Chapter 2 LINDSAY NEWS AGENCY

••LINDSAY NEWS AGENCY••

"What? Are you kidding me? Makeup up something I don't care, my agency can not be like this," Mr. Lopez scolded workers.

They have not released a new article in weeks, and, within two weeks he has lost three billion dollars.

How is he going to keep the company running if there is no article to release or a way to pay his loans?

"Get them working!" Mr. Lopez snapped at them.

"They are trying their best sir but, nothing is working," a man uttered.

"We are not getting adverts either, it is getting worse more like our agency is being targeted," a woman said

"Darn! Makeup something, I don't want to listen to the stories you made up to cover your incompetence, I want results. Positive results!" He snapped and the staff flinched in fear.

Why is she blaming them? How is the situation their fault?

"Everyone leaves," a lady ordered and they left the office immediately, Spending another minute in there could cost them their jobs.

"Alfred," the lady called now standing.

"What was that you said? You don't mean it do you?" She asked with a straight face.

"I mean every damn thing I said and I am going to repeat it if that is what it takes to snap some sense into them," he replied furiously.

"What? Do you want them to make up something? Are you out of your mind? Who would want to read your news if they are fake?" the lady asked

"I don't care I just want to keep my company running?" He replied and stood up from his swivel chair.

He suddenly turned to the lady.

"Got any model for our magazine yet?" He asked and the lady shook her head.

"What the fúck are you all doing then? You come here to play? Is this a playing ground to you?!" He snapped

"We are trying our best Alfred...," the lady tried to explain.

"Your freaking best is not enough Jessica!" He yelled.

"You are not going to get a solution with this attitude of yours, you need to calm down," she suggested.

"How am I to do that if I am slowly losing everything Jessica? How can I calm down?" He asked in a shattered voice.

"You are going to be fine, I made sure of that," she assured resting her hand on the table.

"What do you mean?" He inquired calmly.

"I booked an appointment with Nathaniel Harper..." She was interrupted by his question.

"Nathaniel Harper himself?" He asked and she nodded

"You are meeting with him this afternoon, in next..." she glanced at her wristwatch.

"Two hours, he is ready to give Lindsay a loan but he just needs to meet with the CEO," she informed him.

"I'll head there immediately," he agreed and grabbed his phone before rushing out of his office.

"tsk, tsk... impatient," Jessica clicked her tongue as she watched him run.

They have been friends since high school and now she works under him but she is still a friend and an employee.

••HARPER INVESTMENT••

Mr. Lopez sighed as he waited patiently for Nathaniel, he had been sitting for about thirty minutes.

He was offered a cup of coffee but he couldn't even sip because that was the last thing he wanted to do.

After five minutes Nathaniel walked in with Drake who read his last schedule to him which was an interview.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Harper," Alfred greeted on his feet.

Nathaniel turned with his usual smile on his face, however, the first thing his eyes caught was the untouched coffee.

"Don't you like it?" He asked with his eyes now on confused Mr. Lopez.

"Pardon?" He furrowed his brows.

"Your coffee, don't you like it?" Nathaniel asked and he swallowed hard.

He just realized he was thirsty.

"Get him an iced cappuccino," Nathaniel ordered Drake who raised a brow at him.

Nathaniel was up to something and this mam is at the mercy of God.

Nathaniel walked to his table not uttering another word, Mr. Lopez sat back on the couch and silently tool over until Drake returned with the ice mug of cappuccino

"I will be outside," Drake informed and left the office.

"Satisfied?" Nathaniel asked after Mr. Lopez finished his cup of cappuccino.

Honestly, he had no idea why he drank it. He was not thirsty until Nathaniel asked why he didn't drink the coffee.

Tapping his feet impatiently on the floor, his eyes roaming the room, sweat running down his face thought the AC was on.

Nathaniel smirked as he knew he was vulnerable.

"So you need a loan worth Twenty billion for your company?" He asked going through the contract, as he walked to the armchair beside the couch Mr. Lopez was sitting on.

"Yes sir," he responded

"How are you going to pay me back? Your company is not worth the money and you have

no other collateral, Why should I entrust my money to you?" He asked.

"Umm... I will work harder, I will do whatever you want, I will pay you back with my life! Whatever you want, please grant the loan," he pleaded with his head bowed.

"Really? You are willing to pay with your life?" Nathaniel asked with a smirk.

"Yeah," Alfred agreed not minding the consequences of his actions.

"But I don't want your life, I want something else," he said and Alfred raised his head.

"Will you give it to me?" He asked with his usual smile.

"Yes, name it, whatever you want!" He screamed, he has nothing worth Twenty billion but he is willing to give him whatever he wants.

"I heard you have a daughter," he rested his back on the chair.

"She is twenty-two, a third-year university student," he continued.

"Do... You want Emma?" Mr. Lopez shuttered for a moment.

"Can you give me... Emma?" Nathaniel asked making eye contact with him.