Chapter 104 104
Xavier's pov
I woke to news headlines blaring from my TV.
I had hoped for silence and space to gather my thoughts, but that was not what the universe had in mind.
The anchor's voice, steady, cold, and relentless, filled my living room. "Alpha Xavier's company continues to dwindle. Investors are pulling out, clients are abandoning his products, and sources report that he is now knee-deep in debt. Many are calling him the failure of the century. Reports suggest that even his late father would be deeply disappointed by the current state of affairs."
I felt my stomach twist, each word a blow to my chest. My father disappointed? A bitter laugh escaped me. He always expected the best of me, but he always told me that you always get back on your feet. Where had I gone wrong? How could everything collapse this rapidly and this thoroughly?
The screen flashed, and the program switched. The camera now focused on a sleek black limousine, which gracefully glided through the busy city street. The reporter described her as the CEO of MW Global. My chest felt like it was being squeezed tighter and tighter as the focus shifted and her door opened. I still could not see her face though; as her bodyguard held an enormous umbrella tightly above her head. But the way Clyde, Emma, and Alpha Shakan rushed forward to hug her; the way they laughed and mingled together like they'd known her for years confirmed it all. I squeezed my brow; angry, astonished, ashamed, everyone knew her, except me.
A heavy silence enveloped me. I had been too stupid, or too distracted, or maybe all of the above. My pride still screamed that I needed no one, but reality hit me harder than my pride ever would; my company was crumbling, my employees unpaid, my technology faulty. I had no one left and no where left to turn.
I jumped up, grabbed my coat, threw myself in my car, and drove to MW Global. I gripped the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white and my jaw was clenched tight as I sped through the city streets.
The building was impeccably clean when I arrived. Christmas decorations adorned the ceilings, garlands wrapped around the grand staircase, and the whole lobby was so perfectly polished, I almost remembered my own company from before the downfall.
I walked in with confidence, only to have it chipped away when I arrived at the front desk.
"I need to see the CEO," I barked.
The receptionist, cool and collected, looked up from her computer screen. "You don't have an appointment."
My ego swelled. "Do you know who I am?"
She didn't blink, "I don't care who you are. You need an appointment to see the CEO."
Her composure cut through me like a knife and my jaw went slack. Around me, whispers rose like a tide of judgement. Everyone was looking at me, judging me, and shame bloomed like fire in my chest. I was about to turn and leave, humiliated when I heard a familiar voice.
"Come in."
I looked up and there was Clyde standing by the elevator. Relief, followed immediately by irritation, flooded me. He motioned me to follow him. I followed without a second thought.
The doors closed, and the world seemed to spin as we began to ascend. Looking out the window as we passed the floors I could see the office interiors; dazzling Christmas lights decorated the walls and the reception was overflowing with fresh flowers, the entire place oozing power and success, it reminded me of my own company during the same time before it all fell apart. The room suddenly felt cold.
We reached the top floor, an old CFO's office completely renovated and now buzzing with activity. Clyde gestured to a seat but I was still scanning the room; an utter display of wealth, success and the future I had lost, with each second passing I seemed to shrink in size.
"I want to see the CEO," I stated, though my previous bite had disappeared completely.
Clyde shook his head, "The CEO is very busy and has no scheduled appointment with you. You will have to speak with me."
I clenched my fists as my pride reignited, but my desperation cut deeper. "I didn't come for pleasantries; I need help."
Clyde's expression eased slightly, but his tone was still stern. "And you will have to justify to me why you deserve it."
A bitter laugh escaped me. "Please," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I don't know what else to do. I can't reach Maisie, she left the pack with her fiancé... I don't know the formula for the wristbands, the new technology does not work, my employees haven't been paid in a year. I'm losing everything. I need help, please."
Clyde's face remained impassive, "You will need a contract if we're going to help you."
I shook my head vigorously. "I swear it won't fail, I will do anything. Anything."
He sighed, "I cannot risk this, this project might not be successful."
"No!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "It won't! I will make it successful! Just-please!"
He shook his head, signaling me to leave. A wave of despair crashed over me, heavier than any before. My body was trembling, my hands were slick with sweat, and in that moment I felt utterly hollow. Then my phone rang.
Clyde's brows shot up. "The CEO. She's willing to take your call."
I grabbed the phone, my hands shaking as I brought it to my ear. "Hello?" I asked, hesitantly.
"Xavier."
Her voice-smooth, cool, and commanding-sent a shiver down my spine and my heart leaped into my throat. "Why did you come to me for help?"
"I... I need help. With Clyde's support I have always gotten help; I don't know how else to do it. Everything is collapsing, please - I'll do anything."
A pause stretched, and my anxiety skyrocketed. I clutched the phone, praying that she wouldn't hang up. "The past is the past, Xavier."
I swallowed hard. "I understand. But I will do anything it takes, I promise you. I will do whatever you say. I will work. I will sign whatever document you put in front of me. Just-please."
Another pause, this one long and thoughtful. "Very well. Come to the office tomorrow and I'll see what can be done."
My knees grew weak and my body was about to go limp. Relief, gratitude, and a flicker of hope flooded through me and a small blush appeared on my face; shame, and regret mixed in. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice catching in my throat. "Thank you so much."
She didn't immediately reply; merely an almost imperceptible sound before the line went dead.
I sat there for a moment longer, the phone still clutched in my hands. My chest ached, weighed down by what I had lost, and what I now had to regain. But a spark of hope managed to pierce through the darkness.
It wasn't going to be easy. Sleepless nights, endless work, and challenges I couldn't yet comprehend lay ahead, but there was a chance. And I wasn't going to waste it.
I took my first deep breath in months and the fight wasn't over; and maybe, just maybe, I could win it after all.