35 Tug of Throne

THIRD PERSON's POV

As soon as Vincent Gray and Yvory Smith came inside the room, the board of directors were shocked on how these two people look so dashing. However, some of the them didn't recognize the heiress.

"Mr. Gray, it has been awhile! May we know who is this young lady?" One of them asked.

"You will soon find out. I will make the announcement when everyone is here."

"Why are you even asking? Isn't it pretty obvious that she's the future wife? The Gray's heirloom looks elegantly beautiful on her hair." One of the directors answered when the door opened once more.

It was Airis and her mother. As the current CEO, the directors stood up even Vince and Yve to show some respect. The middle aged woman is dressed in a semi-formal way. She wore a yellow low necked blouse overlapped by a black coat. She paired it with a plain black jeans and ended the fashion statement with gold stiletto shoes. The widow's name is Amira. She has been filling in the seat ever since Mr. Smith died. Based on Mr. Smith's will, she will be the acting CEO until Yve fulfills the conditions stated.

"What is this family heirloom we're talking about?" CEO Amira asked.

"It's fine, Madam. Talks like this can wait. We should begin today's agenda."

"No, it's okay. We need some topics like this to warm things up."

"Since you want a warm - up, Madam Amira…" Vince said as he stand up.

He even guided Yve to stand up as well and they walk towards the center of the table near Madam Amira's seat.

"I want to introduce to you all this young lady, who is wearing our family heirloom."

Gray family's heirloom is ribbon shaped hair comb embedded with ruby and diamonds. Only female members of the Gray family gets to wear this comb and is passed on to the wife of the next heir. In this situation, it has been made clear to all the people in the room that the girl standing beside Mr. Gray is not her new secretary.

Amira and Airis were shocked. Both of them looked at each other. Family heirloom? Yve?

"She is my future wife and the daughter of your former CEO, Ms. Yvory Smith." Upon making that announcement, it caused the directors to talk to each other.

One brave soul dared to ask, "So what happens about today's agenda?"

Vince tapped Yve's back lightly to act as her cue to speak. Yve then mustered all her courage and began.

"You can all take your seats." Vince returned to his seat and the directors took theirs. Amira was also about to do so when Yve said,

"Mie, I think that seat now belongs to me."

Amira was stunned by Yve's claim but didn't want to show rudeness in front of the board so she calmly answered, "My dear, you just came back. I think it would be better if you start from the lowest point for you to be oriented on how company works. I think the board will agree on that."

With that speech by her stepmother the board was in disarray once more. Some agreed while others are in neutral.

"I understand that. I didn't mean to take the position away from you." Then Yve leaned forward and whispered to her stepmother, "At least not for now." Then she stood back again and told the board, "But since I completed my father's requirement of getting married to a qualified businessman, I deserve this seat, at least for today's meeting."

"You're not yet married to him! There even has no formal engagement yet." Airis voiced out her opinion.

Yve was took by this blow by surprise. She had prepared herself to take on any questions about her future plans on the company but not about her relationship with Vince.

Vince knew about this and rescued her Queen in distress.

"I'll be handling that matter. But don't you think rather than hearing an extravagant engagement, having my fiancee wear our family heirloom is much more valuable?" Vince said to the board.

One of the board spoke up, "Please! It's just a seat not a position. Can't you just give it to the young lad. Let's hear what she had to say. After all, hearing about this board meeting when in fact the message was sent secretly was an amazing feat. Not to forget that Mr. Vincent Gray here and the rest of the Gray Group are supporting her."

What he said made sense as the rest agreed and even though Madam Amira was against it, she had no choice but to give the seat to Yve.

Yve sat on the chair gracefully and as she touched the arm rest, she couldn't help but recall her father. This was the same seat and these people here were the same faces, but about their loyalty to her father? She doesn't really know.

"Now, about this meeting's agenda…. " Yve said while leaning towards the table and having her head rest on both hands while facing the directors.

"I think we should forget about that. Instead, we should be talking about turning over the company to me."

"I'm very sorry, Ms. Yvory. I think you misinterpreted your father's will."

"You mean, that my husband will take over the company, instead of me?"

"Yes. That was stated in the will."

Yve nodded, "Yes but that was when I had no interest in the company." Yve then looked at Amira and Airis. "But now, I want it. I think my husband will not mind to have a CEO as his wife." She then looked at Vince with seductive eyes.

Vince smiled and said, "Of course, I don't mind. I'll be the first one to congratulate you when that happens."

"See, now I guess that is settled. Then let's have this meeting adjourned."

Edward can't believe that everything will go this smooth. Then Airis voiced out her opinion.

"Sis, please don't be offended. But you just because wanted it and was named for you, you can automatically claim it. We still need to know if you are qualified. Right?"

"Ms. Airis is right, Ms. Yvory. Now that you're planning to take over the company, it's you whom we should test not Mr. Gray here."

"Yes, Ms. Yvory. I hope you don't take this personally. We only want what is best for the company."

Edward knew this was gonna happen but he doesn't know how Yve will respond.

"Well, in terms of educational background, I don't have that. But how about you test my skills immediately? I believe that just like my father, you're willing to hire an employee as long as he or she possesses the skills, am I right?"

Vince and Edward really thought that Yve really has what it takes. She can erase the doubts of the board with her statement and despite her pure aura that comes with her clothes, she also emits an authoritative vibe at times. This is probably what causes the directors to think properly on their next steps. After all, they are not ignorant that this lady's idea saved Gray Group after learning just the basics.

"I think that's a great idea but how about your testing ground? We can't afford to lose a company in case you can't make it." Amira asked.

"Well, as the acting CEO, I hope you can enlighten me on that aspect."

"What do you mean, Ms. Yvory?" Mr. Levi Williams, who is the external vice president asked. He is also one of Yve father's trusted friend. But Yve is not yet ready to trust anyone else aside from Vince and Edward.

"Mr. Williams, right? Well, as I have been under the guidance of my fiancee in terms of business aspect, I knew the different subsidiary companies as well as the big companies that Stones Enterprises supervises. But among the list one company stands out?"

"And which company is that, my dear sister?" Airis is curious to know.

To address her question properly, Yve looked at Airis and buoyantly answered, "Sky Music Entertainment."

Acting as if she didn't know anything about the management behind SkyMu, Yve looked left and right and finally asked, "Why?"