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6: Will you accept my proposal now?

LILLIAN

“WRIGHT EMPIRE IN CRISIS: Son of CEO Charles Wright, and COO of Wright Empire, Benedict Wright arrested for money laundering.”

“Benedict Wright’s arrest sparks stock dive and sends Wright Empire reeling.”

“CEO of Wright Empire, Charles Wright’s health in peril amidst corporate crisis.”

“Charles Wright hospitalized as company faces dark days.”

My father had not even spent up to forty eight hours in the hospital before the news of our bankruptcy went viral. Every news station covered it and it was the number one trending news on every social media platform, making headlines on blogs.

I couldn’t stop staring at my phone. It seemed like everyone was talking about my family crisis. Everywhere I looked, there were posts and articles talking about how my family’s company was falling apart and of course, people were saying mean things online, making me feel even worse.

I haven’t been able to leave the hospital because the parking lot was crawling with the paparazzi, lurking and waiting for me to come outside so that they can rush me and get the scoop. I tried calling Mara severally but she wouldn’t pick my call. At some point, she switched it off and that was when I got the memo.

Of course, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me anymore.

I knew a day like this would come, a day when my “friends” would finally desert me. I just didn’t think it would come this soon.

My head hurt, my body ached and I didn’t know what to do. All I could do was watch everything around me fall apart, unable to fix it.

As I paced the hospital hallway, my mind went back to the conversation I had with my father’s lawyers earlier when they came by to check up on him. It had been a rather unproductive discussion, if I might add.

“Miss Wright, I’m afraid the situation with your brother’s case is not looking promising,” one of the lawyers said, his voice heavy with concern. “There has been more escalating accusations against him, though we lack concrete evidence at this time.”

Honestly, I didn’t care about my brother. He was reaping the fruits of his stupidity. What I was more concerned about was my father’s legacy burning to the ground because of my brother’s idiocy.

I needed to salvage it.

“Is there any hope for the company to recover from this?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. The lawyers exchanged a look amongst themselves, they expression forlorn.

“Miss Wright, I’m afraid the outlook for the company is quite bleak at the moment.” Another lawyer answered.

No. This cannot be it.

“There has to be a way. There has to be a potential for restructuring our operations to mitigate the damage.” I interjected, my voice tinged with urgency, trying to grasp at even the tiniest shred of hope.

The lawyers exchanged a surprised glance, clearly taken aback by my sudden assertiveness and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at them.

Of course, I’m not just a pretty girl playing dress up.

I had studied business administration in the university with hopes of taking my stand in the family business and graduated with honors. But when I came back home, my father told me that the family business wasn’t any place for a woman.

But despite my limited involvement in the company affairs, I knew my onions and there is absolutely no way I would sit back and watch everything crumble to dust.

Besides, this would show him that I knew what I was doing and I want what’s best for the company.

“We could explore diversifying our investments to minimize risk exposure,” I suggested. “And perhaps implementing cost-cutting measures to streamline our operations in the short term.”

I eagerly continued to propose various strategies to mitigate the damage to my father’s company, the lawyers listened attentively, acknowledging the merit of my ideas.

“Miss Wright, while your suggestions are commendable, the allegations against your brother have had a devastating impact on the company,” the second lawyer explained, his tone heavy with regret.

My shoulders slumped in defeat.

Fuck!

“That’s right,” The third lawyer corroborated. “Most of our investors have withdrawn their support, fearing association with the scandal. We are left with only one remaining investor.”

One remaining investor. I scoffed.

“Let me guess,” I muttered. “That one remaining investor is Xavier Santos.”

They nodded and I cussed again under my breath.

Of course it’s him.

“Mr. Santos is the only one left and if he withdraws his support, I don’t think Wright Empire will ever recover.”

Those words left a bitter taste on my mouth, even after the lawyers took their leave. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Xavier wasn’t only our biggest shareholder, he was also our only investor. My father’s company was in his hands and he could do whatever he wanted with it.

Fuck!

Not knowing what else to do, I decided to check on my father and made my way to his ward.

But when I got there, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. The bed was empty, its sheets untouched like my father had not been lying there thirty minutes ago, and there was no sign of my father anywhere in the room.

What! My eyes widened.

“Dad!”

I called out at the top of my voice. This was a private ward, no one except family and friends shouldn’t have access to this place. I didn’t even see anyone come up here.

What in the world is going on?

Panic surged through me as I frantically searched the hospital corridors, calling out for my father’s name. But there was no trace of him.

Not even a whiff.

Just as I was about to break down and scream out in frustration, a voice came from behind me, sending a chill down my spine.

“Are you now going to accept my proposal?”

I froze in place, my heart hammering in my chest as I slowly turned to face the source of the voice, hoping desperately that my mind was playing tricks on me.

But my hopes were shattered when I came face to face with Xavier Santos himself.

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