Bought For A Baby, Kept For A Lifetime-Chapter 222: She’s Pregnant

The boardroom was a large elegantly appointed space with a huge polished long table at its center, the room was filled with high backed leather chairs, each occupied by a board member all of whom were dressed in formal attire, the atmosphere was professional but an anticipatory note hung in the air.

Chairman Sterling could be seen seated at the head of the long table, he exuded confidence and a strict authority but there seemed to be an invisible sense of fatigue weighing on his shoulders.

"Chairman Sterling, we are in complete agreement of your decision. We are merely shareholders in this company and without a doubt the Sterling family holds the largest company shares, but as board members, I believe it’s high time we at least have a say in who takes on leadership." Edwin Haze was a man who had the second largest shares at the company after the Sterling family, hence he was the one who first broke the tense silence within the board room.

Chairman Sterling shifted his gaze slowly to settle on the middle aged man who had a serious demeanor just like everyone else in the board room.

"What do you mean by that Edwin?" Elder Sterling’s voice was measured and calm as he asked this question.

Every board member knew about this company transfer of leadership which elder Sterling had planned for a long time, and not even the board members had a say in whatever decisions he made for the company.

It was popular knowledge that having shares didn’t guarantee their stay in SE, hence none of the board members had ever dared to voice a question on whatever decision the Sterling family made regarding the company. However on this specific day, when the transfer of leadership was going to officially happen, a majority of the shareholders dared to speak up, it was because that person has promised them more shares and more power in the company for what would happen today.

SE was the most profitable company anyone would join and each of the shareholders were billionaires from all over the world, but not even a billionaire would refuse the promise of more power in a company that was more than an empire.

Chairman Sterling had directed his question at Edwin who was the first to speak, but the person who replied was another man in the board room.

"Mr Haze is right. We have all been with this company for so long, we all believe that we should have a say in who takes the lead in the company." Philip Finnigan, a member with 6.85 percent shares was the one who backed up Edwin Haze’s words.

Elder Sterling frowned at first, he was well aware that the board members wouldn’t dare to go against the Sterling family to be speaking like this on the very day he was to appoint his grandson into position, it could only mean one thing.

They hadn’t forgotten the Sterling family’s power, but there was someone from the Sterling family promising them something. And elder Sterling didn’t need to think too much to figure out who.

"Haze, Finnigan, both your shares combined are not enough for you to try to question my decision."

Immediately elder Sterling said this, several other members of the board began to speak up one after the other until every single member of the board had voiced opposition on the topic.

Elder Sterling laughed subtly, the sound chilling to the ears. He wasn’t at all threatened or fazed by their combined opposition to his decision. The older man had a frightening aura that commanded strict attention, it was clear he had ruled the company so far with an iron fist maintaining control over the board members who were power hungry business men eager to latch their claws around anything that would raise them higher in the circle of business.

Wealth and assets were something men in business found hard to resist, some sold their morals for it, some sold their principles, family would betray it’s kin.

"All of you combined won’t be able to change my decision, I suggest you drop this sudden opposition right now if any of you still wants to remain in this company." It was a single warning that would instantly decide their fates based on whatever decision they chose to take.

All the board members suddenly exchanged wary glances. It was a very risky move they had decided to take, but it was all because of that person’s promise, if that person succeeded, they would gain bountiful advantages, but if that person were to fail, it would mean they had offended the old lion Stanley Sterling, and that would cost them very dearly.

At this moment, despite the boldness additional benefits brought them, they could no longer utter another word.

A wise animal in the wild would lay in wait for two predators to battle one another, eventually there would be a victor and a loser, the loser would be reduced to the victor’s meal, and the victor would inevitably share the spoils of war with the onlookers when it had it’s fill.

The board members knew this strategy all too well, in this battle, the tacitly decided to stay neutral after hearing elder Sterling’s threat.

At this very moment, the boardroom doors swung open.

"No need to throw threats around Dad, the board members aren’t going against the Sterling family, they just want to ensure that the company goes to the right family member. With the father still alive and well, how can the son take leadership?" Michael Sterling effortlessly strolled into the boardroom his every step echoing self assurance and the fulfilment one would see on the face of a man who had won, who had achieved his goal.

Elder Sterling didn’t look surprised to see his own son walk through the doors, he had suspected as much.

Disappointment shot through elder Sterling’s heart like an arrow, that wave of disappointment came with a familiar ache in the left side of the older man’s chest.

It seemed Michael hadn’t given up after all, he was planning to steal the position of CEO in the company from his own son.

.....

Anne left her office a few minutes after lunch break heading to the executive floor to submit some files to the director’s office for approval. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Just this morning she had told herself she wouldn’t interact with Andrew at work in order not to fuel rumors or exacerbate gossips, however when the task to take these specific files to his office had cropped up, Anne subconsciously found herself picking them up herself and willingly going up to submit them even though she could have someone else do it.

’It will only be for a few minutes.’ she told herself as she walked hastily down the empty halls towards his office.

Somehow, there was a sense of anticipation in her heart. Somehow, there was a sense of longing.

Was she missing him already when it had barely been a few hours since she’d seen him?

She reached the door of his office and quickly raised her hand to knock but stopped when she heard a familiar female voice from inside the office and noticed that the door was left opened a tiny crack as if someone had forgotten to shut the door fully after entering.

"You didn’t know?" The female asked with a tone of incredulity in her voice.

Clara.

Anne’s soft brows pulled together in a frown.

What was Clara talking to Andrew about? Anne wondered as she lingered outside the door for a moment more.

"I mean, I know you aren’t that much interested in the lives of the employees in this company, but I just thought to help a friend. She once worked with me and I don’t want her to have to encounter so much stress working on this project, a pregnant woman shouldn’t be made to carry the heavy weight of too much stress. Please give the new project to my team, Anne is currently pregnant and her team won’t be able to handle it."

The only thought in Clara’s mind as she delivered this piece of news directly to Andrew was elation and a hint of anticipation of his reaction.

’Yes Andrew, the girl you seem so interested in is nothing but a whore carrying some nobody’s child.’