Chapter 8

Louie walked in stride for the company.

In his mind Rosalie’s decision still irritated him deeply, his determination to continue not yielding to him drove him crazy.

And now she had been approved, this due to her small break-in at her meeting with some shareholders and directors.

But no problem, there were still many people who would not support a woman as CEO.

Louie Valois walked by the Empire company, chin up he entered the office of the director of Marketing.

The man turned to him, surprised at his entrance.

" Mr. Valois. " Pronounced the director.

Louie looked around, and walked to the coffee maker without looking at the director.

Then he poured coffee, standing with his back to the other man.

After a few seconds, Louie overheard Marketing Director Bresson trying to get his attention.

Louie Valois turned slowly and looked at Bresson, who was now standing facing him.

" Do you need something, Mr. Valois? " he asked him, Bresson.

Louie drank some of her coffee, then looked at the director.

" How long have you worked for the Empire Group, Bresson?"

That question intrigued him, but he soon responded.

" About 15 years ago."

Louie nodded, and asked if Bresson wanted some coffee, the man accepted.

When Louie approached to give him the glass, he asked him:

" Do you believe in this company, Bresson?"

The director nodded his head.

" And you believe she has a future with the widow who only married my brother for money?"

His words made Bresson hold the glass tighter, making noise.

Louie saw how the director’s gaze wandered to the window, and his teeth cracked.

It was exactly the reaction that Louie wanted, that the director of Marketing, Bresson felt indignant, insulted.

" Rosalie was a poor woman, out of the garbage of Lille, my brother fell madly in love with her. " Louie walked to the window, then turning his back to the director, he continued, his gaze fixed on the city of Lille. " Rosalie, of course, saw only the money."

" What does she think she can achieve by challenging everyone like that? " asked Bresson.

Louie turned to him, and straight, he said:

" Power. Rosalie has always longed for power, all her life. But you see, Bresson, she’s not qualified for the job, and it doesn’t just affect her. It affects all of us."

Bresson agreed with Louie.

The man threw his empty cup in the trash, then walked to the director and handed him a paper.

Bresson looked at the address on the paper, then turned his gaze to Louie.

" What is it, huh?"

" My address. " replied Valois. " If you don’t want to see the Empire Group collapse, and consequently you, show up at that address, and bring the other directors."

Louie left him alone in his office, holding the paper.

That night, Louie Valois poured himself wine and watched the directors, each of them sitting in his living room.

Louie served an imported whiskey to the directors, there were many of them at that meeting in his apartment.

" Bresson told us that Mr. Valois has called us here, although we share the same opinions about her sister-in-law, nothing can help us but disapprove of her, Mr. " pronounced Rondel, the director of operations.

Louie nodded, then walked among the men.

" You underestimate our power in the company, my friend. I tell you, Rondel, that the widow Valois is nothing without us, that the Empire Group belongs to us much more than to her! " exclaimed Louie, and the men looked at each other.

" She has the permission has the approval of the shareholders to be as CEO, I do not see how we can prevent this! " He hit Rondel, and others agreed with him.

" You tell the truth, Rondel, we can’t take you away from CEO, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show you that she doesn’t have our approval, we’ll make Rosalie wish to return to her housewife life! " replied Louie, and saw how proud we were the sparkle and enthusiasm in the eyes of his allies.

Rosalie would regret not having submitted to him, Louie Valois thought.

[...]

Rosalie stood up with the first rays of sun.

He was in severe pain, this was due to injuries to his body from the explosion.

She took her meds and got ready for another day at the company, had been working hard to understand everything about the Empire Group for a few days.

The woman got in the car and went to the business building, had scheduled that morning a meeting with some directors, wanted a report of their sectors.

I needed to understand how each one worked.

Rosalie crossed the lobby and noticed some strange looks.

She got into the elevator and ignored them, knew full well that most of the staff were loyal to Louie, or at least had sympathy for him.

That was Louie’s move, he involved people who didn’t know him in a network of dangerous seduction.

She pressed the number of the eleventh floor, where the meeting with the directors would be prepared.

On the third floor the elevator opened, and she came across Louie Valois.

The man smiled softly at her, and Rosalie considered getting out of the elevator.

However, Louie rushed in, and blocked his exit with his body.

" No need to leave, I understand that being in an enclosed space with me must be unsettling. " He muttered as the doors closed.

Rosalie didn’t move, she just stared at Louie and said,

" Unsettling is not how I would describe it, it’s more like... Disgusted. Yes, that’s the word!"

Rosalie appreciated the angry look Louie then cast, her expression whenever she made it clear she had no interest in him was more than satisfactory.

When the doors opened and she advanced to get out on her floor, she was pulled with abruptness and cornered against the elevator wall.

As he held it with one hand, with the other he pressed another elevator button. The stop button.

Then, when the doors closed he turned completely to her pressing against the icy wall of the elevator.

Their faces inches apart, the woman tried to fight him, but Louie was younger and much stronger.

" Why do you think you are so superior? " the man questioned her, he pressed her with his elbows on her neck and torso, and that only caused her more pain.

She wasn’t completely recovered from the explosion.

She wouldn’t give him the pleasure of showing pain.

" Why don’t you go get some young lady who is impressed by you? " he asked with difficulty.

He chipped his teeth and increased the pressure, she felt she would faint. But she endured.

" It will be mine, as well as everything that was his. " he swore.