Chapter 6

SILVANA

"Silvana?" I turned around at the calling of my name to see a man in his early fifties smiling at me. "It's you."

"Mr Gregory." I smiled broadly as he approached me.

"What are you doing here?" He asked when he got to me.

"I'm here for the company."

"What? Like really?" I nodded and his smile widened. "That's great."

"Right."

Mr Gregory is one of the oldest workers in this company. He was my father's assistant before he died in a car accident and also my uncle's assistant after he took over, until I became eighteen. He was also my own assistant so he is practically family. I was in control of the company for six years before handing it to Xander after getting married, and Xander did a bad favor of ruining the company.

"So..." I looked around once again before facing him, "Why is the company like this? The workers...they are not working."

Mr Greg sighed, "That's how it's been for sometime now. After you left, I was demoted to a team manager, and at first, Xander did a good job, but now, it's...like you see it."

"That bastard. How could he demote you? I will need you to fill me in on the affairs of the company. You can do that, right?" I tilted my head to the right slightly with raised brows.

"I will gladly do so." He nodded with a smile. I returned the smile, and turned on my heels. "Let's go to the office first."

"Of course." Mr Gregory nodded and led the way while I followed, looking around as I did. The workers didn't even notice me or they didn't seem to care. How I wish they knew who I was.

With a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips, I walked into the elevator when we got there. Mr Gregory followed me in, and pressed the 15th floor button. The CEO's office was located there and just thinking about it made me miss my days of being here. When my parents were still alive, I would follow my mum to see my dad. I was still very young then, and I liked the office a lot, cause I loved the feeling of being at the top. That feeling was embedded in me till I grew up and I had to take over after graduating as a top student from college, but all that shattered when I met Reed. I loved him so much that I allowed him to make me feel so low. I did everything he said and even left the company all because of the love which he threw away like nothing.

My hold on my bag tightened as I wiped the tear that almost fell from my eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh?" I looked at Mr Gregory who was staring at me with a worried expression.

"I've been calling you for almost a minute now, but you never answered." He replied, and I looked at the elevator to see it opened.

"Oh. I was just thinking of something, let's go." I smiled, and walked out of the elevator.

He also came out and we walked to the office which had 'CEO' boldly written on it.

"Hmm...at least he kept the office clean." I mumbled as we went in. The office was neat and well arranged, a flower vase filled with peonies was at a corner too, but I didn't fancy flowers, at least not peonies.

"Get rid of that flower when you are clearing Xander's things." I pointed at the vase and he looked at it before nodding.

"Okay..." I sat down on the swivel chair, "Please sit. I need you to fill me in on everything now." I motioned at the chair in front of me, which he sat on.

"There isn't really much to say because you've seen everything, but I think Xander is embezzling money. When you left five years ago, he demoted and fired a lot of people including me, then he employed new workers who were obviously for him. The financial department is totally under his control and it seems he has been inflating the prices of the company's expenses while stealing from the income and showing a lower value to the shareholders. Many of them have also pulled out of the company."

"That bastard." I gritted my teeth as I heard Mr Greg's explanation. How could he ruin the company for his own benefit?

"Call for a meeting with the board of directors and the major shareholders. I would also like to see all the financial accounts from five years ago, and...you are also back to being my assistant." I said.

"Thank you. I will call for the meeting now, and also send the accounts to you." He stood up.

"With that said..." He did a playful salute before walking out of the office.

I stood up and began clearing out Xander's things in the meantime, while waiting for the accounts to be brought.

About twenty minutes later, a knock came on the door.

"Come in." I dropped the book I was holding in the paper bag I happened to find. I turned to the door as the door opened, and a lady walked in.

"Good morning mam. Mr Greg asked me to bring this to you."

"Quite much." I mumbled looking at the number of files she was holding.

She chuckled and went over to the table to drop it.

"I will take my leave now. Call me if you need any help." She bowed slightly then she walked out.

I sighed loudly and sat on the chair. Taking one of the files, I began going through it. As I went through the files, I found lots of intentional mistakes and miscalculations, and this went on for hours. Not until Mr. Greg came to call me for the meeting with the board directors and shareholders.

I walked out of my office with him and we went to the conference room. The board of directors and major shareholders were all present, but they had reduced in number, compared to before. I began the meeting by introducing myself as the daughter of Collins Hardin, in case they had all forgotten. I told them about my intention to take over as the CEO, and it was quite surprising that they all supported me, not even a single soul was against me. This gave me confidence and fueled my determination to do better.

The meeting came to an end, and I carefully filed out of the room to meet Xander who was about to enter.

"What are you doing here?"

"And what did you just do? Holding a meeting without me?" The glare on his face as he said those words made me chuckle.

"We are better off without you."

"What do you mean?" He frowned, taking a step towards me.

"What I mean is you're no longer the CEO of this company. Like I told you before, I'm back to take my position."

"You bitch! And you all...are you in support of this?" He walked past me to the room. The directors and shareholders said nothing, and only stared at him.

"Will you all say something!!!"

"One more word from you, and you are out of this company...totally." I said and he turned back to me with clenched jaws.