Instantly recognizing it, she catches the end instead of having it wrapped around her wrist. 'I will see you in the finals.' Pulling on the cord, she breaks the anchor.
Quattro almost loses his balance. 'I'm not waiting. It's here and now, Neith.'
'You need to exercise more patience. It will get you so much further in life.' Neith doesn't listen to him and turns around. 'Some things are more important than a duel.'
'Like what!' Quattro looks at her with big eyes. Once more that he has to see her go.
Not listening anymore, Neith takes off with Nebula following.
***
Waiting for the executives, Neith looks out the window to the city. Normally such a view could calm her mind. Mr. Heartland already announced that the preliminaries are over. For as far as the tournament is concerned, she only has the party tonight.
'Do you know why we are here?'
'No idea, I can't even stay that long because I have an appointment.' The man shakes his head and sees a woman by the window.
Another man comes in and his look goes to the woman, dressed in black pants and a dark green shirt. 'Who is she?'
Neith can hear the voices and turns around. 'Take a seat, gentlemen. We will get started as soon as everyone is here.' Luckily enough that doesn't take long.
Kiki joins them and closes the door behind her.
'Why are we here? I have an appointment in half an hour and a staff meeting in ten minutes,' commands a man, clearly older. Visible by his grey hair and wrinkles in his face.
Some others nod in agreement.
Neith looks around the table. 'This is a takeover, my father won't be coming here anymore.'
'What?'
'No, I'm not listening to a teenager,' replies a more bald man.
A woman shakes her head. 'Why won't Mason be coming back.'
'Is that a resignation? Otherwise, you can leave right now and pack your stuff.' Neith can see that her harsh words strike a nerve.
The man narrows his eyes. 'I don't have to listen to you. You don't run this company. We do,' he gestures to everyone around the table.
Only to cross her arms. 'Is that your last word?' Neith looks him straight in the eye.
'Yes,' he says confidently.
'You're fired, effective immediately.' Neith is not finished talking or they all stare in disbelieve.
The man shakes his head. 'You have no authority...'
'Kiki, call security.' Neith looks at the woman.
Kiki picks up the phone. 'I need security in the conference room.'
Everyone else keeps quiet, as they look from Neith to the man.
Not a moment later, two men arrive, all dressed in black and with a security badge.
'Escort Mr. Yakimo out of the building. He no longer works here.' Neith knows perfectly that people do listen to her.
The two securities take the man outside the conference room and disappear.
'What happened to Mason,' asks a woman.
Neith looks at her. 'Car accident last night and he's dead.' She takes a deep breath. 'If you don't like it that I'm running this company then you can leave.'
'Is this a hostile takeover?' Some other man sounds. Afraid that he might lose his job.
Only to shake her head. 'It doesn't have to be.'
'But you did just fire Ken.'
'Are you kidding me? He was asking for it. It's not like Neith is firing all of us... Right?'
Everyone turns their head to their new boss.
'I'm taking over from Mason, however, it doesn't mean I'm changing the infrastructure of this entire company. Unless you don't want a teenager,' she emphasizes the word extra, 'as your boss then you are out of a job.'
'Works for me.' A man gets up. 'I have to run or I'm gonna be late.'
'Alright, I will talk to each of you individually to know what you're working on now and what kind of projects will be next to be up to date. Go, I know you're all busy.' Neith can see that they all leave fast.
Leaving Kiki in the room as last. 'You didn't want to fire Mr. Yakimo, did you?'
'No,' answers Neith while going to the office that use be her fathers, 'I need you to catch me up with everything you know. I do have a finalist party tonight, so I leave in time to go home. Starting on Wednesday, I want to talk to a few executives. You make an appointment with their secretary.'
Kiki nods with a faint smile. 'I think you make a fantastic boss. You sure handled everything accordingly. You even dressed for it.'
In her office, Neith takes a seat in her chair. 'No calls until after lunch.'
'Of course, unless they need an answer right away.' Kiki goes back to her desk.
With that, Neith is alone and she starts the computer. One last look and she knows that Kiki closed the office door for her.
***
Celeste's mouth falls open when she hears that her sister is now the boss of the company. 'I can't believe that you fired Ken. I know him.'
Sipping from her glass of wine, Neith nods. 'So do I, nevertheless, he didn't want to listen to me because I am a teenager.'
Grinning Celeste puts her glass down. 'You are much more an adult than a teenager. We only have a few years between us yet the gap seems larger at times. Most likely since you're taking a lot more responsibility and not to mention independence. You don't need anyone.' She eats the last bite. 'You build SAM, Cosmo, and Nebula. Just like you walk Comet in the morning and evening. I know that you don't want a man in your life yet but whoever you get, he should consider himself lucky.'
'Celeste, please, don't cut yourself short. There might be a few years between us but you are good on your way too. Finish high school, go to a university if you want, and find a job that you feel comfortable with.' Neith puts her knife and fork down. 'I am not forcing you to work at the same company. Nor do you want me to be your boss.'
She laughs. 'Yeah, I'll pass on that. I don't want any fights that continue here at home. But you don't mind working there? Dad's company was the main reason for our income, however, we don't need it anymore.'
'Still, at some point, I'll stop hunting Number cards nor that I will duel in every tournament. I'm looking at my future, Celeste, I mean, my life seems hectic at times now but it won't stay that way.' Neith is fully aware that she will settle down. 'We don't have long anymore. Take a shower and get dressed. We have a party to attend to.'
With a smile, Celeste gets up. 'I will. Yuma will be in the finals as well.'
'I will see him at the party then.' Neith looks after her, as her sister goes to her room.
***
Do you think that Neith has a busy, hectic life? Or was she in her right to fire someone like that?
Let me know in the comments, like, and share it.
The party is next.