CHASED BY THE DUKE

5. Heir

CHAPTER FIVE

“Mother,” It would be a complete lie if Victoria claimed she was happy to be walking into this damn conference room on the sixth floor of the Carrington Jewelry Company right in the center of LA. She didn’t exactly have the best relationship with her parents and hence she had really distanced herself from their wealth and name. It had worked for while until they suddenly changed the company’s picture to include her in it and now everyone who knew her simply as Vicky, knew she was a Carrington.

“So finally, you show up,” she pointed out. She was like older version of Victoria and in a great way, looked like Cookie walked out of the set of Empire series.

“I mean, the paparazzi suddenly wouldn’t leave me alone because they now know I’m. Must be convenient for you mother since you’ve been trying so hard to get me into the family business.

“Oh, please. You’d thank me,” she settled down next to his mother, aware of the rest of the board members watching her.

“Thank you? How many times do I have to tell you that I do not want to be part of this company? I’m doing great where I’m right now and I actually renewed my contract. Nobody was linking me to the famous Carringtons and my life was going great. Now I’m back to where I started, with paparazzi on my ass,” She was not exactly fond of being famous.

“And well, I do not plan on you losing the company to your father’s illegitimate son and speaking of his son,” she said just as blonde woman, accompanied by a son who looked almost Vicky’s age.

“Diana,” Mrs. Carrington cooed in fake sweetness at the woman.

“Elizabeth. I’m really grateful that Carrington wanted us all here. Both his children under one roof for such an important occasion. Isn’t this great Elizabeth?” Both women were pretty much pain in the asses even though their children actually got along pretty well.

“Darren,”

“Vicky. I loved that IG update. Whoever did your make-up deserves an accolade,” He said as they hugged.

“I know right?” She smile as he sat down next to her.

“Did Carrington have to go an extra mile and have the reporters here?” Darren questioned, watching the reports spread out across the room.

“Trust me, you are lucky not to have spent every single day of your life up to high school under his roof,” Vicky chuckled.

“You forget I work under him,” he chuckled too.

The two were lost in their chit-chat and only noticed Carrington had walked in the room when silence became deafening. He cleared his throat noiselessly, gaining the attention of everyone in the room as he acknowledged everyone present.

“As you all know, today is a very important day for our company. For twenty-fives years we’ve watched this company grow, working our asses off so we could get to where we are now. We are the leading company in Jewelry making in all of the UK and USA, second leading in Asia and third in Africa. When I first started this company, I had no set goal of becoming this great. To me, I was just doing what I love and yet, thanks to all of you, we are now this great. It has come a time for me to pass the leadership to the person who’ll fit best to become CEO of the company,” his gaze zeroed on Vicky, then moved over to Darren before sweeping to everyone else in the room,” This is a decision that has been arrived at after a careful consideration, taking into account several things. I have only two children and so I thought, it would only be fair if I gave them both an equal chance to contest for the CEO position of the company. The heir or heiress of the company will be announced after both my children have been given six months to prove that they can lead. Whoever proves has the company’s best interests at heart, will eventually get the title of the heir,”

“What?” Vicky, alongside both mothers and a few members of the board, exclaimed at the same time.

With the reporters having gotten what they wanted to hear, they left after a few questions to the family then left. Vicky was quick to follow her father the moment he walked outside the door.

“Dad, “she called.

“Vicky,” he slowed down as his daughter joined him,” Its been a while,”

“Yes, it has been. Look dad, I respect your decision but don’t you think you should have asked me first? You know damn well I have a job that I freaking love. You can leave the company to Darren. He has been working with you and I bet he knows more about jewelry than I do,”

“Then prove to me after six months that you are not cut out to be the heir to this company,” he deadpanned, walking into his office,” And by the way, what do you say about a family dinner at the new Swahili restaurant in the city? I heard it serves quite the delicacies,”

“Yeah, sure. Family name first, right?” she scoffed then walked away.

She had a job and was doing pretty well on her own and now they had to drag her back to the life she didn’t fancy at all.