66 The New CEO

. . .

When Zeirenne stepped inside the meeting room. There were already 24 board members sitting on their seats. There was an elongated table at the center of the room and she claimed the seat in the middle.

"Good Morning, Miss Lin," one of the board members greeted her.

"Good Morning, Mr. Amorsolo," she greeted back and nodded her head on the other three who acknowledged her presence. Out of the 24 board members, they were the only ones who could look her in the eye. Beaming brightly with enthusiasm.

"So... I've heard about today's agenda. I'm all ears."

The projector infront of the room flashed stock graph. One of their representative was infront to present a detailed statistic about the fall and rise of the stock market within a couple of days. The lines presented infront, were obviously plummeting.

Still, Zeirenne held her head up in anticipation to what they had to say.

"This recording was released yesterday morning. From a sketchy website, it didn't gain enough attention. No one paid it mind. Or believed it legitimacy. After a few hours, however, dozens of news outlets all over the country started playing it on television. As if the publicity was not enough, all the billboards and big screens had it flashed. Pedestians, Workers, Students--everyone in the country listened to this clip."

"As you can see in this part," he pointed the middle of the graph, "The stock prices started declining but not that significantly. But when afternoon came, right after Miss Lin's broadcasted statement, that's when the stocks suffered a grave plummet. It continued dropping, and until now, it drops lower and lower by the second. Everyone's pulling out their money."

Zeirenne nodded her head.

"The media wanted Miss Lin to step down, the people wanted the same. And so, the board decided that it would be less detremental to our finances if CEO Lin steps down from her position."

"And if I don't wanna go down without a fight?"

Everyone looked at Zeirenne with hardened expressions.

"What? So you expected me to sit still and let someone else take my position?"

One of the board members shifted on his seat. "I'm sure you don't mean what you're saying Miss Lin. This is the only way for us to reduce the damages. I was hoping you'd step down willingly. This is not what I expected from you."

Zeirenne smiled. A sweet, sweet, mocking smile.

"Then, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Romualdez. Cause I'm not stepping down without a fight."

"How stubborn!" Another one of the board members hissed from a distance.

"Calm down, everyone. There's a proper way out of this," Mr. Amorsolo said, "We can always vote our sides to avoid conflict."

"That's right," another member seconded.

Zeirenne arched an eyebrow. "And who's going against me?"

In the most dramatic way possible, Dylan walked inside the room. He had his suit neatly buttoned and his hair in a slick back.

"I am."

"Wow. What a great surprise this is? I never expected you'd ever go against me, Assistant Wang."

"Guess you never know until the last minute."

Zeirenne's laughter echoed around the room. Everyone watched her slam her hands on the table while cradling her stomach—laughing out loud.

Nice!" she said, "You played your cards right. I'm impressed." She stood up from her seat and anchored both arms on the table. She leaned towards the board members as if taunting them one by one.

"I think everyone's forgetting something here. I may not be the CEO anymore. But I'm still Zelenne Asia International's Major Stockholder. I can appoint whoever I want as CEO. And that surely won't be you, Assistant Wang."

Dylan had a smirk plastered on his face. He approached the company representative and took the presentation from him. He flashed the last slides yet to be presented.

"So if you'd look here, Miss Lin," he said in a mocking tone, "The stock prices plummeted so low after everyone sold their stocks. Most of your minor stockholders who comprised 20 percent of the companies stocks, sold theirs. Basically, with all your stocks losing their value, you're still holding 51 percent in shares."

"That's right, and that makes me a major stockholder still." Zeirenne said with her arms crossed.

"That is correct, but if you'd look at this document signed by CEO Lin herself, it states here that in case the stock market goes on a turmoil, she'd cut her own shares to compensate for the losses of the 20 percent minority. Thus, you also lost 20 percent of your shares. You only have 31 percent left. All their money was 'refunded' back from your stocks."

Dylan looked straight into her eyes, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you no longer have the voting rights. Everything will depend on the board of directors now."

Zeirenne's lips parted. "Fine. Then let's make this thing quick. Pick your tablets and vote me out."

Just outside the room, Dorothy arrived in time to see Miss Lin being hysterical. She furrowed her brows and Gretta noticed this.

"What's wrong oh--" she stopped, "Assistant Wang is indeed that person."

Dorothy got snapped back to reality. "Huh?" She looked inside the room through the glass door. "O-oh right. Assistant Wang is indeed it..."

She fell silent. Seeing Assistant Wang was not the thing puzzled her. She already anticipated him being there after confirming the facts for so many times. She'd known about Assistant Wang's private meetings with some of the board members and had therefore convinced herself it was the truth. But now, seeing Miss Lin in an unusual state, her mind was struck with confusion.

"No way..." she whispered to herself.

There was no way Miss Lin would act out of composure—surely not under her enemy's watch. Her reaction puzzled Dorothy.

Perhaps, Did Miss Lin finally erupt after building up too much stress on herself? Or was there something else that was going on? She asked herself.

She watched in anticipation as the results went up the screen.

Dylan Wang - 19 Votes

Zhi Lin - 3 Votes

Undecided - 2 Vote

From the result on the screen, it was obvious. Assistant Wang had the majority's vote by a landslide.

Once again, Zeirenne's laughter echoed around the entire room. This time, they let her be. She looked so out of her mind, like a complete lunatic. After a few minutes, Dylan stepped forward.

"I'm sorry... But I think you'll have to move away from that seat. It's my seat now."

"Well played, Mister Wang. Well played."

Zeirenne stormed out of the room. She passed by Dorothy who was still dazed and confused.

Gretta was worried about Dorothy and tried comforting her. "Hey... it's alright."

"No," Dorothy said, "Didn't you see it?"

"Saw what?"

"C-CEO Lin..."

"..."

"She was smiling..."

. . .