Chapter five
.. So Mr Vance, what does NOVA stand to gain if we partner with you and fund your project?' Lucy rose asked, cutting straight to the chase as she twirls her ball pen between her fingers expertly, her sudden intrusion made all heads in the room to in her direction, all wearing an incredulous and shocked look at her effontary to question the presenter. She pretended not to notice while also ignoring how hard her heart was pounding from the intensity of the their stare and scrutiny. It's her first time chairing such an important meeting, her father had finally given her the chance after so much convincing and test, she wasn't planning to flop out and ruin the little confidence he has in her, even if it means offending old grizzling men who finds their ego bruised, having to answer to a young and "underserving" amateur like her.
'Huh!' Caught off guard, the burly man she intrrrupted exclaims in confusion while looking around the table for support but no one said anything, even though they're just as confused as he was .
'You've gone on and on about the structure of your project but you've barely mentioned anything of interest to me or NOVA as a whole, we're not a charity organization Mr Vance, I know you understand what I mean, what does NOVA stand to gain if we back this project using our finance and connection? Make us an offer...'
'Well, if you had been listening and not day dreaming, you'd have heard him in the first half of his presentation' a smug, mocking voice replied from the far head of the board table, a low but approving ring of laughter followed suit, in silent solidarity of his statement. Despite being the daughter of Domanic Ivanova, it didn't earn her the automatic respect and fear that accompanies his name and reputation, NOVA is a company filled with sharks and social climbers, men like her father who value substance, means and experience over anything else, these are the qualities her father looked for in selecting the men and women working for him, shrewd men and women who are problem solvers, NOVA is a jungle where every man fight with every ounce and drop of their blood to get to the very top, they're insatiable monsters, so it didn't come to her as a surprise when they announcement of her appointment as acting managing director of the finance department was met with so much disapproval, she thought she could handle it all, but nothing prepared her for how injuring and humiliating their dismissal of her could be. Lucy Rose boils with anger but she knew better than to give them the hysteric reaction they expected of her, she bite the inside of her cheek to contain the angry rebuttal at the tip of her tongue. She said took several calming breaths before giving a calm yet, cautious reply
"Maybe you're right, Mr..." She pretended to forget his name for a moment, an action which ignite the desired result since it offended him greatly.
"Bruce Willis..." He snaps
"Whether it not he mentioned our benefits in his presentation, that is for me to decide, thank you very much, and next time, do well not to interrupt my meeting, it's rude, disrespectful and not business like, I alone have the authority to do that. Are we clear!" She levels him with her piercing gaze, making sure not to flinch or look intimidated. He was taken back, and so was everyone else, they didn't expect she'd tell him off while maintaining her composure instead of bursting into flames.
"Are we clear?!" She repeats when he wouldn't answer, subtly challenging him to defer her command.
"Yes" he grits his teeth in reply, fuming inside.
"Ma'am?" She adds, raising her brow at him, in a fashion that imitates that if her insufferable mother and it seemed to work on him.
"What?!"
"When you're addressing your superior or even a colleague, you address them properly Mr Bruce, curtsey demands it" The entire room burst into a chorus of murmur at her audacity. Bruce Willis eyes lit with a defiant sort of rebellion.
'Excuse me!"
"Off course you'd be excused, of your services at NOVA if you refuse to behave like a every civilized man and woman in this room" Lucy rose wasn't going to back down, she might have if it had been anyone else but Bruce Willis has been a torn in her side for a very long time, he has tried repeatedly to convince her father out of his decision to finally give her a chance, he has tried his very best to undermine her work and her authority at every front ans she had taken it all in good grafe because she didn't want to seem problematic, but after her last session eigh her therapist, she knew she had to start putting people like him in their place, it's going to be a distasteful task quite alright, she didn't want to be tag as a bitchy boss but if that's what it took to get everyone in line, so be it.
"You're going to sack me?! You know you can't do that, you're only acting managing director, you don't have the power to terminate my appointment" He bluffs, staring her down indigently. He was right about that but Lucy rose had come to far to carve in, she couldn't let him sense her hesitation or weakness.
"Do you want us to put it to test? Cause i'd gladly do" Something about her false bravado and fearlessness must have unharmed Bruce, but what he didn't know was, her hands were shaking terribly beneath the desk.
"So what do you say Mr Bruce? Would you do the right thing or would you rather you pride cost you your job" Now all eyes in the room turn to Bruce, everyone was waiting, watching to see how he'd respond to her ultimatum, Lucy held her breath in anticipation of his next action, she knows his option would either elevate her in the eyes of those present or diminish her worth and respect, she sent a silent prayers to heaven for help.
"I was wrong, I apologize ma'am" Bruce finally concurred. His choice surprised everyone in the room, they could scarcely believe their ears, the Almighty Bruce Willis stooped low to apologize to a "green" girl like her but for Lucy, it was a defining and victorious moment for her.
"Apology accepted Mr Bruce. Now let's continue. Mr Vance, please enumerate the benefits NOVA stands to gain from this partnership, I won't sign out anymore or approve anything until you've convinced me, it's nothing personal, just business.
It's been an extremely long and stressful day for Lucy Rose, she didn't realize being the financial managing director of NOVA comes with a lot of baggage and challenges but she isn't complaining, she's just happy to finally have a chance to prove herself to her father, to show him she can be as much a successful business woman as him. All her life she's had only one goal, to please her father and make him proud of her, to see him look at her as an equal in the game, with respect in his eyes, to make him realize that being a girl doesn't limit her capacity, maybe then he'd put an end to his persistent search for an heir and bequeath the company to her.
She's been busy all day and barely got any time to rest, going from one boardroom and virtual meeting to her another, yet she finds it all quite fulfilling, it has always been her dream and it's now coming true, but the highlight of her day was the news of how she dealt with Bruce spreading around, as expected, it has earned her a sudden surge of respect and fear which pleases her to no end, she can't wait until she tell her Bella l, her therapist all about it.
It was late in the evening when she finally rounded up for the day and began to prepare to leave, head back home and take a long hot soak in her tub to ease her aching muscles, but her wishful thought were soon rudely interrupted by the jarring sound of her phone ringing.
"Hi bitch! Bravo, I heard all about what you did. Mehn, I'm in awe of you, I would never have imagined that you had it in you" it was Lilith, her childhood friend and resident trouble maker.
Lilith and her go way back, their parents are friends and they grew up in the same circle but with distinct goals and perspective to life, while she had to beg her father for months in end to give her a chance at the company, reverse is the case with Lilith, her family are constantly harassing and bugging her to join the family business but she's refused for no concrete reason, instead, she chose to work as a promoter and agent for a company that owns chains of clubs and casino, recently, she's in the business of acquiring other nameless clubs to the fold.
"... I wish I was there, i'd have love to see the look on his face when you put him in his place, it's fucking king overdue" Lucy Rose smiled.
"Girl I just got lucky, I took a gamble and if he had retaliated, I would have been the laughing stock"
"Cut yourself some slack Lucy, don't play the humility card with me. You're a badass boss lady and everyone should be worshipping the ground you walk on, bowing at your feet, you've earned your position through years of hard work and studies with good certificate, if those idiot thinks any less I'd you because you're young and a woman, you should give them more reason to feel suffocated, choke them with your awesomeness and watch them die of envy"
Lucy couldn't help her smile, while others, including her own parents and expecially her mother barely acknowledge her sacrifices and goals, Lilith is her biggest cheer leader and supporter, she wondered how she would have survived if she didn't have the crazy ass trouble maker in her life.
"To celebrate you victory against that horrible, oppressing troll, we're hitting the club tonight..."
"No! Hell to the fucking No!"
"Oops! Too late! I'm in front of your office building, you're not wiggling out of this one"
"Fucking hell" Lucy Rose cursed loudly, knowing she's in for one hell of a crazy night. With Lilith and her club shenanigans, things always get spicy