Chapter 53 – Bingo
The room was deathly silent as they all adjusted to their seats, desperate to get to the conclusion of this nightmare.
” I know that you might feel like the shit right now, but unless you have a valid proof of your continued position as the CEO of Braxton International, You have no right to interfere in this meeting.” The director continued, having gone too far to stop now.
” Audacious. A trait I am yet to find in the three years you worked under this company.” Asher remarked, far from pleased. ” I’m curious to know what gave you this boldness. The impetus, I must say.”
” This isn’t a place to fuel your silly games, Mr Braxton. Dare I say, this is very insensitive on your part, having caused the downfall of the company from its most glorified state to this, and still, hindering the effective and immediate address of the situation, Even going as far as chasing out potential hands, able to resurrect nd reposition Braxton International at the forefront of our esteemed shareholder’s mind.” He argued, breathing heavily.
” Of all the bullshits you just spewed, which in particular do you think is capable of saving you from my hands, dear Director?” Asher said, now relaxing on his seat, spinning the world on his finger.
” Can you see this? In what world is this man capable of earning the trust he’s lost?! He’s here to disrupt every attempt at cleansing the reputation of the business. Listen, you might think that this is a family heirloom due to the name but the moment you went public, the lives of millions were entrusted to your hands.” He reiterated, getting up on his feet. ” Do you know the number of people that would be affected if Braxton International lost its footing? Don’t be inhumane.”
The director made a convincing stance. Appealing to the sympathy of people was the go-to in such a situation. After all, even if Mr Braxton lost all sense of humanity, the others didn’t. That was his greatest weapon. Murmurs filled the atmosphere, every one had one thing or the other to say about the situation.
Everything was brought to a still when Asher stood up and gave a round of applause. With a grin, he clapped enthusiastically and by the tail end of the applause, it grew grim. ” Well said. Anyone else have something to add?” He asked, taking a look round the room in search of answers.
No one felt bold enough to speak. How could they speak? It was clear that the maniac was looking for people to ruin their careers as a last-minute act. Having the knowledge that he was still CEO, albeit for the next few hours, it was a very sensitive and tricky situation nonetheless. One that they were wise enough not to get involved.
” Are you all cowards?! Speak up!” The director yelled when he saw no one forthcoming. ” Do not fear! He’s done for! This is his last attempt at ruining the company! In a matter of hours, He’ll be an ordinary member of the board. That is if our new CEO deems him fit.” He said, subtly urging them to join in the cause. If they were more, Mr Braxton wouldn’t act out of line, after all, the majority carried the vote. But oh how wrong he was!
Asher joined in the wait, hoping with all his heart that they joined in, it was bait to get even more of his kind. In times like these, he was able to properly cleanse the company of its internal enemies. From the day’s happenings, he got a clearer view of how betraying and outright cunning the major heads of the company were. All he had to do was play his cards correctly and a good number of them would be unraveled.
” They are no cowards. Unlike you, they are in solidarity with me and my newest plans to recover the seat and heal the business.” He said smugly, ruffling the feathers of the many that didn’t support or approve of his disruption. In seconds, murmurs were heard and another stood up, joining his colleague in the fight against intimidation.
“Mr Braxton, You must be called to order!” He yelled, pointing an accusing finger. ” How dare you disturb the sanctity of our meeting?! Leave at once!” He ordered, looking at the others for support, which they gave via supportive murmurs and affirmations.
‘ Bingo.’
Asher felt great. His trap yielded fruits, he wanted to keep it up and get the others who were yet to be exposed but the room grew chaotic by the second. It was abundantly clear just how great their perception and acceptance of him went. He couldn’t keep up the act any longer. It was time to clean up. With that in mind, Asher got up, demanding silence but wasn’t given.
CRASH!
The glass cup, formerly on the table by Asher, was reduced to a thousand pieces, eliciting gasps from the entire room. Afterwards, silence ensued, and the fear in the air could be tasted. The demon was out to play.
” I think I’ve had enough fun for one day. Both of you have been dismissed, effective immediately. Also, ensure that they are added to the blacklist of this company. We don’t want to pass out the wrong information.” He ordered, facing the company’s secretary. The others were shell-shocked.
A Braxton International blacklist was synonymous with everlasting joblessness. Why? Because no employer in the country accepted a person who has in one way or the other offended the Braxton Empire. Offending a big fish in the industry was something that even big companies eschewed, talking less of little ones.
He was sending them to hell. The worst part of it? They couldn’t even go into a business of their own. The company, true to its word, was famous for its ability to drown such business at its moment of success, thereby causing one to lose everything. The blacklist effect expanded nationwide and worldwide. Except one ran off to some place without an iota of development, they were as good as beggars. Such a person was bound to go down as the ultimate punishment of life.
As a result, such a person was better off in prison than alive and living.
” You have no right! None at all! We refuse to be intimidated. You must provide a valid reason, else, this is a mere attempt of bullying and the world would be ecstatic to know exactly what has been going on in Braxton International.” The director said, threatening to raise hell.
Asher understood the hidden message, the media was in a ruckus and it was only natural for the men to salvage the situation, thinking they could threaten him. He was going to make examples of them though. He always did.
” When one has been declared blacklisted, I expect THEY are escorted out of the damned building,” Asher said, raising his voice and causing the security men to get to work.
” Braxton Int. is ruined anyway! You are only doing us a favour! I will make you Pay!”
The men struggled as the security details forced them out.
” The world would hear of this! They will hear of it, you illegitimate son of a bastard!”
Asher froze, his countenance grew rigid, very rigid. His signature look when the mad CEO was bordering on a thin line, itching to come out.
” Let them go,” Asher ordered. ” Illegitimate child you said? Tell me, how much did they pay you to utter such obscurities? How dare you?”
” I’m not afraid of you. Don’t think this is over, Asher. In a matter of hours, We’ll be back. With a man TEN TIMES more capable than you are! Who knows, I might end up taking after you.” He said, eyeing the seat and straightening his suit.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
Asher took out his phone and within seconds, the projector was activated. Before the eyes of the board and members, a certificate went up, not just a certificate, a marriage certificate, belonging to Asher and a certain Emma Steele.
Gasps ensued, this time around, it wasn’t the entirety of the room but the offending duo. ” Fabrications! Are you so desperate to maintain rulership that you stoop so low as to forge a marriage with a dead woman?!”
” I have no words! This is the height you can go to grab a seat that was not yours from the beginning.” The other said, fuming yet hoping it was all a fraud.
Buying into the unfolding scene, murmurs started.
” I believe that girl was declared dead, how then is it possible?”
” Unless they got married before her death, there is no way they are married.” Others reasoned.
Suddenly, the screen changed and a video played out. They could decipher a woman, seated beside him in a car, signing a document. What stuck out was the endearment being used to address her. As if it wasn’t enough, the video went ahead to show the location of its filming, shocking them even further.
They were at the courthouse! The video was shot over an hour ago! Everyone readjusted themselves, seated firmly on their seats.
” As you may have guessed, I’m proudly and happily married,” Asher said with a smug smile. ” Checkmate.” He added, sat down and crossed his legs.