CHAPTER TWO.

IVY.

I spent the rest of the night trying to figure out what to do. I emailed companies that had shown interest in us in the past. I waited for their responses, but the few that I got already showed a dead end. I was about to shut down my laptop when I saw the email. It wasn't like the rest. I stared at my screen longer than necessary. I never contacted Stone Holdings which meant this wasn't a response. For some reason, they chose us.

I was at the end of my wits and my anxiety was at an all-time high. 

Morning came too quickly and I still didn't know what to do. There was an emergency board meeting that might be our last, if a miracle didn't happen.

I got dressed in a daze and I stopped by the kitchen to get an apple. I didn't have an appetite but I needed something to distract me. I saw my mum already baking so early, something that she only does when she's stressed.

I greeted her then asked for my dad, she told me he already left.

“How bad is it?” she asked as she studied my face.

“We might lose everything.” I said without going into details.

“I wish he'd talk to me about these things.” she sighed referring to my dad.

“Same mum. Same.” We worked together, yet half of the time I didn't know what was running through his mind.

I had hoped I'd catch up with him before he left ,so we'd at least have time to talk before the meeting.

My driver was already waiting for me outside, I entered the car and off we went.

In no time we were at the office. During times like this, I hated the fact that the office was just a few minutes away from home.

I got into the elevator and I caught a whiff of that perfume again. Like the person had just left the elevator. I groaned. Just when I needed time to collect my thoughts, I was distracted by the perfume even in the absence of the owner.

I might have to start using the private elevator back. I have avoided it enough. Nia would be proud I was facing one of my fears, even though the perfume and the mysterious owner was the reason.

I entered my office and I stood there for a while, imagining what life would be like if I didn't have this. It was the only thing in my life that didn't drive me crazy. There had to be a way. I had to find a way to save this place. I decided there and then that I would do anything to save my family's legacy.

By the time I packed my things and moved to the conference room, almost everybody was seated. I took my seat next to my father's seat, at the head of the table and looked around. 

The silence in the room was loud. The steward moved around asking for our orders as usual, “tea or coffee” and everybody seemed to be on autopilot. Tea and coffee was served and we barely noticed.

Soon, everybody was present and the meeting started.

The legal adviser started the meeting after sharing the reports of the meeting.

When the reports had been passed around.

He stated in clear words,”we're bankrupt.”

The word bankrupt sat in the room threatening to choke us.

He didn't need to say it twice. We got the message.

The documents were already signed. Filed. Sealed. What remained of the company existed only in this room now, in wrinkled suits, and a kind of silence that came after a judge passed out the final verdict.

The screen was off.

There was no need for numbers anymore.

“We have seventy-two hours before the announcement goes public,” the legal adviser said in a solemn, careful voice,as though speaking too loudly might shatter what little dignity we had left.

We had seventy-two hours, not to save the company.

But to decide how it would die.

A dry laugh escaped someone at the far end of the table. “So that’s it, then?”

No one answered.

Dad got up and stood by the window, staring out at a city that had once felt like his to conquer. Now it looked indifferent. Unmoved. Cars still crawled through traffic. People still chased their own deadlines. The world had not paused for their collapse.

“We can still try,” I said in a small voice.

My voice wasn’t loud, but it rang through the room, because it had something the others didn’t anymore.

Refusal. I refused to give up.

A few heads turned, slowly. Skeptical. Worn.

“Try what?” the finance director asked. Not mocking me. Just wondering what else could be done.

I stepped forward, placing a single document on the table.

“Everything.”

I had their attention by now, everybody looked at me, wondering what I had to say.

Then I clarified, “We have nothing left to protect. No reputation. No assets. No safety net. So we stop playing safe.”

I could see the uncertainty in their expressions.

“We pitch to everyone,” I continued. “Investors who have rejected us. Competitors. Foreign firms. Anyone.” “ Even those who specialize in dying companies.”

There was silence.

Everybody seemed to be considering my idea.

“One more thing, I received an email from stone holdings.” I said and passed the printed copy to everybody in the room. I noticed the energy change in the room as they read the content of the mail. My dad's jaw was firmly clenched.

“I didn't reach out to them. They did.” I added before anybody could ask.

One thing was clear about the message, they weren't negotiating.

“They don't invest, they acquire.” The finance director said quietly.

“I know.” I replied.

My dad turned from the window, his face set in disagreement.

“We’re not talking to Stone Holdings.”

“We don't seem to have much of a choice.” I clapped back.

I was still wondering why they contacted us first but I was not about to let this opportunity pass me by.

“Okay, no problem.” He sighed.

I responded to their email agreeing to meet and almost immediately they responded. 

“9am tomorrow. Be available.

Z.Stone.”

I scoffed under my breath. I hadn't met him and he was already getting on my nerves.

We rounded up the meeting and I prepared everything I needed to meet with Stone Holdings. Then I headed home.