Chapter 72

XANDER

My car screeched into an halt, and I exited it, My gaze moving to the hospital building in front of me. A smirk appeared on my lips, and I tucked my hands in my pocket, going into the hospital. I asked asking for Silvana's room, and I was led to it.

"Thank you." I said go the nurse as we stopped in front of a VIP ward. The nurse nodded and walked away. I placed my hand on the doorknob, turning it slowly and the door opened.

I carefully made my way in, my smirk widening at the sight of Silvana's unconscious body on the bed.

"Oh, Silvana." I twitched my tongue silently, shaking my head as I took more steps closer to her.

My actual plan was getting her dead, but she happened to survive it. Either way, luck was on my side, because she didn't wake up for three straight days, which caused an uproar in the company. The main reason why I was here. I heard my father was here but looking around, there was no sight of him. I wonder where he ran off to.

Anyways, I would catch him later. As I leaned closer to stare at Silvana's pale face, a smile curved on my lips. I reached out to caress her cheek, eventually pulling hard at it, but it was just for a few seconds, because the door opened at that moment.

I quickly withdrew my hand, the smile on my face vanishing as I turned around to see my dad and James. They walked in, staring at me with surprised look on their faces. Well, that should be for my dad though, because James had a blank look on his face and didn't even spare me a glance.

'He must be really sad.' I held myself from chuckling and turned to my dad.

"I came here for you, let's see outside." I told him and walked past him, going out of the ward.

In the next minutes, Dad and I were seated at a booth in the hospital's cafeteria, with our eyes on each other.

"Why do you want to see me?" My dad asked and I took my phone out, showing him my screen which contained the news going around about the improper disposition of chemical wastage, including the shareholders reaction to the news and Silvana's accident.

"The shareholders especially, are going crazy. There is a fall in the price of our stocks and they are even pressing for a new president."

My dad's face scrunched up in a frown , "So what are you implying?"

"Give me your shares." I replied without hesitating and he scoffed. "I already told you to forget about it."

"Then would you watch someone else, a total stranger take control of the company? You know how it is, the Interim President is just a disguise, their aim is to take control of the company."

"Are you any different?" My dad raised his brows and I let out a brief chuckle, locking eyes with him.

"I'm family." I asserted. "Choose one, family or a complete stranger." I posed at him and his face became stiff.

'That's it.' I let out a small smirk. Just give me your answer.

"Fine, I'm going to give you my shares, only for a while. I'm gonna take it back when Silvana wakes up."

I scoffed inwardly. That's if she would even get to wake up, because I'm not planning on keeping her alive. I'm going to get rid of her as planned, after taking care of this.

"Good choice." I passed a smile at my father before reaching out to open my briefcase. I took the documents there and dropped it on the table, in front of him.

His brows furrowed. "What's this?"

"It's an agreement form to give your shares to me." I replied and he snickered. "You really are thorough."

"That's right. I'm not as incompetent as you think." I said in agreement and placed a pen beside the paper.

"Go on." I urged and he looked at the document, his eyes scanning through the paper before taking the pen.

I smiled, expecting him to sign it, but he drew a line on something.

"What are you doing?" I asked, peering at the document and he looked up. "You seemed to make a mistake and I'm helping you correct it."

"What do you mean?"

He drummed on the line he drew. "You didn't put an end date."

"Is that needed?" I said with an eye roll, but he nodded. "It is, because I'm only planning to release the shares for a month." He looked up, a smirk tugging at his lips, "According to the doctor, Silvana would wake up between now and the end of the week. She would probably use one or two weeks to recover, so if we look at it, there is actually a bonus of two weeks."

"What?" I scoffed in belief. My dad just smiled and wrote the terms he wanted before he signed it, then he tossed the document back to me.

"That's it, you have what you want, but don't try to act stupid, you will regret." He said with a smile then he stood up. He patted my shoulder twice before walking off. My fists folded on my lap as I continued sitting. This man is really annoying.

I stood up from the chair and walked out of the hospital to the parking lot. I got in my car, heading straight to the company, not Hardins Construction, but Hardins headquarters. As I stepped into the company, I came across Mr Greg, which was quite favourable.

"Call for a press conference tomorrow." I said and made to go to the elevator, but he held me.

"Why should I do that?"

I smirked and slowly moved back to stand in front him. I raised up the signed document. "I'm the Interim President as of today."

"What! How is that possible?"

"I am the highest shareholder after Silvana, so it's right for me to take her position, so..." I moved a bit closer to him and took my hand to his tie, fixing it well, with my eyes locked on him. "get the shareholders and do as I ask... right now."

I let go of his tie, hitting his chest lightly before walking away.
__________

THE NEXT DAY

I was currently in my office, which happened to be Silvana's before yesterday. In few minutes, the press conference would start and I was eagerly waiting for it. I would be announcing myself as the Interim President of the group for now and also apologizing for the chemical waste scandal.

The door opened and I turned to see Mr Greg standing there, an hesitant look on his face which I would soon wipe off soon.

"The press conference will begin in two minutes." He reported.

With a whistle, I walked out of the office with him. We went through the elevator before we got to the floor where the press conference was taking place. As I stepped into the floor, camera flashes flashed on me. I let out a smile as I walked over to the podium, bowing slightly.

I leaned towards the mic but just as I was about speaking, the hall exploded in murmurs. My gaze scanned their faces which had shocked look on their faces and were looking in a particular direction. The think lines of my eyebrows furrowed as I turned to the direction they were staring at.

My eyes widened when I saw someone standing there with a gallant smile on her face... SILVANA.