CHAPTER 23

Kyle King

 

Mondays were no different from other days of the week except for the long hours of meetings and following up with every executive in the company. Thankfully, Ava decided to follow me to the office today, and all morning she had been speaking with employees and getting activities started, leaving me to work at my pace.

I picked up some files and read through them. Christine had brought them earlier. It was a contract termination from a high-end client. Mom had worked hard to ensure we got them as clients, and now they are gone. She was going to kill me if she found out they terminated their contract, and I did nothing to stop them.

 

I had to schedule a meeting with them and maybe change their minds. They were the clients who made King`s company what it is. I had to know the reason why they decided to terminate the contract, especially at this time when they know our financial status. I called in Christine.

 

`Hi, sir. Do you need another cup of Starbucks coffee?` she asked, smiling widely. I knew I understood Christine. Some days, she would be the best secretary ever, and other days, she could be irritating and weird, just like today. I didn't understand why she was smiling like someone who just received her first crush letter. It was creepy.

I shook my head, staring at her. `I don't want that coffee, but a meeting with the Brandson brothers. I need to know why they woke up suddenly and decided that the King's company wasn't for them. 

She mumbled, looking at her pink polished nails, `I don`t know if they would accept a meeting with us. The senior, Mr. Brandson, specifically told me not to call him. He was quite angry when he came to drop the file, and I couldn't make him answer any of my questions.

Angry? The Brandsons had always been peaceful brothers and never one to act without a reason. Something or someone must have made them angry, and that explains why they warned Christine not to call. What made them angry?

 

I replied, `It's alright, Christine. You did your best, and I appreciate you. Please send them an apologetic email and also include the invitation for the meeting and time. After that, call Mr. Brandson junior and inform him about the mail. I know it will work.`

`Are you sure, sir? I don't want to be at the receiving end of their angry comments. I suggest we just let them go and find a client who can replace them.`

I glared at her immediately. Most times, Christine could ask annoying questions and build unnecessary tension in a peaceful environment. Some days, I wonder why I employed her.

`Just follow the order, Christine, and stop making stupid assumptions I didn't ask for. You can leave,` I ordered, staring hard at her shocked expression. You can leave now and don't come in here until you have reasonable updates on them.`

She scurried away, looking confused and a bit hurt. I wasn't bothered. She had to find a way to schedule a meeting with them and ensure they agreed to it. I should have done it personally, but there were other important matters to take care of.

A court case between a client and the King`s company. The client had sued the company in terms of fraud and physical assault. I remember the client. Mr. Allen Joe is a robust man with quick fingers. He had signed a project contract with the company after six months of trying to complete his project, revamping his transportation hub. I grew tired and listened to my mom's advice. I told the team to pull out and refused to return the balance payment to him.

That was a year ago, when Tessa was still here. She had intervened in the matter, but I warned her off because she was supporting Mr. Allen. I thought she was the enemy then, who wanted to make me feel stupid for being a bad decision-maker. I didn't think she was right then but now, she was right. I should have returned the balance payment when the company's profits were booming. 

I called the lawyer. If there was a way we could settle this outside the court premises, I was ready for that option. He picked up after the fourth ring.

`Yes, sir. Have you received the lawsuit file? We need to act on that because Robert`s family wouldn't hesitate to remove you from the selection list if they found out what you have been up to,` he said, munching something like groundnut. He was always eating groundnuts or peanuts, so I suspected it was one of them.

I breathed loudly into the mouthpiece of the phone, `I just read the contents of the lawsuit, and everything was entirely my fault. I should have returned the money then, but I was too greedy and stubborn to listen to any advice from anybody except my mother.`

He clicked his tongue. `It's too late for regrets and the likes now, son. What you need to be thinking about is a reasonable solution on how to settle this lawsuit and the punishment or judgement that will definitely come with it.`

`I`m thinking about the case already, and that's why I called. Is there a way we can settle it outside the court premises? At the moment, I don't have the kind of cash he's requesting, but if he can agree to settle it outside the court, I can sign over my share at Mint Bank to him. I think that should account for what i owe him.`

He hummed for a while, speaking slowly and suddenly, `Are you sure about that? I mean, signing over your shares? Don`t you think you will need it someday? Think about it carefully before I proceed, please.`

I had thought about it already. The share was useless to me at the moment because it was just five percent. I hadn't made any reasonable investment to increase it, so the worth of the share had not increased. If Mr. Allen accepts the offer, then the lawsuit will be dropped, and I will be able to concentrate on Robert`s family project and announcements. I couldn't afford to be distracted at the moment.

`Yes, I am sure about it. The share hasn`t been useful to me for two years now, so it won't be heartbreaking to let it go. Besides, I have shares in other places, so this is just one of those hard decisions you make in life.` I shrugged, scribbling a note for Christine. I wanted her to send a letter to my mom concerning Mr. Allen. It was vital she knew about it; after all, she's the reason he's filing a lawsuit.

He replied, `Alright, but a quick question: If you didn't have that amount of money in your account, why did you hold that extravagant engagement party? Everyone on the social media web is still talking about it, including high-profile celebrities. You should have tread carefully, son. I am sure you`re not a kid to know that the reason why Mr. Allen filed this suit because of what he saw on the internet.

Oh, that made perfect sense, then. I had been wondering why, all of a sudden, Mr. Alllen would just file a lawsuit without even attempting to talk to me face-to-face. It wasn't him at all, but listening to Attorney Smith, the puzzles fit perfectly. 

`Don`t be quick to judge me, old friend. Ava wanted a memorable engagement party, and I couldn't say no to her. You know how women can be, especially the likes of Ava. They won`t let you rest until you grant their request,` I said, buzzing Christine.

She came immediately, and I signalled for her to take the note and act on it accordingly. Xavier came in as she was stepping out. Just the man I wanted to see.

He chuckled. `I understand you, Kyle. I would send a message to Mr. Allen`s representative and drop in any updates. Also, prepare yourself. I have a feeling a drama will soon begin, and you will need all the strength you have to defeat the drama and its damages.

`What do you mean?` I asked, but he had already cut off the call.

His words rang in my head as I stood up to shake Xavier. `You will need all the strength you can get to defeat the drama and its damages.` What drama was he talking about? I noted it in my to-do list to call later. At the moment, Xavier was the next urgent issue to be taken care of.

His visible dislike for Ava and ditching my engagement party. He had also failed to return my calls throughout the weekend. His gaze was morbid as I focused my eyes on him.

 

I could tell he had something on his mind, which I wasn't going to like.