Free Web NovelChapter 157: What brother? What sister?
The remaining members looked at each other quietly and nodded before they spoke, ’’Vice President, you are too kind. You don’t need to be too polite to us.’’
’’Yes, yes... We have been working with you for years. And we are aware that certain things are beyond your control or given how professional you are, you would have everything handled.’’
The woman sighed and took a seat, ’’My niece is young and she hasn’t handled the company affairs before so it is only natural for her to not be good with such matters. She has been pampered by my brother since young so of course, she might not get accustomed to this sudden transition. It will probably take her some time to adjust so I just hope that you can remain patient with her through this hard time.’’
One of the directors could not help but speak up, ’’ If not for Secretary Han acting on President Chen’s order and calling for this meeting, we wouldn’t be here in the first place. In fact, the media doesn’t say pleasant things about Miss Chen but of course, we won’t take it to heart. We need to see and study if she is a reasonable person before we come to any conclusion.’’
Another person nodded, "As for the matter regarding the CEO, it is not set in stone.’’
One person was seated quietly to the seat next to the CEO’s, quietly observing the facade.
The Vice President, Chen Lina frowned, ’’But I have heard that my brother has transferred all his shares to her. In that way, she is a major shareholder of the company since she herself held a percentage of shares that the late Old Master had left in her hand so...’’
Her words were cut off by an old person, ’’Even though she holds shares but we still hold a say in this place. We have worked for the old chairman through the ups and downs of the company. Even President Chen has to give way to us, let alone a little girl who hasn’t weaned yet.’’
’’I would have probably been delighted by it if your words were true but I, myself, am a mother at this age. You embarrass me, Director Zhuo,’’ a clear voice rang out in the room followed by the sounds of heels clicking on the floor.
The Vice President’s eyes darkened and the rest of the people turned to look at the person who entered the room.
Daisy’s footsteps did not slow down under the multiple gazes that fell her way, some sharp and some scrutinizing. She walked all the way to the CEO’s chair, followed by Secretary Han who pulled the chair for her.
But Daisy did not take a seat immediately. Instead, her gaze traced over everyone present in the meeting room.
’’Good morning everyone. I hope you are having a good day,’’ she paused and took a seat, placing little Angel on her lap as she continued, ’’I am Daisy Chen.’’
’Silence’
Nobody responded. Nobody said anything.
Secretary Han’s lips twitched. Their elder miss had introduced herself so humbly but these old geezers were just too stubborn at this point as well to not even acknowledge her greetings. No matter what, it was a young lady who must not have faced such a situation before and she will be thin-skinned. Thinking of that, he braced himself to step forward and smoothen the situation on behalf of Daisy.
But the ’thin-skinned’ young lady continued speaking in an unaffected manner, ’’My dad has been taking care of the company for as long as I can remember. So, along the way, he could not spend more time with us. Now, my mom’s health made him realize how important it is for him to spend some time with his family. Diana and I have grown up into adults and we are doing fine. But he realized that my mom needs him so he had to take this crucial decision overnight that has disappointed many of you.’’
Secretary Han was stunned. He thought that their new president had a ’one-two sentenced’ speech system but her words made him realize how they addressed people’s major concerns without spilling too much.
First, she stated how her father has put his utmost effort in the company affairs to the point of almost neglecting his family hence nullifying the possibility of Helian Chen being careless and random about company affairs by transferring his shares to his daughter just like that.
Secondly, she also addressed the circumstances that led to Helian Chen making this abrupt decision. Daisy could have chosen not to talk about the family affairs like she did by not delving into details but her suggestive words and implied meaning that verified the news about Alice Chen’s bad health condition rendered people unable to express discontent with Helian Chen’s decision.
Throughout, her voice and face remained indifferent when she uttered those words but that calmness precisely made people see her in a new light, which was in contrast to the ’spoiled girl’ persona that the Vice President’s words might have established earlier.
The core members who had initially been sporting unpleasant expressions and sitting with faces full of complaints seemed to have tempered down quite a bit.
The Vice President frowned.
Chen Lina turned towards Daisy, ’’Of course, we all know that my brother must have his reasons to appoint you as the CEO of the company. You certainly don’t have to explain yourself on that, little girl. Who doesn’t know how much my brother dotes on both his daughters? You are not into business and he still pushed you into this so that only reflects the dilemma he must have gone through.’’
Discussions arose in the meeting room as directors and shareholders looked at each other.
Only the person sitting on the immediate left seat to the CEO’s seat was extremely quiet and relaxed in his posture. It seemed like he was observing everything.
The people waited for Daisy’s response but when they looked at her, they realized she had not even been looking at them.
Instead, she had a small frown on her face as she looked at the little girl on her lap. The little girl seemed disgruntled and Daisy seemed to be coaxing her by giving her her fingers and rings.
The sight was heart-warming but not everyone’s heart was warm. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Chen Lina’s face was as black as the bottom of the pot.
’’Daisy, are you avoiding me on purpose?"
Only when Daisy heard herself being mentioned did she shift her attention from the little cupcake in her embrace and look at the person who addressed her, ’’Were you talking to me just now?" she asked straightforwardly.
Chen Lina’s kept her face calm but a crack almost appeared on her face when she heard those words.
’’My apologies. My father doesn’t have a sister. And I have not been addressed as a ’little girl’ before so I was unused to it,’’ her gaze then paused and she looked around at every person who was present in the meeting room. Her frown deepened suddenly, ’’It’s my oversight. There are no other women in here, apart from us so I should have guessed. But why this form of address, Miss...?"
’’Chen...’’ Secretary Han quickly interjected when Daisy paused, ’’Chen Lina. The Vice President.’’
Daisy nodded, ’’Why this form of address, Miss Chen Lina?"
Chen Lina’s face turned a deeper shade of green. Only a fool would believe that Daisy did not know the names of the people who were present in the meeting room. She addressed an old director by his last name the moment she stepped inside so it was obvious that she had done her research before she came here. And what was even more obvious was that the woman had arrived in the meeting room way earlier but she chose to wait outside and only entered in the middle of the conversation just when everyone’s discontent with her was at its peak.
Daisy’s words left the room with a lingering awkward air except for one person who seemed to have found himself an amusement in the middle of a boring day.
That was the person who had been observing this fiasco very quietly from the beginning.
The man sitting next to the CEO’s seat clicked his tongue as he leaned back on the chair, ’’There I thought it was another no-fun day,’’ he shook his head and looked at Daisy with twinkling eyes as he spoke, ’’Oh how wrong I was!’’
’’Mr. Astor, what is the meaning of this?" Chen Lina was incensed and her fingers curled into fists under her sleeves.
The man who spoke up just now was Caleb Astor, the COO of the company who was also rumored to be one of the closest friends of Helian Chen.
’’What do you mean by meaning?" Caleb rolled his eyes, ’’The way you were lamenting ’my brother my brother’, I almost thought Helian had a long lost sister I was clueless about.’’
The directors who had spoken up in her support because they thought she was close to Helian Chen had their mouths tied.
