A Night With You

Chapter 14: Company Problem

It was still early in the morning when a blasting sound from Vin's phone made him awake that very morning. It went frenzy because someone is calling. Upon checking the person behind, it was his secretary, Connor.

He rose from his bed and reluctantly answered the call that made his mood change. But he needs to answer the call because it is about the company or his mother.

"Yes hello. This better be good. I am exhausted and I need a lot of sleep. I am still sleeping when you called me. If this is just a prank call, ready your neck because I will wring it with both of my hands." His eyelids continuously closes and his voice was slurry. He groaned as he tried to open his eyes but ended up squinting.

"You seem to be so talkative Sir. I need to tell you a very important matter." Connor answered.

"What is it this time Connor? Did my Mom called you again asking about me and where the hell I am?" Vin frustratedly sat on the edge of the bed. He huffed a breath - annoyed. His feet touches the cold tiled floor. Only the light of the lamp on the side table sets the place aglow.

"It's about the company Sir." Connor paused from his speech and Vin heard that he exhaled loudly. Surely, there is something bothering him.

"I have already sent you a message on your email account about the documents. You need to check out those. Sales are constantly fluctuating down everyday. Then suddenly because the news was really alarming, the council tried to look over the matter and found out that there was some infringement that is happening to another company."

"What company?" Vin's sleepiness faded in a snap. All of his cells were very active - so alive to pick up the next piece of information.

"FX. Their new model of vehicle is the same as our last model too. The specs and the designs. Even smallest details are copied. We are so sure about that. What we just launched a month ago was copied."

Vin hurriedly opened his laptop and checked the said email file. There were two files there. One was about the sales status then another was the proofs that FX motors really copied their work. Vin's jaws tensed as he gritted his teeth. His eyes spits fire as he clenched his fisted right hand.

"Hello Connor? Still there?" Vin's voice dropped an octave. Whoever can here him now will surely shiver in fear.

"Yes Sir?"

"Set up a virtual meeting with the board. I need to make action the soonest. Set it to 9 in the morning." Vin said whilst glancing the round wall clock that was situated at the wall on his right - just above the television set.

"Sure thing Sir. I'll have the information disseminated. Is that all?"

"Yes. I'll tell further instructions later." Vin ended the call and proceed to take his morning bath. He needs to calm his nerves down so a cold bath could help him a bit. But it is not enough to appease his anger as of the moment.

The model ZA37 is a high technology motorcycle that he designed. It was precious to him as he made that piece to perfection.

At exactly 9 a.m., the meeting started. On the oval long table sat twelve different people, the members of the board.

"Good morning to all of you ladies and gentlemen. I called for this urgent meeting because of the very alarming news that the company faces. It's been weeks since the sales continuously fluctuate and FX motors issue of copyright infringement." Vin remained his face look blank. This issue has to be taken seriously and so does he.

"Sir, I think we need to change our designs of our products. That will be an advantage." Raised a man on his early fifties. He has this beard that covers his whole jaw and he was wearing some spectacles and a blue tux.

"Why would we change our design Mister Morvie? We are the pioneering company to produce that product. In that sense, we are the ones who made the designs. Are you suggesting that we will let the FX motors try to escape from what they have done? Just let them freely even though they infringed?"

The man named Morvie fell silent. A woman raises her hand to suggest something too.

"Mister Eriphus, the issue here is not upon that? We are badly needing to increase our sales. Or else the company will be left behind. We must lower our prices."

"So you are suggesting Madame Ida, that we need to lower the cost of the product? However, we are still making the same model and the cost of production doesn't change at all. So why do we need to lower our price when in fact people are willing to buy the product on the very same price as it is?" The room grew silent. All of the members of the board were looking at the table - which makes them avoid eye contact to Vin.

"It is not the real problem. What's really alarming here is that the in charge of the matters is not around on the time of crisis." Some of the people on the room gasped audibly. Oy the man in the maroon suit has the audacity to speak something against the President of the company.

"Mister Vago. My absence is not an issue here. The company can run daily even without my presence in the office. It was clear that there was negligence that happened either you, the board members or someone leaked the information so that FX motors will have the complete details of our model. I will say this once and for all..."

If gulping can be audible then the room would be filled with that sound. The room was highly air-conditioned but the board members are already sweating bullets. Some even hold a grip on the edges of the chair or they gripped their pens tighter than they already have. Vin can be pretty intimidating at times like this. Though, he is really intimidating in person even without talking about solving problems in crisis.

"So you better listen, take note and do your job properly. Gather all the evidences against the FX motors. All the evidence that we can use against them. Evidence that will be a strong proof of their infringement. File a case against the FX motors. Launch the next model earlier. Secure the details - we don't want to leak information again. Use the social media to launch a new teaser of the new model. Make sure that it will attract the customers. Submit reports to me so that I can monitor everything. Are we clear?"

"Yes Sir." All of the members said in unison. All of them were busy to take down notes of the things that they must do.

"Connor."

"Sir?" Connor replied to him.

"Double check everything there. Report to me constantly. I give a power to fire those who slack down."

"Yes Sir."

The conference ended and Vin felt exhausted. He is really in a deep sh*t now. Problems knock on his door like unwanted visitors that continuously irritates him and test his cool. He wants to go back to look after the company and secure everything however, he thinks of Kira and his body and mind tells him to stay in the Philippines.

But where is Kira now? That... He doesn't know. And he wants and needs to know. Their marriage will tell the fate of their company. If he fails to find Kira and marry her, his father would be really disappointed. He fears that his father will be mad at him until the day of his very last breath. He was afraid that he will fail his loving father - his idol in life.