Joe blew out hot air through his mouth as he tried to comfort himself on the stage. He felt his heart racing hard against his chest as his eyes ran through the whole crowd.
At this point, the audible voice came again to announce the CEO of the Bestling company. "The CEO of the Bestling company is Mr Joe Morgan." "You are to move to the front desk so that all eyes can see you."
This would be the first time Joe would ever be honored in his life. He found himself smiling. He looked rightwards and he realized that was the front desk. He walked to the front desk gently and immediately he stood at the center, a loud ovation went through the whole room.
"Congratulations Mr Joe." A lot of people were congratulating from the crowd. Joe couldn't be more than happier.
It wasn't too long that they all stopped and they all took their seats.
"Mr Joe. You are to move to the address desk so you can address the people."
Joe walked to the address desk after he heard those words. On getting there, Joe couldn't talk for a while. He was tense to an extent that he felt sweats oozing through his skin.
Joe was torn between saying something meaningful so as to address the people or saying blatantly rubbish and getting dragged throughout the social media.
When some of the people saw what was happening, Joe was approached by a member of the staff. That was Joe's personal secretary.
"Sir. You looked tense and that is why I have helped you with the speech. All you have to do now is just to read this to the people." She whispered those words in Joe's ear. Joe collected the sheet of paper and he began to read it out.
When Joe got to a certain point in the paper, he realized they had planned that the unveiling event would be ruined. He saw those derogatory statements they had written for him to read out to the people.
Joe swallowed the saliva in his mouth. He stopped reading it and this time, he had gained the courage to speak to the crowd.
"I am happy and honored to be here. There was no day I had thought that this day would come in my life. Everything before me looks like a dream and even if it is one, I don't want to wake up from this dream…" Joe addressed the people.
No one noticed that he stopped reading from the paper he was given and when he was done.
The unveiling event ended. Joe stepped down from the stage with anger in his heart.
Joe wondered why his secretary would do such a thing to him. According to her, she wrote the long speech herself.
"I am proud of you son. You killed the speech." Joe shook hands with his father. Many more people came to shake hands with Joe.
Until Mr Crawford, the rising CEO of Montana Empire came to greet him.
He was tall, handsome, muscular and he had wavy hair. He had this dark aura throughout his face.
"Congratulations, Mr Joe." His audible voice pierced Joe's ear. As Joe shook hands with him, he noticed something he couldn't really explain. It was more like hate and envy.
But Mr Crawford didn't stop at congratulations, he said more. "Mr Joe. You seemed very happy with this little feat."
"Yes. Why won't i?" Crawford's face molded with anger and cruelty. "Even with this, you are still a nobody, because I am that man that is going to crush you. You better watch your back. I am going to be your dilemma." As soon as he said those words, he parted Joe on his shoulder before he walked away.
Joe couldn't wrap his hand around what just happened. It looked more like he was watching a movie and that was the reason he couldn't give him a reply because he was so shocked and surprised.
With time, Joe wrapped his head around it all. 'He is an enemy. I must be ready.' As that thought stemmed through his mind, he was approached by his secretary.
"That person that approached you now is Mr Crawford, the CEO of Montana Empire. He is an enemy." As those words slipped into Joe's ear, he shot a sharp glare into her eyes.
"I am not bothered about Mr Crawford. I am bothered about what will happen to you since you gave me this speech to read." The secretary met with the shock of her life after hearing that statement.
Her heart raced hard against her chest as she remembered what happened earlier between herself and Mr Matthew. 'Joe would be having difficulties ditching a reasonable speech since it's his first time. Give him this to read.'
As soon as she collected it from him, the secretary had a bright idea of taking all the glory for herself and that was the reason she said she wrote it herself.
"Is there something wrong with the speech?" The secretary was getting very scared.
"See for yourself." Joe handed over the sheet of paper and by the time she checked it, she was shocked even to her bones. Her feet were shaking.
"What can you say about that? My personal secretary." Joe looked into her eyes.
Right in front of everyone, she went on her knees before him. "Mr Joe, please forgive me. I didn't write the speech. It was written by Mr Matthew…"
"I can't believe a word from you. You are to safely go into your office and pack everything that passes as your property. Your service is no longer required. You are fired."
Hearing that word made Joe's secretary lose her balance. She didn't see this coming in anyway. 'I am doomed.' she gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. 'How could I be so gullible? Mr Mathew would pay for this.'
Those were her thoughts and while she was still on the floor, Joe's escort came all along to escort him out of the event hall.
"Sir. The event has ended. We are here to escort you to your office." Joe raised his head and he looked at their faces.
"I want you to escort this lady on the ground out of my company before you escort me to my office."
"Sir. She is your secretary." Joe shot a deadly glare at him. "Do as I have said or stand a risk of losing your job."
The escort swallowed the saliva in his mouth with fear.