Chapter 17

SYDNEY'S POV In a couple of hours, we were down to a more feasible solution. Since the cash flow was too low, Grace and I were the only ones who volunteered to lend our savings to the company in our personal names. The overbearing shareholders claimed they couldn't take such decisions without properly informing the shareholders. After we summed everything up, we were quite confident that it would keep the business afloat for the meantime while all plans are effectively acted on. "How did such a dumb employee even get hired in the first place?!"?I turned to the HR team.?"What have your team been doing?" Grace's response beat their hesitating one.?"This isn't the first time. I have had to relieve several employees of their job myself because they were just outright incompetent. In the three years you were absent, without your firm hand on the board members, they have been stuffing the company with their unwanted incompetents. If you don't fully come back, the company will be ruined by them." "Oh Goddess,"?I breathed and held my head as I felt a headache coming on.?"This discussion will be for another day,"?I glowered at the administrative teams who couldn't meet my gaze.?"Now, go put our plans into action." Their muttered?'thank yous'?and?'yes ma'am'?filled the air as they scrambled to their feet and shuffled out of the boardroom. The shareholders remained. "We demand this financial crisis be acted on as soon as possible. I'll also consider about lending a certain amount to boost the finances of Luxe Vogue,"?one of the cocky shareholders said, his nose in the air. The rest also claimed that they would not hesitate to pull out if mere insubordinations were not taken care of effectively. Afterward, they took their time to put their things together and strutted out of the boardroom with grim and angry faces. I watched them as they left. For shareholders who owned merely a quarter of the company each, they were too conceited. It was a good thing that Grace and I had ensured that we kept at least eighty percent of the company to ourselves no matter what. I let out a loud hiss and held my head in my hands as the door closed behind their stiff backs. I felt Grace's comforting palm on my back. "The board and HR department need to be restructured,"?I said to myself, but Grace answered nevertheless. "Badly."?She gave me a pat on the back.?"Just don't be too hard on yourself. It wasn't your fault." My grip on my hair tightened, and I felt the urge to scream. After transferring my savings and Atelier Studios' proceedings to save Luxe Vogue, I had less than a million dollars left in my personal accounts, and Atelier Studios' net worth was nothing to boast of anymore. Now, how am I supposed to raise?$5 million? Where do I get such a ridiculously huge amount from?! It would take me years to work for such an amount! I took another deep breath, trying to calm the frustration bubbling within me. It seemed fate had its own plans because now I would have no choice but to stay with Alexander for a longer time. I suppressed the scream that threatened to tear from my throat without my permission. Gosh, I thought, gritting my teeth. I hated it when things were out of my control, and they always seemed to be. "You’ve already done so well, and we’ll figure out a way to make more money,"?Aria said softly, her voice warm and reassuring.? Grace pulled me out of my thoughts.?"You were amazing, babe. Did you see the faces of the shareholders? They could barely look you in the face." I managed a smile. That was one of the reasons why I've stuck to Grace all this while; no matter how bad things seemed to be, she always managed to focus on the brighter side. Briefly, I wondered what the brighter side of staying mated to Alexander was. "You have no idea how these old guys ganged up and bullied me when you were gone,"?she continued, pouting slightly. My brows creased in annoyance.?"Really? You should've informed me." She shook her head.?"You were going through enough in that sad mating bond of yours." I drew back and palmed my chest.?"Touché." We both burst out laughing, then I sobered up.?"It was no big deal, to be honest. I did what had to be done." I couldn't even imagine asking for?$5 million?now. If I did, the company would go bankrupt, and there'd be nothing to pay these shareholders. And the last thing I wanted was to have an issue with them. At least, if they get their right share of dividends on time, those old guys would keep their mouths shut and let people who had important things to say and do speak up. After Grace and I overlooked some information with the head of the Finance department that was invited back, we left the boardroom and proceeded to my office. The moment we got in, I quickly summoned my assistant.?"Sort out the list of personnel the shareholders had stuffed into the company, both at Luxe Vogue and Atelier Studios. Get me their names and everything about them, including who placed them in whatever position they're in,"?I ordered. "Yes, ma'am,"?she nodded.?"I'll get on to it right away."?Then she left. Grace gaped at me.?"What are you about to do?" "Exactly what you're thinking,"?I faced my laptop and turned it on. I shot a text to the accountant to send me the details of the employee that caused all of this mishap. Then I turned back to Grace.?"I'm about to start laying the incompetent off. If anyone has any issues with it, they should come face me,"?my tone was laced with authority as I told her. Her eyes widened in shock.?"Are you going to be that harsh?" "Yes,"?I replied succinctly with a straight face. Since they now seemed to underestimate Grace and not give her the regard that she deserved, I was now the only one fit to put them in their places and majorly lead the company. A ping sounded from my laptop. The details of the employee had been sent. Without wasting time, I forwarded the details to the legal department and gave firm instructions for them to instantly file a compensation lawsuit against the employee. "I get that you want to put these shareholders in their place,"?Grace started, her words coming out slower as she seemed to carefully choose them.?"But isn't that too harsh? You know they were clearly offended in the boardroom. It was why they dared to threaten to pull out. And now you're laying off their people."?She paused.?"What if they retaliate?"?Her eyes widened as she edged closer.?"What if they actually pull out? Aren't you bothered that they really might pull out? Those men invest a lot in our company, you know,"?she raised a brow and reclined back in her seat.?"I suggest you take this slow, Sydney." I fully turned to her.?"At this point, I doubt there's anything to be afraid of,"?I told her calmly.?"Luxe Vogue is on the verge of sinking. Our sweat and hard work are on the verge of going down the drain!"?I leaned forward and shrugged.?"If I was scared of their retaliation, I wouldn't have called the meeting."?I sat back.?"I prefer to cut the Gordian knot. I have never been a person who hesitates, and you know that. I won't change my decisions because I'm scared of what they'd do. We have to let them see that we still know how to wield our power, then they'd behave and not blindly and dumbly do things that will bring destruction to the company,"?I bit out, suddenly feeling my anger boiling up again. Grace clasped her hands and raised them up, then she closed her eyes.?"Thank you, Goddess. Thank you so much for bringing back my Sydney. I'll forever be grateful." I smacked her on her arm, laughing.?"Don't be silly." She opened her eyes and gave me a thumbs-up.?"You are the real Sydney. Not the one that stayed mated to Alexander." Well, I'm still mated to him, I thought solemnly. "Get out!"?I laughed, and she did too. Then she hugged my head to her stomach on her way out.?"Remember, don't be too hard on yourself, okay?" I nodded.?"Yes, mum." After she left, I immediately went back to work, partly because I didn't want to think about the issue of our financial status or the fact that I had to stay longer with Alexander. And mainly because, now that Luxe Vogue was in crisis, I would have to work even harder on Atelier Studios so I can quickly raise?$5 million?for Alexander. I added the finishing touches to the jewelry pieces I had been working on before I paid a visit to the accountant and found out about the huge mishap. I laid them down for my assistant to encase in their designated boxes, and then I took out Alexander's jewelry pieces order that I was already working on. I brought out the sapphire necklace and gold bracelet and worked on it for a bit. Then I put it aside again. I would only need to work on it one more time, and it would be ready. The thing about making jewelry was that you had to take your time in making them. If they're rushed, they might look good, but they'd, in some way, lose their shape and sparkle. And that thing that makes them stand out will be gone. By the time I finally finished the design drawings for more orders, it was already late at night. I thought of staying back and working till dawn, but I quickly decided against it. Right now, I needed all the rest I could salvage. Begrudgingly, I drove back to Alexander's residence. As I drove, I wished I hadn't agreed to remain in his place until I've paid him the damned?$5 million?to break the bond. As I stepped through the doorway, I squinted my eyes at the dimly lit room. My feet hit something as I closed the door. I pushed harder on the door as it wasn't shutting; what hit my feet must have gotten stuck in between, I thought. Then I ruffled through my bag to bring out my phone so I could make use of its flashlight. As I did so, a sudden hard force blindsided me, causing a scream to erupt in my throat as it crashed into my side and sent me sprawling onto the sofa, and my bag flying into the air. I flailed my arms, my heart ramming against my chest as their weight knocked the breath out of me. Thankfully, I had been able to get a hold of my phone. I fumbled with it and turned on the flashlight, then I shone the light on my assailant's face. Alexander was grinning at me, his dark eyes glassy with inebriation. I scrunched my nose when he opened his mouth to speak, his breath heavy with the stench of alcohol.?"Hello, my Luna."