Pierre arrived at the company's building and opened the door to the backseat. I stepped out and hurried off into the building and headed straight for the meeting room where the board meeting was about to be held.
"Thank you all for gathering for this emergency meeting at such short notice. As you all know, recent developments have prompted this meeting," Tom said and took his seat at the center of the table.
"Developments, Uncle Tom? Or should I say a well-planned crisis" I asked as I opened the door and walked into the office.
All eyes were fixated on me, some of the board directors who had been bribed by Uncle Tom couldn't maintain proper eye contact with me as they didn't expect me to come over so soon.
"Bran, let's maintain a proper understanding as the purpose of this meeting is to decide on the future of this company," he said.
"There are questionable decisions and potential risks that have emerged under your tenure Mr Garner," one of the directors said as he gestured towards a pile of documents.
"Questionable decisions? You mean the Grekka project Uncle?" I asked.
"The initiative that the analysts predicted will put Garner Industries in the forefront, I just have to finalize my meeting with the managing director," I said.
"That aside, the Grekka project is still in its growing stages Bran" countered another board director.
"There is a significant financial outlay with uncertain returns in the future, we have a responsibility to our shareholders to ensure their returns," the board director said.
"Returns? At the cost of the company's innovation? Is that what the company is all about?" I said, still calm and collected.
"My father built this company on bold moves and embracing the future, not just about the interests and returns" I continued.
"Then what about the Tylers company? The fashion company too? Do you intend to just hold onto the two companies with no plan for the future?" Uncle Tom asked.
"Yes, Garner Industries has successfully acquired the Tylers company and the fashion company, I think it's high time we either merge them with the Garner Industry or sell it off as a single company," one of the board directors said.
"No, I did not acquire the Tyler's companies to have them merged with Garner Industries," I said.
"I don't think there is an option where you have to leave the companies with no accessible plan Bran " Uncle Tom pressed further.
"You have won over the decision of keeping the Garner Industries under your control but you have to make a decision on the two companies you acquired," the first board director said.
"I knew that I could not merge the two companies from the Tylers with Garner Industries, that would only go against the promise I made to Sophia about returning the companies to her and her family, so I had to come up with something to counter their merging proposal"
"I will appoint someone to take over the companies but with strict supervision and regulations from Garner Industries, how's that for a decision?" I asked and stood from my seat as I held the bottled water I picked from the table.
The board directors all looked at each other and no one could say anything else, even Uncle Tom.
"I guess that will be all for this meeting," I said and found my way out of the office.
"Please take me home," I said to Pierre.
"Yes sir," Pierre said and got into the elevator with me and we finally got to the ground floor.
We got into the car and drove straight home without stopping anywhere.
I alighted from the car and went straight to the bedroom and passed by Sophia in the living room without saying a word.
I unbuttoned my cufflinks and pulled off my suit onto the bed, I was about to pull off my tie when Sophia walked in.
"I didn't think you would get home this soon," Sophia said jokingly and shut the door.
I kept quiet as I was not in a good mood from the onset and just focused on sorting my clothes into the laundry bin.
"Okay, it's fine if you don't want to respond to me. You can keep at what you are doing" Sophia said and was about to leave.
"Who was that?" I asked as I threw my white shirt into the bin but still dressed in my singlet and pant trousers.
"Who was what?" Sophia asked.
"Who was that this afternoon?" I asked again, my eyes fixated on her to read her reactions.
"Have you been tailing me?" Sophia asked, quite annoyed at the thought.
"That was not the question, Sophia!" I said in a high tone as I came a bit closer.
"Who was that this afternoon at the cafe?" I asked again, my eyes desperate and ears eager to hear her say it was someone of no importance.
"Who I meet during my free time is none of your business Bran! And you haven't answered my question either!" Sophia said.
"Okay, I am sorry I raised my voice at you and….I was not tailing you either" I said.
"Then how did you know about my meeting with Liam?" Sophia asked.
"Is that his name?" I asked, curious.
"No, don't do that. This isn't about Liam, this is about you digging into my private life Bran" Sophia said.
"You are my wife! remember?"
"Your wife on paper Bran! Nothing more and nothing less!….your private life is your business and my private life is mine!"
"Paper or not, you are my wife Sophia!" I said, agitated and eager to make her understand that it was either her or nothing.
"What is your problem, Bran? Why are you still stuck in the past?" Sophia asked.
"I am not stuck in the past, I am only trying to make amends for the past "
"Make up for the past? By marrying me?…..and did you ask me about how I felt about that? What if I had my own plans set already?" Sophia asked, tears built up in her eyes.
"Getting married to you wasn't going to make up for the past but it was a step closer...is this supposed Liam the plan you had set?" My curiosity piqued.
"I am not obliged to give you an answer to that...I shouldn't have come here in the first place" Sophia said and exited the room.
Sophia left the room and I felt devastated and down at this point. I had no idea if I was beginning to feel jealous and anxious about the chances of losing Sophia to another man.
After I took my bath, I decided to walk downstairs and luckily, I saw Sophia downstairs as well.
I reached out to the fridge and got two bottled water to drink while Sophia was busy on her phone.
"I'm sorry about earlier, I should not have pried into your private life like I did," I said and stretched out one bottled water to Sophia.
Sophia looked up at me and at the water, I stretched forth to her and then collected it.
"Apology accepted," she said and went back to her phone.
"I also have something else to say"
"If this is about this whole past and our present marriage, I am afraid I am not up for it," Sophia said.
"No no, it's not about that...There was an emergency board meeting today"
"Emergency board meeting? Was this about my family's company?" Sophia quickly asked, eager to find out.
"I had to make a decision to appoint you as the managing director for your father's company and yours," I said.
"Are you for real?.... Are you being serious right now?" Sophia asked as she stood from her seat, surprised.
"Yes I am but you would have to be under Garner Industries' constant supervision and regulations," I said with a little bit of confidence.
"Supervision and regulations? Seriously Bran?" Sophia asked, quite disappointed.
"That was the best I could do for you regarding your father's company and your company," I said.
"It was either that or I merge the companies with the Garner Industries...and that was not what I promised you"
"This wasn't the plan"
"I know and I am sorry but at least you still get to run your father's company and yours too," I said convincingly.
"While under your watch and control....what difference does that make?" Sophia asked and placed the bottled water on the table.
"You will have your first meeting with the board directors sometime next week, I would suggest you get yourself prepared," I said and walked back upstairs.
"That is how it has always been with you Bran, you make your decisions and choices and just dump them on me and walk away!" Sophia yelled out to me as I walked up the stairs but I turned deaf ears to what she said and just continued walking until I was out of sight.