Trouble Brewing

Gabriella’s eyes widened in shock as she read the headline. Panic and fear gripped her, turning her face pale as her mind raced with worst-case scenarios while she read the caption under the post.

The new release of smart fingerprint door locks produced by Kingston Enterprises was failing woefully. There were several reports of robberies at different stores, businesses, and homes in the city, all of them using the locks the company produced and had released into the market only two weeks ago.

The post contained several videos of different aggrieved people dragging the company for selling ineffective products without considering their safety and causing them great losses.

The comment section was filled with even more complaints, and people were even bringing up motions to cancel the company and never buy their products ever again.

Gabriella wondered if Alexander had seen this post and, if so, what it would mean for the company. Would they fold up? Would she be laid off?

‘But I literally just got this job.’ She wondered if there was some kind of curse over her that made her so unlucky.

Getting up, she locked her phone and walked back to her desk. Lunch time was over, and she decided to put all negative thoughts behind her and completely throw herself into her work. Occasionally, she would glance at the doors to the CEO’s office as she wondered what chaos would ensue when he saw the news.

About thirty minutes later, the intercom rang, and Gabriella swiftly picked it up.

“Yes, sir?”

“Gabriella.” Alexander’s voice came out tired. 

“I need you to find the files for the fingerprint door locks we released two weeks ago and bring them to me.”

“Right away sir,” she responded, and he hung up.

If Gabriella was worried before, she felt ten times worse after hearing the defeat in Alexander’s voice. Her hands shook as she rummaged through the drawers for the files he requested. Finding it, she tried to steady her shaky hands as she walked to the office.

After knocking, she stepped into the room, and her heart immediately sank at the sight before her.

The once tidy and put-together office now had files sprawled all over the desk and floors, and Alexander had his head in both his hands with his laptop open in front of him.

The television screen that hung on the corner of the office displayed reports of the catastrophe that had befallen the company. The female reporter on the news described how fast the company's stocks were falling as the public began to opt for products from a rival company, Raymond Enterprises, instead.

“You need to fix this.” A male voice boomed from the laptop.

“I know,” Alexander responded, his voice barely audible.

“Sir, you asked for these files,” Gabriella said softly as she approached his desk.

Alexander’s head suddenly sprang up, seemingly embarrassed. He didn’t notice her come in.

“Yes.” He said, clearing his throat as he took the files from her.

“How could you let this happen?” The voice from the computer came again.

“Dad, I can fix this. I’m working on it right now.”

“You'd better. The shareholders are already losing their minds.” Gabriella heard the man say just as she turned around to leave.

Gabriella could no longer focus on her work. The possibility of losing her job because of this mishap consumed her. She couldn’t start job-hunting all over again.

‘Maybe I’m just overthinking it,’ she thought. Besides, how could a big company like Kingston Enterprises fold up just like that? They’ve definitely been through worse.

But what Gabriella saw in the office kept replaying in her mind. The disarray in the room, the reporter talking about the drastic fall of the company’s stocks, and even the man Alexander was speaking to on his laptop.

Even his father seemed to be worried about this whole issue. The more she recalled the panicked interaction between Alexander and his father, the more unease she felt, and she wondered if it would be better for her to start applying for a new job right away.

Suddenly, she heard the elevator arrive, and four men, all clad in expensive suits, approached her. 

“We have a meeting,” one of the men said as they reached her, an annoyed scowl etched on his face.

Gabriella dialed the intercom to let Alexander know of their arrival, after which she let them into his office.

‘They didn’t seem very happy,’ Gabriella said to herself, and her worry grew. 

As time went on, the situation seemed to escalate. The media was buzzing with petitions demanding the government close down  Kingston Enterprises for good, while some people planned to sue, and others were even organizing demonstrative protests to demand the company take full responsibility to compensate them.

Quite frankly, Gabriella understood their plight. She could understand that it felt terrible after buying a high-end product expecting to get quality for your money, but instead, you are met with disappointment. Getting robbed at your home, or going to work the next day, only to find that someone broke into your store and made away with your valuables, all because your door lock didn’t do its job.

‘I really can’t blame them,’ Gabriella thought, sighing as an overwhelming feeling of defeat consumed her.

About an hour later, the men walked out of Alexander’s office looking even angrier than when they came in. She had hoped that maybe they were here to brainstorm a solution to the problem, but seeing their angry faces as they stormed out, Gabriella wasn’t convinced.

Once again, the intercom rang, and Gabriella answered.

“Yes sir,” Gabriella said softly.

“Come to my office right now,” Alexander said and hung up abruptly.

Something about his tone didn’t sit right with her. She could almost hear the sound of her own heart beating rapidly in her chest. She took a deep breath to calm herself and walked to his office.

As she sat in front of Alexander, she braced herself for what was to come. The atmosphere was tense, and a dark cloud hung over him, making Gabriella feel a bit of pity. He no longer looked confident and powerful. Instead, his arrogant persona was replaced with a somber mood that set his face in a stern expression.

“I’m sure you’ve seen the news.” His voice came out with a hint of annoyance.

Gabriella could only nod in response.

“The company is facing a problem, and to my surprise, it has taken a huge toll on the stocks in such little time.”

Gabriella couldn’t understand why he was telling her all of this. If he was going to fire her, he could just go ahead and do it.

“The men who came here earlier were shareholders, and they are not happy. They’ve been literally breathing down my neck to fix this problem.” He let out, irritation lacing his voice as he spoke.

“As the CEO of this company, it is my duty to make decisions for the good of everyone, to save the company. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir.” Gabriella felt that familiar sense of defeat wash over her again. The same one that had consumed her for the past seven months as she got rejected over and over again after applying for a job.

“Good,” Alexander said.

“Now it is because of this sense of responsibility that I have come to a decision to make you an offer.”

Gabriella felt confused all of a sudden. She thought she was going to get fired, and would go back to being jobless after just one day of working at the company.

“An offer? What kind of offer?” Gabriella finally asked.

Alexander looked at her with stern eyes. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his brows furrowed. Somehow, he managed to look even more serious.

“Marry Me.”