"Choose someone else!"
"As long as you don't marry Samantha into our Browne Family, the Browne Family will be yours to lead. All the shares of the Browne Corporation under my name will be transferred to you and you will officially become the patriatch of the Browne Family!"
Nathan looked very embarrassed at what he just heard.
In the end, he knelt down in front of me and begged sadly, "Aunt Daphne, please help me. Both Samantha and I truly love each other. I just can't live without her."
When I saw Nathan kneeling and begging so pitifully, I let out a helpless sigh and said, "You really love her, but can you be sure that she also truly loves you?"
"Does she love you as a person or does she love the wealth and status of our Browne Family?"
I shook my head and said, "Forget it. If you are so determined to marry her, then I won't stop you."
"But don't expect me to agree to bless your marriage."
I felt truly disappointed with Nathan at that moment. After all, I had planned to transfer all my shares of the Browne Corporation to him after he married a good and well-matched woman from a respectable family. Then, I would quietly return to the Catholic church where I had grown up.
But now, it seemed like I would have to stay in the Browne Family for a longer time than I expected.
A few days quickly passed by. Soon enough, the company's annual meeting was held with a huge success. This year's annual meeting was much grander than in previous years. Besides the company's senior executives, many of our business partners also attended the event.
When both Samantha and I entered the venue at the same time, many people gave us strange looks and I could hear them whispering among themselves
"The most important thing in today's annual meeting is about who will get the position of sales manager. I wonder if it will be Daphne or Samantha!"
"I don't get it. It's just a sales manager position. It's not like it's a super high position in the company. Why is everyone treating it like such a big deal?"
"You don't understand. This sales manager position is very important. Samantha needs it to prove her ability to everyone and Daphne can use it as a stepping stone to enter the higher ranks of the company's leadership."
"I also heard from someone in upper management that whoever becomes the sales manager has a good chance of becoming the company's vice president in two years …
"Samantha should have a great chance. After all, she has been the sales champion of the company for five years in a row. It would seem unfair not to give her the promotion."
"But don't forget about Daphne. She has been a dark horse. Her performance this year alone almost matches all of Samantha’s results from the past few years combined."
"In the end, it all depends on who the company's senior executives like more!"
While everyone was talking, Samantha looked at me arrogantly, showing off a very confident look on her face. It was as if she had already won. Still, there was a deep jealousy and hatred beneath her eyes like she wanted to eat me alive at the same time.
As time passed, one of the company's vice presidents, who looked a little drunk and had a red face, finally went on stage. He then looked around the audience. And then, with a big smile on his face, announced that Samantha would become the new manager of the sales department.
The people in the crowd had mixed reactions.
Some people clapped politely, while the others whispered quietly to each other.
"Samantha really got the position!"
"She has enough qualifications. Most importantly, don't forget that she is Nathan's girlfriend. I heard they are getting engaged very soon. The company's senior executives probably didn't want to cause any trouble for her right now."
"It's such a shame for Daphne. Honestly, I think her ability is much stronger than Samantha's."
"Samantha has been the sales champion for a few years, but it's only because Nathan helped her behind the scenes. But Daphne is the one who truly used her own skills to bring in so many major partners to the company."
"Even if she's talented, it doesn't matter. Without a strong backer, she can't compete with someone like Samantha."
