Rise of the heart

Micheal's POV

I tried falling asleep again but my heart kept pondering back and forth.

" I built this firm right from scratch, I can't afford to lose it now, no matter what". This was my last thought when my phone rang.

I peeped to see who was calling at that time. It was my girlfriend and fiancee, Benita.

"Hello babe, what's up?"

"I have called over 5 times but you didn't return any". She said,

"Oh shit! I am sorry babe, I was unaware that my phone had been ringing before".

"Are you okay?" She asked

"Am good". I responded.

"Alright babe, be good and take good care of yourself, bye for now"

"Ok babe, I will see you in the morning".

She hung up. It was then I realized that I had been lost in thoughts for the past 35 minutes.

I managed to maneuver my mind from thinking again just to catch some sleep.

I have a lot of activities in the morning.

***

I came to my office quite early today. Although I do report at 9:00 am prompt. But because of the thoughts that have been bothering me lately, I just felt like coming so early to get them off me.

As I flipped my laptop open to check something, I had a knock at my door.

" Come in," I responded.

" Good morning sir!"

" Good morning, What can I do for you?".

Ok sir, " We have a document from Prescott Ltd. It is about the deal they brought to us initially, you haven't reviewed it and they need our response urgently."

"Ok, I will review it and send my approval before the week runs out. Tell them to be patient with us".

" Alright sir"

That was my PA Lucy, she's too lackadaisical about her job. I have been trying to cope with her sucking attitude, that would have almost cost my firm big time in the past.

I have informed my HR department to recruit someone else for me, but they haven't done that yet.

Immediately after Lucy left, I went straight to my documents. I was trying to arrange some files when a notification came in.

It was a letter from Livingston Realty Ltd.

They were trying to persuade me about their interest in buying the majority of shares in my firm. If they had their way, my ownership of the firm is gone.

I don't know how they found out about the huge and ravaging crisis that HRG Ltd was encountering..

" Good morning Mr Michael, we're still interested in buying out HRG Ltd shares. We will wait patiently for your consent".

I was struck immediately, I just remembered that the bank had given us a deadline to pay off our debt or they would initiate a legal process.

" Should I accept their offer?"

" What can I do to pay off our debt, and save my firm?"

The deal that put us in this pandemonium and crisis was a juicy offer at the beginning, but unfortunately, it was a poisoned chalice. Had it been I knew about the possible outcome, I wouldn't have accepted it. That's life for us, very unpredictable.

"I have to rack my brain and get us out of this mess". That's the only way forward. I told myself.

I thought about my brother Jones, he had some connections up his sleeves. Maybe if I acquaint him with the current issues confronting HRG Ltd who knows, he may be of great help to us.

But then, Jones has been a pretentious person, I've never trusted him before because of his indulgence in some illegal deals. I condemned him for his most recent involvement with some realtors. They scammed a company about $900,000. I had to sell one of my cars and property in New Orleans just to bail him out. Although I couldn't provide all the ransom, he had to contact some of his buddies for help. Fortunately, they came up for him.

Since that incident, I had to distance myself from him. I became an introvert and the effect is somehow backfiring now.

But then, my available options are at its barest minimum. As at the moment, I just have to mellow and seek his assistance.

" He's still my brother, I know he can't neglect me in a time of distress like this"

That was my thought, so I made up my mind to call him.

I picked up my phone from the front desk and scrolled through my contact list. It's been a while since I called him so his contact was not on my recent call list.

I called his number the first time, but no answer. I called it again and it connected.

"Hello Joe"

"Hi Mike, What's up, you don't check on your kid bro again".

" Not What you think bro, I've been engaged with some activities".

"How are you doing?"

"Cool bro, hope it's the same with you?"

" Am good man"

"That's awesome"

"So Joe, there's a little challenge we're facing. I don't know whether you can be of help to us".

" What's it, Mike?"

" We were caught up with some crisis. I will be extremely delighted if you can put a call across to your colleagues in the banking sector to assist us".

" Alright bro, I got your back, you were there for me when I needed help the most. Denying you this assistance now, won't speak good of me"

" Okay Jones, I will be anticipating your response".

" Okay Mike, have a great day". Bye

" Bye Jones"

I ended the call. I was very happy because it seemed as if a burden had been lifted off me.

I was sincerely hoping for a positive reply.

I took up from where I stopped. I went through the documents from Prescott Ltd.

Their offer was quite juicy, but I was not ready to let go of my firm.

A knock came through my door. I lifted my head and said, "Come in."

It was one of my staff specifically from the HR department.

" Good afternoon sir". She said

" Afternoon, I responded."

" Okay, Sir we have got someone that can replace Lucy. We have gone through her Credentials and she met the job description perfectly. I came to inform you to know when to schedule an interview for her."

" Oh, that's awesome, you can bring her in immediately."

" Okay, sir."

The lady went out and about 15 minutes later I had a knock at my door again.

"Come in"

The door opened and I saw a lady adorned with a beautiful brown drop-down gown. I was immediately struck with the smell of her perfume; a flowery scent mingled with fresh strawberries. She flashed a smile towards my direction but I hastily threw my face away so as not to be lost in her beauty.

"Good morning Sir"

"Good morning young lady, how may I be of help to you?"

"Ok, am Nicole Raymond, your newly recruited secretary"

"Ok"

" Please have your seat, may I see your credentials?"

" Right away Sir, here it is".