Chapter 4 Shareholder's meeting

I looked at the bald guy with a confused look as I wasn't expecting to have an office, given it's my first job and I'm just an assistant but he just smiled and straighted his arm out initiating a handshake. I shook his hand and he said with a warm smile

" Let me introduce myself, I'm Leo, Ms Anderson's personal driver. This is your office that she arranged for you." He reached for his pockets and took out a car key.

"You'll be also given a company car, with which you have to arrive at the Madame's mansion at 7 am every morning on weekdays. The address is already saved in the car's GPS. Make sure you arrive on time, the Madame hates tardiness." then he handed me a phone

"this is your phone. You have to be available in all times so don't turn this off. And I mean never. Thus far, I arranged Madames meetings and appointments but as I have other things to attend to, this will be your responsability from now on. Every number and contact you'll need is saved in there. I also saved my number, so if you need any help, just call me, I'm happy to help out. I also copied her schedule for the next two weeks in your laptop and this phone's calendar as well but of course, to keep it updated will be your task now."

I sighed as I tried to process everything, not gonna lie, it was overwhelming for me at 8 in the morning. Leo must have noticed my frustration as he asked

"Any questions?" ... I looked at my hands one holding the car keys the other the phone and said...

"I mean.. I ... already have a car..." that was the only sentence I could say... I really was overwhelmed.

"Don't worry, just give me the keys and I'll bring it to your apartment. Anything else?" I shook my head.

"What's she like?" He smiled again, he knew what I meant. He stepped closer, put one hand on my shoulder as he said with a reassuring smile

"Hey buddy don't believe everything you hear, alright? She'll warm up to you , once you get her trust, you'll be fine. Just work hard , OK?" I nodded and with that he left with my car keys.

With a sigh I sat down behind the desk trying to process everything. Just then, I heard a phone ring, I realised I have an intercom line on the desk. I picked up and heard her cold voice

" Robert, my office please" and she hang up. I looked around ...how the fuck she knew that Leo has just left and I've just sat down?! Pff . I went to her office door an knocked.

"Come in" I heard

I entered and asked

"Madame you wanted to see me?"

"Yes. Everything is clear?"

"Yes Ma'am"

"Good. In 30 minutes we'll have a sharesholder's meeting I host it in every Tuesday at 9. Please make sure everyone is present and have 10 decent coffees delivered in the meeting room by the time the meeting starts. Make sure they warm.." she said with a frown.

I stood there with I assume was a dumb look as she glanced at me behind her laptop with arched brows.

" Sure thing Ma'am but how do I ...?"

She gave me a dissatisfied look that gave me chills. As she was sayin ' are you stupid?!' I composed myself. She wont break me with a few fuckin coffees and a few phone calls, my ass.

"Don't worry Ma'am, I got it" she nooded

" Good, be at the meeting room at 9. You' re dismissed. "

I left the office in a daze. How the fuck do I reach the shareholders and have the damn coffees in 30 minutes?! I don't even know who the fuck they are and where the fuck to go to get coffees. No, Robert you got this. It's just two months - I said to myself then turned to Lydia.

" Hey Lydia, shareholder's meeting is in 30 minutes do you know how I could reach them? "

"Ah, don't worry swearheart, the meeting is weekly, they know they have to come"

" yeah but still, can you double check? The Madame asked everyone to be present"

" aaaw how cute you are when you nervous" she said. I rolled my eyes and said

" Lydia please, at least give me their names and contacts."

"Alright, I'll email it to you"

" thanks but like right now please" she scoffed as I didn't leave and stood by her desk until she hit send.

Without a word I went back to my office and started to call each of the 8 shareholders. Thank God, everyone's secratery picked up right away and told me their boss will attend to the meeting. It seemed not every secratery was az useless as Lydia.

I had only 15 minutes left for the meeting. I reached for my phone and searched for a cafè nearby. I called the nearest, that was at the other side of the road, and placed an order for 10 coffees and asked them to deliver them ASAP. I got a call back minutes after that the delivery guy was downstaires . I run down to get the coffees when it hit me. How the fuck I'm supposed to pay them? I panicked and called Leo from the elevator. He picked up and I told him what was going on. He laughed then said

" sorry mate, I forgot to tell you. I got an app on the phone I gave you, you can pay with that for every purcheses regarding the company and also your car, you know, gas and such " I sighed

" Thank you" he laughed as he ended the call

" no problem buddy " .

I got the coffees , and went straight to the meeting room. Everybody was already there in deep conversations and laughter. When Elizabeth entered a minute after me, everything went silent.

"Good morning everyone thanks for showing up. Shall we start? "

She sat down at the head of the oval table and suggested me to give the coffees to the attandant members then sit down next to her.

" Everyone, this is Mr Robert Miller , my PA. Please feel free to contact him regarding any matter that might occour. I believe my secretary already emailed you his contact infos."

She looked up to meet their eyes. Confused murmour spread around the room. One grey haired man spoke up

" Ma'am we didn't even know you have a PA."

She sighed and masseged her temples when Lydia strode in the room getting comfortable in one of the chairs. Without even looking at her Elizabeth said

" You're late, Robert will attend the meeting, you're dismissed".

Lydia scoffed, then shut her notebook and walked out. Elizabeth sighed then said

" Today's first agenda is regarding to the project on the outskirt in Manhattan. Yesterday Mr Cooper had a meeting with SPFs excecutives , you care to share the details, Mr Cooper? "

The guy with a smirk on his face said

"Well, there is nothing yet to share, we agreed to continue the negotiations in order to proceed with the deal, there are some safety concerns but nothing major "

Elizabeth gave him a cold look

" what concerns would that be?"

"Nothing you have to worry about" he said with a belitteling tone.

I could feel the tension in the room. This guy wanted to piss her off on purpose, I could tell. She remained silent and calm though.

" Excellent, now lets move on. Today I will have a meeting with the financial department, regarding next years budget, as you all know. If you have any suggestions, we can discuss them on our next meeting on Friday, where I will present the financial plan for next year."

Everyone nodded in understanding. Then, a white haired man raised his hand. He was kind of old fashioned, probably in his sixties.

" Yes, Mr Howard" she addressed him.

" I heard about some cuts in the next years budget in the Purchasing Department. Since its my department, Id like to know if thats true."

" Definately, that's why I sent you an invite for the meeting , I count on your attandance sir"

"Oh, I'm sorry, my secretary didn't inform me, sure thing, I'll be there"

"No problem" she said.

"What about the Dock project, I heared it's not going well" another guy chimed in.

" Yes, there are some safety issues as well, we will look into it, I plan to visit the site myself tomorrow" she said and signaled me to note it down.

I was so lost in tought I just kept looking at her . I didn't bring anything, I was so concentrated on the coffees that I didn't even think about anything else. She glanced at me in annoyance then passed a notebook and a pen towards me, so I begun taking notes.

" I'll accompany you since I am the head of the Safety Department" Mr Cooper said in an angry voice.

"No need, Mr Cooper, the two week delay we are facing right now proves to me your incompentence in the matter, so I think its only best that I take care things myself from now on regarding the Dock project. Remind me Mr Howard how much money have we lost thanks to this delay?"

"Approximately 2.3 million" Howard answered.

"Excately. I will take care of Dock Project from now on" she said in a bossy manner.

Cooper gave her a killing look but kept his mouth shut the whole time. If looks could kill, she will be dead for sure. Woow...now, I could really cut the tension in the room.

Then they discussed ongoing projects which I had no idea about, so I just listened and took notes when I felt like necessary. The meeting went on for about another hour when she finally said

"Thank you all for attending, this will be all, I see you on Friday"

Everyone started to pack their belongings when she turned to me

" Robert, I see you in my office in ten minutes" I nodded and went back to my desk . I sat down and sighed , I was already exhausted and it was only 10:30. I got myself together to face her again. I saw in the meeting room, she was in a bad mood. I wanted to ask some infos about this projects from Lydia but she was nowhere to be seen, so I knocked on the door and when Elizabeth answered, I entered.