"I think Ace's idea is fantastic. You should hear him out. After all, you did come out all the way here…" Elizabeth said before she smiled at the chairman.
"I don't understand you two at all. He broke off his engagement with you and you're still willing to cover for him?" the chairman asked Elizabeth with a suspicious look on his face.
"I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing this for me…" she replied without backing down.
The chairman was clearly surprised at Elizabeth's response, and I had to admit that her words only made me more curious about what the two of them had planned. Everyone's eyes were on Ace as we waited for him to explain everything. Ace was too calm and relaxed for my liking and he didn't seem to be in a rush to ease the tension in the room.
"This isn't truly my own original idea. In fact, I've pretty much recycled your idea but I'm going about it in a slightly different way," Ace began explaining.
"My idea?" the chairman asked with narrowed eyes.
"Exactly. I know that you're quite fond of Elizabeth but it's obvious enough to everyone why you proposed that we get engaged back then. Since we did end up getting engaged, it was clear enough that Elizabeth's father was in agreement. All of that was to unite the management of our two companies together with the hope that it would lead to a merger between our two companies eventually," Ace said calmly before he paused to let out a small sigh.
"You want to make her the CEO as a way to merge our two companies together?" the chairman asked with evident disbelief on his face.
"Exactly. Just think about it, in this day and age, why must Elizabeth and I get married for something so simple like this to happen? Can't you see that with your support, she can operate as the CEO for both companies and then with her father's support, you two can go back to discussing the merger just like before," Ace said like it was no big deal.
However, it was a really big deal. The two companies have been at odds with each other due to their competitive position against each other for years. A merger just sounds so sudden, and I had no idea if it was even legally possible given the size of the company and the influence that both companies have on the market that they operate in. Regardless of that, it was obvious to me as well why Ace's and Elizabeth's father went so far as to get their children and heirs engaged.
"Does your father agree to this?" the chairman turned to ask Elizabeth with a stern look on his face.
His mind was probably hard at work to evaluate the possibility of Ace's suggestion. Elizabeth just smiled before she nodded her head.
"He has to agree," she replied with confidence.
Does that mean that he hasn't really agreed to this plan of theirs yet?
"What does that mean? If you haven't realized it yet, this is a very grave issue. I cannot consider a half-ass and uncertain response like that as an answer," the chairman replied.
"I've made an agreement with my father and that will ensure that he will agree to this plan," she said before offering another confident smile.
I stared at Elizabeth's face as I wondered what agreement she made with her father. The attention that I had on her didn't last long before my attention returned back to Ace. I wasn't sure if the chairman was satisfied with what Elizabeth had told him, but he didn't voice any more concerns on that point.
"Your idea is crazy. This isn't a small matter and it's not going to be as easy as you think it is," the chairman almost yelled at Ace again.
Ace wasn't at all affected by his father's words. I didn't think that Ace would suggest something that sounded so insane without having thought about it thoroughly. I glanced over at Elizabeth when I was forced to realize that this secret between them must have been one of the reasons why the two had to meet in secret. If only this was really all there is to it, then I could put at least some parts of my mind and worries to rest.
"I know that it's not going to be easy but it's not at all impossible. Just think about it, if you think that you can merge the company through our marriage, why can't it be done this way instead?" Ace continued to argue his case.
"It's common for companies to merge under one CEO. This could be a perfect way to start the merging of our companies. Of course, I can make it so that my father is in favor," Elizabeth stated.
"As for the benefits of our companies merging, I am sure that you know about that already and so does Elizabeth's father. I'm sure that you two have discussed it extensively before things didn't work out back then," Ace said with a grin.
"Things did not work out back then because you decided to break off the engagement and disappear!" the chairman thundered as color rose to his face again.
I didn't know how I could act useful in that situation and decided to watch on in silence. My feelings were mixed, and I didn't know whether I wanted the two companies to merge or not or what that would even mean for Ace and myself.
"Dad, you can't turn this idea down without at least giving it a try. No matter what, I'm going to step down from my position as the CEO. This is a good choice for you if you don't want to take full management responsibility of the company yourself," Ace said convincingly.
His father went silent for a moment as he seemed to evaluate his options. I prayed that he would be objective rather than letting his personal emotions and rage take over to decide. The chairman closed his eyes before raising his hand to rub his brows. For a moment, he looked much older than he did before, and I pitied how tired and stressed he seemed to be.
--To be continued…
