Chapter 55 - Favour? Not In Favour?

At the Mo company

"He is back!" 

"Is it true? Have you seen him?"

"It is confirmed that he is arriving today!"

"The money monster is back finally!"

Two girls gossiped among themselves and not just they, almost half the staff were excited about the news of him arriving. Shi Lian is unaware of this, although Ruxi informed her already, the news completely slip from her mind. She was welcomed with piles of documents to sign the moment she entered. She already told her father about Zhang Hao giving Zhang Hao a leave for some weeks, and he agreed. She was now lacked a secretary and given this situation right now, it will be hard to find a capable secretary in a short time. 

Ruxi enters inside the Chairman's office, elegantly striding, her long legs held by the heels are postured well, like a model. "Chairman, here is the meeting schedule which you will be attending" she hands the tablet to Shi Lian to let her have a look. Every time Ruxi appears with the tablet, Shi Lian grimaces. Four meetings without any break! Pinching the bridge of her straight nose, she places the tablet down and nods to Ruxi in a way of telling that she understood everything. 

"We will be launching the Nova collection next week and we need to work fast on that" Shi Lian tells, eyes on the document while she signs. The Nova collection should have released ago but Shi Lian resisted not make such a hasty decision. Now is the time she thinks she should use the trump card. The biggest concern that arises here is the discussion with the shareholder and the directors which include Fu Zichen. 

"Alright. I'll notify everyone. Oh, and JJ is arriving today" informs Ruxi. 

She was almost going to blurt out about who is JJ? But then she remembered he is the CEO and bit back. She nods showing no emotions. What else is she supposed to do? She doesn't even know him. 

Shi Lian tells her about recruiting a secretary for her as Zhang won't be working for a while. Pondering, Ruxi says, "It might take some time. In the meantime, why don't you pick anyone from the staff?"

Shi Lian isn't sure if this is a good idea or not. "I'll think about it," says she. If she had to choose amongst the staff, she already has a name in her mind. 

Taking back the tablet, Ruxi strides outside, exiting from the door. Shi Lian is left alone again in the semi-cool room to sign the documents again. She is looking forward to meeting this JJ or whatever his name is and she hopes to work with him in sync. 

An hour later, she got up from the smooth leather chair and straighten her long trench coat. It's time to attend the meetings and gain some headaches in return, as usual. Taking her laptop and other important documents in hand, she leaves her office and travels straight to the meeting room. 

She reaches the meeting room which is situated on the upper floor, up to her current office. Pushing the door in go, she enters inhaling air. The board of directors and shareholders are already present, waiting for her. 'Am I late?' she ponders looking down at her watch. The watch says she is in on time but it looks like that they have a habit to appear early. 

"Chairman," all the members say in unison, rising from their seats when she enters. Addressing a young girl who is probably twenty years younger than them is kind of embarrassing and odd. Shi Lian startles from their action but tries not to show it. Them addressing her as Chairman is odd and embarrassing too. 

"Please, have a seat," she tells them politely with a nervous laugh. They did as she ordered. The facial expressions of each member are different. Some have a short smile on their face, some are frowning, some remain neutral. She sighs feeling the heavy atmosphere. 

"Before you want to say, I want to make an announcement" she declares, raising her index finger in the air. She then continues, "As every year, the Mo corp put out the Spring collection, this year too, we will do the same but there will be a slight difference."

The news made the members brood their eyebrows at her. they whisper among themselves about the favor of the declarations. 

"Is she even aware that we are almost out of resources?"

"She may have a plan."

"How can she make such declaration when the company is having a downfall?"

"Ahem!" she brings the attention back to her and continues further about her plan, "This year we will be the launch of Nova collection. The theme is the same, which is spring so there's no issue about this. I know the company is lacking in resources but this will shake the company entirely. If this collection hits the market, no one can stop us to rise to the top again. I already notify the Vice President about it and now it's your turn to give your opinions."

They look at each other, uncertainty clear in their eyes. they aren't sure if they can believe her. She is only twenty-two, what can young and immature women like her do? They are not sure if they should agree to this because if the collection fails, the company is doomed to fall. No one can save it then. 

"I am not sure about this" a voice participates and it is her uncle. Of course, he will interject, she bit back the sarcastic comment. 

"And why is that, Mr. Mo?" she questions in her calm tone. 

He sneers, his fingers tapping on the hard glass long table that lay in front of him. "We are the shareholders, we invest money carefully after giving it critical thinking. I think the decision that you made is in haste. Look, Shi- I mean Chairman, I know you are under a lot of pressure but you cannot make such rash decisions on your own. It's not some play in which you get to do whatever you want" he mocks her in a tricky way.

"I am well aware of the fact that I am the Chairman of one of the top companies. You don't need to remind me about that. I am young, too young to handle a company but it is my father and the ex-Chairman who trusted me. If you think I am immature, you are doubting the previous Chairman as well" she states, firing back. 

The members start whispering again but this time giving it more thinking about her decision. 

She explains about the new concept and they all listen to her intently except her third uncle who keeps on scoffing and snorting. After giving them some details they seem to relax a bit and have a change of decision. 

"I agree," her fourth uncle says raising his hand in the air. After him, others start to count their favors. Shi Lian cannot hide the satisfying smile from her face. Now that half of the members have agreed, she can think of moving forward. But still few are no in favor. She needs to make them agree to come up with a new plan. Mostly they not in favor because of her third uncle. He manipulated them well enough not letting them do anything before asking him. 

"Thank you for your cooperation. I won't let you down, I promise" she smiles, bowing towards them. now all she has to do is start the processing of the launch. 

"Mr. Fu is also the shareholder, right? He is the biggest shareholder, did he agreed to this?" one of the shareholders, Lin Xinchuan raises the question. He is one of the mates of her third uncle, no wonder they have the same ugly smirks on their faces. 

"Soon. I have a meeting with him today, I'll ask him by then," lies she with haughtiness. She now has to appoint a meeting with him. 'God! Why does he have to be involved in everything?' she frowns at the thought. 

The meeting ends after some minutes. Shi Lian gets up from her seat. carry her belongings and exit from the door. The members now are gossiping loudly after seeing her gone. "Why are you in favor of the decision? Do you want to see the company collapse?" the one not in favor accuses the one who is in favor. 

"Because she has potential and my intuition says that she will save the company" the favored one retorts back. 

Both the parties start quarreling and that led to a cold war between the two groups. Fifteen people in favor and nine people not in favor, that's a huge difference. The groups were not on good terms before but now, they are blazing electric currents towards each other. The members showed their faith in her, now it's her turn to make herself up to the mark and gain others' trust as well.