Chapter 8

In a flash, a year and eleven months had passed. A pandemic had taken over the nation in twenty-twenty, and many had suffered. The small business was significantly impacted, and so was the entertainment business. Dynamic Entertainment was at a significant loss during that year. The company can barely make ends meet, even with the twenty-twenty-one recovery this year. George called a great meeting for the company, and everyone was in the conference room. Claire was sitting at the back while Quinton and his son Henry were seated on both sides of George, with the remaining board members sitting around the table.

“Okay, I won’t beat around the bush here. It was brought to my attention that we’re in a deficit of thirty million dollars, and there will be trouble with the new regulations out there right now. Any ideas on where we can get more investors for the company.”

No one said anything but looked around with concern on their faces. Whispers were heard throughout the meeting room, but no one took the initiative to come forward.

“No one has any suggestions? Quinton, what about you? Are you not supposed to be the acting COO of the company? What do you suggest?” George hopefully asked his son.

“Father, it’s not that I don’t have any suggestions, but with how the nation is, there is not much along the lines of Entertainment to be done. We can’t book for large crowds like we used to, even with the mandates being lifted. Our reserves are running low, and the people we have under contract are looking to move on when their contracts are over. This may be the end of Dynamic; we were hit too hard with the pandemic.”

Quinton lowered his head when he proclaimed the company’s downfall.

“Grandfather, I may have an option,” Henry spoke out, looking at his grandfather.

“Oh, what do you suggest?”

“I heard a rumor that Elon Trust was getting into entertainment, and they’re looking for companies to invest in, but I heard it’s almost impossible to see Mr. Wheaton the COO of the company.”

“Well, who among you is willing to go see Mr. Wheaton over at Elon Trust?” George looked across the board members.

Again no one would voice their approval for this task at hand. Everyone knew that getting an investment from Elon was challenging, much less to see Mr. Wheaton. Only then did Henry voice his opinion with a sinister smile.

“Grandfather, why don’t we have Claire go and get this done? She’s in marketing, and isn’t this her department?”

“Grandfather, I protest. Henry was the one who came up with the suggestion, and it’s only befitting that he is the one to carry it out.” Replied Claire, who knew too well that it would be almost impossible for her to see the COO of Elon Trust, much less get them to invest in their company.

“Silence, it only benefits that the person in charge of the marketing department go and get a contract with other investors… I have decided that Claire will lead a team to persuade the Elon Trust to invest in the company. All our hopes are onto you, my dear, all dismissed.” George had told everyone with a severe tone.

Henry was ecstatic. He thought of many ways to get one over Claire. She was better than him in everything she did in the company and found better talents than him, mainly her marketing ideas. All the entertainers loved her for her strict but fair attitude. While all he wanted to do was play with the female entertainers and push his authority around the office. Outside the conference room, he waited for his cousin to emerge.

“Well, it looks like all our hopes will be on you there, Claire. I want to be the first to congratulate you on getting this deal done,” Henry smirked as he said it to her.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you have done, Henry. This was all your idea. Why don’t you help me with the proposal to send to Elon Trust for approval.” Claire had answered him while walking back towards her office.

“There’s no way that I can accommodate you on that request. I have more important things to do.”

“More important than working to achieve a partnership with the most influential business in the city to help stabilize our business?” Claire looked at her cousin with disdain in her eyes. She knew very well that he was going out and partying with his friends and entertainers.

“So, who is she, who caught your eye this time, the brunet or the blond entertainer from the web department?”

“Neither, It’s Miss. Samantha from Global Entertainment, if we can gain her over onto our side, it’ll boost our internet ratings. She’s rising within the video community, very popular.”

“Samantha, not Samantha Kingsley?”

“The the same, what do you think? Did I hit the high road or what?”

“Or what? Not only is she very popular in the video community but also on the Porn Holder site and My Fans site as well. She’ll do anything for publicity, even sell her body. I don’t think she would be a good fit for our company, and I don’t think grandfather will approve.”

“You’re just jealous that I can bring new talent to the company. We’ll see who has the last laugh.” Henry then walked away, not to be bothered by her anymore.

Claire went into her office and called all of her subordinates to discuss the proposal they were tasked with. After an hour of brainstorming, they all left her office when the workday ended. Walking out of her office and locking up, she ran into her uncle.

“Claire, have you gathered your team yet? This is very important for the company.”

“Yes, Uncle, we have been going over the research into Elon Trust, and we have verified that they have posted that they are looking to invest in the entertainment field.”

“Good, we all have faith in you and your team. By the way, how is your mother been? Isn’t Tabitha graduating this year?”

“Mother is doing good.” Claire also boasted about her little sister. “Tabitha, she is indeed graduating with honors and will make a great addition to the team here at the company.”

Tabitha is going to college for a business degree, and she was gone for the entire duration due to the pandemic that plagued the nation.

“And what of your husband, is he still working at that delivery company? I thought they would have gone out of business with this pandemic.”

“Humph, what husband, don’t mention it. That trash is still working as a delivery guy. You would have thought he would have shown some ambition to get higher in the company by now. The only thing that has changed is that their business boomed with online trading.” With disdain for her husband, she replied to her uncle.

“Well, we will always see you at the family gathering this weekend. I hear father will be announcing something big during the meal.”

Finished with their goodbyes, they went their separate ways.

On Blake’s side, he had just finished delivering his last package when his phone rang. Seeing that it was his mother-in-law, he quickly answered it since she berated him with insults the last time he had hesitated.

“Yes, mom, what can I do for you?”

“Who’s your mother? Listen, we’re out of groceries; pick some up.” She sniped back at him as she always did.