Chapter 2 Rejections

Bradley's POV

"Escort him downstairs", I said to Eric. "The butler is waiting to drop him off at home".

"Ok, Mr. Bradley. But wouldn't you be joining your Father as well?"

"No, not now", I replied.

"Forgive me, Mr. Bradley, if I seem to be intruding but, I don't think you should be alone at this time. If it's okay with you, I'll walk Mr. Ford to the car and come back here".

"It's okay, Eric I'll be just fine".

"Mr. Bradley, you've been nice to me ever since I was recruited to work with your father. You even extended your kindness to my family. I worry for you and Mr. Ford", he said looking at my dad.

"I know I'm just an assistant but, if there is any way I can help, I'm ready to do anything".

I smiled, stretched my hand, and patted his shoulder. "Thank you, Eric. You've been an indispensable staff member at the company. If I do need anything, I'll let you know".

"Thank you, Mr. Bradley".

He turned to my father. "Shall we go, Mr. Ford?"

"Yes". Then he turned to me. "There is going to be a heavy downpour anytime soon. Don't stay too long okay?"

"Don't worry Father, I won't".

"Alright son, see you later at home".

Eric helped him carry his office bag, and they both left the boardroom, closing the door behind them.

Finally, alone, I sat on one of the chairs. My eyes darted to the files arranged neatly on the table.

I opened the files, scanning through them, and there they were. A pile of legal notices and bank red flags, documents of already confiscated properties belonging to our company, and summons from the feds.

The situation looked bad. No wonder Dad said we needed more than just 'help' we needed a 'miracle'.

I brought out my phone that had been in my breast pocket and started scrolling through social media. It did not come as a surprise to me that it was abuzz with our family's name. Indeed bad news spread like wildfire.

I clenched my jaws hard as I scrolled through the comments targeted to smear our reputation.

"They got what they deserve. They wanted to be everywhere and have an influence on everything. Look where greed landed them".

"Who would have thought the Fords would ever one day collapse? Hahaha serves them right".

"It's a shame that a company like this claiming to always uphold integrity will get involved in such a scandal, so disgraceful".

What a bunch of gullible people! I spat under my breath. Drawing unreasonable conclusions based on social media hearsay.

And these bloggers...were worse off with their provocative headlines: 'THE IMMINENT DOOM OF THE FORDS'.

Really??

I scrolled some more and saw some sensible and neutral comments:

"I feel so bad for the Fords. My uncle once worked with them before he traveled abroad and he had nothing but good things to say about them. I hope they come out of this crisis".

"Scrolling through these comments I can't help but feel humanity has lost it. So what if they're going down...is it something to gloat and be happy about? I feel disgusted for real".

"I will not judge till I hear from both sides. Till then, fingers crossed".

Well, I guess there are still reasonable people after all. I sighed and logged out. Remaining in that toxic space will just keep me agitated and nothing good will come out of it.

I can't let our company go down like this. No. Not without a fight.

I scrolled through my contacts and decided to reach out to Elton's group. We once helped them out and saved their group from financial wreckage.

Calling him for a favor is not out of place. I dialed the number saved as Mr. Elton and he picked it up at the third ring.

"Hello", came the voice from the other end, sounding irritated.

Ignoring that though, I went ahead with the reason I called. "Good afternoon Elton, I hope I am not calling at an inconvenient time...I would have come to see you in person given the gravity of the circumstance but, time is of the essence here and I urgently need you to do me a favour".

"Ok, what exactly are we talking about here?"

"Well...it's about our company...I need a loan".

"You need a loan?" he repeated with a scoff. That's what banks are meant for. Why not take a loan from there?" he asked.

I was taken aback by his response.

"Mr. Elton, if that were plausible I wouldn't even be calling to ask this of you. Please...this is urgent".

"Mr. Bradley, I really wish I could help but we are currently expanding. Now is not the right time".

"Really...nothing at all?"

"I wish there was something I could do...I'm sorry, I have to go now", he said and hung up.

I instinctively gripped my phone tightly slamming it on the table.

He just hung up on me!

The same Elton group we had saved from financial collapse and partnered with is talking to me about an expansion?

I wasn't really into much about what was going on in the company but I was well aware of other groups we partnered with.

I grabbed a file and scanned through-there was no place stating that the Eltons are kickstarting an expansion. Worse still, I saw he had withdrawn his partnership from our group along with others who were once partnering with us.

I had a clear picture of his motive-he didn't want to help.

Not wanting to be deterred, I reached out to the Derma group, a family friend of my father and a business tycoon. I dialed his phone three times but no response.

Strange.

I decided to call his P. A instead and he answered on the first dial.

"Hello Kent, good day".

"Good day to you Mr. Bradley", he responded.

"Thank you. I've been trying to reach your CEO but no response. I presume his phone may not be within reach so I'd like you to put him on the phone if he's close by".

"Oh, that...um...sir"...he stuttered. There was a voice I heard in the background-unmistakably the voice of the CEO of Derma Group.

"H-He is indisposed at the moment but as soon as he's free, you will get a call from him".

"Ok", I replied flatly and hung up. I knew what it was and I knew for certain that call would never come.

I had spent the whole afternoon to the early hours of the evening reaching out to business allies whom my father had supported and even partnered with. Including other influential people who had smiled with me on yachts, toasted to glasses of champagne, and the women who had fondly called me 'nephew'. Even those my father had supported to hold political offices.

They wasted no time shutting me out.

I was met with different forms of excuses:

"We're currently restructuring".

"We've embarked on a new expansion project".

"We have to mitigate the risks".

"We're cutting down on expenses".

I realized help wouldn't come from the same circle of people who had once been rescued by our company financially. They've already buried me, even before my breath was snuffed out.

I had put my pride aside to ask for help, only to be humiliated-one rejection after the other.

My gaze shifted to the screen in front of me which showed the chart of the stock market crashing-the company was bleeding.

The feds and the media weren't making things any easier. They've already begun circling like vultures, ready for a feast.

They were out for blood.

And they would get it if I didn't act fast-very fast.

The court summons lay comfortably on the table, still unanswered. I needed more time but time wasn't a luxury I had.

The fact remains that in just a few hours, I would either be re-made or doomed.

My last bet was my fiancée. I was sure that even if everyone had turned me down-she wouldn't.

Or so I thought.