Chapter 5 The Deadline

Eveline was the matriarch of the Collins family. She was more than seventy years old, but she was still agile. When she was young, she saved Wilbert's life. Her leg had been seriously injured in the process, so she had to use a walking stick in her old age.

As the matriarch of the family, she had the authority over them while her husband was receiving treatment in the hospital.

Her face was void of any smile as she walked into the hall. Everyone stood up to welcome her. No one dared to utter a word.

The family members couldn't take a seat until she sat down.

Once Eveline arrived at her seat, she motioned for everyone to sit.

She was sitting at the head of the table. Her three sons were on both sides.

The eldest son, Rickey Collins was on her right-hand side. He was the chairman of one of the family companies. Although it wasn't as famous as Hytai Industries, it was a successful one.

The second son was Denis Collins. He was a board member of Hytai Industries and he was Addy's father!

He had wanted Addy to be the president, but Wilbert had picked Elena instead. Addy was then made her vice. This angered Denis to the core. He never stopped eyeing the position for his son.

The youngest of the three sons was Adrien. He was the most incapable of all of them.

The only good thing about him was that he had a smart and capable daughter like Elena. She was the reason why Wilbert hadn't disowned him yet.

All the other family members took their seats too. In the end, Lyndon was left standing. There was no empty seat.

Elena frowned at the sight of this. She knew fully well that there were more than enough chairs in this house.

Just as she was about to say something, Addy uttered disdainfully, "This is a family dinner. A loser without contributing anything has no place here!"

"You heard right, boy! Why are you still standing here? Have you no shame? Go and have dinner with the servants!" Clara shooed Lyndon away.

Anger tugged at Lyndon's heart. He was on the verge of flaring up. But he talked himself out of it.

Eveline pounded her walking stick on the floor. Once they became silent, she said, "Lyndon, this is a family dinner. Although you are engaged to Elena, you are not married yet. It's inappropriate for you to dine at this table. Go to the other table."

No one ever dared to go against Eveline. Elena wanted to stand up for Lyndon, but she didn't dare to say a word.

Lyndon couldn't help but shrug and walk away. Eveline didn't speak to him rudely like Clara did, but she still looked down on him.

"Adrien, that boy needs to be put in his place. He's your future son-in-law, so it's your job to curtail his excesses," Denis said, frowning deeply.

Clara immediately retorted, "That's where you've got it wrong. He's not our future son-in-law. A promise is not an engagement.

He can't get married to Elena. Not under my watch! He will be eighteen soon. We'll kick him out at that time. Our job is done. We fulfilled his parents' wishes by catering for him till he got into adulthood."

"Enough! We didn't gather here today to discuss Adrien's family affairs." Eveline called them to order.

"Yes, Grandma is right. Today's family dinner is mainly to discuss the current state of Hytai Industries!" Addy said, nodding complacently.

He suddenly stood up and took out some documents. He distributed them to everyone seated at the table.

Lyndon didn't get one, but he was watching what was happening.

Addy folded his arms and skimmed through everyone's face. "What you have in your hands is the financial statement of Hytai under Elena's leadership for six months.

As you all know, Grandpa overlooked everyone else and made Elena president because he felt that she had great potential that could take the company to greater heights."

After a pause, Addy continued, "It's pertinent for us to study how the company has done in the past six months.

Instead of basking in endless glory, the company has become a shadow of itself. No new client has been gained. Also, more than fifty percent of our old clients have stopped doing business with us! The financial statement is nothing to write home about! The company is sinking. I worry greatly for its future. Honestly, I doubt Elena's ability!"

After this speech, Addy sat down majestically, waiting for all that he just said to sink in.

With a loud bam, Eveline slapped her copy of the financial statement on the table. She then asked expressionlessly, "Elena, do you have anything to say?"

A cold shiver ran down Elena's spine. Her hands trembled. All eyes were on her at this moment. She had put in her all since she assumed the president's office.

The old clients had been willing to work with her at the beginning. However, they suddenly changed their minds.

Worse still, they refused to give her listening ears when she tried to convince them to continue doing business with the company. They were hell-bent on taking their monies elsewhere.

Lyndon felt pity for Elena when he saw that her face turned pale.

It occurred to him that someone was behind all the problems that Hytai was currently facing. The person wanted to sabotage Elena.

"Grandma, the past few weeks have been tough for the company, but I have the situation under control. Our finances will pick up again." Working in such a tough industry had taught Elena always to remain calm against all odds.

As a result, she was able to give a good and calm response despite being on the hot seat.

"You have it under control? How so, my dear niece? You are about to run down the company that my father suffered many years to build." Denis tapped the table with his right index finger. He wasn't about to let things slide.

"Before you became the president, the demand for our building materials was very high. Nothing was kept in the storage site for more than twenty-four hours. But as we speak, we have tons of materials that have been lying there for weeks. If we don't sign new or old clients, all those materials will turn to waste. That will be a huge loss.

Worse still, we have hundreds of employees who are waiting to get paid. The company will crumble if we don't solve this problem immediately!

Tell me, what are you doing to save it?" said Denis coldly.

Elena was shaken up by this.

She knew that the crisis could lead to the closing down of the company. But she strongly believed that she would find a solution soon.

"Uncle Denis, what exactly are you trying to say?" she asked in a low voice.

"Humph! Isn't it obvious? No worries. I'll make it clear to you. The glory of this family wasn't built on favoritism. Only the most capable person should be the president of Hyati.

Since you have proven to be incapable, it's high time you stepped down!" Denis uttered in a booming voice. This moment was the climax of this so-called get-together. The entire hall went silent.

It was as if everyone had ganged up against Elena. Lyndon couldn't sit back and watch anymore. He stood up and said, "Mr. Collins personally appointed Elena as the president. He's the only one that has the right to rescind that position. Isn't it against the rules to do otherwise?"

"Shut up, you idiot! We are discussing our family's business. You have no right to interfere!" Addy pounded the table, staring daggers at Lyndon.

"You are just a leech to my uncle and his family. I blame them for keeping you under their roof. If it weren't for them, your life will be worse than a beggar's!" he bellowed louder.

Elena abruptly stood up and shot Addy a searing glare. She couldn't tolerate him hurling insults at her fiance.

Lyndon had spoken up for her, so she couldn't just sit back and watch people bully him.

"Tell me, Addy. Has Lyndon ever begged you for anything before? Or did he ever eat at your table?" Elena retorted ferociously. Addy felt a chill down her spine and picked up his wine glass to avoid her glare.

"Stop bickering, all of you!" Eveline tapped her walking stick on the floor again. Silence fell over the hall.

Although Eveline didn't like that the banquet hall had turned into a courtroom or that Lyndon interfered, she had to admit that he was right.

No one had the right to rescind the president position from Elena, except Wilbert. This meant that they would have to put up with her failure no matter what.

However, the current crisis was a source of concern. Eveline feared that her husband's years of hard work would go down the drain if the problems remained unsolved.

"In the absence of the patriarch of this family, I'm forced to make this decision. Addy and Elena have to find clients to sign contracts within three days. The person who signs the contracts with the highest value will be the president of Hytai. What do you say to that?" Eveline declared, looking at her warring grandchildren. No one dared to refute.

"Okay, deal!" Addy readily agreed.

Elena had been unable to secure a contract for more than six months. Addy was determined to beat her hands down and become the new president.

Elena felt powerless. She reasoned that her grandmother's decision wasn't in her favor since she hadn't won a contract for a long time.

How could she possibly get a huge deal within three days?

"Well, that's all for today. Off you go." Eveline waved her hand and slowly left the hall.

"Make sure to savor your last few days in that office, Elena. You will be out the door in three days." Addy spoke in a voice dripping with sarcasm. There was a mischievous smirk at the corners of his lips.

As far as he was concerned, the president position was his. He felt that it was stolen from him in the first place.

Fury blazed in Elena's eyes as she stared at Addy.

"Don't get too excited, Addy. You might just be surprised when the results come out!" Elena fired back.

"Ha-ha! Such a bold girl! For your information, you can't repair the damage you've done in three days. See ya!" Addy laughed and left the hall.

Tension filled the whole hall once the extended family departed. However, Adrien continued to eat with relish.

This infuriated Clara. She slapped the fork off his hand and grabbed his ear. "You useless man, is food the most important thing to you? Our daughter is about to lose her position. Do something!"

"Don't worry, Mrs. Collins. Elena won't lose her position. She's so hardworking. I'm sure she will come out victorious." Lyndon came over.

But his words fueled Clara's anger. "Shut up! This is all your fault. Since you came into our household, we have had nothing but bad luck!

You are a jinx. You have made Elena's life miserable. Mark my words, you will be kicked out in three days!"

"Mom, he's not a jinx!" Elena was happy that Lyndon believed in her. However, she knew that words of affirmation alone couldn't solve the crisis.

Lyndon looked at her. Their gaze met. Indescribable emotions filled their eyes at this moment.