Chapter 24: Radiating control

We drove for hours from the airport to the extremely luxurious hotel that I had heard we would be staying at. The anticipation built up inside me as I wondered why exactly we had come to country Z. The purpose of our visit remained a mystery, and my curiosity only grew stronger.

After settling into the hotel room, I couldn't resist the urge to explore the surroundings. I stood up from the comfortable bed and moved to the window, gazing out at the breathtaking view of country Z's beautiful city. The streets were adorned with tall red and orange flowering plants and trees, creating a vibrant and picturesque scene. The city's skyline was adorned with magnificent skyscrapers that reached towards the heavens, leaving me in awe of the human capacity for architectural brilliance.

Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly pulled back to reality by the sound of the hotel room door opening. Turning around, I saw Adrian, the enigmatic figure who had brought me here. His stern gaze met mine, and a sense of unease washed over me. I couldn't help but wonder what I had done wrong for him to treat me with such coldness.

"Let's go," he commanded, his voice carrying an air of authority.

Confusion tinged my words as I tried to gather some information. "Where are we going?"

His response was firm and direct. "Don't ask questions and do as I say."

His words left me with no choice but to follow him obediently. We walked out of the room, and a sense of trepidation settled within me, mingled with a growing curiosity about the unknown path that lay ahead.

*****

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Donovan Corps in country Z, a sense of discontent permeated the atmosphere. The twenty-five people gathered in the hall were growing increasingly frustrated with the young CEO, Adrian Donovan. He had summoned them for a meeting fifteen hours ago, only to leave them waiting without any explanation. The employees had their own tasks to attend to, and the delay was causing mounting frustration.

Adding to their displeasure was the fact that Adrian, despite his young age, seemed to disregard the respect typically accorded to elders. His majority ownership of sixty percent of the company shares allowed him to wield his power with a sense of entitlement.

Just as the tension reached its peak, Adrian finally made his entrance into the room. The atmosphere turned icy as the murmurs died down, and the employees could practically hear their own heartbeats. Each person stood up straight, their eyes fixed on the imposing figure who exuded an aura of power and control.

The room fell into a stunned silence as the employees noticed something even more astonishing. Adrian had brought a lady with him, a clear violation of their established rules.

"M-Mr. Donovan, this is not in accordance with the rules," one of the men managed to speak up, reminding him of the protocols he himself had established.

Adrian remained silent, refusing to acknowledge the objection raised.

"Sit down," he commanded, and despite the invisible tremors running through their bodies, each person complied, taking their seats.

His piercing gaze swept across the room, instilling a deep sense of fear in the hearts of the employees. They held their breath, waiting for him to speak.

"I have gathered you all here because three days ago, I received news about a significant drop in our stock value," Adrian's voice resonated with authority, his words echoing throughout the room.

"The value plummeted from 800 billion to 658 billion, and as we speak, our company's worth and income have shrunk significantly."

A wave of concern swept through the room as the employees absorbed the gravity of the situation. The excessive financial commitments made by the company had drained its cash reserves, exacerbating the crisis. Adrian's next words sent shockwaves through the room.

"I have decided to halt the launch of the new project scheduled for the coming days until we regain the stock we have lost. To achieve this, we will be acquiring shares from Falcon International," he declared, prompting a flurry of questions and objections from the employees.

"Mr. Donovan, purchasing shares from Falcon International at this point is not a wise decision..."

"Sir, the market value is too high for such an investment..."

The room erupted into a chaotic buzz of voices, each person eager to voice their concerns and opinions about the potential risks involved in acquiring shares from Falcon International.

"SILENCE!" Adrian's commanding voice cut through the commotion, instantly restoring order. The employees fell silent, their fear and frustration palpable.

Even Anna, the lady who had accompanied Adrian, felt a mixture of fear and disgust. She watched as Adrian snarled at the older men in the room, treating them as though they were children.

"If you wish to express your opinions, stand and present them like rational adults, not barking like mad dogs," he admonished.

Anna could sense the deep irritation and resentment boiling within the men, but they dared not question his behavior.

"Mr. Donovan, Falcon International is currently facing bankruptcy, and their CEO is liquidating the company, flooding the market with additional shares. It would not be wise for us to purchase shares under these circumstances. I implore you to reconsider," Mr. Williams, a senior executive, spoke up with a trembling voice.

Adrian's piercing gaze settled on Mr. Williams as he contemplated the objection. The room held its breath, waiting for the CEO's response.

"Does anyone else oppose?" Adrian's voice rang out, searching the room for any dissenting voices.

A few seconds passed in tense silence until a man named Colton, emboldened by Mr. Williams' objection, stood up and voiced his agreement. "I agree with Mr. Williams. It would be imprudent to proceed with the acquisition of Falcon International shares given the current circumstances."

Adrian's eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting between Mr. Williams and Colton. A sense of disappointment and anger emanated from him as he made his decision.

"Very well. If there are no others who wish to join them, it seems that their time in my company has come to an end," Adrian declared coldly.

The room erupted into chaos once again, this time filled with disbelief and shock. The realization hit the employees like a thunderbolt. They were being fired from Donovan Corps, the most prestigious and financially powerful company in the world. Being associated with the Donovan name was a mark of distinction, and losing that connection was a tremendous blow to their professional reputations.

"That is my decision. I hope you all have a safe journey back to your respective countries," Adrian concluded, his voice laced with finality. He took Anna's hand and led her out of the hall, leaving behind a room filled with stunned and disheartened employees.

As they entered the hotel room, Adrian's grip on Anna's hand remained tight, causing her discomfort. He forcefully guided her inside, slamming the door shut behind them.

He looked at her with a dark sultry gaze as his hand roamed round her face while she blinked nervously at him.

"Take off your clothes."