Chapter 54: Michael
I woke up to my phone ringing continuously, I stood up throwing the duvet off my body and walked naked to my beside drawer where my phone was. Seeing that it was Aurora's calling I quickly pick it up... "Hello" I called into the phone as I paced around my room wondering why Aurora would call me so very early in the morning.
"Hello sir. Goodmorning, I called to inform you that your scandal with Deborah has caused an uproar with the board. They had demand a board meeting urgently" Aurora said causing me to paused.
"What did you just say? A board meeting?" I asked her again. I don't know what to do with those old fools. Many times, I've told Dad to buy all the shares of those old men who had refused to retire but he refused. Now, they are demanding for a board meeting because of my personal issues.
"Yes. They have set a meeting for seven a.m. And your dad has agreed to it" Aurora said as my eyes immediately went to the gold wall clock on beside the table.
But one thing that Aurora said got to me " My dad? Why did he agreed to it?" I asked her trying to understand why my dad would do that.
It seems he is forcefully putting me in front of them all but why?
"I don't know about that sir?" Aurora replied, I could hear the shuffling of papers in the background as I wonder where she could be?. "Where are you?" I asked her wondering why there was a paper in her apartment.
"I'm in the office sir. Most of the shareholders have started arriving. I'll suggest you come earlier in order to avoid further damages".
"Fine. That's okay. Take care of everything there until I arrive and Aurora, I will make sure to promote and increase your paycheck this month. Thank you" I told Aurora, running my hands through my hair. I'm grateful for having someone like her in the office to take of things for me.
"Really. Thank you sir" Aurora exclaimed excitedly as I couldn't help the smile that force it's way to my face.
"That's okay "I told her and hung up. The time was 6:45am. I quickly rushed into the bathroom to bathe and brush my teeth.
Coming out. I dressed in my grey suit with white blue shirt underneath. I needed to look so handsome today since I will be seeing Nina. I want her to look at me and fall in love with me again without having any of fear of leaving me.
Walking down the stairs, John was waiting for me at the foot of the stair" Good morning sir. Sleep well?" John greeted me as soon as I descended the stairs.
"Yes, John, Thank you. Has Mark gotten the car ready?" I asked him as he nodded. After dropping Aurora's call, I have informed him almost immediately to get ready.
"What about the documents, I asked you to get for me?" I asked him as John produced a file from his back and handed it over to me wordlessly.
"Good. I trust you to do your job very well" I reply as I collected the files from him, let's see how those old fools robbed me of my position of the CEO because of a little scandal that is not compared to any of their own which I had turned a blind eyes on.
John walked ahead of me to check the security position of the elevator before nodding for me to come in. We rode the elevator to the ground floor where Mark was waiting with the car.
John and I quickly got in as Mark drove us to the office. I was going through the documents in my hands when Mark pulled into the company's parking lot.
I quickly stepped out, with my briefcase in my hand and John beside me we rode the elevator to my office.
Aurora ran to me as she collected the briefcase from my hands as soon as we stepped out of the elevator. "Where are those old fools?" I asked her buttoning up my suit as I brush my hair to the back. "They are in the conference room sir" Aurora replied as we both turned in the direction of the conference room.
"What about my dad?" I asked her as I turned to stare at her.
"He's in the conference room too" Aurora answered as I nodded...
Walking into the conference room, all ten of the men were present as they all stood up to greet me. My dad was at the head of the table since he was still the chairman while I sat down beside him.
"We demand that you stepped down as the CEO of this empire, Michael. Ever since you became CEO, scandals have been your middle name. First was the issue with the Austin Walker and Mia Walker. Now, you are also dragging us with Deborah Melton and her father A bald head man said as I turned to glare at him. I've always hated him which is why I didn't bother to know his name.
I unbuttoned my suit and dropped it on my table as I stood up pacing around the room "I don't have time for this, I want to get this issue out of the way as soon as possible" I told them as I rolled my sleeve up and collected the documents from John's hand causing them to watch me curiously.
"You all speak of scandal but I will show you that my scandal is nothing compared to what is on this file " I said as I handed each of them a document each.
I watched as they went through them and their eyes widened in shock. "So, what do you all say? Should we discuss the scandal of you all which I had pretended not to see or should we bring this meeting to an end and pretend that this didn't happen?" I asked them waiting for their response with my hands folded across my chest as they whispered among themselves...
"We are very sorry for judging you. It was never our problem to do that. You've done so much for this company ever since you became the CEO and we are very grateful for that. Right?" The bald head man which I hated asked the rest of the members which they all nodded.
"We trust that you will handle this as you've handled the rest scandals so far. Once again pardon us for meddling in your affairs " He apologized to me as I nodded. Then he sat back down.
"If that's all. I would like to take my leave but before I do that I will like to inform you all that The Thompson's Hospital has been built and each of you will receive your share of the profit as soon as the hospital is in operation. Thank you" They nodded and all turned to walk out of the room.
Dad chuckled at their retreating back before turning to look at me, with a smile on his face he stepped out of the door.
I was finally back in my office as I waited for my meeting with Don and Andrea who I was supposed to meet before meeting Nina.
"Sir, Mr. Donald and Mr. Andrea are here to see you "Aurora said to me from the door way of my office.
"Okay. Send them in" I told her without looking up as my head was buried on the hospital's file I was working on.
"Yes sir" Aurora answered as she stepped out closing the door gently behind her.
The door suddenly opened again and both Andrea and Don walked in closely followed by John. I nodded for them to sit on the couch as I stood up and went to meet them.
"Is everywhere secure and safe?" I asked john looking all over my office. I don't trust Deborah who knows she might have tapped my office.
"Yes sir. You can proceed, I've checked for bugs this morning" John replied as I nodded before turning to look at both Andrea and Don...
"Any news?" I asked them looking at both of them with my legs crossed.
"Yes sir" Don replied as he produced a document from his back pocket. He handed it to me. I collected the pictures and was surprised to see that it was Deborah and Austin together.
"What is this?" I asked Don, dropping the pictures angrily on the table in front of me.
"The picture was taken immediately Deborah left your house after you chased her out" Don explained as I gasped and stared at the picture again.
I smile at him " These are good. I need more of this and I need you to tap hers and Austin's house" I told him as he nodded.
"And I've contacted my uncle in the FBI, he has promised to look into the case discreetly since it involves a celebrity which is Austin" Andrea replied as I nodded. I stood up and shook each of their hands. With the rate of this, Austin and Deborah will be behind bars very soon. "Thank you very much" I told them as they stood up about to leave. Aurora came in to inform us that Nina was around. I nodded at her as she went out.
"And again Michael" Andrea said, causing me to look at him, urging him to go on.
"We need Miss Miller to do a photoshoot with Lush Beauty inorder to boost our sales" He told me as I nodded before he stepped out.
Nina walked into my office looking dishevelled and sad. I stood up immediately and went to meet her, she looked thinner than I last saw her at the airport...
"What's wrong with you? Are you okay?" I asked her as I guided her to the couch. I remember she wasn't sounding all that happy when I called her yesterday but I never imagined for it to be this bad.
"I'm sorry. I'm not feeling too well, I'm only here because you said it was important" Nina replied slowly as her eyes shine with unshed tears. My heart broke as I hoped that I wasn't the cause of those tears in her eyes.
"Okay, but are you sure it isn't something I should know about?" I asked her again to be sure as I wasn't convinced that she was okay especially as tears dropped from her eyes.
I walked closer to pull her close as I comforted her. I've missed the Nina who always smiled. I hope I could bring the smile back into her world and make her happy again..
"Sorry about that. Why do you want to see me?" Nina asked as she wiped her eyes clean from tears.
I sat back down on the couch and handed her the document containing Deborah and Austin's pictures.
"What is this?" Nina asked, turning the document over in her hands like she dreaded opening it..
"Check it out!" I told her, urging her to open the document.
I watched Nina's eyes widened in shock as she took in the pictures one after the other "This_is_is_ pictures. Oh my God! Deborah has been cheating on you all this while, but why?"
"I can't really say" I told her shrugging "Probably to get back at me for loving you but these are not all" I said as her eyes shot up to meet mine.
"There are more?" She asked me as I nodded.
"Yes. I believed that Deborah and Austin were behind your accident and Lillian's"
"What?" Nina shouted as she stood up and paced around my office scared" Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"Because I didn't want you to be scared just as you are right now" I answered as I turned to reach out and hold her hand but she flinched out of my touch.
"But it's my life and I deserve to know everything that is going on with it. You know what, I'm going. I need to think about this" Nina said as she took my bag and ran out of the door ignoring my plea for her to stay.
I slumped down on the couch for a while but I stood up and packed my bag ready to go home while praying that Nina be safe until Austin and Deborah are apprehended.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐