CHAPTER 4

After the usual family members meeting and Dorothy's post is now official, all heads of departments sat in the conference room in expectance of a very important meeting with some investors. Jake was seen going through some documents with a troubled facial expression, his brow furrowed in deep concentration as he meticulously sifted through the papers. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the hum of electronic devices and the soft rustle of papers being shuffled. The cool air-conditioned air seemed to vibrate with tension as the department heads awaited the arrival of the investors, their eyes flicking towards the door with anticipation.

A group of investors was seen heading towards the conference room at the luxurious penthouse office, their polished leather shoes echoing off the marble floors. They were all dressed in impeccably tailored suits, their faces stern and serious, exuding an aura of confidence and authority. Dorothy, Grin, Jake, and a few other members of the company were sitting in the conference room in expectation of the investors, their faces set with determination and focus.

The meeting started without wasting any time when Dorothy, the new CEO of Wallace Investment and Properties, welcomed their guests with a warm smile. "I welcome you all to this meeting and I appreciate your willingness to partner in business with us," Dorothy said, her voice carrying a tone of genuine appreciation and expertise. "Our reputation precedes us in the Real estate business, as you all know, our properties are fast selling all over the city and I can guarantee maximum profits in a very short period when you purchase the property at the Nirvana estate." Her words were met with nods of approval and interest from the investors, their eyes scanning the documents and presentations laid out before them.

A masculine voice from one of the investors interrupted Dorothy just after her speech, "Yes, of course, we've seen that in the emails and documents you sent to us, can we just sign the necessary paperwork and get done with this already?" The man sounded arrogant and not fully interested in Dorothy's speech, his tone dripping with impatience.

"There won't be any signing of paperwork today!", Jake's said firmly from the other side of the table, his voice cutting through the air like a sharp blade. He then continued, "I went through quotations and documents earlier, and I've realized that we are making a minimal profit from the deal or rather no profits at all considering our efforts in acquiring those assets. While we can still keep them and maximize our profits over the years, so therefore, I think we are not going to make that offer again, but you can invest in our business and we can guarantee you much more profits than you can even make of it." The entire room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the soft hum of the air conditioning and the quiet rustle of papers.

Dorothy seethed with anger, her face reddening with rage, her eyes flashing with fury. The man with the deep commanding voice turned to her and asked, "And who is he? Does that mean we are here for nothing?" His voice trembled with anticipation, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Without hesitation, Dorothy discreetly pressed a button hidden beneath the table and rose to address the situation. She implored the investors to disregard Jake's remarks and assured them that the deal was still on track. Turning back to Jake, she admonished him, "You have no authority to speak on behalf of our business partner. You are nothing but an illegitimate child of Wallace, and you have no right to make any suggestions or decisions in an official meeting like this." Dorothy's cutting words struck Jake hard, and his anger was palpable, his face flushing with rage and humiliation.

The man with the commanding voice smirked as he observed Jake's reaction to Dorothy's verbal blow, his eyes glinting with amusement and interest. Before long, security officers entered the conference room, their footsteps echoing through the room like a punctuation mark on the tense scene. They promptly escorted Jake out of the meeting, their firm grip on his arms a stark reminder of the power dynamics at play.

Dorothy's eyes narrowed as she watched Jake being escorted out of the meeting room. She couldn't believe his audacity, questioning her authority and undermining her plans. But beneath her anger, a hint of unease crept in. She knew Jake's words had struck a chord with the investors, and she needed to regain control of the situation.

As the meeting continued, Dorothy's mind wandered back to her past, to the events that had driven her to this point. She remembered her husband, Wallace's, promises of a secure future, of a legacy that would last generations. But after his death, she was left with nothing but debts and broken dreams.

As the meeting concluded, Dorothy excused herself, her mind racing with strategies and countermeasures. She couldn't let Jake's insubordination go unpunished. But just as she reached her office, a sudden commotion erupted outside. Shouts and screams echoed through the halls, followed by the sound of shattering glass.