Deadly Poison

Chapter 2

"The reports says what's currently happening is not good," a man in a formal black suit said with a disappointed and annoyed tone. He was standing in front of a lot of people inside a huge room, everyone except him were sitting at their respective seats in front of a oval shaped long table. Papers were also passed one by one at each side.

"While the president is in a vegetative state, the company's starting to lose more and more assets, some investors are pulling out their investments, do you have any plans for this occurence?" He once agan asked the crowd. Everyone was murmuring, Leigh sighed heavily and massaged her temple. 2 months only just passed after her father went into a vegetative state, Franco, the president of Jihn's Food & Research Industry.

Only 2 months has just passed and everything happened very quickly. Ever since the company and its directors decided to release a public statement about the president's condition, number of investors in Jihn's Industry are decreasing. Assets are continously being released to sustain the needs of the company for it to survive without the presence of the president.

Although the company has numerous directors who could as well oversee the company while the president was not around, the directors could not decide on their own because they were too bothered about Franco's condition.

"I am starting to think now that publicizing the Mr. Franco's condition was not a good idea," a short black hair woman spoke loudly in between those loud murmurs. Everyone looked at her and furrowed their forehead, even Leigh who has been so silent stared at her with a confusion on sculpted on her face.

"What are you saying, Ana?" A woman, Zia, the eldest daughter of Franco, sitting in front questioned Ana's word, the black haired girl who just spoke before her. "I mean, we could have just kept it a secret.. about the president's condition," Ana responded to her question and looked at others, seemed like seeking for other directors approval.

"I don't think it will also be a good idea. Hidding about the president is not a good move, we might lose the investors and the public's trust for not disclosing it," this time, finally, Leigh spoke while looking at Ana directly. The latter raised a brow at her, "then what do you think will be a good idea to pull up the company to its downfall? Do you have any ideas on your mind?" They threw and threw questions to each other, it seemed like it won't end, everyone was so serious because of course the company's value is at worst, the life of the company is on their right decision and ideas.

Although Leigh and her siblings finished their college education with a degree related in business, they were still having a hard time to think about the good plan for their company. It was exhausting and so stressful for them, even though there are still a lot of people who could help them, the directors, they are still more worried about the company's condition because it came from their father's sweat and tears.

They could not afford to lose everything all at once just because of their poor plans and decision-making. Before her father went into an vegetative state, Franco asked them to carefully look after the company if ever something happened to him. He has been training them as well ever since they were kids, telling them what to do about this and that, but reality sucks. Even though you have learned a lot, when you are on that situation you will question yourself if you have learned something, because it really looks like you didn't learn anything from something.

"Leigh," a small voice appeared from her back, Leigh looked back without turning her body and saw Zia's figure. She released a smile to her and the latter did the same, Zia went closer to her and breathe heavily as the cold air embraces their body. It was 8 in the evening and the cold wind at the back of their house feels refreshing, more refreshing than the sun in the morning gives.

Zia was 6 years older than Leigh but Leigh was taller, because of that she sometimes joked about her height to Zia and that made the latter a bit annoyed and insulted, but that was just a fun play for them. A normal thing for them. Although they were not bloodly-related, they did not come from a same parents, they still treat each other as one and fair, equality and equity happens on their abode, fairness are always present.

That was what their father taught them.

"Are you okay?" Zia asked and caressed Leigh's back, she smiled to give a slightest assurance but she think it was not enough. "Something's bothering you. What was it?" She asked again but Leigh just released a sighed, and instead of answering her Leigh just looked up in the sky and stared at it.

"It is about dad. Yeah, I can feel it," perhaps Leigh could not hide or lie her thoughts especially to Zia. That girl knew her just by looking at her actions.

"I'm sorry. I just.... i just.. you know, don't know what to do. Lots of things are happening and they are.... getting worst," Leigh spoke with a sadness and hopelesness visible on her tone. "And it seems like getting worst everyday," she continued, her tears were falling on her cheeks as she blinked, she could not stop them from doing so, besides, she can't never hide it to Zia. She was always open and have been open to her.

"Actually, i have a plan in mind. But i thought of it for a quiet a month now hoping that i could think of find a better way because what brought to my mind was.... a bit cruel and harsh, " Leigh looked at Zia with a her shining eyes, part of it eas because of the tears that were building up in her eyes but it was because of what Zia jusy said.

It gave her hope. A hope for them, a hope for the business.

"What is it? Let's try that as long as it's for the company's stake," Leigh pushed her to tell it to her but Zia was obviously a bit hesitant. At that point of moment, Leigh could not ponder a better reason why Zia seemed like thinking twice about telling it to her.

Was she wants to hide it to her?

Leigh raised a brow at Zia, but not to look at her annoyed, but instead to give the older girl a hint that she was waiting for her words.

"Just don't get mad ok? It was not my initial plan actually... it just happen that there was a family I've met during a party, and I thought that they will be a good card for us," Zia started.

"They are a wealthy family. Not just that. They are also one of us. They are also leading a pack and because of that I think it won't be difficult for you to bond with them or to build a relationship with them even just a fake one," Leigh furrowed her forehead due to confusion when she heard the word 'relationship' on Zia's words.

"What.... what do you mean relationship with them? What do you mean a fake one?" Zia suddenly bombarded with question, she squinted her eyes hard and scratched her head, trying to push herself to say it to her in one go.

"I want you to marry their child. It is for them to be our greatesy contributor and with that it would be a good move for the company... i'm sorry, Leight, I was not supposed to think of that, but perhaps I was a bit of tipsy that moment and it did not fade away on my mind. You don't have to do it if you don't want to,"