"Good day gentlemen, before I begin, I just want to tell you that I have already bought all the shares from my relatives, which added fifteen percent to my shares. My daughter, Ingrid, then came back to us and had been preparing to become my heir, as the new CEO and truth be told she became one as I had appointed her months ago to act as the CEO while I was still recovering in my illness."

John Howard cleared his throat before continuing his speech.

"However… I've changed my decision…"

A loud buzz immediately filled the room as well as the rapid clicking of the cameras could be heard. But no one dared to ask question but waited for John Howard to continue.

"My daughter met a terrible accident months ago which almost cost her life and the life of my two lovely grandchildren and had a premature labor… No one knows what happened except Clifford Briggs, her husband, and Lance, they have concealed it so much that even all of you did not notice anything was amiss. My daughter was in coma for almost two months while their babies were in the incubator."

Another loud gasps heard from the people present.

"I did not know about it and I will never know the agony of those months because her husband had been adamant to hide it in the fear that it may affect us. While Ingrid was fighting for her life, it was her husband alongside with Lance and Gary and Clifford's personal secretary and mine who were working their a.s.s off just to protect the company, the stock and us. That is why, effected today, I am appointing the new CEO of all the business under my owners.h.i.+p, Mr. Clifford Briggs. I am hoping that the loyalty and support you have shown me and my daughter will be shown to him as well…"

All of them were stunned at the sudden announcement.

The door of that conference room opened suddenly and a very prominent looking man together with an equally sophisticated woman emerged. It take a long time before they could grasp what has just happened and one by one clapped their hands in recognition.

"Good day everyone, I am Clifford Briggs, the new CEO and this is my wife, Ingrid Howard-Briggs."

After the announcement, the stock market went in chaos, the price skyrocketed in an instant.

Not wanting to waste time, he work immediately, and continued the meeting. He proposed new projects, plans for the company and one of it is to sell ten percent of his share to the highest buyer.

The shareholders are in shock upon his bold proposal and are even bewildered of his decision. Some thought that he was being greedy and that he was reckless.

"Well, even if you combine all your shares, you still could not go against me, I still have fifty five percent of the share. Besides, I don't want you to think that it'll be a high-handed management, I just want to give other investors a chance." He leaned and called his secretary to hand the doc.u.ments to explain further his proposal.

He wanted them to realize the advantage of his proposal and gave them a chance to convene and agree to his proposal. Thirty minutes of recess is given to them. It's a challenge indeed and Clifford just gambled because of some personal reason.

When the time to vote is set, three-forth of the shareholders agreed to his proposal while the rest disagreed and some are undecided.

"Gary, please let it be known that the Howard Group of Companies is now open to put on the market ten percent of its share to the highest buyer. Let it be known as well that the current shareholders could not buy investments using other names, representatives because we will investigate those who are interested and there will be qualifications before they could bid and buy the shares."

Hours after the announcement, the company is in busy mode as the interested investors came rus.h.i.+ng in, personally showed their interest to buy the shares, but none of them were entertained by the new CEO. As they have to pa.s.s their intents to the secretaries only.

News spread like wildfire and the media were at the entrance of the company interviewing everyone who was present there as they express their nagging interest to invest in the company.

"Gary, we will give at least two weeks for this scheme and then organize an event for the bidding for those who will pa.s.s the screening. Make sure that we will push through the plan. Prepare the Plan B as well in the event that there will be some surprise occurrence…"

"Yes, Master Briggs, I am on it."

…♥…♥…♥…

Days before that special announcement day when Clifford and Ingrid are alone for themselves, she opened up about the plan of her father for the company. They were both lying on the bed while Clifford is caressing her hair.

"Cliff, my love, I have something to say to you… I don't know if you will agree with me…"

"Hmm… what is it?"

"Do you remember when I told you that I am willing to let you take over and have full control of the family, and if you want it, my dad and I talked about it earlier while you and Clark were playing, he said that he'd love to give the company to you."

"To me? But it is your dream, love. I would be happy to see you fulfil your dreams,"

Instead of answering it directly, Ingrid softly laughed and looked at her husband tenderly.

"Do you know why I decided to finally decided to marry you?"

"Because you're smitten with my charm?" he smiled seductively.

"Oh no… not that, I've seen a lot of handsome men before you…" her statement caused Clifford to frown and the sweet smile on his lips were suspended.

"More charming than me? Geez… why do I feel p.i.s.sed off? I don't want to hear it. Let's sleep already." Clifford looked really p.i.s.sed and annoyed.

"Honey, listen to me, please? I finally decided to marry you because I can see the pa.s.sion in your eyes that once you embark yourself into something you will definitely do it and will not tarry. I can see the love in everything you do. You have this undeniable inner persistence that you will and you can, if you did not do it, I don't know if I could experience bliss such as this my entire life."

"Oh my love we are meant to be together but I never thought you would think like that about me. Thank you love," But then he remembered… "How about your relatives? They won't agree with it."

" My relatives have already agreed, why wouldn't they? My dad bought all their shares so that we could have the full control of the business."

"He bought it??"

"Yeah, since he realized that I or you could not gain full control of the company unless he'd do something. He said he wanted his grandchildren to inherit it minus the ha.s.sles from our relatives, and he is more than willing to let you take over." She smiled at him with an expectant eyes. "My father is now in full control of the company with a total of sixty five percent share of the company from then forty percent."

"Why me? How about you? It has been your dream, to take over the company, you've fought hard for it, why the sudden change?" her husband's expression is full of confusion, he could not understand she decided to change her plans.

"Hmm… you're right, it has been my dream, was actually… I just realize now what matter most to me. It's you, our children, our family. That is why if you are willing and if you can carry the added burden, I would gladly give up my right and give it to you, but I will still help you in some ways,"

"Do you know why I've become so persistent in pursuing you?" it's her turn to be stunned and she just shakes her head.

"Because the moment we b.u.mped into each other on my father's building you did not even bother to look at me and when we were I went to my father's office again and saw you in the elevator, still did not bother to look at me, you already got me curious because no one dares to ignore me like you and rejected me at worst.. and each time we met…" he paused and looked at her, his gaze roam around her face and he kissed her on the forehead.

"you started to caught my attention.." he then kissed her left cheek.

"without warning you already got my keen interest," he kissed her right cheek and grinned when he remembered the time he kissed her cheeks at the parking lot.

" and later out of my own control… my heart."

This time he kissed her lips.

"That is why I almost died when I saw there in the hospital lying almost without life. The agony I felt each pa.s.sing day without any a.s.surance that you will come back to me. I cried every single day and asked G.o.d to bring you back to me. Every time I feel lost, I would often come to the nursery just to see a glimpse of hope and said to myself that everything happens for a reason."

"Oh my love…" Ingrid did not notice that she is already crying hearing her husband's confession, his words left her speechless and she knew she could never get back the time and pay back what her husband has done for her.

She reached out for him and traced his face.