1 The New CEO

“Ladies and gentleman, the new CEO of the Ortega Group of Companies, Mr. Auguste Ortega!”

Auguste stood up from the table in front of the stage and went up to his father as the audience clapped for him.

“Congratulations!” Juan Miguel Ortega said to his son.

Auguste smiled at his father, who indicated the microphone on the podium. The younger Ortega went to it and talked to the stockholders.

“Thanks, Dad. As they always say, it’s nice to be born to the right parents.”

Juan Miguel let out a hearty laugh, making Auguste smile, and the audience as well.

“But, given this privilege, I always try to do my best to perform well in the tasks given to me. I believe that nothing is impossible with hard work and perseverance. And good teamwork, because whatever I have achieved through my years as the COO, a big part of this is because of my team. So, I promise to nurture the best asset that I have as I try to take the Ortega Group into greater heights. I cannot promise to be the best CEO, because my father is a tough act to follow, but I promise to try to be the best leader to the people who work hard for this organization. I am asking for your full support, just like how you did with my father. And thank you very much for believing in me.”

Everyone clapped again, and the father and son hugged each other. Then after that, the annual stockholders meeting of the Ortega Group of Companies concluded. As Auguste went down the stage with his father, all of the attendees took their turn to congratulate him for the promotion.

Luis Miguel III, or Thirdy as his relatives fondly call him, was one of the last people to greet his cousin Auguste. He is one of Auguste’s best friends among their relatives, second only to his own brother.

“I hope you won’t be too hard on me, Boss,” Thirdy joked.

Auguste smiled. “As long as you do well as the VP for Finance.”

Thirdy winced. “That is what I’m talking about. Why am I even the VP already? Just because your father wants to retire doesn’t mean my father will do as well, right?”

“I guess Uncle Titot wants to prioritize other things,” Auguste just said, referring to Thirdy’s father, Luis Miguel II.

“Yeah, like playing golf,” Thirdy said sarcastically. “He wants me to work my ass out for the family so that he can do his whims.”

Auguste just smiled at what Thirdy said to his father. That’s when Fatima Velasco went to them with Auguste’s younger brother, Geoffroy. Fatima is one of the stockholders and a member of the Board of Directors as well.

“Congratulations, Mate!” Fatima said to Auguste as he kissed him on the cheeks. “It was a landslide victory. Just so you know, I voted for you.”

Auguste smiled. “Thanks, Tim.”

“I feel so proud that my former classmate is the new CEO of the company,” Fatima said. “The Board really likes you a lot. But I bet even the majority of the stockholders wanted you to win as well.”

Auguste just smiled again.

Fatima smiled. “Oh well, I have to go now. See you when you had the time to see us again.”

That made Auguste chuckle. “See you.”

Fatima said her goodbyes to Geoffroy and Thirdy as well before leaving.

“I can’t believe she’s already married,” Geoffroy said.

“Dude, she already has two kids and you’re still sulking?” Thirdy asked Geoffroy.

“I should have been her husband and not some random Fontanilla guy.” Geoffroy scowled.

“Well, good thing she married some random Fontanilla guy, or else she would be in so much stress due to her husband’s infidelity,” Thirdy joked.

Geoffroy glared at Thirdy. “You make me look so bad!”

“Aren’t you? Oh! I remember you introduced some girl to me last week. What is her name again?” Thirdy asked Geoffroy.

The latter paused, seemingly contemplating for a few seconds.

“Did I?”

Thirdy laughed at what Geoffroy said. The latter smiled as he admitted his womanizing hobby.

Meanwhile, Auguste is just smiling as he watches the banter of the two younger Ortegas. That’s when their other cousin, Iñigo, joined them.

“So, the new CEO is here,” Iñigo said, casting a look full of disdain.

“Oh, hi Iñigo! How was the wine you just had?” Geoffroy asked. “Was it too sour it made you act like that?”

“I am not talking to you, my dear cousin,” Iñigo said sarcastically. “Making you the COO doesn’t change the fact that your happy-go-lucky personality is still a waste of the Ortega fortune. And good reputation as well.”

Geoffroy looked at Iñigo sharply. “You don’t have the right to judge me as I do not judge your insolence–”

“Geoff!” That was Auguste, trying to stop his younger brother picking up a fight with their rude cousin.

Geoffroy stopped talking, though his glare at Iñigo did not stop.

“Thanks for coming today, Iñigo,” Auguste said.

Iñigo looked at him. “Oh! Of course you’re glad that we get to see you rise up the ranks. Good thing you were born with the right parents, huh? If only your father was not born two minutes earlier than my father, I wonder if you can still say those words.” He then smirked mockingly at Auguste.

“Even if my father was born two minutes behind Uncle Paolo, I still believe that the Board will vote for whoever they think is competent enough to be the president. I did not win just because I’m my father’s son, Iñigo. This is not monarchy and I did not just inherit the recognition I am having right now.”

“Yes, but if you were not the heir apparent, then you will not be given the privilege to be the company’s COO,” Iñigo said.

“I did my best with the position I was given,” Auguste countered. “If I was given a lower rank, I would still do my best because I do not work here only because I am an Ortega. I work here because I want the company to succeed for the family, and for its employees as well. So I guess, there’s no problem if I started at the bottom, because as long as you love your job, you are bound to succeed. I assume you love your job as well, Iñigo?”

Iñigo gritted his teeth as he felt more insecure with what Auguste said.

“Iñigo loves Marketing because he gets to travel a lot, boasting about the company. That’s what he’s good at anyway, right?” Geoffroy asked.

“I’m just doing my job,” Iñigo answered.

“That’s what I just said. Why does it feel like you’re being defensive?” Geoffory asked.

Iñigo did not answer. He is obviously very pissed.

“Uh, guys! Why don’t we just go out later to celebrate?” Thirdy asked, trying to lighten up the mood as he sensed the rage between his cousins.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot come,” Iñigo said. “I have to work hard because unlike others, I am not guaranteed a position in the company because of my birth right.” He smiled sarcastically at Auguste. “So I guess I’ll just see you around, Boss.” He even emphasized the last word as if really mocking Auguste.

Auguste just nodded curtly. Iñigo left them without even saying goodbye to Geoffroy and Thirdy.

“Obviously he is envious,” Thirdy commented.

“And insecure. And jealous,” Geoffroy added.

Auguste looked at the two. “I also can’t come.”

“Ha?” Geoffroy whined.

“I still need to do a lot of things. You know, I cannot just take the CEO position lightly. People might say I don’t deserve the position I just got from my birthright.”

“Oh, come on!” Geoffroy said. “Don’t tell me you were affected by what Iñigo said?”

Auguste just smiled at them as he waved before leaving. He went straight to his office, where his assistant, Robert met him.

“Sir, I have started transferring your things to your father’s office,” Robert told him. “Ms. Hazel said that she will finish putting away your father’s stuff this afternoon so that by next week, we can fully transfer your things there.”

“Good,” Auguste said with a nod.

“By the way, Sir. This arrived for you earlier.” Robert gave him a white envelope.

Auguste took the envelope and examined it on both sides.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, Sir?” Robert asked.

“No. You can leave.” Auguste started opening the letter.

“Okay Sir. Excuse me.” Robert went out of the office.

Good thing Robert had left before Auguste has opened the letter. For the moment he read what was written in front of the folded card, his mind seemed to have stopped working and just focused on the embossed words on the card.

Samuel and Astrid. Engaged.

It’s like a sharp pain pierced Auguste’s heart that made his eyes tear up. He blinked, making his brain function properly again as it went blank for a while. So, after all these years, it is still this painful to him. After all these years, his feelings still haven’t changed.

He need not see what is written inside the card. He’s not interested anyway, and even if he knows the details of the engagement party, he surely would not want to come. Unless he wants to hurt himself more. Or, make that kill himself with the pain he is bound to feel if ever he decides to attend the engagement party of the only woman he truly loved.

He tossed the invitation to the waste container. He tried to refocus his mind, trying so hard to forget that something like that just happened. Suddenly, a text message came in on his phone. It was from Thirdy.

Just in case you change your mind. Pure Act @ 7PM.

After what just happened to him, Auguste felt like he really needed to have a drink or two.

Count me in.

He suddenly wished it’s seven o’clock already.