"It's decided and I have already announced it to the media." Nik uttered and looked away. 'Will she be alright? I am there to support, but can she deal with the pressure?' Though appearing strong on the outside, he couldn't control the tension his heart was taking.
"Sir, we have reached!" the driver said.
As usual, Beau got down first and did a rough check on the outside. He double exclaimed very minute detail to ensure that Patrick Bradford or his men don't plan any stupid activity.
The inside of the car also had no less drama going on. "I don't want to be any CEO. Please! I have not yet graduated too. It's a loss and the worst idea to let an undergraduate person handle such a big company." Liliya sobbed and pleaded.
A headshake was the only response she got from her stubborn husband.
"Please! Please! Let me at least see you work and deal for a few months. Please!"
Niklaus couldn't help but gulp after watching Lili's cuteness - her large round eyes were like glittering beautiful stars, her lips that were nonstop moving made his heart sprint and the way her slender neck danced brought butterflies in his stomach.
His ears were no longer working, and her every request disappeared into the air. Nik's lips involuntarily opened a bit while his eyes stared at his wife's tempting lips.
Knock! Knock!
Beau's loud knock on the window interrupted and brought Nik out of the romantic and sexy world. 'This girl is going to kill me some day with her cuteness.' Nik sighed and got down, unable to bear the heat in the car.
Niklaus and Beau gazed at the infrastructure and the surroundings for a few seconds. "Is she coming out or not?" Beau complained and rolled her eyes. Anyone who sees Beau and his anger over Liliya would surely think that he is in love with Niklaus.
"Are you planning to come out or not?" Nik opened the door and peeped inside to see Lili hugging her pulled up knees. "What are you doing?" he chuckled. "Are you a child? Come out!" He caught her hand and pulled her out.
"It's not safe for us to be outside for a long time!" Beau instructed and walked along with Nik and the drama queen inside.
Patrick, who was standing near the door, greeted and welcomed them. Liliya smiled and waved at him like a child. Though her father was a rival to Patrick, Lili always shared a wonderful bond with him. He treated her like a daughter and wished his daughter, Aimee, also to be kind and mature as her. And that, of course, made Aimee angry and jealous of her.
"What are you doing?" Beau feebly growled at Lili.
As they got into the lift, Liliya noticed that Patrick's face was gloomy, lifeless, and tired. 'Am I taking his company? How can I do that? He has been like a father to me. I can't do this!' But nothing was in her hands. The only hope was standing beside her and that only hope wouldn't help her.
'Let's try, at least!' Lili thought and pulled Niklaus's sleeve. She was like a child requesting her parents for a toy.
Nik glanced at her fingers, lifted his head up and arched his brows with his jaw tightened. That look itself ran a sharp shiver through the spine. Her shoulders drooped and, along with them, her confidence also hit the ground.
"Sixth Floor" the lift announced, and the doors opened.
Mr. Bradford and Beau walked out, followed by Niklaus. He halted and waited for Liliya to come out.
"What happened?" he whispered, looking at her shrunk and dark face.
Lili turned her eyes on Patrick. She recalled Patrick to be six feet, handsome, muscular, and energetic man. But now, she no longer can see that. He looked lifeless, with bent back, drooped eyelids, pale skin, and wrinkled clothes.
"Do you know him?" Nik asked, seeing Lili's glossy eyes.
Lili mummed. "He likes me a lot and treated me like his own daughter. I can't snatch his seat and sit over him." Her voice cracked.
"Liliya, Look! I can't take back the word said to the entire world. But remember, I am making you the CEO. You are the leader and the decision maker. Think of a solution, not to disappoint me and Mr. Bradford." Uttering that, he walked towards the ex-owner and Beau, who were standing near the conference room.
"Mr. Cooper, I know my daughter has made a mistake. But she was teasing her childhood friend, not your wife. Please...."
Before Patrick continued, Niklaus interfered, "Mr. Bradford, I took this decision when your daughter repeated the mistake. I excused her for tarnishing Liliya's character over the social media. But she did the same again in the marriage, in front of delegates. Sorry that I had to take this decision!" Nik patted Mr. Bradford's shoulder and gestured him to go inside the meeting room.
"Liliya!" Niklaus called out. Lili snapped out of her thoughts and hurried towards them. "Shall we get in?"
With Lili's nod, Beau opened the door. Behind Mr. Cooper, Lili and Beau walked inside. And with their entrance, all the seated members stood up. Three of them walked towards the huge empty chair on the other end of the lengthy table.
Lili could help but scan through the entire room. It was her first time attending a business meeting. 'Good, That I wore this dress!' She relaxed after observing suits and ties everywhere. There was another thing that was common in the room - tension. Everyone's smile had a hidden fear and pressure. Despite the air conditioner, everyone's palms and necks were wet. She could also see a few legs tremble as they walked past them.
Nik sat on the chair and asked Lili to sit on the empty chair on his right side, opposite Mr. Bradford. Her heart was telling her not to sit while her brain warned her about Mr. Cooper and that she can't do anything against him. If her parents' life weren't in the hands of her ruthless husband, she would never ever do something against Patrick.
At last, Lili gave a plastered and awkward smile to the members and sat. Following her, the rest sat. This was completely new and embarrassing to her. Every shareholder that sat was at least fifteen years older.
"I hope you are already aware, whom I am proposing as CEO."
Niklaus' sudden statement with no introduction or greeting left Lili in surprise and shock. 'What the heck! This dude has zero respect.'