HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 18: The Kingston Corporation (3)

With her uncle gone, Ayana noticed the air in the boardroom seemed a little fresher, though she still couldn’t allow herself to relax fully. The board room was filled with these shareholders, CEOs, and department heads. Most were like old foxes, each scheming in their own way for benefits.

Some of them were vying for her uncle to take up the position as the President of the Kingston corporation.

Like Shareholder McClain, who couldn’t even bother to hide his hostile glare.

While some might be thinking of taking the position for themselves. Either way, Ayana knew that she couldn’t relax just yet. Her hands were about to get full, and perhaps fuller in the near future.

’I must convince them to support me until Jason is of age.’ Her gaze turned solemn as she subtly took a deep breath and sat up straighter on the President’s chair.

’Father, please give me strength.’ She caressed the leathery surface of the chair lightly before overlapping her hands in her lap.

’’Good morning, lady and gentlemen, my name is Ayana Kingston and I will be speaking on Jason Kingston’s behalf as heir until he is of age.’’ Her voice rang out strong and steady. Her gaze sharp and brimming with confidence, both without faltering even in the presence of the old men twice her age that have many experiences in the hellish battle of the business world.

Most of the shareholders exchanged approving glances and inwardly nodded, admiring the courage of the little girl, daring to speak confidently in their presence. It seemed the young miss Kingston was more than meets the eyes.

She must have detected her the Eldest Master’s ambition or else why would she have sent him out of the boardroom with good reasons that they couldn’t have found any faults in?

’’I am aware that not all, or perhaps none of you, are supportive of my involvement in the Kingston corporation.’’ Ayana noticed how most eyes glanced at the Shareholder Mcclain, whose cheeks flushed red at the attention.

’’However, do not forget that I am at least a shareholder in the Kingston corporation, and also an heiress. The late president had never restrained my rights to participate in the succession for the position as President.’’

’’Pardon my words, young miss Kingston, but does that mean that you will push out the young master Kingston and the rightful heir from that position?’’ One of the shareholders in glasses asked, raising his hand. His words were blunt and straight to the point.

’’As I said earlier, I will be representing Jason until he’s of age.’’ Those words did not faze Ayana. She remained composed and responded calmly. ’’That also means I have no intention of competing for the position of President. The late president had also written in his will that Jason Kingston is his heir and the next president of the Kingston corporation.’’

Ayana opened the folder in front of her and carefully pulled out a piece of paper. "This is a copy of Blake Kingston’s will, the late President of Kingston Corporation," she announced, and naturally, all eyes in the room instinctively zoned on the document as she placed it beside the folder on the conference table.

’’For verification, you can speak with the late president’s attorney as I had requested for the copy from him. According to the will, Jason Kingston will inherit 40% shares in the Kingston corporation, and I, his daughter, will inherit 15% shares in the Kingston corporation.’’ As soon as she announced that, the murmurs in the boardroom became louder and every one of them discussed among themselves.

’’15% shares? To the young miss Kingston?"’

’’Doesn’t that make her a majority shareholder?’’

’’The late president had 45% shares to himself. Perhaps the late Madam Kingston had given her 10% shares to the young miss Kingston.’’

’’The late president must have added another 5% as well.’’

’’I can understand the reason for the heir to have 40% shares but the young miss....’’

Ayana calmly watched as the shareholders mostly discuss amongst themselves. The quiet ones were the department heads who did not have to worry since they were employees and all that mattered was their salaries, and the CEOs who probably did not feel threatened since their shares were mostly in the subsidiary companies, and not necessarily the Kingston corporation.

’’Young miss....’’ Ayana removed her gaze from the noisy scene and tilted her chin upward. Her eyes, to the side, where her late father’s personal assistant stood, staring at her worriedly.

’I am fine.’ She gave him an assuring smile at that moment before returning her gaze back to the noisy scene with her calm face.

’’Gentlemen.’’ Ayana raised her voice slightly, and luckily she got most of their attention. ’’Is there a problem?’’ She asked with a small smile.

Did these people seriously have a problem with her father and mother leaving her with 15% shares?

Aren’t they too greedy for their good?

’’Well....’’

’’The....’’ Some of the shareholders exchanged glances before one of them coughed. ’’The shares...they seem too much for a young girl like you to handle.’’

’’Exactly! You are a woman who will marry out in the future, young miss Kingston.’’ Seeing an opportunity, the Shareholder Mcclain was quick to spread his belief. ’’What was the late president thinking of leaving you with that much shares?’’ His eyes flared up with envy.

He was struggling with a mere 3% shares, while a twelve-year-old girl had five times more than him! She wasn’t even designated as heir in the first place!

’’If you had the Eldest Master as your guardian, we, shareholders won’t be worried about the 15% shares in your name.’’

’’Mcclain is right.’’

’’The young miss Kingston hasn’t mentioned a thing about a guardian.’’

’’Isn’t the young miss and the Eldest master on bad terms?’’

’’He’s still the suitable person as her guardian.’’

’’I have never heard of the late Madam having relatives.’’

’’True. Her mother died early and her father died some years back.’’

’’The Eldest Master is the only suitable person as the young miss and young master’s guardian.’’

’Hmph!’ Shareholder Mcclain harrumphed inwardly and looked around to see his fellow shareholders discussing among themselves.

In the end, the young miss Kingston would have no choice but to accept the Eldest Master back.

Shareholder Mcclain momentarily forgot his grudge and happily celebrated himself for thinking of this. He moved his gaze back to the head of the conference table, hoping to see the discomfort on the little girl’s face, but his smile froze at the confidence that had not yet wavered from her countenance.

She had a small smile on her face, and her eyes were as calm and indifferent as from the beginning of the board meeting. Shareholder Mcclain suddenly a feeling that she was amused by the scene before her.

Meanwhile, Ayana did not care for the shareholder Mcclain who started this argument of her guardian. In her mind, the man was a petty fat man who could even hold a grudge against a twelve-year-old child like herself.

Even if she wasn’t mentally a child.

’’Gentlemen.’’ This time, she did not raise her voice, and perhaps they were waiting for her words, the murmurs ceased into a pin dropping silence in the boardroom.

Ayana was momentarily speechless by these shareholders. In her opinion, it was quite amusing to watch them struggle and battle for their own greed in the same room.

’’Thank you for your kind suggestions, gentlemen, but I have yet to finish my statement.’’ Ayana coolly pointed out their impatience.

’’...’’

’’...’’

’’......’’

Now, it was the turn of the shareholders to be momentarily speechless by her boldness.

"I mentioned earlier that I will take over for Jason until he is of age," Ayana began, her tone serious. ’’That also includes running the Kingston Corporation once I become of age. My plan is to work my way up, starting in the sales and marketing department. I will prove to all of you that investing in me as the future President of Kingston Corporation will not end in failure’’ She paused, allowing her words to sink in their heads.

In a way, Ayana could understand why these shareholders were not willing to believe her. She was nothing but a mere child with no experience in business.

How could they blindly support someone like that with their money on the line?

’’Naturally, the majority shareholders can determine whether or not I am fit to be the President at that time.’’ She continued. ’’Until then, the guardian of my choice will have to fill in the seat of the President.’’

’’And who might that be, young miss?’’ One of the shareholders asked what everyone was curious about at the moment.

Who did the young miss want as her’s and the young master Kingston’s guardian, and the new President?

’’The first young master of the Kingston family, Noah Kingston.’’ Ayana revealed calmly.