Exchanging notes in the middle of a meeting

10 Exchanging notes in the middle of a meeting

Gracie leaned against the wall near the board room, exhausted. She’d arrived fifteen minutes earlier and she was regretting it. She should’ve known that Board Directors were a lazy bunch and getting their fat asses to a meeting would take forever.

She stood there, watching the people that passed. They were preparing the board room for the meeting. Gracie glanced away from the employees, her mind occupied with something else—something much more pressing than the issue of the late meeting.

Every fibre in her being ached for it, anticipated it. But, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Revenge, they say, is best served cold and hers had frozen over, increasing in volume as it froze. But, she was still miles away from sweet revenge. A few more years, perhaps.

“Hey, aunt!”

Gracie turned to Aaron. The boy wore a suit over his shirt though he kept the shirt loose, not bothering t tuck it in. Gracie knew he found that troublesome. He also didn’t button up his suit jacket and it look odd on him. But, that was Aaron—classy and stylish in his own way.

He, of course, had his usual cup of beverage in hand. She smiled at him. “You’re here early. I’m surprised. What dragged you out of the house?”

He sighed and took a sip from his cup of coffee. Gracie noted the slight grimace on his face as he drank. She chuckled. “Why do you even drink that if it doesn’t sit well with you?”

He shrugged. “People say that coffee makes the day.”

“At least add some cream to it, no?”

Aaron shook his head. “The meeting hasn’t started? I thought I was late again!”

“Most of the Directors aren’t here,” she said. “And Andrew is yet to arrive.”

Aaron gave a childish grin. He tipped his cup at her. “You think Zara is giving him a hell of a time?”

“I’d hope so,” Gracie said, sighing. She badly needed this. she wanted that girl to succeed at all cost, but so far, it seemed far-fetched.

“You do realise that nothing happened last night between them, right?” Aaron asked, raising an eyebrow. “I asked a few servants to listen for any sounds of…sexual intimacy.”

“I know,” Gracie said. “I saw the little bruise on the girl’s face when she came out this morning. Andrew is really a pain in the neck!” It made her want to tie him up and beat senses into him. He was as stubborn as his father was!

Aaron raised an eyebrow. “You’re not anxious about that?”

“Why should I be? I knew it wouldn’t be easy to seduce Andrew on the first night.”

“You sure made it sound easy,” he said, rubbing his neck. He gulped down a mouthful of coffee and swallowed with a grimace, then cleared his throat. “I’m worried.”

Gracie patted his shoulder. Aaron was so grown up now that it felt like yesterday when she’d picked him up, all dirty and bloodied. He was a good person, a perfect ally and son. She smiled at him. “Don’t be worried. All we have to do is hope he doesn’t kill the girl faster than she can get pregnant.”

“Would it be bad if he killed her?” Aaron asked, puzzled. “I mean, he could go to jail, you know?”

Gracie gave him a raised eyebrow. “And let ten years of effort go to waste?” she hissed and turned, noticing the Board members arriving in groups. She added, voice lowered, “make sure to keep an eye on the girl. If she slips, replace her. Understood?”

Aaron nodded and Gracie left him and entered the board room along with the others.

A few minutes later and the board room was filled up. Andrew had arrived with his personal assistant Jed, who stood behind him like a rock. Gracie sat near him, listening with half attention to the presentation that was on-going.

Flourish Airs was pushing to break into something new. The company was a travel agency with up to twelve airlines. Most others felt it would be nice if they could start building planes of their own. It was a huge step but one that involved a lot of risks and sacrifice.

Gracie still wasn’t sure which side she was voting for today but it didn’t matter. Regardless of whether the project was implemented, she’d still carry on with her objectives. Besides, building an aircraft would take months if not years!

“…and so, those are the estimated costs and benefits of building aircrafts. We’d be the first in the country and people would flock to us!”

Gracie applauded and turned to the screen to see the simulation the presenter had used. The other Directors began to ask questions to clear their doubt about the issues. After a while of useless arguments, they called for a vote.

Before that, however, Jed asked to speak on behalf of Andrew. Gracie smiled. The assistant was his mouthpiece. Most days, she felt pity for Andrew, really. He was like a child.

“I’m speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Board and the CEO,” Jed began. “He apologises for not being able to give his presentation. This is due to the fact that his laptop broke last night due to an unfortunate accident and he hasn’t had time to retrieve the data yet. He’s deeply sorry.”

The Directors nodded but one person snorted, turning his face away. “Mr Sebastian could’ve at least said that himself, you know? I wonder if he thinks we’re unworthy to hear his voice!”

Andrew grunted but didn’t react further. Gracie smiled. The broken laptop was, in a way, her fault. Zara had done her job, then. She cleared her throat. “Be gentle with the CEO, please. He works tirelessly for this company.”

“Well,” another Director said. “The vote? I’m for the project.”

Those who were voting for the project raised their hands. Andrew was among them and so, Gracie raised her hand as well. They outnumbered the Directors who went against and so, the project was passed, thought they’d have to deliberate further.

Andrew smiled and tore a piece of paper from his notepad and wrote something. He slipped the paper to Gracie and she took it and read it. “I think the project will bring new exposure,” the paper read. “And it will bring greater profit if we monopolise the market. It will align with my father’s wishes. Also, there was a girl in my room last night.”

Gracie chuckled, ignoring the rest of the meeting. She wrote a reply. “She seems to like you.”

Andrew got the paper and quickly wrote another reply. “No, she’s totally insane! She smashed my laptop and was talking about sleeping with me. I don’t know her and I wonder how she got past security!”

Gracie wrote a reply. “She said you asked her to come and we were excited to have her. Do you fancy her?”

Andrew snorted and wrote, “I don’t fancy anything about her. She’s like a pest.”

“Was that why you gave a bruise? That’s not gentlemanly at all!” she wrote back. It was funny how they could be exchanging notes in the middle of an important meeting. It reminded her of her high school time when she used to play the game with Richard—Andrew’s father. That was a long time ago, a time she didn’t want to remember anymore. Those years held pain for her.

“I can’t believe you’re siding with her,” Andrew’s not said. “A total stranger got into my room and refused to leave all night. I’m getting the police to remove her today.”

“Don’t do that,” Gracie wrote. “It will alert the media and you know how they are around you. They want every bit of juice they can get. Maybe you can use her to prove you’re not gay?”

“I’m not gay,” Andrew’s note said. “And I prefer keeping to myself.”

Gracie sighed. Getting him to sleep with Zara was going to be mighty difficult.