Chapter 10

Harper.

Wednesday 9:00am

The automated glass door in the company pushed open as I walked to the front of it, without breaking my strides I walked into the company, Every staff I came across in the company paused in their tracks and turned to me bowing in greeting.

I was putting on a purple suit gown that stopped a little above my waist, paired with a matching orange Birkins bag and orange pointy toes stilettos.

Collin walked up to me and continued walking beside me,

“I got my appointment letter this morning,” he whispered as he pressed on the elevator and the doors went open, I nodded slowly as we both walked into the elevator,

“I’ve prepared your new office, and your Plaque as COO have also been placed there,” He explained and I just nodded at him slowly as he spoke.

“Also, there would be a meeting with all shareholders today by 12:00pm, although Ma’am Geraldine didn’t tell me to include it in your schedule, I think you should be there,” He explained, I slowly turned to look at him, it’s so early into the job and he’s already doing so well, I just knew that Collin was very reliable.

“Thank you,” I replied shortly turning back to face my front, suddenly it hit me a feeling of Deja Vu, like I have done this before, I literally have done this before, I reached out and held onto the wall beside me, as flashes of my past life came back to me,

*Me walking out of an elevator on heels,I was in such an hurry to get some files to mom in her office, I didn’t look where I was going and I didn’t realize that the janitor was still cleaning, she had a bucket at the entrance of the Elevator and the floor was still quite wet from her cleaning, in haste to get to mom I kicked the bucket the janitor careless left lying in front of the elevator , being on heels made it worse, not only did I trip, the dirty water also poured all over my clothes and I slipped messing up the whole floor and ofcourse I went home with a broken ankle I could barely walk without crutches for days*

I exhaled deeply as I remembered the particular incident my heart breathing heavily in my chest, funy story that particular Wednesday, Collin was also in the elevator with me, I felt Collin’s hands on my shoulder as he stepped closer to me,

“Are you okay?!” He asked in a whispered, I nodded slowly blinking rapidly as I slowly removed my hands from the wall and took off my shoes, Collin stared at me confused as I took off my shoes, standing barefooted and holding my shoes thightly in my right hand,

“The doors are opening” the automated voice of the elevator said as soon as we got to our floor and the doors slowly slid open, my grip on my shoes in my hands thightened, I just stood still inside the elevator as I stared out, flashes of me falling and breaking my legs flashed through my eyes,

My eyes quickly spotted the janitor's bucket still left carelessly on the floor, in the same exact position as before. My grip on my shoes tightened, and I used them as a counterbalance as I walked with care, watching my step, the floor was still quite wet and I took slow steps and made my way to my office.

My heart rose and fell in my chest as I continued walking to my office barefooted,

“Are you okay?!” Collin whispered behind me, I nodded slowly looking straight ahead as I walked into my new office.

“Do you need anything?!” He asked as he walked in behind me and closed the door shut,

“Get me coffee,” I whispered as I dropped my bag on the table, he nodded slowly turned around and walked out.

*

I stood by the window staring out of it quietly, this office really had the best location, the view out of the window was a very beautiful and serene garden, unlike the other office when you look out, it’s either a busy street or the exhaust pipes or generator of the company or nothing at all.

My mind wandered back to what happened this morning, I slowly turned to look at the orange heels in a corner of my office, I had now changed into a comfy white sneakers, if I could prevent an incident from happening again, does this mean I could prevent my death from happening?! I exhaled deeply , all this is still a lot to take in at once and I was just trying to be strong.

If I’m able to scale through today in this office without breaking my legs, it actually means I have a shot at living and preventing my death.

I heard the door to my office creak open and I slowly turned to look to it, it was Collin,

“Harper, it’s time for the meeting,” he said to me, I turned around immediately and picked up my bag, I turned to look at my orange shoes at the corner of the room, about to wear it, I decided against it and just decided to go with the sneakers.

“What are you doing here?!” I heard Mom voice calmly ask as I was about to go into the conference room, I paused in my tracks as I inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled, I spun around and turned to look at her, she approached me with her small crew of three, I had a smug look on my face as she stopped few inches away from me.

“Is there any reason for me to not be here?!” I asked, her eyes dimmed as she stared at me, she bit the insides of her lips and I could tell she was doing everything possible to hold herself from yelling.

“The business of this company doesn’t concern you!” She snorted, my lips stretched into a small smile,

“Actually it does, have you forgotten I’m COO now?! Besides what better time is it to announce to the rest of the board about my promotion?!” Just as she wanted to reply, Michelle walked up to us where we stood,

“You let her come here too?!” Michelle scoffed turning to look at Mother, I turned to her with an exaggerated smile.

“Get used to me sis,” I muttered and with that I turned around and walked into the conference room Collin following closely behind me.

I took my seat behind the long well polished wooden table, I had been here before, not as a participant but as an errand girl, I adjusted into my chair trying to get in character and carry the title well, the other shareholders also saw me as just a staff and I planned to change that perspective today!

My eyes locked onto Mother’s as she strode confidently to her seat at the head of the table as the Chairperson, her demeanor is as composed as ever, her face unreadable. But I know there’s more to her than she lets out.

I’ve seen the way her decisions have cut corners, often at the expense of the company’s workers and quality standards. It’s time someone held her accountable.

As the meeting began, She moved through the usual formalities with polished efficiency, discussing the company's latest projects, financials, and plans for expansion. I listened carefully, trying to get all off my facts and basis of action right.

“Very soon, we’ll have BM on Board” she finally announced, I’m sure this is the first time she’s making this announcement to the board, I’ll be done with the program soon and now was just the perfect time.

“Harper is taking a fifteen month course, once she’s done, we’ll close the deal!” She continued.

“This will be our most prestigious development yet," she declared,

"It’ll be fast-tracked to completion, with a team working around the clock to meet the deadlines."

My ears perked up at this, Fast-tracked construction exactly! This was their plan all along and this is why the building collapsed, fast tracked often means compromising on safety and quality.

I made a mental note to look into her intent for this project further, I didn’t see this angle while we began working in the BM project before, I could use this to my advantage.

The conversation shifted to cost-cutting measures, with Mother suggesting ways to reduce expenses on materials and labor.

I bristled at the idea of underpaying workers and using substandard materials to cut costs. It's the kind of decision that can lead to safety hazards and legal troubles down the line, wow! so this was all that went on inside this room and then I had to work my heads off all around the clock to keep their mess in check and away from the public.

“Harper here would be promoted to position of COO, its a carefully well thought about decision and this is what is best for the company,” I suddenly heard Mother say, I slowly looked up and turned to lock gaze with her,

“Took you long enough, she’s Sir Damien’s first daughter after all,” Mr Henry spoke out first, I turned to look at him quietly, the other shareholders began to speak also,

“I’m sure there would be a major difference now, Harper is so useful, she takes after Sir Damien,” they muttered amongst themselves, I turned to look at Michelle and she definitely wasn’t enjoying how they complimented me.

“When would the press conference hold, to formally introduce her to the public?!” Mr Henry asked, Mother and I instinctively looked away from each other and turned to him.

“That wouldn’t be necessary,”

“Absolutely it would be very necessary, we held a press conference for Michelle when she was appointed General director, it’s very necessary we do the same for the first daughter of the family,” Mr Henry said and the others agreed with him, my lips stretched into a small smile as I looked away from him and slowly Looked my gaze on mother again,

Soon, Everything would change! I thought, my smile becoming even wider.