Miss President

"What exactly is your question ma'am"?

I asked and she made a nervous chuckle.

"Ma'am? Did you just call me ma'am"?

She asked and I made a stunned face as though I had made a mistake.

"Ahh, that's true should I just call you by your name? Mrs Sky"?

That's exactly how I was supposed to address her but I guess I was still getting used to being the boss.

"Who do you think you are"?

She asked angrily as she stood up but I was not fazed at all by her actions.

I was looking at something on my tablet when I spoke.

"You better sit down..."

I then looked at her.

"...Before you embarrass yourself".

I concluded and she looked at me, speechless.

"You must really think you have the right to talk to us anyhow just because you now own a company. You are very lucky we invested if not..."

"Invested"?

I asked and she was silent again as she sat back down.

"You all bought shares because you knew it had a promising future. Am I wrong"?

I asked as I looked at all of them.

"You only bought the shares of my company to increase your pockets. Don't act like you are doing me a favor".

I said coldly as I looked away from them.

"Are... are you really dating the O'Brien's eldest grandson"?

One of the men asked and I responded.

"Are you a reporter"?

He turned and looked at the others around him.

"We should be talking about the company and how we'll make it grow in no time. Not about my personal life".

I said and then, I heard someone chuckle.

"Chh... talk about being proud".

I turned my chair slightly so I could see his face properly. This was Mr Robert, he was the tenth largest shareholder, and just by looking at him, I could already tell he was a sexist.

"What did you say"?

I asked, wanting him to repeat himself.

"I mean, as a woman. You should have respect for the men in front of you. Don't you think"?

He asked as he tilted his head in a way that did nothing but annoy me even more.

"Well, what do we do? I'm the one sitting on the president's seat".

I said and I could see the obvious displeasure written all over his face.

"As a man, you should at least know who your boss is. Don't you think"?

I asked and I saw him swallow lightly.

I could tell that some people did not like me, some who were still observing, some who were neutral and some actually smiled at me.

I already knew I'd meet people like them and luckily for me, I had spent quite some time preparing.

"It is nice to meet you, Miss President".

A man at the far end spoke and I looked at him a bit surprised. He was the first person to say something nice out loud and it made me doubt his authenticity. But just when I was trying to figure out if he was being honest with his words, another man spoke.

"That is true Miss President. We are here to work alongside you to make sure this company blooms to its greatest height".

I looked around and to my greatest surprise, a lot of them were nodding their heads in agreement.

"He is very right Miss President".

This time around, it was a woman.

'Miss president? How did they come up with that name? Anyways, I like it'.

I said to myself as I smiled inwardly. the woman then continued speaking.

"We need someone who will put the growth of the company first and seeing how you have behaved today, I think I can put my trust in you".

This woman who just finished speaking sounded like the wife of the president. She sounded so elegant and classy. I could never beat that.

"True".

Another woman spoke, making me look at her too.

"I was going to decide on taking out my shares or leaving them in the company after today's meeting and right now, I feel like I won't have any regrets".

I wanted to smile but for some reason, I felt it would sell me short so I hid my smile. I placed both my hands on the long conference table as I leaned forward.

"I appreciate all your kind words of support. Though I know not all of you would agree... I know that GALLERY is going to be known both in and out of the country".

I said this and leaned back.

"But... I can't do it on my own and I definitely need your support. What I mean is... I need people who believe and desire this dream as much as I do".

I said this with a slight hint, letting them know that I did not need anyone who was going to be a hindrance to this dream of mine.

I then smiled lightly and continued.

"I believe we all want the same thing".

I then stood up and moved out of my seat.

"I hope to build a bigger and better future in fashion with you all".

I said this and bowed in respect.

The first person who clapped was the most elegant woman. The woman who spoke earlier about the growth of the company.

After she started clapping, others began clapping as well, even Mrs Sky who was trying to get on my nerves earlier, and the other man too. They were all clapping.

I know some of them were just doing it for formalities and did not actually mean it but I was very sure that they now knew that I would not be taken down so easily.

The meeting was finally over and I was on my way out when I heard some of them talking.

"It's no wonder chairman O'Brien chose to invest in her, she has potential".

"She is like the female version of Mr. Jason O'Brien".

"Isn't she beautiful"?

"I know right? She looks like a model".

"I think this will be as international as Dior and Balenciaga".

"Gallery, even the name is nice".

I was satisfied with the majority of what I heard so I headed back to my office.

All the while, lawyer Patrick was observing her and just like one of the men from the board said, she was like the female version of CEO Jason O'Brien. In a way, she even felt a bit more strict.

"What else do I have to do"?

I asked as I collapsed on my chair and he replied.

"You should see your new home".

I immediately sat up properly and asked.

"Already"?