24.The Change of Power Plan

"What, Mr. Enrico Pezcatores' leadership will be replaced by Diego?" After the motel, as Diego and Stellina had agreed, they both went straight to Enrico's printing company. Moments ago, Stellina had asked Enrico's confidant to call an impromptu meeting for the directors. Stellina had doubts that the directors would be able to comply with the request for an impromptu meeting today. Luckily, the directors agreed to the impromptu meeting proposed by Stellina. Unfortunately, Stellina's doubts came true. On the way from the motel to Enrico's printing company, Stellina worried that the directors would be able to agree to Diego's takeover. Now that all the directors were gathered in the boardroom, they were visibly displeased by Stellina's announcement. "How can a stranger take over Mr. Enrico's power, Miss Stellina?" One of the directors expressed his confusion. Stellina looked at Diego who was standing next to her. The confusion of one of the company's board members was exactly what Stellina had been worried about last night. As a result, as the two looked at each other, they recalled last night's argument. "Yes, I know you're all surprised by this impromptu notice. I apologize in advance." Once again, Stellina bowed in respect to the directors. "I understand your concerns and do not blame you for thinking that way..." Stellina, with a slight grimace on her face, turned her gaze to Diego again. While Diego was still calm where he stood, Stellina felt agitated for fear of offending him. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, trying to reassure herself, Stellina curved a smile. "I was thinking the same thing as you. All this time, you've been used to working under my father's leadership, and now my father's leadership must be replaced by someone new." The atmosphere was still quiet. The faces of the directors still showed uncertainty. Some of them did not hesitate to show their sarcasm to Diego, because they could not trust a stranger immediately. "Don't be too quick to make a decision, Ms. Stellina. Have you gotten to know how that man is going to lead the company?" Again the other directors said, looking at Diego skeptically, as if they weren't worried about offending or not. At the question, Diego only curved a small smile. Stellina immediately replied, "If I don't recognize this man, why would I entrust him with such a big responsibility?" "I think you may have misjudged. Miss Stellina, we've worked with Mr. Enrico for a long time, and we know he doesn't easily trust the company to strangers..." Stellina and Diego's gaze shifted to the member of the company's board of directors on the right. From his words and the look on his face, he was vehement in his opposition. "Your decision will be very dangerous and affect the company, Miss. You already know that Mr. Enrico built this company with great difficulty," the board member continued his previous words. Stellina accepted every word of rejection from the men on the board of directors. Somehow, having expected this to happen, she was more receptive. "That's right, Miss Stellina. You are Mr. Enrico's daughter. What if your judgment about that man is wrong?" Gradually, one by one, the members of the board of directors expressed their opposition. The room was getting noisier and noisier as they argued. Finally, Diego, who had been silent and watching, spoke up, "Ladies and gentlemen, everyone, listen to me!" In a second, the board members stopped talking. In unison, their gaze shifted to Diego. Everyone gave him a curious look, but some also gave him a look of dislike. Diego didn't care. "I understand my position as the new guy here, and that you don't know me. I also understand you've been working with Mr. Enrico for a long time..." Diego stopped speaking for a moment, his hands that were held low slowly lowered again. "But... anyway, you must respect whatever Miss Stellina decides. Since you said earlier that Mr. Enrico would not be careless in judging others..." Diego paused for a moment. One by one, the people in the room looked at him seriously. "So, why can't you trust the judgment of Mr. Enrico who entrusted me with leadership?" Diego finished with a reassuring look on his face. "You have worked under Mr. Enrico for a long time. Shouldn't you be able to trust his judgment?" Diego continued after no one answered him. After Diego's words, the company's board members fell completely silent. They looked at each other, as if asking how the other would respond. The look on each of their faces was one of consideration for Diego's words. The atmosphere in the room had started to become conducive. At that moment, Diego invited Stellina to speak with a brief nod of his head. Then Stellina said calmly, "Company directors, I have great respect for those of you who want to protect the company of Mr. Enrico, my father. But unfortunately there was a very undesirable event. My father had to undergo intense treatment in Rome due to a chronic illness." "And my father, Mr. Enrico, asked me to tell you that the leadership of the company will pass to Diego." "This is not what any of us wanted. Including me. The leadership position cannot be vacant while my father undergoes intense treatment because the family cannot predict when he will recover. So, even if you have to, you have to accept the decision to take over the company's leadership." Compared to before, no board member spoke up now. There was no resistance. Everyone remained silent. "Instead, so that you don't have to worry, I will continue to make the company's policies. The leadership may be held by Diego, but the policies will still be made by me." The board members breathed a sigh of relief at Stellina's words. "I understand your concerns," Stellina said once more. She curved a sweet, calm smile. "So, you will continue to work under my policies-which will not differ much from Mr. Enrico's. Can you accept that?" After the board members looked at each other with smiles of relief, they finally nodded their heads. "Then, although we do not trust Mr. Diego yet, we will accept your decision." Stellina could not hide her smile of relief after getting the board members' approval. After a weighty and tense conversation, Stellina shared all the new policies with the board members. Throughout the explanation, there were no objections, but some board members made suggestions. Stellina accommodated and connected the suggestions with her policy as a solution. "Welcome to our new leader, Diego!"