Alter My Fate

"Diana..."

Haryo, the owner of Nujaya Ltd, was utterly taken aback by the sudden appearance of his niece. Her voice, firm and commanding, had shattered the heavy stillness that had hung over the boardroom like a pall.

Every head turned in her direction, the startled expressions of the senior executives betraying their shock at the unexpected intrusion.

This was no ordinary meeting. It was one of many held over the past months, each more desperate than the last, as the company grappled with the fallout of a calculated sabotage that had brought it to the brink of collapse. The atmosphere had grown increasingly fraught, the air thick with unspoken fears and dwindling hope.

And now, here she was, an uninvited presence cutting through the gloom like a blade through mist.

Haryo's face betrayed a complex blend of emotions : surprise, frustration, and perhaps the faintest flicker of pride. He straightened in his chair, his weary frame tensing as he regarded her.

"What are you doing here, Diana?" he asked, his tone sharper than intended. His gaze narrowed, a silent reproach for her sudden intrusion into such a delicate moment.

Diana, however, was unperturbed. She stepped forward with an air of confidence that belied her years, her chin held high, her eyes meeting his without a hint of hesitation.

"I came because I couldn't stand by any longer," she said, her voice steady and resolute. "This company means too much to me, to all of us, for me to remain silent."

Her words lingered in the air, a challenge and a plea all at once. Around the room, the senior executives exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and scepticism.

Haryo's lips tightened into a thin line, his fingers drumming on the table as he studied her intently.

Diana's sudden arrival was a disruption he hadn't anticipated, yet there was something in her demeanour, a spark of determination that gave him pause.

'This girl… Always headstrong, always so sure of herself, he thought, a tinge of exasperation colouring his reflection. But perhaps… perhaps there's more to her boldness than mere recklessness'.

"Very well," he said at last, gesturing for her to speak. "You've interrupted an important discussion, so I hope you have something of equal importance to say."

Diana nodded, her expression unwavering. "I do, Uncle," she replied firmly. "And I believe it's something that could change everything."

The room fell into an expectant hush, every eye fixed on her as she prepared to speak. In that moment, the air seemed to shift, the weight of despair lifting ever so slightly as a faint glimmer of hope began to stir.

"Uncle!" Diana strode forward, her voice carrying a conviction that seemed to reverberate off the walls of the boardroom.

"I don't agree!" she continued, her eyes locking onto Haryo's with unwavering determination. "You can't sell this company to your competitor!"

Haryo remained silent for a moment, her words striking a chord deep within him. There was a time, not so long ago, when he would have agreed with her wholeheartedly.

The thought of surrendering his life's work, of allowing Nujaya to fall into the hands of a rival, would have been unthinkable.

But those were days before the sabotage, before the relentless chain of events that had driven his company to the edge of ruin.

Once, he would have rejected the mere suggestion of selling. He would have stood tall, refusing even the idea of becoming a subsidiary to another firm. But now… now, the weight of reality pressed down upon him like an unbearable burden.

With a heavy heart, Haryo finally spoke, his voice tinged with resignation. "Diana… you don't understand, my dear. This company…"

"It's about gutta-percha, isn't it?" Diana interjected sharply, her words cutting through his sentence with the precision of a blade.

Haryo froze, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. She wasn't wrong, but how much could she possibly know about the intricacies of the business?

After a pause, he sighed, the weariness in his posture more pronounced than ever. "Yes, Diana. You're right. Our business depends on gutta-percha. And right now, we're facing a severe shortage of it. Without a reliable source of raw material, we can't keep the factory running."

His voice wavered slightly, betraying the emotional toll of the admission. "This… selling to Hextex or merging with them… it's the only way I can see to keep the company alive, even if it's not in the way I'd hoped."

Diana's gaze softened for a brief moment as she absorbed his words. She could see the toll the situation had taken on him, the lines etched deeper into his face, the slump of his shoulders.

But then, as if bolstered by an inner resolve, she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders.

"What if I told you there was another way?" she asked, her voice quieter now but no less firm.

Haryo looked at her, a flicker of curiosity mingling with the doubt in his eyes. Around the room, the other executives exchanged uncertain glances, their earlier scepticism giving way to cautious intrigue.

"And what way would that be?" Haryo asked, his tone measured, as though bracing himself for a suggestion he feared might lead to more disappointment.

Diana took a deep breath, her expression resolute. "I believe I've found a new source for gutta-percha. One that could save this company without surrendering it to anyone."

The room fell silent, her words hanging in the air like a lifeline thrown into stormy seas. For the first time in months, a spark of hope flickered in Haryo's eyes.

One of the senior executives at the table, a seasoned man with silver hair and a weary expression, finally broke the silence. His voice was steady but edged with curiosity.

"Miss Diana," he said, leaning forward slightly, "what exactly do you mean by that?"

Several other executives nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting a mixture of scepticism and faint hope. The atmosphere in the room was tense, as though the very walls were holding their breath.

It was clear that time was running out for Nujaya Ltd. If a decision wasn't made soon, the company would become little more than a footnote in history, a once-great endeavour brought to its knees by circumstance and betrayal.

Yet, amidst the heavy air of despair, there was something about Diana's presence that captivated the room.

Those who knew her, or rather, thought they knew her, found themselves surprised by the commanding air she carried.

Though still young, she exuded a remarkable poise, a clarity of thought and purpose that belied her years.

Inwardly, some of the executives couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration. Her determination, her unwavering principles, these were qualities of a natural leader.

Perhaps, in another time and place, she might have already taken her place at the helm of a venture like this.

Diana glanced around the table, her gaze meeting each pair of eyes in turn. Her calmness was almost unnerving, as though she held a secret that no one else could fathom.

"I mean," she began, her voice clear and deliberate, "that I've found a potential solution to our problem. A new supplier of gutta-percha. One that could restore our operations and allow us to maintain our independence."

Her words, though few, struck like a thunderclap. The scepticism in the room wavered, replaced by a burgeoning sense of curiosity and hope.

"A new supplier?" another executive asked, his brow furrowed. "Miss Diana, with all due respect, we've scoured every possible avenue. What makes you so certain this lead is worth pursuing?"

Diana straightened her posture, her expression resolute. "Because I've seen it with my own eyes," she said simply.

"And because I believe in this company as much as all of you do. Perhaps even more."

Haryo, who had been watching her intently, finally spoke. His voice was quieter now, carrying a hint of reluctant hope. "And where exactly is this supplier, Diana?"

She smiled faintly, as though anticipating the question. "Not far, Uncle," she replied.

"In fact, I've already taken steps to secure a sample. If you'll allow me, I'd like to show you, and everyone here, that there's still a chance to save Nujaya without sacrificing its soul."

The room fell silent again, the weight of her words settling over the gathered executives. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the glimmer of a lifeline appeared on the horizon.

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