Trouble II

SHAWN

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on my laptop. I had really approved the buyback of the shares. 

Yet, how had this happened? 

How in the…. world? 

I just couldn’t understand. I didn’t approve this! Yet, it was showing in the system that I had. 

But… how? I hadn’t been drunk in more than two years, and I didn’t do drugs, so there was no way I had been high enough to approve this transaction. I hadn’t even seen it in the first place!

Yet, it was showing… I shook my head in disbelief. This was crazy. It must be whoever had hacked into our servers, I thought. 

Still, how could that be, when there was S.N.’s signature and all? Would that mean S.N. was behind the hacks? That didn’t even make sense! 

S.N. was a tech billionaire. Why would he go through that underhanded method to get his money back? Again, that didn’t make sense. 

So, where did that leave me? I didn’t even know. 

“What are we going to do, sir? Our stock is dropping, and the board directors are getting impatient. They are requesting a meeting tomorrow…” 

“Fix the meeting,” I said. There was no other choice. It was either that or risk being pushed away, because surely my grandfather wouldn’t support this nonsense—wouldn’t support me in this nonsense. 

This company was his blood and sweat, and it was threatening to collapse under my governance. Damn!

“And about the virus? What is the tech team saying? Isn't this what we are paying them for? Why haven't they gotten it under control!” 

“I’m sorry, sir, but they claim they are doing their best. They just can’t seem to get the virus to go away…” 

My frown deepened. “Tell them to get it away, or they all lose their jobs!” 

My assistant nodded like a fish out of water and scurried out of my office. 

Oh my God. I ruffled my hair again and again. Why was this happening now? 

My motion paused. Could it be…

I shook my head. Noting the time of the transactions, it was yesterday, at around 6 p.m., so it couldn't be the Vikings. Elara hadn’t been in the hospital then; she had been in the house waiting for me, like the dutiful wife she was. 

I swallowed the unease creeping up my throat, my hand rubbing my chest to soothe the choke there. Why was I feeling like this? It must be because of the situation. 

I shut my eyes, trying to think, but all that was in vain. This matter needed to be sorted out or else I was doomed! 

I picked up the contact for S.N. which my assistant had dropped for me and paused as I hovered over my phone keypad. Too early to call? 

Does it matter what picture that poses? I was desperate, as the company was! We needed S.N.’s money if things went south. 

Just then, my phone started to ring. Gramps. 

I sighed loudly just as I picked up the call. 

“SHAWN LINDAYS!!!” 

I removed the phone from my ear, lips pressed in a thin line, placed it on the table and put it on loudspeaker. “Yes, Gramps. Good afternoon.” 

“What’s good about the afternoon? Why is confidential information out online? What is happening? Do you want to destroy my company?!!” 

I shook as I tapped on my laptop, navigating to our page. 

“Shawn, are you there!!” 

My mouth dropped open as I saw that my grandfather wasn't just ranting. Our stuff was out online. Oh my God. Already I could see the consequences—more shareholders dropping out, clients dropping out… 

“Shawn!!” 

“Grandpa, I don’t know what is happening! Someone hacked into our server!!” 

“And why would that happen? Have you offended anyone? Is it the Vikings?” 

“I highly doubt it’s them. We recorded the time of the virus entry yesterday, even before your party was midway…” 

There was a pause on the other end. “Get your shit together, Shawn, or you are out of the game. I’m hearing there is a meeting tomorrow…” 

Of course, someone had told him. 

“Make sure S.N. attends that meeting. I don’t know how you will make it happen. Just do it.” 

And then the call ended. I ruffled my hair and immediately tapped in the number my assistant had managed to get. When I heard the ringing dial, I sighed in relief that it was a working number. 

But as the seconds ticked by and there was no response, I feared the worst. I called again, and again, and again. But there was no response. 

My hands started to shake then as I got to my feet and looked out through the ceiling-to-floor glass window. My face scrunched as I saw the reporters' vans… I sighed again. How do I get out of this? 

Bringing up my phone, I dialed the number again, but there was no response again. Maybe he was busy, I mused, then sent him a text. 

Dear Mr. S.N., This is Shawn Lindays, CEO of Lindays Group. I am reaching out regarding the sudden withdrawal of your shares and funding. There seems to be a grave misunderstanding or a system error on our end. We are holding an emergency board meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m. and it is vital that you attend so we can rectify this. Your support has been the backbone of our recent growth, and I would appreciate the chance to discuss why you chose to pull out so we can move forward together.

I exhaled shakily when the text sent, then I wondered what else to do. 

The Vikings, my mind supplied. I needed Elara back, by all means possible. So, I dialed her number. And it rang and rang, but there was no response. I dialed again, but got the same response. 

Of course she was angry, but still, wouldn’t she at least answer to hear me out? 

Or were her brothers keeping her captive? Were they holding her hostage? 

My face twisted as I thought of this, then I dialed the number of the police chief.