Chapter 5

Trouble in Paradise

Ruby's Pov;

I received a text message. I checked to see it was the address the teacher had sent.

I hurriedly went back to my car and got in, before driving off in speed

The place wasn't far from the school. It was a coffee shop closeby.

I got there in less than ten minutes. I parked, came down from the car and rushed in.

I got in and looked round for the teacher and Michael. I was glad when I saw them at the left hand side of the shop .

I ran to them and engulfed Michael in a hug as soon as I got there.

He beamed with smiles, hugging me back.

" Did you get me anything?" He asked , all smiles.

" No Michael. I was in a hurry, but I promise to get you something on our way home" I told him, playing with his hair as he stood up. He giggled happily.

" Thanks a lot ma'am" I said appreciatively to the teacher .

She gave me a smile and a small nod.

" Just make sure to never repeat it. It's a good thing I was still there and I don't have anything doing" she said.

I could tell she's a really nice person. I was so glad and happy for what she did.

What would I have said?.

" Alright Mic, your sister is here now. I gotta go" she said, getting up from the chair.

She smiled at Michael and he returned it.

" I'll see you on monday, okay" she said, ruffling his hair.

" What about tomorrow?" Michael asked innocently.

" Oh, Michael, tomorrow's Saturday, there's no school," the teacher said, breaking into a short chuckle.

She smiled at me, waved at him and then walked out, going to her car.

Michael waved back at her till she got into her car and zoomed off.

" What do you want?" I turned to Michael immediately and asked .

He grinned widely.

" I want ice cream, cheese, Pizza…pop corn…lolli…"

" Geez, Michael! What are you gonna do with all these things?"I asked in disbelief.

" I want to eat them," he said cutely, pouting.

Oh! That pout. I could never resist it.

" Alright then, let's go get you those things" I said, leading the way out of the coffee shop.

I helped him to the other side of the car, and walked back to the driver's seat.

We were on our way home in no time.

I stopped by a mall to get Michael his stuff.

He giggled, shouted and chuckled like a child.

I had even bought excess. I know he won't be able to finish them, but still, I bought them because he requested them.

" You happy?" I asked him, when I was done with his seatbelt.

He nodded excitedly, scooping a large amount of ice cream into his mouth.

" Woah!!" He moaned in ecstasy.

" Alright kiddo, let's go home" I said, rounding up with my seatbelt.

I stepped on the wheel immediately and we were on our way home soon.

*

*

Mr Staffer's Pov;

" Sir…I'm afraid the situation is getting really delicate. We have to do something now" my secretary informed me.

He spoke with so much worry and concern in his eyes.

" Alright Jonah, set up a meeting" I ordered him.

He nodded before leaving the office.

I took a deep breath, gulped hard, and arranged a few things on my desk before leaving the office.

I got to the hall that was used to hold meetings, to see all the board of directors there. They were chattering, but stopped immediately I stepped in.

The whole place suddenly became quiet and still.

" I'm very sure you all know the reason this meeting was called," I said, looking from one person to the other.

They murmured and whispered to themselves.

" Mr Staffers, we are worried . What's going on? We believe with the way this is going, we'll have no choice but to remove our shares from this company" Mr Bal said.

The others shook their heads in agreement to what he had said

" We feel it's no longer safe. It's a dead end already and we can't take that risk. We have to pull out and invest somewhere else" another said.

I sighed deeply as I looked from each person to the other.

It seems they had spoken the minds of all, because no other person said anything after that.

I cleared my throat and adjusted on my seat, before speaking up.

" You all have spoken very well, and spoken your minds as well. I understand how you feel and assure you that I'm trying my best - really, I'm really doing the best I can and trying to save whatever is left of the company. If you all have made up your minds to dissolve your partnership with this company and take back your shares, I will do nothing to stop you"

" But also remember that we made this decision together and agreed to partner with the fraudster together. You all were with me on it, so I dont get why I should be the only one to suffer for it"

" It hits rock and you all wanna run away and hide your faces. You wanna take your shares and go someplace else to invest, think about…"

" They spoke for themselves, not for everybody. I'm not in support of it and have no intention of withdrawing my partnership with this company" Mr Dennis said .

I smiled at this and looked around to see if anyone else would say anything, but no one did.

Guess they still stood by their decisions.

I'm glad I have an ally at least. I have someone that will help me fight this hard time, while the rest of them are trying to run away.

" Thanks a lot Mr Dennis. Your empathy's really encouraging and won't be taken for granted, either will it be forgotten" I paused and let silence take over.

" If that's all then I'll like to…"

" When do we get our shares?" Another asked, cutting me off .

I was taken aback by this question.

Are they that eager to leave the company? Were they even…I don't even know what to say.

" You can meet with my secretary for that" I said, and speaking of the secretary, he chooses to walk in right at that minute.

He whispered something to my ears and left immediately.

I got up from my seat with a smile on my face.

" If that's all, I'll take my leave now" I said with a smile and walked out.

*

*

" What's the meaning of what you just did, Mr Dennis?".

" What's the meaning of that sorry ass stunt you just pulled?" The other board of directors attacked Mr Dennis, immediately Mr Staffers walked out of the room.

" I don't get what you're saying? What's the outburst for?" Mr Dennis asked with disbelief.

" How could you say a thing like that? I can see you want your shares, money and all you've invested to perish along with this company"

" I know you're trying to be sympathetic and passionate, but it's not worth it really. We already know there's no way the company can bounce back. It's a dead end"

" We don't have to suffer with him. We have done a lot of that in the past when the company was still growing up, now is the time to enjoy and he's expecting us to sit down, fold our arms and watch while all we've worked hard and laboured for go down the drain. Which man in his right senses will do that?"

" And to think he's still smiling and trying to make us feel bad.. I know for sure that I'll never regret this decision" these and many more were said.

" You think?" Mr Dennis asked , referring to the last person that spoke.

" I know too well. The company's as good as gone. We better start packing whatever we have left in here, so we can get the hell out of here, because the next thing would be them coming to tear down this building. I don't wanna be here when that happens" .

Mr Dennis watched and listened as they flickered and blickered like kids and hypocrites that they are.

He couldn't believe it were the same people he had been with, worked with, talked with, shared ideas with, started everything up with, that were talking this way. It pained him so much.

He shook his head in hurt, self pity, anger, resentment and got up from his chair slowly and walked to the exit door.

He stopped, shot one last glance at them before walking out.

" Let him go. He will surely regret his decision and come back to us" one of them said, while the others nodded in agreement.

*

*

Mr Staffers walked to the entrance of the company to behold lots of reporters and Newscasters.

Damn!! Where's he gonna start answering questions from?. He thought inwardly as he walked closer to them, his guards by his side.

The whole place was in a commotion and chaos - rowdy and noisy.

He was still trying to wrap his head around what was happening, but no matter how hard he tried, it was just so hard.

And finally…