Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

 The sun was on business as much as everyone that Monday afternoon as Ryan drove to the office complex. He was on his usual monthly inspection of the production facility at the outskirt of the city when he had a call from his secretary of an emergency meeting of the board  that was going down in about thirty minutes. He finished the inspection and everything seemed in order. Just the need for new parts and a couple arrangements he'd need to make; nothing major.

But the emergency meeting shook him quite a bit. He had a couple of ideas why the meeting was being held. He knew what to say though and he had everything mostly under control but some board members seemed to be pressing on the recent developments as a means to get him out of his position as CEO. Harkland and Stone have the highest shares in the company apart from him and that could pose a problem. He really had to fix this.

The office complex was in the middle of the city.  A pretty impressive thirteen story sky scrapper  with the Anderson breweries logo on it. As he passed through the main entrance to the parking spaces, he noticed a couple of press people entering the building. He never liked the press. They were the worst part of being famous.  With their Microphones and persistent nature for chasing stories and not necessarily truths. 

As he got out of the elevator, he was met by his personal assistant, Jeffrey. 

"You're a bit late sir."

"Yes Jeff, I have a functioning timepiece. I know what time it is."

Both of them walked towards the direction of the boardroom as greetings and salutations flew across towards them from different angles. Specifically at Ryan. Jeffrey was quite the opposite of Ryan he was a bit shorter, and reserve and looked like could be intimidated by a pet gecko. He probably didn't seem like the right pick for a fast paced environment as this but he was quite competent and serious with his job and Ryan might not have admitted it but he respected that. He had handpicked him and kept him as close to himself as possible. Nobody was exactly sure why.

"Sir, the board members, they seem a bit agitated. My guess is that their patience is wearing thin. The company had been getting a lot of bad press and it has started to affect things quite significantly. Things are looking quite bad."

Ryan remained expressionless. He stopped in front of the glass doors that led into the conference room and turned to face Jeffery.

"Thank you, Jeffrey for your commentary. I really appreciate it. But now I gotta go do my job."

As he walked into the room and faced the rest of the board he subconsciously acknowledged Jeffery's fears. But he has to stand on business like he always had.

"Mr Anderson please take a seat, this won't be long."

The seats were mostly empty. Only two of the board members were there; Harkland and Ambrose who was leading the charge.

"Where's everyone?"

"They won't be joining us today Mr Anderson."

Ryan was a bit thrown back. Why would they call a board meeting with him and only two show up.

"We've all already met and decided as regards the recent uhmm .... issues...you've been having to deal with."

Ryan felt anger crawling up his chest. He might have had more enemies than he thought. 

" You had a board meeting without me. What's that supposed to mean?"

"I assure you Mr Anderson, the rest of the board understand how dedicated you are to this company and that you are invaluable to it's progress so far. We just need some sort of assurance for the public. Whatever is going on is affecting everything and if we continue like this we could lose a lot. You wouldn't want that either, would you Mr Anderson?

"What would you all then have me do?"

Harkland stood up this time to respond.

"It's simple really. There's a press team outside. Give them an official statement on the whole thing."

"Oh come on, what would that do? You know they are just going to rephrase whatever I say to suit whatever juicy gossip they plan to construct."

 

"Mr Anderson, you need to take responsibility for your actions...or at least pretend to. That's all the board asks."

Ryan stared fireballs at Harkland as he stepped out of the room alongside Mr Anderson.

***

"... We're working closely with necessary governmental institutions to resolve all of this. Lastly I completely wholeheartedly believe in responsibility. It is what this empire stands on. It is the sand and stone my father built this company with and it is what I carry on with it. I would not shy away from it or from the consequences of any action that has been proven to be mine. Any further questions?"

Ryan was hoping it would end soon. The press people kept asking question after question and he had successfully maneuvered around them. And it seemed like they had run out of things to ask him. 

Just then a woman in red leather jacket put up her hand and asked  a question.

"Any comment on your recent divorce and the custody of your kids?"

The question punched Ryan in the gut. It also opened a whole new can of worms as every reporter in the room went into a frenzy of trying to ask him questions concerning his ex wife, kids or any new romantic prospects. He remained expressionless.

"It seems we're done here."

With that he stood up and left the crowd of unsatisfied frenzied reporters.