His Collateral

Chapter 32

As I entered the office, Marco followed closely behind me and gestured to a seat at the far end of the long, polished table. I made my way to the chair, feeling a sense of gravity wash over me. I couldn't help but think that this was Alessandro's usual seat, and a wave of emotions washed over me.
Marco took his place beside me, his eyes scanning the room. "I believe we're all here," he stated, his voice firm and confident. He paused for a moment before asking, "Shall we begin?"

The board members nodded in unison, some murmuring a soft "yes" or "please proceed." A few offered a brief smile, but most faces remained stern and serious.

"Good morning everyone,"
"As you're all aware, I previously had information sent out, about the CEO's wife joining us today. It is my pleasure to introduce Mrs. Bella Alessandro Rossi to the board." He gestured towards me, and I felt a surge of attention from the room. Marco's introduction hung in the air, and I knew it was my cue to speak. I took a deep breath.

"Good morning." I said, my voice was clear and confident. "I'm Bella Alessandro Rossi, the wife of your CEO, Mr. Alessandro Rossi."

I paused, making eye contact with each board member, along with the name tags on the table before them. "I'm sure you're all aware of the reason for today's meeting. Addressing the minor setback the company is currently facing. And I want to assure you all, that I'll do my best to tackle the problem in the best possible way, with your cooperation of course."

I finished speaking and just then, one of the members, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, cleared his throat and began to speak.

Mr. Smith was his name.

"'Mrs. Rossi, it's an honor to meet you,' he said, his tone polite but firm. 'However, I must respectfully disagree with your assessment of the situation. What the company is facing is more than just a minor setback- it's a crisis! And it requires more than one's best and just a few tweaks."

I felt the weight of what he had said, but kept my expression neutral.

He continued, "Your husband, the CEO, was involved in a loan sharking operation. And I'm not just talking about any loan sharking scheme - I'm talking about one that potentially funded the company with the funds realized from it.'

"And if that's the case, we're looking at a whole different level of trouble. We're talking investigations, audits, possibly a revocation of the company's license and bankruptcy."

I listened carefully to what the man had to say before speaking.

"I fully understand the severity of our current situation, but I also know that panicking will not help us find a solution. While my husband's actions are unacceptable, we can't forget about the employees who depend on this company's success for their livelihood- including us, right here in this board room."

As I spoke, I could see the weight of my words settling on their faces.
"Once this meeting is adjourned, we will establish a crisis management team to oversee our response to this situation," I explained.

"The team will comply with legal counselors and conduct a thorough investigation, starting with a comprehensive review of our financial records. We will also interview employees who worked closely with Alessandro, to gather more information."

I paused, my eyes scanning the room to see their reactions to my suggestion. My eyes caught Marco's and he gave me a subtle nod of approval.

We still have a long and challenging road ahead, but I'm determined to see it through.

I gave him a discreet thumbs up under the table and just then Mr. Smith interrupted.

"I understand your plan, Mrs Rossi, and it's a good one," Mr. Smith said, his voice measured. "But what if the investigations reveal that the company has indeed been operating with illegal funds? What then?" He leaned forward, his eyes piercing, as if daring me to confront the possibility.

"How will you handle the fallout with investors, the legal repercussions, the damage to our reputation and if any, internal complicity among employees? Can you really restore supplier trust and confidence in the company if we've been complicit in illegal activities?"

I was standing now.

"If that's the case," I began, my voice firm, "we will cooperate fully with the authorities and take responsibility. Any employee complicit in the loan sharking operation would also face similar consequences. If the CEO is serving jail time, it would be hypocritical to let others who were equally culpable go unpunished."

The room fell silent.

"This might be a difficult pill to swallow, but I do not support double standards and neither should anyone here.

"As for our investors and reputation, I will ensure that they are properly informed throughout this process. We will not hide behind legalese or corporate jargon. We will be transparent and open about the situation and the actions we are taking to rectify it. Active communication is our best bet."

As I finished speaking, I saw Mr. Smith's expression change from skepticism to humility. He sat down, his eyes cast downward, and I knew I had won him over. But it was the man sitting next to him, a bit younger with a kind face, who caught my attention. He gave me a gentle smile, and his eyes crinkled at the corners as he said, "Mrs. Rossi, I must say, I've never seen someone with such determination in a long while. I can't wait to see where this goes."

My heart swelled with gratitude, and I smiled back at him, saying, "Thank you so much sir." I felt a sense of pride and validation.

Just then, Marco, spoke up. "I think that's it for today. Thank you for your attendance. We will reconvene when necessary." He said with a nod in my direction.

The room erupted into a gentle hum of conversation and the scraping of chairs as everyone began to stand and leave.
A few of the board members lingered, engaged in quiet conversations with each other, no doubt discussing the implications of our new direction. Meanwhile, a small group of them approached me, smiling and extending their hands in introduction.

One by one, they introduced themselves, their faces now familiar, their names and roles solidifying in my mind. We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I could sense a newfound respect and openness in their demeanor. The ice had been broken, and we were no longer just strangers in a boardroom.
After the last of them was gone, and I was alone with my thoughts, I let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of the meeting slowly lifting off my shoulders. I fell back into the chair, my body sinking into the soft leather. For a moment, I just sat there, my eyes closed, savoring the silence. The tension that had built up over the past few hours began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of relief.

I did it!

The weight of the responsibility was still there, but I felt more equipped to handle it now.
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