Alter My Fate

Diana's expression softened, the steely resolve in her eyes giving way to a gentle warmth. Her lips curved into a radiant smile, one that seemed to illuminate the heavy atmosphere in the room.

She spoke with a calm yet unyielding confidence, her voice as soothing as it was determined.

"As I've said, gentlemen," she began, her tone carrying a quiet authority, "there is another way. I'm certain that this approach will allow the company to recover and resume operations as before."

Her words hung in the air like a promise, but they were met with a mixture of reactions from the gathered executives.

Some exchanged sceptical glances, their doubt etched plainly across their faces, while others seemed cautiously intrigued, as though daring to hope despite themselves.

Haryo, too, was taken aback by his niece's declaration. He studied her carefully, his mind wrestling with conflicting emotions.

On the one hand, he had always admired Diana's intellect. Her academic achievements were undeniable, a source of pride for the entire family. But this was the corporate world, a realm far removed from the structured confines of the classroom.

Business demanded not only intelligence but also experience, resilience, and a certain level of cunning, traits that Diana, for all her brilliance, had yet to demonstrate.

Even so, there was something about her demeanour, an unshakable belief in her own words, that gave him pause.

Haryo offered her a kind but weary smile, his voice tinged with the weight of his resignation. "Diana," he said gently, "thank you for caring so much about the company. It means more to me than you know."

He glanced around the room before continuing. "Your presence here alone is enough to lift our spirits, and for that, I'm truly grateful."

One of the senior executives, a man with a neatly trimmed beard and a pragmatic air, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Miss Diana," he said. "We deeply appreciate your concern and your effort to lighten our burden during this challenging time."

Another executive chimed in, his tone measured but kind. "Your intelligence and determination are admirable, but this situation… it's far more complicated than it might appear. We've exhausted every possible avenue, and the solutions you propose, while well-meaning, may be unrealistic given the circumstances."

Diana listened patiently, her gaze steady as she absorbed their words. Yet, she refused to waver.

She could see their doubts, hear the subtle patronising tone in their voices, but she also sensed the cracks in their resolve. These men, seasoned as they were, were tired. Tired of fighting, tired of hoping.

She took a deep breath and smiled again, this time with even greater assurance. "Uncle, gentlemen," she said, her voice unwavering, "I understand your hesitation, and I respect it. But all I ask is for a chance to prove myself. Allow me to present what I've found, and then you can decide whether it's worth pursuing."

For a moment, silence reigned in the room. The executives exchanged uncertain looks, and Haryo's brows furrowed as he considered her plea. Against his better judgment, he felt a glimmer of curiosity stirring within him.

Finally, Haryo sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Very well, Diana," he said, his tone softening. "You have our attention. Show us what you've discovered."

Diana's smile widened, her determination shining brighter than ever. "Thank you, Uncle," she replied, a quiet triumph in her voice. "You won't regret this."

Diana shook her head subtly, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she observed the scepticism lingering in the room.

She could see it clearly, the doubt, the well-intentioned condescension, the weariness etched into every face. No words, she realised, would be enough to convince them. Only proof would suffice.

After a moment, she reached into her bag, her movements deliberate and unhurried. From its depths, she retrieved a small plastic pouch containing a milky-white substance.

The faint rustling of the plastic seemed to draw all eyes to her, curiosity flickering across their features. Diana stepped forward and placed the sample into her uncle's hands.

Haryo Wibowo accepted it with a mix of surprise and intrigue, his brow furrowing as he examined the contents.

He turned the pouch over in his hands, the liquid catching the light, before passing it along to the other executives.

One by one, they inspected it, their expressions shifting from faint disinterest to cautious optimism.

Finally, one of the senior executives, a man with a sharp jawline and an air of quiet authority, broke the silence. "Mr. Haryo," he said, his tone calm but firm, "I suggest you have someone from production examine this immediately. The most experienced expert we have, someone who knows gutta-percha inside and out."

The room murmured in agreement, and Diana, sensing a ripple of unease within herself, spoke up. "Sir, this is the genuine article, I assure you," she said, her voice steady despite the nerves prickling at her.

The executive turned to her with a faint smile, his teeth bright against his weathered complexion. "Miss Diana," he replied warmly, "there's no doubt in my mind that this is gutta-percha. What we need to determine is its quality. That will make all the difference."

Haryo, who had been watching the exchange intently, nodded in agreement. "He's right, Diana," he said gently. "But don't worry. You've done more than enough by bringing this to us. Let's take things one step at a time."

He gestured to a nearby chair. "Come, sit with us. We'll continue the discussion while we wait for the results."

Reluctantly, Diana lowered herself into the seat beside her uncle. Though her confidence remained intact, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of anxiety.

Yet, thoughts of Havi, the unwavering faith she had placed in him, fortified her resolve.

Haryo wasted no time summoning the most senior production manager. The sample was handed over with explicit instructions for a thorough analysis, and the manager disappeared with purposeful strides.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the boardroom began to shift. Diana noticed it immediately : the executives, who had earlier seemed drained and defeated, now wore expressions of cautious hope. Their features were brighter, their movements more animated.

She sat quietly, observing the change, her mind racing. When she had first arrived outside the room, she had heard the tense, frustrated tones of men on the brink of surrender. Now, though, their demeanour was almost unrecognisable.

Had she done this? Could a single sample of gutta-percha really be enough to reignite their spirits? Diana glanced at her uncle, who was now in the midst of a conversation with another executive. The faintest glimmer of a smile touched his lips.

And so, the meeting continued, with Diana an unexpected addition to the table. Though uncertainty still lingered in the air, there was, for the first time in a long while, a sense of possibility.

Minutes ticked by in near silence, the weight of anticipation pressing heavily on everyone present. Then, without preamble, the door creaked open.

Gani Iskandar re-entered, his footsteps brisk and his expression triumphant, though he was still catching his breath.

The man's usually calm demeanour was replaced with a sense of urgency that set every gaze upon him.

"Mr Haryo," he began, his voice slightly hoarse but resolute, "I've analysed the sample thoroughly." He paused to inhale deeply. "And the results… well, they're extraordinary."

Haryo leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "Extraordinary how, Gani?"

Gani met his employer's gaze directly. "Not only is this gutta-percha of exceptional quality, but it also possesses characteristics that are nearly unheard of. It's rare, sir. Extremely rare."

The room erupted in murmurs of astonishment. Executives exchanged bewildered glances, their faces reflecting a mix of disbelief and cautious hope.

Michael, the eldest among the executives, raised a hand to silence the whispers. "Are you certain of your findings, Gani? This is no time for conjecture."

"I wouldn't speak without certainty, Mr Michael," Gani replied, his tone firm. "I've triple-checked every parameter. This sample is the real deal."

All eyes slowly turned toward Diana, seated beside her uncle. She remained composed, her lips curving into a serene smile, as if she'd expected this reaction all along.

Haryo finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Diana," he began cautiously, "where... where did you acquire this?"

Diana straightened, her confidence radiating across the room. "Uncle," she said with a calm assurance that belied her years, "it's from Havi, my sweetheart. He manages a plantation, and this is just a fraction of what his land can produce."

The room fell into a stunned hush. Several executives exchanged incredulous glances, their astonishment growing by the second.

"Your sweetheart?" Michael repeated, his brow furrowing slightly before his lips curled into a faint smile. "It seems we've underestimated you, young lady."

Haryo leaned back in his chair, his earlier despondency replaced with a flicker of hope. "Diana," he said, his voice filled with renewed determination, "this Havi of yours, he must be an exceptional man. Bring him to me. I want to discuss a partnership immediately. If his plantation can consistently provide materials of this calibre, I'm prepared to offer him terms that no one else can match."

Diana inclined her head graciously. "I'll let him know, Uncle," she replied. "And I'm certain he'll be eager to meet you."

The room, once steeped in a sense of impending doom, now thrummed with an electrifying sense of possibility. Haryo and his team, buoyed by this unexpected revelation, began to see a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

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