John's POV
Richard Andrew, head of the Andrew family, stated that the board of directors would meet each month to deliver a report concerning the individual well-being of each division of the Davdrews company.
Everyone - my family, directors, the Andrews, and me - were all reclined at the center desk of the Andrews's tower.
"Um um," Mr. Andrew cleared his throat. "I welcome you all to our monthly meeting. Normally, this meeting was between me, my family, and a couple of directors, but there has been a change. The Davidsons finally decided to join us."
Everyone clapped.
"The purpose of this meeting is, of course, to deliver a monthly report on the well-being of each division and discuss our plans. I would like Hannah Andrew to begin," Mr. Andrew took his seat.
Hannah, draped in her black tailored suit, stood to her feet and began, "Greetings, everyone." She took her report sheet and continued, "Since both families united, the tech division of the Davdrews has seen significant growth. Our hardware saw a twelve percent increase in sales a few days after both families meshed. Currently, we're having massive orders that are sixteen percent higher than we experienced in the previous month. Moreover, our software has gotten massive traction. Now, we record about three thousand downloads daily, which is ten point seven percent higher than the previous month. Due to the large input of customers, the tech division has hired two hundred and fifteen software engineers and a hundred and twenty tech experts. We strongly believe that in the coming year, we will surpass our gross domestic profit by seventeen point eight percent." Hannah returned to her seat.
Hannah's report was accompanied by a round of applause from everyone in the room.
My sister, Elizabeth, stood to her feet and said, "Our refineries in Africa have also experienced significant growth. We currently produce over eighty-four million liters of gasoline daily. This is seven percent higher than the previous year. We have also recruited sixteen thousand workers." She took her seat afterward.
I rose to my feet, cleared my throat, and said, "As we speak, our diamond mines have increased by over a hundred percent, and we have made partnerships with many retail jewelry dealers in France. We have our product in every major outlet in Europe and North America. In Africa, South Africa precisely, we secured seventeen acres of land to begin the construction of our very first company over there. In retrospect, the jewelry-based division of the company has seen thirty-one point seven eight percentage growth." I took my seat.
Driven to awe, the whole room erupted in applause.
"Wow, John!" Mr. Andrew exclaimed. "How did you do that so quickly?"
"I prefer to keep my ideas and opinions about business growth confidential," I answered.
Mr. Andrew rolled his eyes and turned to his son, Derek. "Please read the report," he requested.
Derek stood to his feet, took the report, and began, "The food-based division of the company has grown too. We are currently exporting our products to seventeen more countries, which is ten percent higher than the former. Our consumption rate has also increased by six percent." He took his seat when he was done.
Mr. Andrew cleared his throat once again. "Directors and CEOs, you all can see that we're growing at a rather steady rate. As we speak, our stock has risen by over twenty-two percent. This calls for a celebration if you ask me."
I countered, "What do you mean by celebration?"
Everyone turned their gaze at me. Mr. Andrew cleared the air by saying, "As we approach the month of December, I propose that we shut down for three weeks. This will give our workers some time to rest and prepare themselves mentally for the next year."
"What are you saying?" I questioned.
"John," my mother, Amanda Davidson, called.
"Mrs. Davidson, please," I responded. "The reward for service is another day of employment. Do you know how much we can achieve in three weeks? Do you know how much we would lose if we don't work?"
"Surely, you've had the whole year to make money. A three-week holiday won't hurt," Mrs. Andrew chimed in.
I turned my gaze to Mrs. Andrew and countered, "I was talking to the head not you."
Mr. Andrew slammed the table with his feet and exclaimed, "Enough!" He stood to his feet. "I only proposed. Now, let's vote. If you're with me, please raise your hands."
Of course, the majority, except my family and me, supported Mr. Andrew's proposal.
Derek packed the documents his father had brought into the room.
"There you have it, folks; we're going on holiday. Till we meet again, do have a great time," Mr. Andrew exited the room with his son.
When the directors and the Andrews had left the room, it was just me and my family.
"How long are we going to continue like this?" My mother asked.
"You should be asking 'the head of the family.' He brought this upon us," my sister stormed out of the room.
My mother hissed and rubbed her eyes with her hands, "I'm having a headache."
In the evening when I got into my home, I met Hannah standing on the stairs with her hands folded. She was draped in her white pyjama and the look on her face didn't suggest she was happy.
Pulling off my jacket, I heard her ask, "What happened at the meeting today? Do you realize how foolish that was?"
I remained silent as I threw my jacket on a couch.
"Aren't you going to say anything? John, do you realize that those directors are the ones keeping our family's wealth together? If they realize that there's strife between both families, we're doomed!" She yelled.
I finally turned my gaze to her and said, "Why are you saying all these to me? You should be arguing with your father."
"Is that really how callous you are? You mean you can't offer a three-week holiday to the same workers who have been working with your family throughout the whole year?"
I hissed, retrieved my jacket, and stormed out of the living room.