Chapter 7

• A private plane arrived at the city's airport, Elise got off and behind her, an imposing and magnificent woman, dressed in a dark suit and high heels.
• Helen's change was more than evident, the innocence and naivety on her face completely vanished, now her gaze was a single reflection of impetus and assurance.
• "We have arrived, my dear Helen! Elise stared at her creation in delight.
• "That's Elise, it's been a long time since I've been here," he sighed. Five more years and three months exactly? Helen blurted out, raising an eyebrow.
• "Yes, that time, honey, be careful! Here they come! Elise noticed when she heard shrill screams.
• Behind the women appeared two little ones, two identical twins, two boys who physically bore little resemblance to their mother, but rather were the reflection of their father, of that absent father who never knew of their existence, and Helen had decided that it would be so forever.
• "Mommy! They shouted in unison.
• Helen hugged them to her breast. "We have arrived, my children, here in this beautiful city we will have a good time," she looked around fascinated.
• "Shall we go find Daddy?" Santiago, the eldest of the twins, asked innocently.
• "I've already told you, James!" You don't have a father.
• "Mommy! we're grown up now, the stork didn't bring us," Jonathan the younger, grumbling with his arms crossed...
• Helen looked at Elise with some concern, they both knew that children needed a father figure, but not one like Fernando's, he didn't deserve the blessing of having those children.
• Helen changed the subject to persuade her little ones, now the most important thing was to get to the board meeting that would be held in a couple of days.
• She was located in the best hotel in the center of the city, but at the same time far from her family's land, she didn't want to know much about them, although her mother was good, she didn't defend her from Fernando's clutches, and her father simply sold her to his tyrant.
• On the morning of the meeting, she got up very early, entrusted her treasures to the nurse who returned with her also from abroad, and without wasting time she dressed herself like a queen.
• Her hair was semi-wavy and fell over her shoulders, her skin was smooth, and her features stylized, now her dresses were tight to the body, showing the great figure she had after her pregnancy and not to mention her imposing character.
• A late-model car picked her up in the lobby of the place, in this one, there was also Elise, who was not far behind with her outfit, even the smell that the women emanated, was impressive.
• Meanwhile, at Donovan & Associates, everything was ready for the big board of directors.
• A table with twelve seats, folders in each of them and a large screen set up for Helen to present her proposals.
• Everything was mysterious, even though Elise had a large percentage of the shares, she had been out of the business for years, it was strange that now she had decided to go into it.
• The shareholders arrived little by little, each one of them was placed in the place that corresponded to him.
• In the presidential chair sat an anxious Fernando, moving a pen up and down, although that day he was wearing his best suit, his face was invaded by impatience.
• "Will I finally be the CEO of the company? Or will I stay in the same position>> his thoughts were consuming him.
• Suddenly, the door to the boardroom opened, and Fernando gave a start, the two guests who were missing were arriving.
• The first to enter was Elise, and a few inches behind her, Helen's heels rumbled firmly, everyone was perplexed to see the woman accompanying the largest shareholder.
• Helen's presence was magnetic, she attracted the gaze of everyone present, who were mostly men and when they saw them, they stood up, the determination in Helen's eyes took the breath away of anyone who looked at her.
• At the end of the table was Fernando, who went back almost six years in time when he saw it.
• His heart immediately raced and sweat began to run down his forehead.
• It was as if there was a ghost in front of him, one that he hadn't left his thoughts since the day he broke her heart in that church.
• "Good afternoon gentlemen, sorry for the delay, there was a bit of traffic," Elise greeted, snatching Fernando out of his reverie.
• "Don't worry, my dear Elise, it was worth the wait," replied Jean Reynolds, the company's current CEO and Fernando's main enemy. Who is the young lady? He asked in an interested tone.
• "Oh! "Excuse me, this is Helen Reynolds," Elise replied, pointing to her.
• Helen looked at them all, including Fernando, gave them a friendly smile and waved to each one.
• The formal introduction would come later, when her eyes met Fernando's pale face, she pretended he didn't exist.
• If she didn't exist for him, he wouldn't be anything important to her. Or so it seemed...
• Although Helen showed her power on the outside, seeing Fernando stirred her senses inside and she had to remember what he did to her to draw strength to follow her goal.
• "Well, then, let's start the board of directors," Jean gave the order. my dear Elise, you are the largest shareholder, now that I have decided to go to my own company, it is time to choose the successor, I am glad you are here.
• "Thank you Jean, indeed as you have mentioned, the time to choose your successor has come, Donovan and associates over time has become the largest export company in the country, and its management must be special, with you the results were excellent, I can't complain, at that time no one could have done it better than you," Fernando knew that those words were a kind of hint for him. But hey, the time has come for you to transcend, I congratulate you.
• "Thank you, Elise!" Jean gave him a go-ahead.
• "Everyone will wonder why Miss Reynolds has come with me, and well, the answer is that from now on she will be my successor and of course my candidate to be the CEO of the company.
• With that said, everyone began to murmur, if Ferdinand was pale, at that moment everything moved under his feet, leaving him perplexed.
• "This must be a bad joke," he thought.
• "Well, but what is so interesting about Miss Reynolds that you should want to occupy such a great position?" One of the shareholders interjected.
• Elise looked at Helen, who cleared her throat and stood up, looked at everyone present, and finally spoke.
• "Well, I know I haven't been part of this company, and I'm practically a stranger to you, but in the folder, that's located in each of your positions, there's my entire work plan." The men began to review the documents, the newcomer intrigued them.
• Helen stood in front of them and, like a professional, turned on the monitor in the boardroom and began to present her proposals.
• Everyone around her was impressed with her repertoire while, in front of her.
• Fernando was only frozen in his body, in his face and in his voice, he was not attentive to what she said.
• Suddenly, memories of when he was Edward and she was Miss Parker began to run through her head, and she swallowed whole.
• About forty minutes later, she finished successfully, was praised with loud applause, and thus took her place again.
• "Fernando, it's your turn" Jean took him by surprise, because he was sure that the position of CEO would be for him and he did not prepare anything at all, however, a small improvisation came from his lips, making him completely ridiculous in front of everyone.
• At the end of the meeting they deliberated, and by a vote that mostly favored Helen, she was named the new CEO of Donovan and Associates.
• "Congratulations! Helen, I knew it!" Elise rejoiced.
• "Thank you, Elise, but I'm nervous, I don't know if I can," Helen said under her breath.
• "Congratulations! Fernando walked over and stared at her; he didn't have any expression on his face.
• Helen avoided his gaze and nodded. The man wanted to say something else but was interrupted.
• "Let's go, Helen, your appointment will be soon."
• "Of course, Elise, let's go," the women left the boardroom without even saying goodbye.
• Fernando's frustration was so evident that he barely snorted.
• When he saw her again, he had too many questions.
• But at what point could I question her? if she was protected by Elise at all times, besides, it seemed that Helen wanted nothing but to talk to him.