Grandpa Cian's aged face twisted with scepticism as he scoffed at Alexander's words. His sharp and shrewd eyes bore into Alexander with a critical gaze.
Grandpa Cian responded with a dismissive "Hmph!" before addressing the room with a hint of condescension in his voice.
"Hard work, you say?" He enunciated each word with deliberate sarcasm, his tone dripping with doubt.
"I'm not quite sure what 'hard work' you've put into our company as a temporary CEO. It's quite audacious, young man."
Alexander stood tall, his jaw clenched in response to his grandfather's taunting.
His voice carried an undertone of defiance as he challenged Grandpa Cian. "What do you mean by that, Grandpa Cian?"
Remy's demeanour remained composed, though a hint of concern lingered in his eyes as he addressed his father. "Father, I respect your presence here, but is there something you're not telling us?"
His voice conveyed a mix of respect and uncertainty as he added, "Alexander has the skills and vision to lead us into a new era."
Grandpa Cian let out a dry chuckle, his laughter laced with a touch of bitterness. He glanced around at the shareholders, his gaze piercing and reproachful. "You're quite the loyal to everyone, aren't you, Remy?"
His words were delivered with a wry smile, his tone implying that loyalty alone wouldn't be enough to sway his judgement. Grandpa Cian remarked. "But loyalty alone won't save this company."
He didn't stop there, as he continued with his words. "And sure enough, there comes a day, when I am not greeted by the stockholders of my company or when everyone forgets who I am."
William, visibly nervous, stammered out an apology as they addressed Grandpa Cian. Their voice quivered with apprehension. "Mr. Cian, we apologise if we didn't greet you earlier. We were just taken aback by your sudden arrival."
Grandpa Cian's laughter rang out, a mixture of amusement and underlying authority. "I can see everyone here is very shocked."
He remarked with a knowing twinkle in his eye, "as if I am not able to attend the greatest board meeting of all time."
The board members, previously passive observers who had not yet participated in the voting, suddenly found their breaths catching in their throats.
Grandpa Cian's presence had a palpable impact, and they were acutely aware of the gravity of the moment.
"Greets, Mr. Heisenberng," they chorused almost in unison, their voices laden with respect and deference, as they acknowledged the renowned and successful businessman who had just entered their midst.
The weight of Grandpa Cian's authority and reputation had clearly left its mark on the room. On the other hand, Louis was very impressed by the change of events and the sudden shift in atmosphere.
He had always seen his grandfather as a straightforward person who employed sarcasm, scepticism, and condescension in his speech, but seeing the way people behaved towards him made Louis realise just how influential and respected he truly was.
It was a humbling experience for Louis, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for his grandfather.
As the room fell into a hushed silence, Louis couldn't wait to hear what Grandpa Cian had to say, knowing that it would undoubtedly be wise and impactful.
When no one said anything, Alexander maintained his stance. His voice carried a firm resolve as he addressed his grandfather.
"Grandpa, I respect your wisdom and experience, but the business landscape is shifting." He spoke with conviction, emphasising the urgency of adapting to change.
"We need fresh ideas and innovation to stay competitive."
Joshua stood at the side, a perplexed expression on his face as he listened to their heated discussion alongside Mr. Liam, who served as Grandpa Cian's assistant.
"I have been calling you both; what happened?" Joshua inquired, concern evident in his furrowed brow.
Liam glanced at Joshua, his expression apologetic. "I am sorry. We were on our way, and it was Grandpa Cian who asked me not to answer your calls or Young Master Louis's."
Joshua frowned at this revelation, perplexed as to why Grandpa Cian would deliberately ignore their calls. Was he intentionally trying to create anxiety?
Grandpa Cian cast a measured look at his assistant, who stood at the side beside Joshua. Understanding the unspoken command, Liam stepped forward and methodically placed pages of documents in front of everyone.
Remy shifted his attention towards the document and began reading its contents. Soon, murmurs of disbelief rippled through the meeting room.
Meanwhile, Alexander remained at the side, unaware of the contents of these papers; his curiosity piqued.
Louis observed his father's reaction as Remy ran a hand through his hair while reading, a clear sign of disbelief. Remy cleared his throat and addressed the members in the meeting room.
"I think the position of CEO will remain vacant, and I will appoint someone to temporarily fill the role. The meeting is dismissed. Thank you, everyone, for joining us. You are free to leave."
Louis, his voice sharper than Grandpa Cian's, interjected, "No one is obliged to leave this room unless they wish to relinquish their shareholder contract with the company." His words carried a weight that kept everyone firmly in their seats.
Verena's driver, had been informed by Liliya that Young Mistress needed to go somewhere.
Meanwhile, Verena finally arrived at the café she had mentioned earlier. The Pink Café boasted an ambiance like no other.
As Verena stepped inside, she was immediately greeted by the soft, warm glow of long, elegant ceiling lamps that hung gracefully above the café's patrons. These lighting fixtures were the centrepiece of the café's unique charm.
Each lamp had a slender, blush-pink shade that matched the café's overall colour scheme perfectly. The shades were made of delicate fabric that allowed just the right amount of light to filter through, casting a gentle, rosy hue across the entire space.
Among the patrons, Verena spotted a girl sitting near the window, her back turned towards Verena.
Verena approached her with a mix of excitement and anticipation, calling out, "Juliette?"
The girl turned around, and Verena couldn't help but be shocked by the transformation.
The girl she had known four and a half years ago had been pretty in her own way but had always been the studious, bespectacled type.
Now, she was stunningly beautiful, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and she was dressed in an elegant outfit. In contrast, Verena was in a simple pair of jeans and a shirt.
"Verena, how are you?" Juliette asked, coming closer to Verena and embracing her warmly.
Verena returned the hug, her eyes misting up a bit. "I missed you," she admitted, blinking away a tear before breaking the embrace.
Verena looked at her face intently, she questioned. "You didn't miss me?"
Juliette smiled through her emotions. "Every day... if only you had accepted my help back then, we wouldn't be meeting like this today."
Verena sighed, her expression remorseful. "The past is past. Let's sit down and talk, shall we?"
Verena gently tugged Juliette by the hand, leading her to a nearby table. They sat down and chatted as they ordered their coffee, catching up on lost years.
"So, what are you doing nowadays?" Verena inquired.
Juliette leaned back in her chair, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "Well, after we last saw each other, I threw myself into fashion design. Remember how much I loved creating outfits back in school?"
Verena nodded, recalling the countless hours Juliette had spent sketching and designing clothes. "I always knew you had a talent for it."
Juliette smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Verena. It's been a challenging journey, but now I own a brand."
Verena's eyes sparkled with happiness for her friend, and she offered her congratulations. "That's incredible, Juliette! I'm so proud of you."
Juliette's expression softened, and she reached out to take Verena's hand. "And what about you? What have you been up to?"
Verena hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain her situation. "Well, I've had my share of challenges too," she began. "I was sentenced to four years, but I was released just two weeks ago."
Juliette's eyes widened in surprise. "Four months late? That's unusual. How did that happen?"
Verena thought about Louis and his role in her early release. "You don't know. I was fortunate to get out early, thanks to some help. If it weren't for them, I might not have seen your face today."
Juliette's anger flared as she learned about Verena's ordeal. She raised her voice, saying, "The Vandeleurs are as small as they were."
"We aren't small, and we never have been. Maybe, just maybe, Fauntleroy is."