The exquisite double doors were pushed harshly forced open, slamming on the walls with a loud bang. The sound reverberated through the conference room and instantly, all sounds ceased, voices stopped mid-sentence, hands halted mid writing and heads spun, looking at entrance. Looking at who was bold enough to disrupt the director and members of the board despite knowing the consequences.
At the door with her arm still wide as when the doors were pushed open stood Annabelle with a deep scowl on her face. Her gaze fierce and unyielding.
As soon as everyone met her gaze, the atmosphere shifted. The anger they all initially had abruptly changed to something deeper. Something akin to guilt.
They all averted tiger gaze. Some looked towards the director silently asking him to say something while others pretended to go through the documents in front of them.
At the head of the table was Chairman Judas Marudas. His demeanor remained calm and expression still as unreadable. But there was a flicker in his eyes but it disappeared faster than it had appeared. Beside him was Isaac Marudas, her father.
"What is the meaning of this, Grandfather?" Annabelle's voice cut through the thick silence like a knife. She moved. "Why is everyone gathered her without me? As the CEO I should have been informed before any meeting."
Mr Marudas held her gaze, unable to keep the stoice facade any longer his expression cracked but he was quick to mask it once again but not fast enough to escape Annabelle's sharp eyes.
"I want an explanation, Grandfather," she demanded, fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"You were not informed because there was no longer any need for you to be here," Judas Marudas said. His tone composed, his words cold and unfeeling. He held her gaze, not blinking even once as if to prove that he was not kidding her.
"...."
Stunned, Annabelle opened and closed her mouth wordlessly, inwardly shaking her head in denial of what she thoughts those cold words meant.
Without care of her feelings, Mr Marudas continued in the same dead calm tone and unhinged expression. "Your position as the CEO of Marudas Inc. has been revoked."
Annabelle felt her heart leap to her throat. She understood every word he said but still she couldn't understand. It felt like they were speaking a foreign language that was she was only hearing for the first time. What could he mean? Why did he say that? Hasn't she worked hard enough to earn her position?
She has pent countless sleepless nights just fighting to get the company up there and once it was up, she spent even more sleepless nights fighting to keep it up and take it even higher.
So why?
Why was he doing this to her?
Her eyes darted to Isaac. He sat silent, avoiding eye contact with her.
Then her lips moved and all she could utter was just one word,
"Why?"
Why are ypu doing this to me? Why are just sitting there and looking guilty father? Why? Just why?
There were any questions she wanted to ask but none were uttered. Chairman Marudas' voice pulled her out of her train of thoughts and his words had her questioning all that she ever was and stood for. All she had even known and believed.
"Marudas Inc. is a family business and only one of the Marudas direct bloodline may take the seat of the CEO which you are not."
"What?" Annabelle uttered, she stomped around the long and large desk, stopping right beside the chairman, the man she had known all her life as her grandfather but denies her today. "What do you mean Grandfather?" She snapped when he remained silent.
"Father tells the truth," Isaac voiced from beside her. "You are not a Marudas."
Annabelle smiled. Then she chuckled. After that, a maniacal laughter followed.
The room went into total silence safe for the laughs from Annabelle but no one tried to stop her. Although they knew it must not be easy knowing this so suddenly, no one took pity on her.
"That was a very good joke, Dad. You got me good." she said, wiping the nonexistent teardrop from her cheek.
Judas and Isaac Marudas along with everyone else kept silent. No one spoke, no one reacted. Then silently, Isaac retrieved an envelope and passed it to her.
"I am sorry. I understand that this is too sudden, but it's the truth. See for yourself," he said, his hand still stretched and holding the brown envelope.
Annabelle stared at him wordlessly. Her heart was pounding loudly in her chest. A shiver ran down her spin at the seriousness in her father's eyes and expression. She knew when he lied and told the truth because there were some habitual behaviors he exhibited during times like that and this, she could tell without a doubt that he was serious and it was the truth.
Hesitantly, she reached for the envelope. Inside was a neatly folded paper. Her hand trembled as she opened it. Every inch of her told her not to read it but she wanted to know the truth it held within.
Her eyes scanned the contents and every line had her hand trembling. Her heart thundered loud and she subconsciously took an unstable step back, nearly slipping. The paper slipped through her fingers, her expression that of horror.
"A… a DN..A…t…test…?" she stuttered, voice trembling. "This is a joke right?" She stepped forward again and gripped Isaac's arm. "Tell me this is a lie. How could I not be your daughter? It's a false report. Right? Dad?"
"It is not," Judas' voice echoed from her side and she stilled. "The real daughter of Isaac Marudas has been found. She will be trained to run the company." He added.
"You expect me to believe that…." Annabelle said but was rudely cut off by the chairman.
"This discussion will continue at home, Annabelle. You have disturbed the meeting long enough." Judas' voice thundered, his eyes glaring sharply at her. "Leave before the security escorts you."
"...Ha," She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. Without another word, Annabelle stomped out of the room, her fist clenching and unclenching.
There's got to be a mistake. Someone was playing a big trick on her and it was not at all funny and she would get to the bottom of it.
Getting to the parking lot, she entered her car and drove off. Her mind clouded with thoughts of what she had just learned. How could ever believe that her mother and father were not her parents? They weren't exactly the warm parents but they were all she ever knew and their only child. So what was all this about?
The more she thought about it, the harder she gripped the steering wheel and her foot pressed even harder on the accelerator. All done subconsciously, breaking every traffic on the way, leaving angry drivers cussing at her whenever she drove passed them.
The car finally came to a halt in front of the Marudas' estate. Annabelle wasted no time and slammed the door shut behind her as she hurried inside. She had to see her mother. She didn't want to believe what she was told and had seen. Not yet.
But the moment she drew close to the imposing double doors, her feet grew heavy. Her heart began pounding loudly as doubt crept in. What would she do if her mother only repeated the words Judas and Isaac had so coldly said to her?
Annabelle grew hesitant and more negative thoughts plagued her mind but she shook her head, clenching her fists tighter until her knuckles paled.
With her resolve steeled, she began moving again. She could already hear her mother's voice close by and that called her a little bit. But she halted soon after, her eyebrows drawn together and her ears perked up.