To Color Your Life - Chapter 91

An hour before the meeting.

“W-what did you say?” Emily stared at Justin in complete disbelief. She looked around at everyone present. It seems that she alone was surprised by this news.

Most of the Pharaoh magazine team was present in the room where they were. There were not only those who were currently involved in the final preparations for the event.

“The council decided,” at these words, the boss nodded at Catherine and Gregor, “We decided that after the meeting of shareholders, you will take my place.”

Wait, wait! What?! Hold your horses! Her brain urgently needed a reboot.

“Justin, I don’t understand, how can I take your place?” Emily sat down in a chair, her knees momentarily got exhausted.

A few minutes ago, they entered the building, Catherine scolded them for being late and dragged them into the room where Emily was to prepare for the presentation. Her task was to present a new marketing concept for the magazine, filming which lasted from yesterday’s noon until late at night.

When she arrived in Pharaoh after meeting with the boss’s grandfather and said that she had bought out part of his shares, the team was shocked. The one who was shocked the most, of course, was Justin.

He reacted ambiguously. His main concern was that Emily had to sell her parents’ apartment. She herself was renting a modest and small apartment, but Emily did not bother. Her grandmother always said that a person should first of all be able to take care of himself, and not shift this responsibility onto the shoulders of others.

That apartment in the city center went to Emily’s mom after her parents got divorced. Relations with relatives on the mother’s side were always cold and detached, and after her mother died, Emily completely lost touch with them.

The girl reassured Justin that the decision to sell the apartment was deliberate. And, knowing what her parents were like, they would have supported their daughter in this decision.

Emily got her hands on a large stake so that during the voting process she could support the team not only as their colleague but also as a shareholder of the publishing house.

But becoming the manager of the magazine was not part of her plans!

“Evans, I think we scared her,” Catherine chuckled, watching the girl’s confusion.

Emily looked up at Barkens, “Gregor, shouldn’t you be the head of the magazine? We agreed on this two days ago.” They had been in close contact over the past week, and Hayes could confidently say that this man had become a good friend of hers.

“It was two days ago. We didn’t have much choice back then. But your unexpected trick allowed us to consider alternative options,” Barkens smiled, and Emily noted that his face did not look so intimidating with every time he smiled at her.

“But how can I take Justin’s place? I have neither experience nor knowledge. Who in their right mind would allow such a person to lead a promising business?”

Evans’ warm palms fell on Emily’s shoulders, the tension eased a little. “When I started the magazine, I had no experience either, Emy. There was some knowledge, but considering how “wonderful” I was at the university, it would not have saved me. And here they are,” Justin gestured around everyone in the room, “They saved me. So don’t worry, you are not alone. There is a big team behind you.”

“Sure!” Catherine backed her boss up, “Shareholders, including Denver, all think Justin will suggest the candidacy of Barkens. Imagine what their faces will look like when you appear in the hall, and even with a large stock of shares in your hands!”

“In the worst case scenario, if something does not work out in the future,” Kelly entered the conversation, “You can appoint Barkens or me to your place,” the fiery demoness winked at her friend, “But better me than Barkens, of course.”

Ohara and Gregor exchanged condescending looks. The temporary truce did not cancel the cold war of interests.

“The shareholders will not support me. I am a dark horse in their eyes, unlike Denver. Plus your grandfather said Christian had a great proposal for restructuring the department. What if I get flustered and make a mistake? It’s one thing to act as a model for a new project, and quite another to act as the future head of the magazine.”

Emily tried to calm her trembling hands, but the fear that had receded for a while returned with a vengeance.

Did Arthur Pitcher warn about this responsibility when he refused to sell the shares to her?

Oh, Hayes, you made such a fiery and pretentious speech about Pharaoh’s dreams and people in front of the boss’s grandfather, and now you are sitting and shaking like a little rabbit with a pack of wolves sitting in front of its hole.

So your words were enough just for that?

Your team made a decision and trusted you, and all you could do was to put your tail between your legs without even starting doing anything yet?

Yes, this was not part of her plans. It was already a great achievement for Emily to give up her incognito status and give her face to the Pharaoh. Coming out of the shadows was like sticking your head out of a flying plane.

And now fate has decided to give her a problem which was even more difficult? Hey girl, how do you like that? Why don’t you jump down, if your head is sticking out already? Or you have no guts?

Emily closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

“Okay, let’s do it. Shareholders will definitely be shocked,” she muttered, equally shocked by her own decision.

“Yes, their eyes will bulge and they will look like a bunch of toads!” Kelly laughed.

“Serves them right! Let them know what the Pharaoh magazine is!”

Bradley whistled and waved his spear up. The man was already dressed in a themed costume, like the other models in the room.

“Well, this is definitely the first meeting like this,” Justin rubbed his chin with a grin. He looked forward to the show, which was about to start.

His gaze crossed with Emily’s. The boss winked, leaned over to the girl and whispered in her ear, “You surprised my grandfather yesterday. Be prepared for the fact that he will not leave the stage without a little surprise too.”

Emily opened her mouth but was not immediately able to say what she wanted. The boss was clearly hiding something and the realization that he knew more than she only made it worse.

Sly shameless manipulator!

Evans knew her love of solving riddles. And given the nature of his grandfather, Arthur Pitcher’s response should be impressive.

Well, Emily didn’t mind being in line with this crazy family since she got a hold with them anyway.

“I look forward to his surprise,” she chuckled and nodded to the stylist, who was already going crazy with the desire to stick his hands in her hair, do makeup and everything that was required for her brilliant appearance.

Justin clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention, “Friends! As an exemplary boss, I have to give a motivational speech now, but let’s get by without those clichés. You are all great. I am proud of each of you. So let’s show these old-fashioned snobs what the Pharaoh of the future can be!”

An answering glee rumbled through the room.

Emily felt proud and connected with everyone who was there.

It was worth the risk.

Justin bent down to her lips and whispered, “I love you.” His kiss was light and almost invisible, but every cell of her body was filled with such warmth and energy that Emily could now easily become the center of her own solar system.

“And I love you too,” she whispered back, seeing the man off with a smile.

Justin and a team of models retired to the hall to welcome the guests.

And Emily put herself in the hands of the team.

…

“Do I really look normal?” she asked, standing outside the hall doors and listening to Justin’s speech through the small speaker in her ear.

“You look just bombastic! Their jaws will drop when you go inside.” Kelly showed two thumbs up. “I also want such a suit now, only in red color.”

“Then you will definitely pass for the queen of the underworld,” smiled Emily. “Is the broadcast going?”

“Everything is going according to plan! I will tell you when to look at which camera,” Ohara reassured her and looked at her friend with admiration, “I am happy for you, my girl. You deserve it and even more. Kick their asses there!”

“Roger that, ma’am,” Emily nodded and heard her boss say her name.

The doors in front of which she was standing swung open. The girl did not notice the attention of several dozen people who turned in her direction.

All she saw were the eyes of the man on the podium. His smile, his look – there was nothing around that would distract her from this beloved face.

He was standing on a dais, and Emily felt like he was hovering above the ground.

“I present to you the new queen of the Pharaoh magazine. Miss Emily Hayes.”

She didn’t hear her name but read it on his lips.

The girl spread her invisible wings and stepped towards him.. Or, it would be fair to say, she flied up.