Chapitre 7: Kira: The Bride's Sacrifice
With a huff, I made my way through the beautifully decorated hall. Walking past the expert decorations and designs, I doffed my imaginary heart to Casey Dunlop. She had proven once again why she was the best person for this job. If we are going to make tongues wag because of this wedding, then this was definitely the way to go about it.
Lucy had directed me to where my uncle was, so I immediately turned towards the exit hall. I glanced around to make sure that no reporter was following me, then I hurried across the small stretch of land that separated the hall from the hotel. I didn't go into the lobby though, I hurried along the side of the hotel until I turned into the underground garage.
There were some valet and security officials but they were all expecting me so they waved me through without any form of identification. I stepped further into the garage, and I was immediately bathed in the bright lights that lit up the place. The place was filled with exotic cars of all types and sizes, but I kept my eyes open for any dark SUV. Just like with Jace, they were also a favorite for my uncle.
I suddenly heard a honk from a car and knew at once that he was the one. I turned in the direction and I saw a man step out of the car, I recognized him as Uncle Leo's driver. I hurried on towards them, he made his way to the backseat and held the door open for me, without a word, I slipped in beside my uncle.
"For Christ's sake, Uncle Leo." I muttered irritably, "one would think I'm stealing state secrets with all this precautions. What is so important that we can't be in the hall like normal people?"
"What I'm about to tell you can't leave this car." He replied curtly.
Uncle Leo was an old man, and he very much looked like it. He was weathered and he was ready for retirement, he was done with the day-to-day dealings of running a company like Beacon Studios. However, he was just too stubborn to leave without causing any trouble. For as long as I've known him, he had always made up ridiculous terms and conditions for me to take on the company that was rightfully mine.
First, he wanted me to get a Phd, which I did. Next, he asked me to take a business class and figure out a way to take the company global. I did all that, through my plan, I was able to take us international. Now, our studio has offices in several parts of the world, shooting movies in indigenous languages that had nothing to do with English. Thanks to me, we were also successful in the sale of merchandize and all our recreational parks were selling out tickets on a daily basis.
I have shown Uncle Leo time and again that I'm capable of running the company but every time I thought I was finally at the finish line, he pulled it further away once more. Now, his latest condition was my marriage to Jace and the only reason I agreed to it was because of Chillz. I know what the platform would do for us once the merger happens. We'd be unstoppable. I also wanted to be the one in charge when I finally took Beacon Studios to the moon.
"How soon do you think you can get pregnant?" Leo asked me suddenly, cutting my train of thought.
I was taken aback by the abruptness of the question, "excuse me?"
"You heard me, girl." He said offhandedly. "How soon can you get pregnant? You'd need to have a baby, at the very least, within a year after this wedding."
"No! I don't have to do anything! That wasn't part of the deal! Besides, how can I have a baby now when I'm only just coming into control of the company?"
He looked away at that, I saw the look in his eyes and I felt my breath seize in my lungs as I recognized the look.
"No… please tell me this is a joke. I'm taking the company once the merger happens, right?"
He turned in his seat, "this is business, okay? You don't understand. You only have to do what's right for the family, and your role in all this is to give us an heir to inherit Beacon Studios. Everything you're doing right now will be for him."
"My God… what the fuck are you saying? We had an agreement!"
"You don't have what it takes to lead a company of this size! Your feeble shoulders will break from the weight of the responsibilities you'll bear!"
"So, this is the main reason… all the useless pursuits you've been sending me on. Go to Business school, get a fucking Phd, get married to Jace, become a power couple… you've only been using me? I'm good for all that, but not to lead the company? What the fuck, Leo?"
"You watch what you say to me-"
"No! You watch what you say to me! How can you tell me this after everything I've been through for this company? This is my father's sweat and blood, and you're gonna go over my head just because I'm a girl? You'd rather give it to… to…" I paused as I looked at him, "You're retiring. So, who are you handing the company over to?"
Instinctively, he shifted as he looked out of the window. Just like before, I interpreted the signs perfectly. I felt a sting of betrayal course through me, I couldn't stop the burning tears as they blurred my vision.
"That's why you're getting married," he said quietly.
"You'd chuck me away as a wife and give my birthright to Jace, someone who is not even family. And why? Because I'm a girl and he's not?"
"He has everything he needs to control the company. He built Chillz from ground up, what do you know about building a company?"
"What the fuck do you know about building a company?" I retorted angrily, "My father built Beacon Studios and the only reason you're in charge is because he died. You didn't build anything, Uncle. But you know what I did? I built on what my father created! I was the one that expanded this company to other countries. Thanks to me, our merch and parks are popular in other countries. And you dare ask me that?"
"The decision is made," Leo said. "I'm the CEO and I decide who gets what. Once you get married to Jace, he'll have managerial rights over both Chillz and Beacon Studios. I'd still hold supreme power as far as the studio is concerned, but my choice for leadership will always be Jace."
"I can't believe you'd do this to me! We agreed that I'd be getting a 50-50 partnership with Jace, that was the only reason I agreed to this."
"And that is the reason I packaged it like that for you. If I told you all this at the start would you have agreed?"
I scoffed at that, "what changed now? Why are you telling me now?"
"The entire world knows now that Kira would be getting married to Jace, everyone is expecting you two lovebirds to end up together. Everyone is expecting the merger to happen. Investments and predictions have been made on our shares. There's so much at stake riding on this right now, you can't pull out even if you wanted to. You're going to ruin the company if you did."
"Huh? Are you saying you trapped me?"
"It's not a trap, okay? It's something that's good for the company and good for us all. You just have to do what's right for the family and for all of us. That's all."
"No Uncle… fuck you! You don't get to tell me what to do ever again! Since you're not holding up your end of the bargain, the deal is off. The marriage isn't happening anymore."
"You're going to marry Jace, Kira. I'm sick and tired of being in charge, I have to retire and I can only do that when I'm sure the company is in safe hands. So, you will marry him, whether you like it or not. Or I'll give it to Steve."
My mouth fell open in horror and disgust, I felt so betrayed I had to force my hands to remain by my side, so I didn't get to punch him. "So you'd rather give our company to a rival than to me, your own flesh and blood."
"I don't want to. But if you force my hand, I will. Why do you think Steve is here at your rehearsal dinner? I'm trying to remain on his good side because I know how foolish you can be. You keep going on and on about birthright but I don't care about that. I care about legacy, and making sure that Beacon Studios will never be forgotten once we die. You'd run the company into the ground, and I can't allow that."
I couldn't listen to him anymore. I pushed the door open and fell out of the car. My eyes were filled with tears but I steadied myself and began walking away.
My uncle leaned out of the car, "Think about it, okay? Do you want your precious birthright to remain in the family? Or do you want to hand it over to Steve? The choice is yours, Kira."
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Odd_Man
Odd_Man Wow... Uncle Leo is really ready to go all out to make sure Kira doesn't take over the company. I'm looking forward to finding out how she'll win this battle! Share your thoughts in the comments. Thank you!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone