll trade our product for other high-demand ones. That'll raise sales."
"But"
I cut the fool who is bout to off. "That's all for now. And one more thing we're throwing a party for my election as the new CEO of Hollow Bridge."
They stared like I'd spoken another language. I held back from snapping i didn't want to lose employees.
"That's all for today," I said sharply.
Then to the secretary: "Prepare a meeting with the Raines Company." She nodded.
I walked back to my office. Xena was sitting there. She ran to me, loosening my tie.
"Was it stressful?" she asked.
"Yeah, they keep acting stupid. I told them about the party too."
"Oh, finally!" she sighed. "Have you met Rue since?"
"No. Probably with her boyfriend or her mom."
"Oh..."
Then my phone rang speak of the devil.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?"
a faint voice"Rue, pls"
"I'll call you back," she said and hung up.
"Leaving?" Xena asked.
"Yeah. I've got a meeting," I said, grabbing my suit and walking out.
####
We sat at a quiet bar me and my secretary.
"Sir," she began, interrupting me as I texted my girlfriend.
"What is it?" I asked.
"The Raines Company isn't like others. We've tried to meet them before, but they never show up. They always reject our proposals."
"So?" I asked coldly.
"Why do you think they'd accept now?"
"They will," I said simply.
Time passed. Hours turned to night. It was 10 p.m., no sign of them.
The Raines Company had pride just like its founder.
"We'll keep contacting them until we get a meeting," I said, standing up and leaving the sleepy secretary behind.
We'd tried twelve times to meet them still nothing. The day I'd be named CEO was getting close, and Hollow Bridge was sinking fast. I needed them as partners.
Five days of nonstop work still nothing.
"You Keep trading and securing partnerships," I ordered. "Raise our product sales. Fix the market."
"You ! keep trading and finding partners ship with them"
"You make our product sales high"
"You make sure the market are well"
"And if they don't accept our proposal then all of you will be fired immediately so work better and harder"
"You can't fire us!" one shouted. "It's not our fault. The company is the problem, not us! And stop trying with Raines we're losing products''
" What ever your name is you're fired immediately. Leave the meeting room" I said
Everyone eyes widen some shock Gasps filled the air.
" Sir, he's one of our best partners. If he leaves, our company will fall!" another argued. "If you fire him, you fire all of us!"
I clenched my jaw. Shit this old dudes
"You're fired too. And if anyone else wants to leave, go now," I said, rubbing my temple.
Everyone eyes widen some shock. No one moved an inch
"Keep scheduling meetings. What about the product?"
"We've officially hit loss, sir. You refused to trade with others, and now everything's spoiled!"
"Ahh… fuck!" I hissed.
"The Raines Company also warned us never to contact them again."
"Just like their founder," I muttered.
"You know what? I'm going there myself."
I drove straight there, telling my guards to stay outside.The company was massive bigger than ours.
"Raines" glowed boldly at the top. I read it with disgust.
Charles and I tried to enter, but we were thrown out like losers.
"Mr. Zane isn't allowed in," the guard said.
I clenched my fists. Even my pride couldn't get me through those gates.
*****
The day finally arrived. Everyone was seated, everything perfect. The party was in full swing time for my speech, time to be named CEO.
"And finally, Mr. Zane Raines is now the CEO of Hollow Bridge..."
"Wait," a faint voice called from outside.