Chapter 62: Making the case worse
The shareholders pressed Vanessa with their powerful gaze to make her nervous, but no one thought that a girl with no management experience would calm down so quickly and even spoke as if it were nothing, hiding her thoughts.
Why, she was certainly her father’s daughter, though she was a child she was just as bold as Philip.
Some shareholders admired her attitude and stopped pressuring her. They simply wanted to know how she would solve the company’s cases as head of the Cazalla Group.
However, there were others who did not want to give in to a girl who had no experience at all and Vanessa knew it, but she did not expect that the first one to give her trouble was Tomás Quintano, who got on better with Felipe and was one of Vanessa’s beloved uncles.
-Vanessa, if I remember correctly, you studied fashion design at university, didn’t you? -Tomas asked slowly.
His tone of voice was still so gentle, but his words seemed like blades aimed at Vanessa’s heart.
-Yes, I studied fashion design. Tomas, what do you mean by that?
Thomas pretended to sigh, then said falsely:
-Not that I’m here to make trouble for you, but the Cazalla Group is a big company with more than three thousand employees. You studied fashion design and you don’t have any knowledge about business management, it could be that all these employees are left on the street because of wrong decisions due to lack of experience.
He said it all nicely as if it was for the good of the company, but it was really for his ambition.
Vanessa sat in the middle of the table, in Philip’s seat, and clenched her fists secretly to hide the anger on her face.
-You are right, I know I have no business management experience, but don’t forget that I am a member of the Moya family. Regardless of my relationship with Orlando, as long as I remain his wife, the Moya Group would be my backing and Gerardo will help me whenever I ask him to.
Vanessa had wanted to divorce Orlando, even if it meant going to court.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
However, when she was threatened by Tomas, it was the only solution she had and she had to press people with her identity against their will.
He had to do it for his parents and for the Cazalla Group. To do so, he had to pass the shareholders’ test.
Indeed, after hearing him mention the Moya Group, Tomas’ smile twisted for a second and the other shareholders, who had thought the same as Tomas, started to think again whether it was necessary to make the Cazalla family’s case worse at that moment.
Vanessa was right, because she was Orlando’s only recognised wife, even if he had other mistresses. It was he who had not planned the departure well.
-Well, it’s just that I got some news mixed up,” said Tomas apologetically, but he actually mentioned it on purpose to remind me of Orlando’s betrayal.
Tomas was irritated, he could give in to Felipe, because he recognised his ability, but he couldn’t stand being led by a novice girl. So he wanted to make Vanessa look bad with the news, but she didn’t react as he thought she would, but kept smiling calmly.
-You know that news published in unknown newspapers are usually rumours and only the uneducated believe them. Tomas, you are the guy I most admired when I was a child, so don’t be fooled,” Vanessa smiled.
Tomas was furious at being criticised as uneducated and did not want to pretend any more, but stood up with a sombre face and said:
-Let’s see what a young lady with no experience can do!
Having said this, he walked straight away, but Vanessa did not get angry at his act, but smilingly warned him:
-Then, Tomas, you’ll have to clean your glasses and look at it clearly so as not to be surprised.
Tomas was even more upset and quickened his steps to leave.
Vanessa looked back and smilingly watched the other shareholders. Then she spoke with great impetus:
-You are all friends who fought with my father to create the company, so I’m not going to beat around the bush. I know you don’t trust me, because I really have no experience. I am not going to stop or judge anyone who wants to leave, I give you the freedom to choose and whoever wants to leave can do so.
That said, the shareholders looked at each other and some who had no hope for Vanessa left. In total, thirteen shareholders left, leaving seven people at the meeting.
Vanessa looked around the room and asked with a smile:
-Anyone else leaving? This is the last chance.
Nevertheless, the seven shareholders remain seated and Vanessa thanked them wholeheartedly:
-Thank you, thank you very much indeed! I will work hard not to disappoint you!
Vanessa felt like crying, because these seven shareholders were not very active and some even got on badly with Felipe. But they were the ones who trusted her in the company’s decline.
-We don’t believe in you, we believe in ourselves,” said the shareholder who was on bad terms with Philip.
That said, he left and the others left together. Enrique also left the room, leaving a private space for Vanessa.
-Dad, I’ll work hard!
Vanessa took a deep breath and held back her tears, because she could not give up, but had to move forward bravely.
When Vanessa calmed down and was returning to the office, she met Orlando coming out of the lift and she asked with contempt:
-Orlando? What are you doing here?
His contempt was so showy that it infuriated Orlando, then he came striding over and criticised with a derisive laugh:
-I came to look for my wife who was spending the nights out.