C129 Interim Director

Every conversation came to an abrupt halt. Tracy Wood walked in first. She was dressed in a black business suit, her face calm and unreadable. Beside her walked Sarah, carrying a folder against her chest.

Without saying a single word, Tracy walked straight toward the head of the conference table. That seat... The Director's seat... Kelvin's seat. She paused for only a second before pulling out the chair and sitting down. Sarah quietly sat beside her mother. Neither of them spoke. Before they had entered, they had heard every word exchanged between Samantha and Ben. Especially Ben's final sentence. "Even if you leave, it won't matter."

Those words echoed repeatedly in Tracy's mind. She slowly turned her eyes toward Ben. How did I raise such a son? She couldn't help asking herself. The boy she had once carried in her arms... The boy who used to hide behind her whenever he was afraid... When had he become so arrogant? When had he started measuring people's worth using money and shares?

Even worse... He had spoken to Samantha, his own wife, as though she were insignificant. The more Tracy thought about it, the heavier her heart became. Was this really the son she and Kelvin had raised? Or had greed slowly consumed him? Her disappointment deepened. She no longer recognized her own child.

Ben quickly adjusted his tie. The confidence on his face returned almost immediately. He smiled politely. "Mom..." "Sister..." "I'm glad both of you made it." Neither Tracy nor Sarah responded. They simply looked at him before facing the chairman once more. That silent response alone caused an uncomfortable feeling to spread throughout the room.

Several shareholders who had loudly promised Ben their support suddenly lowered their heads. None of them dared look at Tracy. Yesterday's five-percent market loss had already frightened them enough. Tracy had spent the entire night at the hospital thinking. Thinking about Kelvin. Thinking about the company. Thinking about Ben. Her conclusion had been simple. Ben could not rule Wood IT Company. Not now. Perhaps... Not ever.

She slowly raised her hand and pointed toward Kelvin's secretary. "Let the meeting begin." Her voice wasn't loud. Yet it carried enough authority to silence the entire room. The secretary nervously adjusted his glasses. Ben quietly returned to his seat. Although he had greeted both his mother and sister... Neither had acknowledged him. He felt something wasn't right.

The situation no longer favored him. Still... He comforted himself. I'm the only son in this family. I'm the only man capable of leading this company. Surely everyone understands that. Those thoughts restored a little of his confidence.

The secretary cleared his throat. "Madam Tracy..." "Before we begin..." "I would like clarification." She looked at him. "Speak." "Should we vote publicly..." "...or cast secret ballots before counting the votes?" Tracy's sharp eyes immediately locked onto him. The secretary instinctively swallowed. Her gaze alone made him feel as though he had committed a crime. She spoke slowly. "Do we need to hide who we support? Silence. "Or..." She continued. "Are all of you afraid?"

The room fell completely quiet. No one answered. No one even shifted in their seats. Across the table, Samantha stared at Tracy in disbelief. If this had happened yesterday... She would never have imagined her mother-in-law was this powerful. At that moment... She wanted nothing more than to run over and hug Tracy. Instead, she remained seated. She quietly whispered to herself, "Tracy... isn't as simple as everyone thinks." A smile slowly formed on her face.

Seeing that no one intended to speak, Tracy continued. "Actually..." "I don't think we even need to vote." Several people looked up. She calmly folded her hands. "Have all of you forgotten how Kelvin built this company?" She slowly looked around the room. "He worked day and night." "He sacrificed time with his family." "He carried this company on his shoulders for decades." "And now..." "The moment he falls unconscious..." "You all begin fighting like cats and mice over his chair." No one dared meet her eyes.

She continued. "Yesterday alone..." "This company lost five percent of its market value." "Was that lesson still not enough?" The conference room became even quieter.Tracy paused for a moment. "If my memory serves me correctly..." "The latest shareholder agreement signed by our company lawyers states that..." She looked directly at everyone. "My husband and I jointly own 30% of Wood IT Company."

She paused. "My daughter, Sarah Wood, owns 16%." She shifted her gaze toward Ben. "My son, Ben Wood, owns 15%." Then her eyes landed on Samantha. "My daughter-in-law, Samantha Wood, owns 9%." She paused deliberately. "I honestly don't know how that nine percent suddenly became eight percent and one percent." She looked at Ben. "According to the lawyers' records..." "Samantha Wood owns 9%." Ben lowered his head. He didn't dare interrupt.

Tracy continued. "The Argon's Group owns 3%." Her gaze shifted toward the company's representative. He immediately nodded respectfully. "The Zacarias Group owns 3%." Another shareholder acknowledged her quietly. She continued without hesitation. "Mr. Naidoo..." "You own 2.9%." Naidoo adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Kane's Plumbing owns 2.5%." The representative raised his hand. Present.

"Harding's Electronics owns 2.5%." Mr. Harding nodded respectfully. "Gupta Holdings owns 2.4%." The Gupta representative smiled nervously. "Glen's Security Services owns 2.4%." Another nod. "Mr. Yadav..." "You own 2.3%." Yadav straightened his posture. "Moonsammy Technologies owns 2.3%." The company's CEO quietly acknowledged her. "Park Beverages owns 2.2%." Another shareholder nodded. Finally... "Kayla Softwares owns 2%." Silence followed.

Her eyes moved from one shareholder to another. She looked every single one of them in the eyes. "Did I miss anyone?" No answer. "Did I mention anyone's percentage incorrectly?" Again... No answer. Even Ben and Sarah looked slightly surprised. This was the first time either of them had seen their mother command a boardroom this way. She knew every shareholder. Every percentage. Every detail. Without looking at a single note. No one dared challenge her.

Tracy slowly leaned back. "According to company regulations..." "An Interim Director must receive more than fifty percent of the voting shares." She looked toward the chairman. "So..." "Let's vote." "We'll begin from the highest shareholder and proceed according to share ownership." Several shareholders secretly sighed in relief. A public vote meant they no longer had to decide who spoke first. Others silently regretted promising Ben their support earlier.

Tracy calmly spoke. "With my 30% shares..." The room became deathly silent. Every shareholder unconsciously held their breath. Even Ben leaned slightly forward. Tracy finally spoke. "I vote..." "...for Sarah Wood." Whispers immediately spread throughout the room. "Sarah?" "She only graduated recently." "She's too young." "Can she really lead us?" No one dared voice those concerns aloud.

Sarah herself looked stunned. She had expected support. Just not so publicly. Tracy turned toward her daughter. "Sarah." "With your 16% shares..." "Who do you vote for?" Sarah's cheeks turned slightly red. She hesitated for a second before answering. "My vote..." "...goes to myself." Tracy smiled faintly. "Very well."

She wrote something on the document before lifting her eyes toward Ben. "Ben." "With your 15% shares..." "Who do you vote for?" Ben straightened proudly. "I believe..." "I am the most suitable candidate." "I also believe this position is more appropriate for a man." "My vote goes to myself." Several shareholders quietly nodded. Others looked uncomfortable.

Tracy slowly smiled. It wasn't a warm smile. It was frighteningly calm. "I never knew this position had a gender." Ben froze. She continued. "Since when..." "...do we judge someone's ability..." "...by whether they're a man or a woman?" Complete silence. No one answered. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on several shareholders' foreheads. Even the chairman looked down.

Tracy calmly continued. "So far..." "Sarah has 46%." "Ben has 15%." She turned toward Samantha. "Samantha." "With your 9% shares..." "Who do you vote for?" Samantha slowly stood up. She looked at Tracy. Then at Sarah. Finally... She smiled. "My vote..." "...goes to Sarah Wood." The room erupted into whispers once again. Tracy immediately raised her hand. Silence returned.

She looked at the chairman. "Please record the result." He hurriedly nodded. Tracy spoke clearly. "Sarah now holds 55% of the voting shares." "Ben remains at 15%." "Since Sarah Wood has surpassed the required fifty-percent threshold..." "There is no need to continue voting."

She slowly stood up. Everyone instinctively rose with her. She picked up her handbag before calmly speaking one final time. "I hope..." "...none of you ever call me into another unnecessary meeting." "My husband is lying unconscious in a hospital." "My place is beside him." "Not here solving problems that grown adults should have solved themselves."

She looked across the room. "And one more thing." "I expect every single one of you..." "...to treat Interim Director Sarah Wood with the respect you gave my husband." "If anyone fails to do so..." "You'll meet a side of Tracy Wood..." "...that you've never seen before." No one dared respond.

She turned toward Sarah. "Your father's office is yours now." Sarah slowly nodded. "Thank you, Mom." Without another word... Tracy walked toward the exit. The doors closed behind her. Only after she disappeared did everyone finally release the breath they had been holding.

The tension instantly disappeared from the room. Ben remained frozen in his chair. His mind refused to accept what had just happened. Everything had seemed perfect only minutes earlier. Now... Everything had collapsed.

The secretary slowly stood. His hands were still trembling. He looked around the room before clearing his throat. "The voting has concluded." "Effective immediately..." "Miss Sarah Wood is hereby appointed Interim Director of Wood IT Company." He struck the gavel once. "This meeting is adjourned."

Ben remained seated, staring blankly at the empty Director's chair that should have been his. He had lost. And the person who defeated him... Was his own mother.