Chapter One
1248 Words
I.
Honolulu, Hawaii
2 December, 1947
It was another sunny day on Honolulu.
Gilbert Frederich, local businessman, was on his way to work. He was a middle-aged man with brown hair, a fattish figure and green eyes who owned one of the biggest companies involved with cash loan services in Honolulu called SUNBEAM FINANCES. It was known that Gilbert was a rich man. After all, his company was making thousands of dollars in profit every day and still growing. As he was walking through Foster Botanic Garden, he saw a few young children who were on a school trip with their teacher. They spread joy all around the park and Gilbert looked at the teacher. She was an older woman with blond hair, blue eyes and a fit figure.
Gilbert started talking with her.
- Look at them little children! How much joy they're having! Isn't it just amazing?
Teacher replied with a smile on her face.
- Yes, I agree. They are my pride. I see a great potential in each one of them. It doesn't matter that they are only nine years old. I can envision the intelligent and well-behaved adults they are about to become.
Gilbert nodded his head.
- It's just fascinating how one can develop so rapidly during so little time. Suddenly, it stops and you remain almost exactly the same for so long.
- Perhaps, that's true.
After a moment of silence, the teacher realised something and asked with curiosity.
- Wait a minute. Aren't you that rich man, Gilbert? I've seen you so many times on television already!
Gilbert smiled and replied.
- Yes, that's me.
The teacher continued.
- Just a moment. I think I saw a report just this morning about you.
Suddenly, Gilbert was surprised.
- What was it about?
- It was a report about some changes that are about to happen in your company.
Gilbert was even more suprised and wondered.
- I don't know anything about it. Did they mention precisely what changes are about to happen?
- No, they didn't. At least, I don't remember anything.
- I see.
Gilbert became slightly nervous.
- I'll keep on walking then. I have to go there to find out about it. See you later.
- Bye.
Gilbert walked on through the park and couldn't think of a single reason to explain what the teacher had talked about. He started to rush. After a few minutes, he reached the company and entered. A lot of people were panicking inside the building and Gilbert was terrified. When he walked into his office, Joe Pentham appeared . It was Gilbert's business partner who ran the company with him. He was a tall person with black hair and a thin figure who was just as old as Gilbert. He asked with fear.
- Gil, have you heard the news yet?
Gilbert answered with insecurity.
- No, I haven't. What the hell happened? I don't like this. Why are so many people here?
Joe replied.
- Gil, this is serious. Do you remember that new company Calico?
- Yes, I do. They were about to go bankrupt just a few days ago. What about them?
Joe got a bit upset and explained.
- Listen, Gil. I don't know how to tell you this but... They are taking over!
Gilbert looked at Joe with surprise. He didn't understand.
- What do you mean they are taking over?
Joe started shouting.
- They are taking over! Literally! They ran a huge campaign about their cash loan services which provided offers we just can't compete with! Most of our clients switched over to the them, leaving us hopeless. We're screwed!
Gilbert thought for a little.
- Wait, something's weird here. Our clients signed a clear contract which stated their liability with us until their loan is paid off. How could they just switch to Calico? I can’t accept that.
- It's a complicated situation. They found a loophole in our contract papers and took advantage of it right away! This resulted in several benefits for people who switched. Additionally, they found a way to do it behind our backs!
Gilbert started pacing around the office nervously.
- This is not good. Oh, this is bad! This is bad! So what's next?
- Our company is getting shut down and we're going to lose a lot of money.
- How much money are we talking about?
Joe grabbed a file and gave it to Gilbert without words.
- Take a look at this. It's all stated here. I recommend you sit down, Gil.
Gilbert sat down and opened the file. His expression turned to fury. Joe tried to calm him down.
- I'm so sorry, Gil. I know it's a lot of money but I'm sure you'll be able to handle it well.
Gilbert remained silent.
- Gil, are you all right? Is it more than you expected? Gil?
Gilbert stood up. He began to speak with anger.
- Do you... Do you really want to know?
Joe replied with worry.
- Yes, tell me.
- All right then. I'll tell you.
Gilbert grabbed a lamp which was placed on his desk and threw it at the door fiercely. The lamp smashed to pieces. Afterwards, he shouted.
- It's almost everything I've got! What the bloody hell? For goodness' sake, how could you let something like this happen? This is unbelievable!
Joe replied with fear.
- Gil, look, I'm sorry! There was basically nothing I could do about it! Even if I could do something, I don't have all the rights that you do!
Gilbert slowly sat down again and stated in a quiet, angry voice.
- Get out of my office right now. I need to be alone.
- But Gil!
- Right... now!
Joe left the office and Gilbert sat in his chair for a moment, thinking about the whole situation. After a moment, he grabbed his bag and left the building.
A few hours later, he came home where his wife was waiting for him. Her name was Claudia. She was a tall, blue-eyed woman with long black hair and a thin figure. When Gilbert opened the door, Claudia was talking on a telephone.
- What do you mean by that? Oh, I see.
Gilbert became uncomfortable when he heard these words. He thought that the conversation might have been about him. Claudia hung up the telephone and spoke to Gilbert.
- Gilbert, I've just found out about what happened today.
Gilbert got upset. Claudia continued talking.
- Look, Gilbert. It's okay. We can handle this. We still have enough money to start something new.
- I'm not sure about that, honey.
- Why not?
- Do you know how big of a loss this situation has brought to us? Calico simply took over! All of my clients are there now. I have nothing to work with because of that!
- Let's just hope we can figure this out, Gilbert.
- But how, Claudia? We have nothing! No money, no business anymore and we can probably say goodbye to this house!
Gilbert became very angry and strongly punched the wall. Claudia was shocked. After a little while, Gilbert calmed down and said.
- I need to go out. I just... can't stand here without doing anything. I'm sorry, honey.
Gilbert quickly opened the door and ran away. Claudia was trying to reason with him but without success. Gilbert was gone.
- Writer
