Bound by Business

The numbers made no sense at all. I had gone through the same spreadsheet multiple times now, tracing the red figures with the lid of my pen as if maybe the numbers would change into something better. But they didn't. Each digit seemed to get bigger and worse the more I stared at it. Negative 5.3 million. My stomach twisted, and I was in utter disbelief. ‘How did we even get here?’ That's the question I kept on asking myself in head. The office around me was spotless, as if mocking me. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, a well-lit room, and my name… Stacy Lawson, Chief Executive Officer engraved neatly on a gold plate. Everything about this office screamed power and success. But behind those doors, the empire my father built was falling apart. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my forehead in a frustrated manner. It was a habit my dad had tried to make me stop doing but at this point I could care less. How did we get here? My father had built Lawson Innovations before I was even born. I grew up running down the halls of this building, sneaking into meetings, watching him command rooms filled with powerful men. I always wondered what it would feel like to be him, to have the same power he had. I admire my father so much. Back then, everything he touched bloomed. Now, all that remained was an empire bleeding money, investors pulling out, and headlines whispering Lawson’s days are numbered, or looking for the latest update to gossip about. It was like my enemies had finally succeeded Still in my thoughts, I heard a very faint knock on my office door. “Come in,” I said loud enough for the person at the other side to hear me. My assistant, Miranda, stepped in. “The meeting room is set and the board is waiting for you and Mr Lawson, ma’am.” I nodded, closing the folder I have been looking at for the past hour. Nervous. That's exactly how I felt. “Let them know that we’ll be there shortly.” “Okay ma’am, I'll inform them,” Miranda said as she stepped out. As soon as she left, I looked out over the city, my reflection staring right back at me in the glass. I looked so confident, like I had all the power, like I was in control. If only they knew how hard I was holding myself, I felt like my life was shattering right before my eyes. “Stacy.” I turned to see my father standing at the door. The man who built this company and carried the weight of this company like it was nothing now looked… tired. He looked so tired, like he had stayed up all night thinking. I felt so sorry. I felt like everything happening was my fault, maybe I didn't try hard enough. It felt as if I had let him down. “Are you ready?” he asked nervously. And he tried so hard to hide his emotions but I could tell he was worried. Who wouldn’t? He dedicated his life to this company and now everything is falling apart. “As I'll ever be,” I said boldly, grabbing the folder. He gave me a small, proud smile. “You’ve got this, don't let them talk you down.” I wish I believed him. The boardroom was all glass and marble, walking into it you'll just know this is a room for men who had nothing but pride. The moment my dad and I walked in, conversations fell silent. There were seven of them seated around a long wooden table, most of them older men who had served under my father for years. Some looked at me with smiles; others didn't even bother to hide their hatred. I took my seat beside my father. “Let’s begin,” said Mr. Jackson, the oldest of the group, his tone was so sharp, probably the anger he had been holding in for a while now. “I think we've waited long enough for an explanation.” My father nodded, his voice calm. “You’ve all seen the quarterly reports. Yes, we've suffered losses, but we have strategies” “With all due respect, Gregory,” another man cut in, “strategies aren't paying our debts. The stock dropped another eight percent this morning.” A loud murmur sounded around the room. I sat up straight. “Gentlemen, Lawson Innovations is not a sinking ship. Is the market unstable now? Yes, and are our competitors having the upper hand right now? Most definitely. But we are restructuring. “We?” Mr. Jackson’s brow arched while cutting me off. “You mean you, Ms Lawson”. His words dripped with so much disregard. “I warned your father that putting a young woman in charge would shake investors confidence. The company was built by men who understood risk, not emotion.” The air went still. My chest burned, but I refused to show the effect that statement had on me. “And yet here we are, with men who understood risk steering us into debt.” A few of them glanced at each other. My father placed a gentle hand on my arm, a silent plea of restraint. If not for that gesture, I doubt I would have been able to control myself. I forced a breath and continued. “We’ve lost investors because of market rumors, not leadership. Our competitors leaked a prototype. That's corporate sabotage, not poor management.” “That's easy to say when you inherited the position,” Jackson said. “This company was never meant to be run by sentiment.” I felt so resented by that statement, like my efforts aren’t even being recognized. Seems like this man has a mission to get on my nerves today. I wanted to tell him exactly how many nights I had spent here, alone, trying to save what generations of men had broken through greed and ego. But I didn't. I just looked at him, in a calm, and unwavering manner. “Then let's discuss facts, Mr. Jackson,” I said. “We can still recover. If we secure at least one major investor” “That's impossible,” interrupted Mr. Peterson. I'm surprised he actually said something, he's been so quiet and calm throughout this entire meeting. “They’ve already pulled out. Every one of them.” The words hit like someone was stabbing me non-stop. My father's face went pale. “All of them?” “Yes. We received formal withdrawal notices this morning.” Everywhere went silent. I felt like I couldn't breathe. ‘How did we get here?’ That same question hovered in my mind again. My father tried to stand, bracing himself on the table. “That's… not possible. We… we have contracts—” “Contracts don't mean much when no one trusts the company anymore,” Jackson said coldly. “Enough.” My voice came out louder than I intended. “You all act like you want this company to fail just so you can say ‘I told you so’. Well, congratulations, you've made your point. But I'm not giving up on Lawson Innovations.” No one spoke. My father looked at me, pride slightly showing behind his worry. But before he could say any other thing , his expression changed. His eyes rolled back slightly, and his body went still. “Dad?” I whispered. He swayed. Then before I could reach him, he collapsed, hitting the floor with a thud. “Dad!” I dropped beside him, shaking his shoulder. His breathing was shallow but his lips looked pale. “Call an ambulance!” I yelled, but the room froze. Which was confusing cause I could have sworn that some minutes ago these men were ready to exercise their power, but they all just stood there, looking helpless and terrified. Miranda bursts in moments later as I hold his hand, tears dripping down my face. Different men rushed in to carry my dad. In that moment, as sirens wailed faintly in the distance, I realized something more terrifying. Lawson Innovations wasn't the only thing falling apart. My world was, too.