"You’re back!" Eliza squealed as she stepped into the bedroom and saw Alrik waiting with a flower bouquet. The source of thɪs content is novelFirｅ.net
"Why didn’t you tell me?"
She hugged him so hard that he stumbled back. He just laughed and kissed her hair.
"I wanted to surprise you. I know you were worried."
She took the flower from him, and leaned in. "It smells wonderful. But I’m just glad you’re okay. So how did it go? Did you get what you needed?" She asked as she sat on the bed.
"We can talk about me later. You just got back from work. I’m sure you’re exhausted." He knelt down to take off her shoes.
"Ugh! My feet are killing me. Thank you. I had so many meetings today. I can still hear all their voices. The audit results are coming in, so I’ve been firing people, and trying to find replacements. Some of the more serious offenders will have to be charged to court, and I still need to handle the details of the upcoming projects." She sighed, then moaned as he began to massage her feet.
"I’m sorry for the stress, love."
"That’s sweet, but no need to apologise. I don’t regret taking over as CEO. I’m just out of practice. It’s been a while since I did so much corporate work, so I’m a bit rusty, and handling people is more exhausting. But I’ll get the hang of it soon. If only the company’s management hadn’t been so terrible, I wouldn’t have so much work to do. Honestly, I’m shocked the company managed to stay afloat till now. A fee more months and they may have gone completely bankrupt. They should be thanking you for buying those shares, and me for stepping in. Instead they frown, and try to interfere. So annoying."
She soaked in the bathtub while Alrik gave her the details of his mission.
"That’s basically it. I’m just glad I was able to get out. For now, no one will know I’m not confined in a mental institution. I doubt any of them will try to visit so my cover won’t be blown. My grandfather may call, but someone from my team will answer and pretend all is fine to avoid suspicion, at least till next week when we have the ceremony." He said as she sipped her wine.
"And how long will it take your hackers to check through all the info you got from the computers?" She asked.
"A day. Two at most. For now, planning the opening ceremony of my company’s new headquarters is all that’s left for phase two."
"That’s great. One less thing to worry about, for you at least. I’ve been hearing rumours that my father wants to sue concerning the shares you bought for me. I don’t think they’ll go through with it though. That would be foolish because negative publicity while the company is already having financial troubles will be the proverbial nail in the coffin." She said, and he chuckled.
"Don’t worry about them. They’re all bark and no bite. Come on out before your skin prunes. You’ve been in there a while." He said and got her towel while she stepped out of the bath tub.
They had dinner and went to bed. The next morning, Alrik followed her to work.
"Ugh! I thought you finally decided to have some sense and leave my daughter alone for good. Your presence ruined everything. Aren’t you ashamed of mooching off her*?" Gregory said as he saw Alrik in Eliza’s office.
She sighed and rubbed her head. "It’s too early for your intrusion, father. Please leave. I don’t appreciate you barging into my office anytime you please. If you have anything company related and important, I have secretaries you can go through so I can keep my work organised. Anything else is a distraction."
He just huffed, but didn’t leave. "I heard you fired Justin from the accounting department. I hired him personally, so revoke that immediately."
She was silent as she stretched to pick up a file on the far end of her desk, then calmly flipped through it.
"Which Justin? Olivera, or Thorne?" She asked.
"Justin Thorne. There must have been some mix up while you were doing whatever madness you seem to deem necessary. Firing so many people will only hinder the company’s operations. I thought you were smart, but apparently, you lost your touch after being sent away from the company the first time. This is why you should step aside and let someone more competent handle this position. You..."
"Telling me to resign a hundred times won’t work, so save your breath. I know what I’m doing. I can’t make progress if I hold on to so much deadweight. Those are the people I’m firing. Justin Thorne is not coming back to this company, unless he wants to apply as a janitor. That’s the only job he’s fit to do." She responded.
"He has a degree from the top business school in the country. His father is..."
"His degree was probably obtained the same way he got the job; through connections, and not any form of merit. To put it simply, Justin Thorne is a dummy. Even after being here for two years, he can’t handle a simple invoice dating, and inventory record. Yet you made him the head of team one just because you know his father."
"Connections are important in business to make projects easier." He snapped.
"Ah. I remember why the surname sounded so familiar. Thorne Constructions. One of the companies I put on my blacklist."
"Yes. A list of companies we will no longer be doing business with from now, till possibly forever. Your connection to Justin’s father, who is the CEO may have won you some projects you passed off to the company, but I checked. Those projects are either tied up in lawsuits, never left the planning stage, or have one defect that renders them useless. I know a money laundering scheme when I see one, father. That’s the real reason you want Justin Thorned back. So his father will keep letting you in on schemes like that. Not in my company, not anymore. And unless you want to find yourself being sued for negligence, conspiracy, and fraud, I suggest you accept my generosity for only firing Justin, and not escalating the matter." She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
It was more of a mocking gesture, and her father noticed that. His face turned so red, he looked like he might explode, but she had no time to deal with tantrums.