Chapter 67
“How long are you going to swallow?” Robb asked from behind
Oliver stilled for a second, then drank his whisky. The last person he thought would find him at the Lockwood bar was his old man. One of his friends had mitthed, and his her was on Vivian: the bastard always cracked at the littlest pressure.
There was no judgment in Robb’s tone, which was good because Oliver had enough for the day and would throw words and hands if it came to that
After he left the company earlier, he knew coming to the Lockwood bar would not be the best idea. Cecil had her doctor’s appointment at ten am, and that came first. He called her to ask for directions, as this hospital differed from the others the had gone to with him. It seemed Cecil had taken the are that his day wasn’t going well and wanted to add to it. She told him she would only disclose the location when she was about to leave, so he had to stay in his car on the road and wait until ten am.
After the doctor’s appointment and usual check–ups, he came here. It was too early to start drinking but he didn’t care, it was either that or smoking, and he was quitting. He ordered a bottle and will see how far he can go with it. In case he drank himself to death today, Vivian had his location.
“How did you find me?” he asked, tilting the whisky in his glass repeatedly.
“You know it’s rude to answer a question with another question, right?” Robb spoke with a hint of
frustration in his voice.
Oliver gulped the vodka in his glass and poured in some more. “It’s rude to hand over ownership to Imela without first informing me when I’m next in line.”
Robb sighed and took the seat right next to him. “I did what I thought was best with the little time Ms Garcia gave me.” He said and signalled to the bartender for a glass because whisky was his favourite.
“She came to meet me yesterday, and she had two proposals in hand one to pay back all the money the García group loaned us, or two to hand over ownership and supervision of the Plane Enterprise to her.”
The bartender came with a glass, and Robb took it and poured the whisky on the counter into it. He drank and spoke: “The first option wasn’t even up for debate; it was a no. I had to go with the second and then argue that we keep the name.”
Hearing him explain made the whisky turn sour in his mouth. “Mom was right; we should never have brought her into our lives.”
Robb placed his glass down and circled its mouth with his finger. “Now, this is your pride and bruised ego talking. We both know she’s the best thing that’s happened to the Plane Enterprise in a while. I don’t
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Love’s Beautiful Muscate
Chapter 67
think we would still exist if she hadn’t stepped in when she did. Ms. Garcia is a businesswoman with a business mindset, just like us. She will do what is in the best interest of her investment.”
He scoffed, “She doesn’t care who she tramples upon while pursuing her interest. She’s nothing like me.”
“Do not be stubborn.”
He turned to Robb and said, “I have every right to be; I just lost the very thing I’ve worked for my entire life. I am pissed. The question is, Why aren’t you?”
“Because anger gets you nowhere in life. It brings no solution; it only drives you to make irrational decisions that you will regret along the way.”
Oliver didn’t want to hear his long, well–informed summary of things–not now. “Well, you have been
very calm; have you found a way out now?”
“I have, and if you had carefully read the file she gave you instead of storming out like a man ruled by his emotions, you would have, too. You look at this like a permanent sentence; it is not. We didn’t keep to the contract stipulation, and she is only exercising the right granted to her by our agreement. Her actions in taking away Plane Enterprise are justified, but she has ownership until we get back on track, if we can.”
“Just what the fuck does she know about aviation and the management of such a company?” he lamented
bitterly.
“She doesn’t need to know much; she only needs to know how to read the numbers. The plane enterprise
is still a business, and anyone with business knowledge would know how to manage it and make it work
This is not a permanent sentence like you think it is.” This made Oliver turn to Robb, but he didn’t interrupt him. “We made the mistake of not going through the first amendment to the agreement, so I called in The Barron firm, our legal representative, and they went through it, line by line, just as we should have done before. It states that if we can pay back 15% for the next three months, then we stand a
chance of getting Plane Enterprise back.”
He sighed in defeat. “So, it’s a lose–lose because 15% is a lot in our current situation. We were able to
make seven per cent, and look where that got us.”
“We cannot throw our hands up and give up. You have a child on the way; is this what you will tell them? To give up and throw in the towel when things become difficult.” Robb asked, reaching his limit of reasoning with Oliver.
“No,” he muttered.
“You shouldn’t only see how difficult it is, but how you will get back Plane Enterprise, which you have worked so hard for and sacrificed so much for. Ms. Garcia will not make a formal announcement of ownership until three more months, and that gives us time to make sure that never happens. We may have to report back to her on a day–to–day basis, but we still run the Plane Enterprise. We still have a lot to fight for, but if you give up, you will never have a legacy to leave to your child.”
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Love’s Beautiful Mistake
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Chapter 67
His old man had a point, and as angry and fed up as he was, he wasn’t done yet. There was still a way to get back what belonged to him. Working with Ela will not be easy, not after the many things she has done
to hurt him.
She was not the same Ela from all those years ago; she had changed, not in a good way. He had no idea what to expect, but he had to make it work. He had a baby on the way, and he needed to set his ego and
emotions aside and think about only what was best for his child.
That got him out of bed and ready for work the next day,
The elevator came to the fifth floor and opened to reveal Imela giving a speech to the staff members. He
walked in but remained at the back to not let his presence be known.
“Words have gone around these past few days. Some I heard, and some I wish I hadn’t. I am here to clear up the rumours. The Plane enterprise is undergoing a new shift, and I want you to think of it as a good one. I have only one goal: to make it better. Those of you who are afraid that you might lose your job, don’t be. If you survived the times when the company experienced hardship, then you will survive this, Only do your duty. The rumours are true. If I find you incompetent for your role, I will not hesitate to terminate your employment. That said, I wish only to have the best relationship with you all. Carry on,
and have a nice day ahead.”
The staff members returned to their various posts, and Oliver followed Imela as she returned to her office.
“Mr Plane, I see you return after leaving without formal approval. Just because I gave your father my word not to fire you doesn’t mean you can leave and return whenever you please. I should fire you on the spot and become the monster you think I am.”
Oliver maintained his calmness; an outburst would get none of them anywhere. There was a bigger picture, and he had to keep looking at it for the next three months.
“I am sorry for how I reacted yesterday; it won’t happen again,” he said quietly.
She stared at him, not believing a word he said. “We’ll see.”
