Chapter 4 The Meeting

Episode Four

MR DOWNS POV

Well my name's Mr. Downs but you all known me as Winifred's father, a lot of things has been going on lately at the office and my wife and daughters aren't aware about it yet. The companies had a lot of losses these past few months and I thought I could handle it all alone that's why I didn't tell my wife anything about it because I know how hard the both of us worked to build all this and to give our girls a good life. I couldn't just sit back and watch it all go down the drain so I borrowed some money from an old friend, the agreement was that I was going to pay back the money last week but sadly I couldn't come up with the money. Mr. Adam and I had some few shots together and he offered to help me only on one condition; I'll let my youngest daughter Winifred get married to his son Aaren, my baby's too young and she's not prepared for marriage and such commitment yet...so I turned down his offer but with the pressure and steady threats calls from Mr. Elliot, I think I'm going to have to accept Mr. Adams proposal.

She had a confused look on her face and Brenda just fixed her gaze on me. "Um I really don't know how I'm going to explain all this to the both of you"sweats beaded my forehead to show how nervous I was. The only thought in my mind at the moment was how I was going to get out of this one.

"Dad are you Okay? Winifred asked you a question remember..."Brenda asked me with her brows raised.

I loosened my tie cause it was making me feel uncomfortable and I could feel drops of sweat forming on my forehead, the air Conditioner was on but funny I was still sweating. One thing I avoided was keeping big secrets from my wife and girls cause if they were to find out, there would be a lot of drama and long talks with Cleo my wife. I walked closer to Winifred and placed my right hand on her left shoulder. "I really don't know where to start from but for the past few months now we've been having serious financial issues at the office__"I paused and forced a smiled.

They both took a glance at each other before fixing their gaze on me again. "and? Go on Dad."

"Winifred it's okay, dad's explaining everything so you don't have to be like that"She said and Winifred's face softened.

"well I thought I could handle it all on my own so I chose not to tell your mother about it, it was getting too much for me to handle on my own so I borrowed a huge amount of money from the bank to get things back to the way they were but all the new products were stolen...all the crates that were shipped here were empty. I don't know who did this but someone's trying to ruin everything that your Mum and I have built"I explained with sad face.

"That's really bad, my life's over!..."I noticed that the smile on Winifred's face had faded away after hearing everything that i just said.

"Calm down Winnie- I bet Dad has thought of something to get the family business back on track without Mum having to know about it cause we all know what's going to happen if Mum finds about this."

I cleaned my sweaty face with my white small Hanker chief and put it back in my back pocket. "Thank you so much for being calm and so understanding Brenda, the both of you don't need to worry anymore cause I'm going to make it right and pay the bank all I owe them"I said and my mouth curved into a smile.

"If I may ask...what's the Big plan you've to settle all this?"Brenda asked me wearing a confused look om her face. Winifred sighed and sat down on a chair close to the window, she has been quiet for a while now and I knew she was trying to be calm and not panic.

"Well Mr Adams my old friend from College offered to help me only on one condition......

"And what's that?"Winifred interrupted with a face.

"You would have to marry his Son and only then would he invest in our company and buy shares"I answered while trying so hard to avoid Winifred eyes. I just couldn't face her right now.

"But she's still in high school and worst I don't think she would want to get married to an old man or whatsoever" Brenda spat and I sighed.

"I don't approve of it too and I also won't force her to get married to save the family business and all but Winifred's old enough to get married"I blurted and brenda's eyes widened.

"This is not you talking Dad, don't tell you want to marry my sister off to a man she doesn't even know and worst he could be your age"she roared and lowered her head.

"We've no choice and I know your Mum's also going to approve, I know it's going to be hard butt please do it for the family dear"

"But Dad! I thought you said you aren't going to force her or talk her into accepting this rubbish. I'm so disappointed in you dad"Brenda said trying so hard not to cry.

"I'm only doing this cause it's the best thing to do right now."I struggled to say.

"for you yes it is but not me, Winifred you don't need to think about what your dad just said okay"Brenda said with affection glowed in her eyes. She held Winifred hand and caressed it softly.

"I don't want to get married to anyone. Why's all this bad things happening to me?"She cried bitterly and ran out after removing Brenda's hand from hers.

"Way to go Mr. Downs"Brenda muttered before running after her.

Mrs. Cleo's Pov

The work to be done were so many and really tiring but still I had to work very hard and not complain at all cause this work is the source of my income and this kind of luxiourious life I'm living. My husband has been acting really weird lately so I couldn't help it but get suspicious, I know my husband so well so I knew he was hiding something from me...I decided to investigate and ask some collegues at his office, my hunch was right after all, the companies had a lot of loses these past few months and I know how bad that can turn out to be for us.

I decided to go back home cause earlier today Mr. Santiago called me and told me that I should come back to the house cause we had some important business to talk about with my husband, Santiago has been a very trusted friend to my husband and we really trust his opinions. We had a talk last week at a café close to my place of work about this matter and he told me the only way we could solve it, I don't have the kind of money he wants to use to pay the debt my husbands owing the bank and worst I can't ask my parents for money right now cause I know how my Mum is...she's going to say something I don't like and we might end up quarreling again and I don't want that. He didn't tell me cause he doesn't want me to get worried, but still I'm his wife and It's my Job to worry over matters like this.

Finally I was back home and the whole house seemed to be unusually quiet today, it was so lifely when I left this morning now this, I slowly catwalked towards my husbands office. I was now standing close to the door, before I could hold the door knob, the door flew open- Winifred and Brenda ran past me. It's achieve they didn't see me at all, I knew something was wrong so without thinking twice I marched inside his office and shut the door behind me.

"Honey! What are doing here? Thought you had some business to attend to at work"He said with his face glistening with sweat. I could sense how nervous he was from the way he spoke.

"I told Edna to handle everything cause there's something important that we've to talk about"I answered with a big frown on my face.

He took some few steps closer to me and hugged me very tight. "I was going to tell you all about it dear, but I just didn't want you to worry...well I thought I could handle the problems at the office on my own but they kept getting worse"He explained with his head buried deep into her hair.

I sighed and caressed his back softly. "At least you could have told me about it sooner and we would have known how to handle it better. It seems the girls have also found out about the truth so there's nothing we can do now but sit down as a family and talk because things are about to get tough from now on."We slowly let go of each other and sighed.

"I talked to Mr. Adams and he said he would only invest in our company if Winifred gets married to his son"He explained. I lowered my head and brushed back all the hair on my face with my palm before standing upright.

"I know this would sound stupid or wrong but this is the only way to save our company from going bankrupt."

''I tried talking some sense into her but she wouldn't agree to it and Brenda see's it as a bad idea...if this is not done we would loose everything we've worked so hard for."

"Don't worry about Winifred cause l'll talk some sense into her, I she's young and not ready yet this is the only way to save the company and save our family from shame. Imagine what my Dad would do if he finds out about all this. She would've to marry that young man whether she likes it or not"The expression on my face hardened and I walked out.