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Chapter 54
Cecil walked into Stop’s boardroom and discovered six of the seven board members already seated and waiting. She didn’t call for a meeting or know what this was for, and the confusion showed on her face.
Her bright smile immediately faded, and she paused at the door with a startled look. “What is going on? And why are you all seated here?”
“We all received emails last night requesting our presence at the company this morning by nine.” Maggie Reid, the blonde–haired lady in glasses seated on the left side of the room, answered. She was Cecil’s cousin and a major stockholder at Stop as well.
Cecil received the performance statement last night from the finance department, and it was their lowest recording in two years. She had hoped to call for an official meeting with the board members, discuss the state of the parlour, and possibly declare bankruptcy. All of this she wanted at her own pace, but their gathering had snatched that opportunity from her.
“I hope I am not too late,” Oliver said from behind as he stepped into the boardroom and moved in to take his seat.
Cecil stared at him and said, “You also received the message.” It was not a question, not with the answer Maggie had given her.
Cecil and Oliver weren’t on speaking terms despite it being more than six weeks. He had unblocked her after his parents‘ anniversary, and she had called him twice to check on him since then.
Where they were was better than where they had been, and she was okay with that; they still had time before the wedding to make amends.
With that in mind, Cecil knew he wouldn’t come to Stop just to see her.
“Yes, I did,” she answered.
“Then who sent the message?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I did,” Imela replied from behind.
“You!” she said, unable to hide her contempt as she turned around and saw Imela standing there with a smug look on her face.
“What are you doing at my company?” she demanded.
Imela scoffed at her words, “Do not embarrass yourself, Cecil,” and walked past her, brushing shoulders with her as she did. “Take your seat. Everyone seated here is aware of Stop’s financial position.”
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“You bitch! You told them,” she cussed, her hands fisted.
If Imela took offence to her name calling, it didn’t show on her face. “No, your company’s financial situation was made public this morning on business news. I saw it coming, and I sent an email out last night.”
Cecil’s phone beeped, and as she glanced at it, Imela spoke, “There, I just sent you the email, and you can see there was no mention of Stop’s financial standing.”
“Sit down, Ms. Reid.” Mr. Lewys Yung spoke up, and it wasn’t in the friendliest tone.
Cecil glanced around and saw everyone had the same look on their face, some angrier than others. They looked annoyed with her and prepared for blood.
Knowing the odds were against her, Cecil sat, but she held resentment as she stared at Imela, who stood in the room, having all their attention now. Imela’s assistant, Ingrid, entered the boardroom and shut the door, and the meeting officially began.
“Good morning. I am glad you are all here.” She began in a composed voice, and a small smile flashed over her face before it disappeared. “Stop has been in a financial chokehold for a few months now, according to the experts, but it was made news this morning. All of you seated had doubts and worries considering the economy’s condition, but you brushed them off as nothing. Well, it’s not nothing, and it’s not going away. Many businesses are closing down, and sadly, Stop has become one of them.”
Cecil scoffed half–heartedly and crossed her arms over her chest. “So what? You’re here to offer Stop a way out; give financial support like you are good at?”
Imela’s work with the Plane Enterprise was private business as it was a part of the contract, but Oliver had told Cecil about Imela’s role in the company. She just referenced that in the hope of mocking Imela.
Oliver cast her a glare from where he sat across the room, telling her to shut her mouth.
Imela smirked. “No, I am here to buy it.”
Cecil rose to her feet, enraged, and she stormed towards her, but before she could get close, Lewys stood
in her way.
“The only reason everyone here isn’t trying to take what we lost from your blood is because she said she had a way out.” He growled at her, his eyes not playing. “Sit down; do not test me.”
Cecil swallowed, and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Oliver seated, not ready to come to her defence. She turned to Imela, who stood behind her, unfazed by everything.
She sat, and Lewys returned to his seat.
Imela continued as if nothing had happened: “Stop was on the market for sale, and it was going for a
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million dollars. From its financial record and the current economy, many wouldn’t offer to buy it, and if no one does, its value will drop to less than a hundred thousand before the day ends. I am here with an offer to buy Stop for ten million. This was my intended offer, and though this is ten times the market value this morning, I will gladly pay,”
Cecil scoffed in indignation. “I would rather Stop burns to the ground than sell it to you.” She snarled at
her.
“I know that, but it is not up to you to decide. The board members seated here who will lose everything they invested in Stop have the final say.” She said, maintaining a composure that annoyed Cecil. “All in support that Ms. Reid signs over ownership to me signify by raising your hand.”
Lewys‘ hand went up first, followed by Maggie Reid, then Andrew Finley, then Summer and Sharon Mason, then Tate Nnaji, and then Oliver.”
Cecil looked the most miserable when her eyes moved to Oliver, but she tore her gaze away.
Imela’s assistant pushed the document on the large table over to her and placed a pen in front of it.
Cecil reluctantly picked up the pen and signed the document in all the places Ingrid instructed. Once she finished, Ingrid returned the document to Imela.
Imela smiled at everyone seated around the table. “I am happy to have an agreement with all of you. And for the first order of business,” she turned to Cecil, “You are fired.”
