I Need You

37. The Decision

"Miss Mia Blaine has been declared as the CEO of the company and Former Boss's successor in everything" the room is filled with three different emotions when Klaus says these words. Happiness, disagreement and shock. 

I am shocked with what he just said. I look around the table. No one are actually shocked. Only like three persons are shaking their head in disagreement. All the others are happy. I look at Rick and Noah. These are the only people I know here. They look satisfied and happy. "How can she be his successor?" asks a person sitting two chairs away from me. Even I need answer for that. I want to know why me. That person looks at me like he is going to kill me. I just sigh and turn to Klaus. He needs to give an explanation.

"It's the order of Aaron. He passed his position to her the day he left. If you have any problem with this you can challenge the position. And this is the handwritten letter from Mr. Summers. He told me to open it if he doesn't return" everything he is speaking is too hard for me to take. Why would he do that. Why did Aaron have to involve me in this.

"I Aaron Summers hereby declare that Mia Blaine will be my successor and she would lead you all. If anyone has any problem with this, you can challenge the position and take over it if you win. But she is the strongest and wisest person I know. And I trust her with this." Klaus reads the letters. He actually did this. Everyone stays silent. 

"She is just 22 and she didn't even graduate from university" the same person who spoke earlier speaks again. The persons who are not happy with me being here nod in agreement. "I am graduate from the Michigan State University" I say and everyone is shocked. I have been practicing music for almost 4 years and everyone thought I was a college drop-out. But I am not.

"How? When?" the person asks. I don't answer that question. "Challenge the position if you want. And I am not going to answer any of your questions" I say and get from the chair to leave the room. "The meeting is finished" I say and look at Rick and Noah. They both give me a pleasant smile and I leave the room with Klaus following me.

"This side" he says motioning me to get into Aaron's room. I just do what he says. I get into the room and Aaron's scent fills my nostrils. I miss him soo much. I need him. How can he make such a big decision for me. Why did he do this.. 

"He knew he won't come back right" I ask sitting in his chair. I feel him in this room. Klaus doesn't speak anything. "Why did he have to go to Swiss ?" I ask him again. "I seriously don't know Mia. He just told he had some work there and then he gave me this file" he says looking at the file.

"What does a challenge mean?" I ask him another question. I know there are people who want to challenge me for the position. I have to be strong. Aaron believed me and I will not let this slip away. 

"When the position is passed onto a family member, there is no point of challenging for the position. When it is passed onto someone out side the former boss's family, then someone can challenge it. Challenge can be in any way. They may ask the board to vote, or you should fight with them or show that you are capable by dealing with the chaos" he says looking at me. I just nod. I don't care about the fight or dealing with the chaos. But what if it is voting.

"Is there a situation like this previously?" I ask looking at the frame on the wall before me. It holds the smiling picture of Aaron with his dad. They both aren't here now. "No. Never. As long as I know this position always belonged to the Summers. When Aaron's grandfather died, Aaron's dad was just 16. So it had been passed onto Mr. Henry Cooper temporarily. Later when Mr. Ben turned 20, he got the position and your father had been his legal advisor and the most trusted man for him" he says following my gaze on the frame. 

"How many are in favor of us" I ask. "There is a head for every country. And a head for every continent. That makes a total of 201 people. And in that the board members are like 50. In those only 5 are against us." seriously 201 heads. I just nod trying to process the information he gave me. "Why Rick and Noah are here?" I ask him. I want to know why Noah. I already know about Noah. "Aaron wanted you to be comfortable. He told the same thing to everyone. So they passed it on to their next generations. Rick's dad passed it on to Rick and Noah's brother is ill. So, he has to take it" he says organizing all the files on the table. He looks okay but he isn't. He is trying so hard to hold up his tears.

"You better leave fast. The press will be here anytime soon" I got to deal with it. I pick the car keys from the table and rush outside. I drive home. There are people everywhere. "Why did he have to go to Switzerland?" "Were you both in relation"  "Why did he make you the CEO when he has his sister and his mother?" They buzz me with endless questions as soon as I get down from the car.  "Were you with him for this" this particular question bothers me. I turn back with fiery eyes. I can feel all my anger building up inside me radiating. 

"I was with him because I love him. I don't think I need money or status. I already have mine. And he gave his position because he trusts me over the others and because I am strong enough to deal with his employees and his staff can't take anyone other than me. So better watch your mouth when you speak" I say and rush inside. I close the door behind me and fall to the floor.

Why did he have to make this decision for me? Why? Why did he leave? Why did he have to so sudden? I put all my emotions at stake. I am not crying. He took a promise to stop me from crying. He also made me do an unspoken promise to stop smiling. I have no reason to smile anymore. 

I get up from the floor and rush to his study. I search through his draw. There are some sticky notes. I take each one out. They are all his handwritten letters. I read each one only to make my condition even worse.