The shock written all over Anna's face when she saw the family lawyer rushing in, extended to Kathryn's too.
Kevin's gaze shifted to the man standing behind Anna, and his expression turned ashen, his body trembling with fear. Slowly, both Anna and Kathryn turned to follow his line of sight, and it landed on Aidan, who stood with his arms folded, a wry, self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
Confusion chased the shock on Anna's face and she whispered to Aidan, "You called him?"
Aidan didn't reply.
Instead, he stepped forward, his hand patting Kevin Harrington on the back. "Mr. Harrington, I believe you have something for us before we redo the votes."
Anna's mouth was still slightly agape, just like Kathryn's. Instinctively, Aidan moved closer to her and squeezed her hand in assurance before turning to the board members.
He had messaged Kevin after swiping his contact from Anna's phone, back when she had been engrossed in conversation with the board members. His message had been blunt and threatening; 'Show up within minutes or risk being reported to the State Bar.'
He had seen how passionate Anna was about this company. This was what was left of Lorenzo, and this company was the only reason why his path had crossed with Anna's.
The board members exchanged skeptical glances at the new change in the atmosphere as Kevin Harrington made himself comfortable on the seat.
"What has the family lawyer got to do with the company's meeting? He's not supposed to be here!" Kathryn blurted out in a loud voice, her body shaking with rage and hopelessness.
"Well," Anna said indifferently. "He is here now."
"You two can meet after this meeting. Don't disrupting…"
"Mr. Harrington, go on!" Anna ordered with implacable authority, confidence streaming into every part of her pores, her eyes fixated on Kathryn's whose face had lost its color.
Anna still had no idea why he suddenly appeared there when he had refused to pick her calls, and reply any of her texts. She was already planning on visiting him in his office during working hours when she knew she'd meet him there.
But there he was, out of the blues.
How he suddenly changed his mind to come didn't matter anymore but Anna had a feeling it was Aidan's handiwork.
He had asked for Kevin's contact in the elevator. Even though she didn't remember giving it to him, she was grateful he was able to get Kevin here, at that critical moment.
Harrington opened a folder and began. "As stated in the last will and testament of the late Andrew Lorenzo, the entirety of his controlling shares in Lorenzo Corporations are to be transferred to his daughter, Annalyn Lorenzo. Effective immediately after she is married."
Gasps filled the air and Leonard pointed a finger at Kathryn. "Didn't you say you were given the majority shares of the company?"
Roberto spat out a curse. "Damn you, woman. You lied."
Kathryn stiffened. For the first time in a long while, her poise was cracking.
Across the table, Anna sat frozen. Her heart was pounding so hard, she could hear it reverberating in her ears, as she watched majority of the board members curse at Kathryn for lying to them.
It made sense now.
That was how Kathryn had manipulated the board. She had lied to them that she had the majority shares in the company and with that, they all believed she or Sophie deserved to be the CEO.
Anna was suddenly relieved at the turn of event, when Kathryn spoke up. "Having the majority shares doesn't guarantee her the CEO of the company," she said, tilting her chin up with forced dignity. "Andrew never explicitly stated that the company should be handed over to her. It's just—"
"After Annalyn Lorenzo is married,'" Harrington interrupted smoothly, and continued. Aidan leaned back, twirling slightly in his chair, clearly enjoying every second of the drama. "Ownership of the company transfers to her, contingent upon legal verification of the marriage. A certified certificate must be presented to the board within 100 days of my client's passing."
Another swell of murmurs buzzed through the room. Kathryn's face turned chalk-white, her eyes wide.
"Do… do they have a marriage certificate?" she stammered, eyes darting between Kevin and Anna like a cornered animal. Then she remembered Anna had shown a picture of her marriage certificate on the TV and that was how she had found out that Anna wasn't just alive, but married to someone else, who wasn't Warren. "Did anyone… check the authenticity of the certificate? Are they even married? What she bought a man to be her husband?"
At the possibility of Anna buying Aidan who was nothing but a plumber and a possible gold digger, another evil idea began to take form in her head.
Anna opened her mouth, but Aidan beat her to it. With a casual flick of his wrist, he pulled a document from his jacket and laid it on the table.
It was their marriage certificate, with the name, Annalyn Lorenzo and Aidan Klein, boldly written on it.
Anna's breath caught in her throat. They had left home in such a rush this morning she didn't even think of coming with the marriage certificate and she hadn't expected Aidan to bring it either.
But she was glad he did.
He was a lifesaver.
She smiled at him again and he smiled back.
Harrington took the document, examining it carefully. "The watermarks, official seals, and serial number are all in order. It appears legitimate. I can verify further if needed, but for now, this certifies Anna as CEO."
The board members exchanged glances and began nodding. Whatever reasons they'd had to remove her had just evaporated.
Aidan stood up and suggested, "Shall we have a revote then?"
A pin drop could be heard due to the silence.
Kathryn was short of words. She stood back, watching with rage.
"To discuss the leadership of this company moving forward, a formal vote will be taken by the show of hands either in favor or against this candidate, Anna Lorenzo."
Silence ensued again.
"Shall we proceed with the vote?"
They all nodded, looking fully determined on who to vote for.
Tension filled the air, thick and noticeable. Anna was sitting stiffly on her chair. Kathryn was looking hopeful as she folded her arms around her bosom, her eyes moving from each member, as if to enthrall them with her eyes.
"Those in favor of removing Anna Lorenzo from the position of the CEO of the company…" Aidan trailed off purposely, staring at them. "Lift your hand."
The room was silent again, with no hands raised..
Aidan's heart began to beat twice its normal rate and he wondered how Anna must be feeling right now.
Eventually, a hand was lifted, and another. The corners of Kathryn's lips lift up in defiance.
"Those in favor of reappointing Anna Lorenzo as the CEO of the company should raise their hands." Aidan spoke up again and his hand went up first.
As if that single gesture had broken a spell, more followed in succession. The man beside him, then another. And another.
A sly, satisfied smile touched his eyes. He turned to Anna, caught her gaze, and winked. She returned the smile, her body sagging in sheer relief.
He counted. "One, two, three… nine."
A whimper left Kathryn's mouth. He didn't spare her a glance as he continued. "As we all know, the majority carries the vote. Two members were against appointing her back as the CEO and nine members were in support."
They nodded at his words, as if to convince themselves that they had just done the best for the company's sake.
He turned slightly and locked eyes with Kathryn. She looked like she was on the verge of tears, her eyes suddenly red with unshed tears.
And he announced, not breaking eye contact with her, "Anna Lorenzo remains the CEO of this company."
"Congratulations, Mrs. Klein," Kevin said to Anna who nodded in reply. The way he had just called her Mrs. Klein made something stirred inside of her. She stared at Aidan and conflicting emotions swirled through her.
"You must be crazy to think I'll allow—" Kathryn shouted, dragging Anna's seat back aggressively.
Aidan sprang to his feet. "You need to leave. Now, Mrs. Lorenzo."
Kathryn tore her gaze away from Anna and snapped her head toward him, fury blazing in her eyes.
"Don't you dare call me that, you gold-digging bastard," she spat, venom coating every word.
A collective gasp swept through the room again.
Calmly, Anna took two strides close to Kathryn, and Aidan thought for a moment that she was going to slap Kathryn.
"You think you've just won because your—"
"YOU. ARE. FIRED, KATHRYN!" Anna's voice rang out.
A shush silence fell upon the conference room once again. Shock skated across Kathryn's face, looking like she had misheard what Anna had just blurted out.
"What?!" She exclaimed loudly in disbelief.
"You are fired!"