Kicked Out Of His Own Company

"Aurum Group has made a decision that it is best to merge Accessify with Proxima Tech— "

"Accessify and Proxima Tech venture in different directions, their goals do not align." A tick of irritation made Dylan clench his jaw at Sloane's intervention.

The shareholders shifted in their seats, each sensing the tension that wrapped around both men even as they say at different ends of the table.

"Speaking about goals," Dylan fixed Sloane a steely gaze, "it's about time that Accessify rearranged it's goals." Dylan said.

"For years Accessify has focused on apps to help people with limited education, noble I must say," Dylan shot Sloane a teasing smirk, "but in the world of business there's no nobility."

"If Mr Russell has something to say, he should get straight to it without beating around the bush." Sloane's face didn't show the irritation that he was beginning to feel.

"In the past Accesify had gotten it's earnings through ads, we intend to change that." Dylan said. "We intend to advance the apps, add premium plans, lock contents that you can only pay to access—"

"Mr Russell, that is going against everything Accessify stands for." A hint of anger creeped into Sloane's tone. "This company was built with the goal of helping people self- learn, where are they going to get money to access premium plans and whatever it's you are offering." Accessify's target audience were people who had been unable to access the cost of a proper education, if the company was to take Dylan's route then they would be losing more money than actually making it.

"Accessify belongs to Aurum Group now, while your ideals may have been kind CEO Sloane, this is a business not a charity organization, we intend to make money from it." Dylan leaned into his chair with a smirk. "Perhaps your goals are more suited for a non-profit organization, but here we have employees to pay, assets to maintain and there are shareholders who are waiting to receive their dividend."

"Mr Russell is right." A thin man with a calculating gleam in his eyes said. "It's time for the company to broaden it's branches, after all this company has been built with the aim of making money."

A few people nodded in agreement, nobody could resist the allure of more money.

Sloane's hands clenched into fists— of course these greedy people would only think about money. "We would lose customers, our users wouldn't be able to afford premium plans." Sloane argued. Surely he could get them not to side with Dylan; he had built this company from the scratch with the aim of helping the lesser part of the society that the government seemed intent on refusing to acknowledge it's existence— he would not let Aurum Group tear it down.

"Now that Accessify is being prepared to merge it wouldn't be wise for it to only focus on such apps, they are other apps we could venture into that would profit the company more." Dylan smirked.

"Indeed, I agree with Mr Russell, the company has limited itself for far too long it's about time we moved to the next level." An overly dressed woman with an aura of pompousness said smoothly.

"I understand your grievances CEO Sloane, after all it used to be your company and now it's straying away from your ideologies, but we assure you that your financial earnings wouldn't be affected." Sloane wanted to throw Dylan out of his company this instant, but the man was a major shareholder and in a way Sloane's boss.

"CEO Sloane is a great man and he has done wonderful things for this company, but I believe it may be a bit hard to adjust to the new changes and owing to your condition," Dylan's glance at his missing leg was not subtle and the way Sloane glared at him hadn't been either, "it's best for you to step down from your position as CEO and head of the R&D department."

A stillness that hid a brewing storm enveloped the meeting room.

"Mr Russell, I believe you should consider that decision." The woman said. "CEO Sloane is not only the company's founder, but he has been a major backbone of the organization."

"I agree with Mrs Thompson, we believe in his capacity, he's never let this company down and has done marvelously well in the R&D department." A man with greying hair said.

"There is no clash of interest between Sloane as the CEO or the company's plan for expansion." The thin man said. "I don't think his.... condition would affect his efficiency."

Of course these greedy fools wanted to eat their cake and have it; Dylan rolled his eyes covertly, barely quelling a sigh of annoyance.

While they were all on board with Dylan's new route for the company, they were skeptical about his decision to demote Sloane.

Accessify had managed to reach global recognition owing to Sloane's dedication; every app, every decision, every project had all been worked on by Sloane, it was easy to say that without Sloane Accessify wouldn't stand as firmly as it did in the IT world.

"I understand your worries, but I believe you all have heard the name Hudson Black." Everyone nodded at Dylan's words.

Hudson Black was a legend in the IT world, he had created ground breaking apps at a young age rivalling even Sloane Delaney who was considered a genius. Many companies had sought to get Hudson to work with them; throwing olive branches and offering mouth-watering contracts— even Accessify had tried— but Hudson refused all contracts, preferring to go solo.

Dylan smirked— the fish had been hooked and all he had to do was reel it in. "Hudson Black has agreed to work with us as our new head of the R&D department." Each person wore a look of shock.

"That's amazing Mr Russell." The woman laughed. With a better replacement, they had no qualms dropping Sloane as though he was a hot potato.

"I also propose Mr Victor Blake as the new CEO of the company." Dylan said. "Let's vote." Sloane could see Dylan's goal— he had come with the intention of kicking him out of his own company.

With Aurum Group as a majority shareholder and with the few remaining shareholders blinded by greed, it didn't take much calculation to deduce that Victor would be the new CEO.

Victor— a fairly handsome young man who looked sharp in his suit— stood up. "Thank you all for this opportunity, I will not disappoint." He smiled at Dylan — a smile of flattery; he knew whose good books he had to get into.

"Since Mr Delaney isn't currently fit for work, I think it's better for him to rest at home until he's properly healed." An indefinite suspension wrapped in pretty words. "In the meantime how about you hand over the Company's ID and the keys to the CEO's office." Dylan smiled even though his eyes remained cold.

********

"Thank you Miss Honey, I will take it from here." Sloane mustered a gentle smile as his driver collected the box that contained his personal items for his personal assistant no former personal assistant.

"You should go inside, I assume Victor is going to start looking for you—"

"I resigned." Honey cut in.

"Pardon?" Sloane arched a brow.

"I resigned immediately Mr Russell said you wouldn't be CEO anymore." Honey shrugged. " A dumb decision I must say, Victor might be good at bootlicking during company events, but running a company is a big no."

"We all know Victor's just a puppet, the real person who will be pulling the strings for behind is Dylan." Accessify occupied the 16th, 17th and 18th floor of the Grandwell Building; staring at it from below he could see the company's logo gleaming in the sun and something caught in his throat— years of hardwork stripped away.

"I don't care, I applied to be your personal assistant and I will remain your personal assistant." Sloane could see that gleam of stubbornness he had always admired in Honey's eyes.

"Under Aurum Group the company will expand; a bigger paycheck, more employees, no more laggy systems, no more faulty air conditioners, no more chalky coffee, no more backaches — the company's going to be bigger now, better, wealthier." Sloane fixed his gaze on Honey. "Are you sure you want to leave all that behind? This is going to be your chance to earn a six figure salary."

"I don't care, I am going with you and that's final." Honey's tone was determined.

"I am currently unemployed." Sloane reminded her.

"We will work something out." Honey dismissed.

"What if I don't want you?" Honey frowned.

"There are no take backs." Honey burned with an enthusiasm that he had years ago when he founded Accessify.

When Accessify entered it's early years of success, many companies had offered to buy the young company from Sloane— they told him he wouldn't survive on his own in the industry— he refused them all, but Aurum Group had always been steadfast; they wouldn't take back their offer no matter how many times Sloane said no.

His accident had given them the leeway they needed— investors backed out, somebody leaked the company's data and their stock price fell. When Aurum Group approached the shareholders with a tender offer— they had not hid their intent on a hostile takeover— many who had already began to waver sold their shares. Aurum Group amassed a 55% of the company's share, Sloane held 25% while the remaining 20% was distributed amongst the remaining shareholders.

His life's work had been snatched from him and Sloane vowed to himself that he would make Dylan pay, even if it was the last thing he did.