Chapter 2 2

**Four years later

DAMIEN POV

It was going to be a good day, I thought to myself when my driver parked in the lot of my company.

Before I would open the door, Silvia, my secretary, was standing outside, waiting to do the usual. "Another beautiful morning, Mr. Blackwood." She winked when I got out. "It's another week. I'm hoping you enjoyed your weekend, sir."

I simply nodded. "Good morning, Silvia."

She took my briefcase. I walked in front of her.

"My weekend was alright. How was yours?"

We reached the entrance of the reception and were in the large hall moments later.

So many staff existed in the space, some customers and maybe clients. "Good morning, all." I continued to walk and did not stop until myself and Silvia reached the elevator house.

"I had a good weekend, Mr. Blackwood."

Moments later, the elevator machine beeped.

We had reached the floor where my office was built. With a smile on my face, I walked out with Silvia who walked behind me. And our legs did not stop walking until we reached the entrance of my office, then I walked in, took a seat on the chair, and looked up at my secretary.

"Let me have the details from last week. Especially Friday. I wasn't here and you didn't bother to give me a call. Why is that?"

Silvia dropped my briefcase.

She looked at me with the usual professional smile on her countenance. Then she spoke. "I'm sorry I didn't reach out to you, Mr. Blackwood. I honestly didn't want to spoil your weekend. There's just a lot that happened last Friday."

What did she mean?

Stunned, I asked. "What do you mean?"

"The Group crashed in a way. It's not been fully rectified but I'm trying to work on it."

"Can you stop this bullshit and tell me what happened while I was away?"

She looked tense.

Something went on. "Why didn't anyone call me?" I fumed and was on my feet. Even though I didn't know what happened, I was worried. "And what about the manager? What the fuck did he do?"

"We all tried."

"Can you shut up and tell me what happened?!"

"I'm sorry-" she looked to the ground. The next time she looked up was when I was seated. "The Clintons called off their contract. We don't know what happened and the reason behind this."

Shock came alive on my face.

I didn't believe what I just heard. "What did you say The Clintons did, Silvia?"

"They called last Friday. It was you they wanted to speak with. I made them understand you weren't here and they told me in the stead of you."

"And you're telling me now?!"

"There was nothing even you could do about it, Mr. Blackwood. They no longer partner with us. Now and later. Their representative said so."

It was hard to remain calm.

Too hard to control myself. But I had to.

Maybe a call to The Clintons would change their mind. These people have partnered with us since four years ago, and now what?

They could not back off without a cause.

I looked at Silvia now. "Did The Clintons give you a reason? There should be something, at least."

"Not at all, Mr. Blackwood. There was nothing."

I went into my thoughts now.

What was I supposed to do? Nothing.

At least, a call to them.

It wasn't too late to hear from them, or was it? Without thinking twice or hesitating, I let out. "Get me their contact information."

Silvia walked out. The next time she walked in, she was with a file. It was placed on my table. "Is there something else I should do?"

"Maybe you should rewind to Friday when a call should have been placed to me."

As I input the digits in the device lying around on my desk, I snapped at my secretary. "Silvia, I need the manager in my office as soon as possible." The device was placed in my ear. Silvia walked out and the call was picked up on the other end.

"Good morning, how may I help you?"

"Good morning-" I lost my voice for a moment.

"I'm calling from The Blackwood Group. This is Mr. Damien, the CEO of The Blackwood Group. Words reached me this morning that The Clintons terminated the ongoing contract we have and I'm reaching out to know why. Do you have a problem with the already delivered fabrics?"

"Mr. Blackwood, I thought I ended this with your secretary the other day. What's this?"

"I needed to hear from you, Mr. Clinton. You cannot terminate a contract without giving us the least reason, at least. That's why I have called."

"Oh, I thought I told Miss. Silvia we found someone better. I'm sorry if we skipped that part."

"Someone else?!"

The door to my office opened at that moment. Silvia walked in, and Mr. Johnson, my manager, followed suit from behind. "Did you say you found someone better, Mr. Clinton?"

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood. I should get back to work. Have a nice day." And the call ended.

I heaved a sigh and looked up.

"The contract was indeed terminated, Silvia." Then I looked at my manager. "You didn't deem it fit to reach out to me, did you? Don't you know your job, Mr. Johnson? Do you need me to teach you?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood."

What could I say?

What could I do?

Many others were partnering with us, although they didn't come in handy like The Clintons. "Is there something else I need to know? Maybe you should tell me already."

"Not at all, Mr. Blackwood. Everything is in-"

"There's something you should know-" Johnson cut her short. Silvia looked at him with a questioning, confused gaze before facing me. "I got off from a call with a partnering company when Silvia came into my office. It's The Ruby's. The company you asked me to be in charge of."

"Oh-" I smiled. "Tell me about it."

"They called off their contract, Mr. Blackwood."

My countenance changed. "What did you say?"

"I don't know what this is, but I know it's not good. Nothing has changed in the way we partner with these people. It's fairer than usual, in fact. I tried to talk with them about changing their minds but they have their hearts made up."

"Get out of my office."

"Mr. Blackwood-" Silvia walked closer.

"Get out!" I shouted. "Don't come into this place until you're called, do you understand me?"

Alone, I wondered what was going on.

What the hell happened in the space of a week? Even less. My feet led me to and fro the space of the large office, my thoughts scattered around in my head and I wondered what was next.

Who would reach out to us next?

What contract was about to be terminated?

What was about to happen next?!

The Clintons were important people to The Group. Anymore contract termination and we would be in trouble, literally.

What was I going to do?

Their minds were made up.

I didn't know about The Ruby's but it could be that they found someone better.

I was still lost in my thoughts when my phone began to beep. Veering around, I reached the desk and picked it up to see a call from one of my men. "What now?" I picked up the call and placed the phone in my ear. "Good morning, Marcel. It's too early to reach out to me, but what is it?"

My heart skipped at the sound of his announcement. "Did you say Celeste?"