CHAPTER 7

Michael swallowed hard. He felt his saliva land hard with a thud in his belly. He wasn't the CEO of Evans Modelling, but he felt he was the one put on the hot seat. He still couldn’t believe how his luck had changed so drastically.

"Evans Modelling," Iryna repeated and glanced at Marcus this time.

"Yes, Mrs Walters," Marcus stood up but Jeremy gestured for him to sit down and he returned to his seat.

"Mr Evans," Iryna paused, then she scoffed. "I studied your whole financial statement for last year, I also know that you have been the largest benefactor of Mr Walters." She removed her gloves and rubbed her hands together as she waited for Marcus to respond.

"Yes, that is very true Madam," Marcus said. The ventilation system was running at medium in the room but it didn't help Marcus' intense perspiration. He had developed dark patches on his white shirt just around his chest region.

"Nice job on the profits generated," Iryna said with a smile that was far from being sincere.

Nevertheless, Marcus sighed deeply. He was out of thick waters, he was expecting to get the same treatment as the other CEO, but for some reason, he was off the leash.

Iryna moved on and finished stating the financial statements of the other companies and closed the folder. She glanced at the young man sitting two chairs to her left, his blonde spiky hair had caught her attention but she batted her eyes to concentrate on the meeting.

"Well, since we have all gathered here, I wanted to hear what we can do to make your various companies prosper." Iryna relaxed in her chair and waited patiently for their answers.

Michael pinched Marcus' elbow hard which made him flinch.

"What the fuck? We are in a meeting!" Marcus whispered harshly. He glanced at Iryna but she wasn't looking in their direction. One of the business associate presents had demanded some provision and she was listening attentively to him.

"Tell her about the raise," Michael whispered.

"Yes, daddy, tell her about the raise. She congratulated you," Audrey added.

Marcus sighed. "Something tells me not to do that, my intuition tells me that praise doesn't sit right with her. I will prefer not to ask for a raise but for the provision of amenities," Marcus sighed.

"The heck? Come on, Marcus," Michael urged. He wished he could ask her but his guilt was eating deep at his throat. "Maybe I will ask her by myself," Michael lied, knowing well that Marcus would reject that.

He couldn’t do it himself. He just broke her heart and he didn’t know how Iryna felt towards him at that moment.

"Okay, okay! I will do that!" Marcus whispered harshly.

Marcus raised his hands as soon as the other CEO finished speaking and he could have sworn that he saw her smirk at him. Marcus quickly put his hands down but he was too late.

"Mr Evans I presume? Yes? I am listening," Iryna said with a wicked smile curling on her lips.

Marcus glanced at Michael and Audrey and the both of them nodded at him to carry on.

"Well Mrs Walters," Marcus started. He adjusted his tie and cleared his throat. "My company did very well amongst other companies in the industry, and we generated quite a large revenue. I was hoping to multiply that, by asking for a raise," Marcus said.

There were a few grumbling sounds around the table as soon as he was done. Someone stood up at the far side of the table from Marcus' side. Iryna saw that the blonde attractive young man was the one to stand up.

"Mrs Walters, if you may allow me to speak?" he asked politely

Reynold Spencer was his name. He was the CEO of the largest engineering consulting firm.

"You may," she permitted him before she could stop herself. She wondered why she had permitted him easily, it was her table, her meeting, her company, and he didn't have the right to talk.

But well, she had permitted him.

"Mr Evans, you are already the largest benefactor, surely asking for a raise here isn't fair. Besides your annual revenue is just a few billion away from some of our top associates present here," Reynold said.

"It doesn't change the fact that I am doing better than most of you," Marcus retorted. He felt annoyed at the young man. "I have the right to demand a raise if I am doing well," Marcus gritted his teeth.

"By just a few billion? It means that we are incurring a big loss here!" Reynold lost his cool.

"Mrs Walters, I will like for us to proceed in our talks," Marcus deliberately ignored him.

Iryna’s wicked smile only widened. This was the moment she had been waiting for.

"Actually, he is right Mr Evans, I did say that you are doing well in the market, but you could have done better with what you were collecting from my late husband," she said.

"I do not understand what you are saying Mrs Walters," Marcus blinked.

"Investment of up to twenty-five billion dollars by my husband, I don't know where it all goes to. Frankly, I will prefer a statement to be provided for that later. I learnt your daughter holds an executive position in your company but she rarely lasts fifteen minutes in her office before running out to do other things that do not concern the business, and then you ask for a raise?"

Marcus felt his energy slowly begin to drain but he refused to give up. He believed he could still wrap this young woman around his finger as he had done with Mr Walter.

"We made thirty-five billion dollars in profit Mrs Walters!" Marcus sounded desperate.

"Which is definitely a loss. I was expecting that the money invested would have been tripled, surely your modelling agency is one of the best in the world," Iryna said calmly.

"I—I—" Marcus stammered.

She had him.

"You even pay Miss Audrey Evans here a generous amount of money for warming her chair in the office while your workers are paid peanuts, and for some strange reason, your model has been asking for a raise for the last two months which he has been getting but he never stops… well that is your problem, but I don't want them to interfere with my profits," Iryna stopped.

Michael looked down at the ground. He hadn't expected Iryna to be down to the paperwork like that. He definitely knew it now, he was been targeted by her. He felt like he had been thrown into a dragon's lair with no weapon, he was sure to be roasted alive.

"From now on, everyone on this table will receive a fair share of money from me, whoever's company impresses me in the next three months, shall receive an increment, and that goes for Evans Modelling Agency too," Iryna said.

Marcus choked. "Surely there is a mistake here," his voice sounded hoarse.

"I am dropping the finances down to a minimum. I will surely provide what you need for the company but I won't be providing twenty-five billion dollars again," Iryna said firmly. Marcus was about to talk but the armed guards glared at him and he silenced himself.

Reynold smiled at Marcus and he looked away. He was happy that the old man had been dealt with, now they were all on equal grounds.

"If there isn't anything to say, then the meeting for today has been adjourned till further notice!" Jeremy announced and Iryna stood up.