Successful individuals

Ivery's POV

Franco took a deep breath and stepped forward, push open the glass doors, and stepped into the air-conditioned lobby. His gaze searched every but softened when his gaze met his assistant. He walked towards her smiling, this was the first time I witnessed him smiling genuinely.

“Thank you.” He muttered silently while collecting the marriage certificate.

“You have to put out your best, we need to make them believe we are a thing. And I'm sure you know the consequences if otherwise happen,” he said gruffly. I nodded my head in response and put on a fake smile. We walked into the conference hall silently.

He presented the marriage certificate to them, but to my surprise, I was shocked to see we have been married for five years. I looked at him with so much repulsion, how can he tell such a lie? I tried to question him but decided to let it wait because of the press conference.

The press conference continued, and Franco was fielding questions from reporters. They were mostly interested in our marriage, and how he managed to keep me away from the public for five years. Franco was careful to keep his answers vague, not wanting to give away too much information. He knew that if he let the truth slip, his plan would fall apart. He had to keep up the charade for as long as possible.

“Mr. Franco, why do you think Ms. Ivery agreed to marry you?” a reporter asked.

“it was love at first sight,” he said bluntly, pecking me on my cheeks. “I think Ms. Ivery saw the benefits of our union,” Franco added smoothly.

“We are both strong, successful individuals, and we complement each other's strengths. We make a good team, and I think she saw that.” He was confident in his answer and I wondered how good he is with this kind of thing when I am nervously wrecked inside.

“How did you manage to keep her away from the public for five years?” another reporter asked.

“My wife is a very private person and I respect her privacy,” he answered, hearing the word my wife from his mouth, feels weird.

“What do you think about her handling business?” Another asked again

“I think you're underestimating Ms. Ivery's business acumen,” Franco said, trying to deflect the question. “She is a shrewd businesswoman, and I'm sure she saw the advantages of our union.” He was trying to keep things vague, but he could see that the reporters were getting suspicious. He needed to change the subject. “I think we should move on to other questions now,” he said, gesturing to another reporter in the crowd.

The next question was about the project that he had just signed, and Franco was happy to answer it.

“I'm excited about this new project,” he said, enthusiasm in his voice. “It's a chance to make a real difference in people's lives. I'm not just talking about creating jobs and bringing in revenue. I'm talking about improving the quality of life for people in this region. Likewise, I think this is another way to improve the state of the country, creating more job awareness helps the country's economy.” He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. “I think we can all agree that we want to make a positive impact on the world,” he said and people clapped shortly

“This project is just the beginning,” he continued. “I have many other ideas that, I think, can make a real difference. And I'm not just talking about business. I'm also talking about philanthropy and social responsibility. I think that companies have a responsibility to give back to the communities they operate in. And that's something I'm committed to.” I could feel Franco was beginning to feel like he was winning the reporters over with his words and the tide turning in his favor. “I know that many people are skeptical of corporate social responsibility initiatives,” he said, addressing the doubts he knew some people had.

“But I think it's important to show that we're not just paying lip service. We're taking real, tangible steps to make a difference. And I think that's something we can all be proud of.” He looked around the room, making eye contact with as many people as possible. “Do you have any questions about our social responsibility initiatives?”

“Mr. Franco, some people have accused you of greenwashing,” a reporter said.

“I think that's a fair criticism,” Franco responded calmly. “It's easy to talk about making a difference, but it's much harder to actually do something about it. That's why I think it's so essential to put our money where our mouth is. We're not just talking about making a difference; we're actually doing it. And I think that's what separates us from the companies that are just paying lip service.” Franco said and he sounds convincing.

“But some people say that even with all of your initiatives, your company is still causing more harm than good,” the reporter countered.

“I think that's a complex question,” Franco said thoughtfully. “I don't think it's possible to be completely ethical in a capitalist system. There will always be trade-offs. But I think it's essential to try to do as much good as possible, even if we can't be perfect. And I think that's what we're doing at my company. We're not perfect, but we're trying to make a difference.” Franco paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

“I think the real question is whether we're doing more good than harm. And I think the answer is yes. We're creating jobs, we're improving the lives of our employees, and we're making a positive impact on the communities where we operate. And I think that's something to be proud of.” Franco was getting into his groove now, speaking with confidence and authority. As Franco was speaking, I was listening intently, taking in every word. I was struck by his passion and his commitment to making the world a better place.

“Thank you so much, I wish I can stay, but I have other pressing needs to attend to,” Franco said, rounding up the conference, he smiled, leaving the room holding me tightly.

“Wait!” We suddenly heard a voice from the hall.