Chapter 3 A Legacy Lost

Tell them to wait!" "I am coming." I shouted at Mr Greenwood as I waved down the taxi in front of me. I clutched the cheque I was holding in my hand like it was my lifeline.

The fifteen million dollars should go a long way," I said to myself. At least that was what I thought as the car took off. "Can you go faster?" I said each time to the driver who was doing his best to get me to my destination.

I fell in front of my apartment and I rushed in. I saw another call from Mr Greenwood and I ignored it. I was reeking of the excess sweat. I had run down the street when he called. I went into the bathroom to have my bath and rushed out without applying any make-up.

I looked at the time before me and raced out. As I got in front of my father's company, I heaved a sigh. It was going to be a battle between me, Veronica and Alice, but I was ready. The cheque in my bag gives me some kind of hope.

As I walked into the company, I could see a lot of employees whose lives depended on me winning the boards and executives not to sell the company that was now wallowing in debt. I felt my legs weakened as I got closer to the boardroom where I could hear murmurs and heated arguments.

I pushed the door open and I saw my stepmother with Alice seated at the far end of the table. "You arrived just in time to witness the company being sold off." Veronica said with a smug grin on her face. The thought of having to sell the company scared me. The company was all that was left of my father. It was the family's legacy and here was a woman who knew nothing about it trying to pawn it off like it was some kind of time.

"Why are we wasting our time when we have a lot of potential buyers who are willing to pay more than we want for it," Veronica said, looking at the old men and women at the table in front of her. "How much did you say the company is owing again?" Alice asked the finance council.

The woman looked at me before she could answer her. "We are one hundred and fifteen million in debt." She replied and I dropped my head in regret. " Did you hear that? "How is the company going to get back up from that?" Veronica looked at their faces.

"I say we should sell off the company and settle the workers," Alice added. Don't tell me you are just going to give up the company without fighting hard for it. I am sure there are things we could sell. "Why don't we merge with other companies that are willing to work with us?" I said, trying to make the board's reason with me, but it looked like Veronica had broken their spirit.

I can sell some of my shares and raise a sum of thirty million dollars," I added when I noticed they were not talking. The tension was high as we all stared at each other. "Okay fine. Give me a week to work things out. After that you can have your way." I looked at Veronica.

"You seem to be forgetting that I have the final say here and when what I say is final." Veronica looked at me.

We are selling the company no matter what you say," Alice added. "Why don't we put this into a vote." I said immediately, thinking I would win. "You really think you can win?" Veronica asked with confidence in her voice.

If you win, then you can have the company and also the house. "But if I win, you and your daughter will leave the company alone and let me sort it out," I said, staring at Veronica and Alice from where I sat down.

Fair enough," Veronica replied. Little did I know I was walking into a trap. We immediately cast the vote. I watched as the boards were all in favor of Veronica and Alice.

For a moment, everything felt unreal. I had lost the house in a wager and I could not even save the company and the workers.

I grabbed my bag and walked out of the meeting like a zombie. My head down and my heart heavy. I don't know if I should curse my father, who left everything to my mother and suffered for my stepmother and her daughter, or if I should curse my ill fate.

I walked into my car and cried as I stared at the cheque I was given. The thought that it could have saved the company was all I could think about as I raced down here.

I cleaned my face, as I drove out of the company to a nearby bar.

I looked around and saw the faces of strangers-people laughing, drinking, and drowning in their own worries. I walked to the counter and ordered a drink, my fingers trembling as I reached for the glass.

The bitterness of the alcohol matched the bitterness in my chest. How did it come to this? Everything my parents had worked for, everything they had sacrificed for, was gone. A legacy reduced to ashes, stolen by Veronica and Alice.

As I sipped my drink, my mind raced. I couldn't let this end here. I had to figure out a way to fight back, no matter what it took. If the board wouldn't listen to reason, then maybe I needed to stop playing by the rules.

"Rough day?" a deep voice asked beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turned and saw a man sitting next to me, his sharp suit and confident smirk making him look out of place in this dingy bar. His piercing gray eyes studied me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"That's none of your business," I said coldly, taking another sip of my drink.