At the age of 17 Mariana Deliro is given a multi-million dollar company, by who? That's anyone's guess. Money may seem like a blessing but don't be fooled, it's a curse in disguise. With money comes: lying, deceit, betrayals and even a twisted myste...
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Jackson and I stand inside the tall building while the crowd gathers outside the door.
I pace back and forth, my blazer flowing at the sharp turns.
"Hey." Jackson says. He stops me walking by grabbing my waist and pulling me into his chest. "No one could do this better than you."
"I could name a list."
"I'm sorry, who was the one Ira chose to run this company? Oh that's right, she chose you. She wanted it to be you. Rhi, I know you and I know that you've got this." He assures me.
I take a deep breath.
"I'm ready." I state and he moves his hands from my waist, one of them latches onto my hand.
"Damn right you are." He says with a proud smile.
Hand in hand, we walk up to the door. The door is made of one sided glass so from in here we can see just how many people have shown up.
Tons of people stand outside, the glass door the only thing separating us. People stand with cameras, phones, microphones. So many people are gathered, waiting for me to give a speech. Word must have gotten out to everybody because there's no way all of these people are news reporters.
I open the door in front of me and immediately the cameras are flashing and reminding me of that night.
Just breathe.
You've got this.
Jackson squeezes my hand in support and I manage to walk forward to the podium. I step up onto the temporary stage slightly to the side of the building.
Jackson stands by Cathrine and Penny at the front of the crowd and beside one of the cameras. He sends me a smile and a reassuring wink.
I take a breath before my eyes go to the crowd in front of me.
"Hi." I say speaking into the microphone. "A lot of you probably know who I am. I am the current owner of this fine company behind me. My name is Mariana Deliro. I asked you all to come here today so that I could tell you about someone. You've probably heard about what happened here the other night, but you don't know the full story. You see, I figured out who killed the board. I'm not allowed to name names or say anything much on the topic yet because it can be classed as a 'defamatory statement'." I say with quotation marks over the last part. "But you probably have your suspicions based on who was arrested and hasn't yet been released. But I'm not here to talk about that today. Through my research, I figured out who owned the company, who made it what it is today and I want to honour that person today. Ira Wali was a strong independent woman. She was kind and thoughtful and spread only happiness. Anyone that she came across was enchanted to meet her. She made sure to show her employees the topmost respect and kindness and no one who ever worked for her or really knew her had a bad word say about her." My eyes shift to Penny for my next words. "Ira was in a relationship with my aunt and I recently found out that Ira had planned to propose to her. I found the ring." I say holding it up. "It was hidden away in the old supply closet and with it I found a letter. I'm not going to read it out because it's personal but she always had faith in me and I hope that I have and will continue do her proud. I also want to thank Cathrine who has been incredible and has taken over for the last 11 years without her we also wouldn't be here today. I want to thank the person that means the most to me too, the person who has held my hand and stood by my side through everything. Who I would quite literally not be here without, so thank you Jackson." I say, my eyes on his. "And to all of my friends that've helped me. And I just want to end this speech by saying how proud I would've been to have Ira in my family and in my heart, she always will be. Thank you for your time." I say.
