Chapter 8 – A Hostile Takeover

• TILDA
• “Prepare this file, Tilda, the meeting is in twenty minutes.” Oscar Gray walked in and stretched a file to me.
• As I reached for the file, I found his gaze on me. At first it was intense, then indifferent, and suddenly cold.
• “Okay, sir,” I replied yet he wouldn’t release the file. “I will work on it right away.”
• He dropped the file on my desk, his gaze still on me, this time expressionless. “This meeting at Petals Tower is very crucial. I want the merger concluded in a very short period. So you should know to put in your best in the preparation.”
• My breath hitched. There was going to be a merger of my company! That cannot be possible. Petals Tower’s foundation was solid and should survive whatever tsunami for generations to come.
• What happened? How did James run down the company? I was going to make enough money someday and buy Petals Tower. I had deprived myself of so many things all these years for the same reason.
• Should Petals Tower find its way to O. Gray Future Corporation, then my hopes are shattered forever. O. Gray Future Corporation will become the majority shareholder and finally take over the company. I have ran a check on the company, and that was what Oscar Gray specialized in.
• All thanks to my foolishness, my mom’s family heritage will soon be forgotten.
• “Miss. Tilda,” he called.
• I adjusted. “Yes sir.”
• “You will accompany me to this meeting. You have worked in Petals Tower before, and I trust in your ability to conduct an amazing negotiation with its shareholders,” he said.
• “O... okay sir,” I stuttered.
• I wasn’t prepared to see James yet. I didn’t want anyone to know of my return. The quadruplets must remain a secret for now.
• “I will go over it in time for the meeting, sir,” I added in guarded tone.
• He nodded. “I trust in your professionalism, Tilda.” He made his way back to his office.
• I was momentarily paralyzed and could not move a limb. I was caught between my job and my own personal desire. But I must work, I must attend to this issue if I don’t want to starve with my kids. Our lives were beginning to take a better turn, and I shouldn’t ruin that just when it has begun.
• If I should work hard enough, I will soon get a promotion, and with it comes a higher pay. With sheer determination, slowly, I will climb the corporate ladder and soon the sky will be my starting point.
• Determined, I picked up the file and started going through it, carefully outlining our pros in the deal.
• “Tilda,” he called to me.
• I stood up. “Sir.”
• He was standing by the door, and then, he began to take steps towards me.
• “Is there any other thing, sir,” I asked.
• He stood before me, his gaze cold. “You must know how important this meeting means to O. Gray Future Corporation. Thinking of it now, prepare for an acquisition,” he paused for a second. “A take-over,” he added.
• Surprised, I murmured. “A take-over.”
• I felt dejected. Why was he this ruthless? He couldn’t even wait for the merger to take place before thinking of a take-over.
• He nodded. “Yes. Petals Tower is at a dead end, and they won't be able to turn down our request. You will agree that taking advantage of this knowledge is the best for us.”
• He turned and returned to his office, leaving me dazed.
• OSCAR GRAY
• “A take-over,” she mumbled.
• It broke my heart to see how much she still cared for that ex-husband of hers. Even though I was literally giving her the opportunity to pay him back in his own coin she made it look like I was the villain.
• I have already set my mind to this, and there was no stopping me. This was why she was brought in the first place.
• “Yes,” I stared intensely at her. “Petals Tower is at a dead end, and they won't be able to turn down our request,” she recoiled, avoiding my gaze. “You will agree that taking advantage of this knowledge is the best for us.”
• In hurt, I returned to my office. I couldn’t bear to watch her care this much for a man who ruined her life.
• He took everything from her and betrayed her in the most gruesome manner. Even after she left him, he sent his thugs after her forcing her to run away.
• All this years I had searched for her, until luckily I was able to stumble on her email on one of Petals Tower’s documents. I brought her back for revenge, but it seems her heart was still in love with him.
• The mere thought of it left a bitter taste in me and I spat out, hitting my fist hard on the walls. It hurt, I have never looked at any other lady the way I look at her, not even Alicia.
• Twice I was there for her, when he abandoned her. Yet each time she had returned to him and never cared to wait for me. All along she had pretended I was a stranger to her, our time together was nothing to her.
• I adjusted myself and stepped out with my suitcase. I can't stop now. Sam stepped forward and collected my suitcase.
• “Are you ready, sir?” she quickly stood from her seat. “I was done and about coming to your office.”
• Silent, I continued on my way. I don’t care what she thought about me, but I will do all I have to do especially to honor my ailing grandfather.
• She followed behind me, striding faster to keep up with my pace. When I got to the elevator, I stopped, waiting for it to open.
• “There are some points I listed out, sir. I will go over them with you on our way,” she stated.
• Resolved, I turned to her. “You can go home now, Tilda, I will go for the meeting without you.
• “Sir...” she stuttered, perplexed.
• However, I collected the file from her, and proceeded into the elevator.