The company

The company
…
Some minutes later, Ivy arrived at the Nitro Group's premises. One of New York’s immersive buildings was taking the city. 
As Ivy stepped out of her car, she was familiar with what had become a mystery. Since Nate’s death, she's never stepped foot into Nitro Groups. 

Everything she knew and recognized brought back the memories of Nate. The good and the bad. 
Although it was still hard to believe that Nate was truly a villain in her story, a part of her could vouch for him, how when all the books about Nate screamed ‘red’?
These thoughts aligned in her mind like a string as she made her way into the building. 

Ivy was welcomed by a group of employees given that it had been months since they last saw her. Nate and Ivy were like a tube and a tyre—a perfect definition of love and a power couple. 
But all of these things had become a painful memory in Ivy’s heart. 

She could hear the whispers from both sides, they were worried about their late boss’s wife. 

Ivy entered the elevator with a couple of employees, she could see in their faces that their gossip was about to leak out.
  “Mrs. Hart? It's so nice to see you again!” one of the employees said to Ivy with her mouth hanging open. 
Ivy was silent and hoping that the lift would move faster than it had. 
  “Is it true, is it true that you and the late boss’s brother are now… seeing each other?” the woman asked. 
Ivy remained silent, gathering her composure. If she had a knife, she would hastily stab the nosy woman. 

The elevator opened as everyone headed out, but Ivy blocked the nosy woman with her hand. 
Fear gripped the thin lady, her heart raced faster and her eyes were wider than they had been. 
  “Watch your back because I'm coming for you…” Ivy warned her sternly as Ivy walked out. 
The woman hurried out, avoiding eye contact with Ivy.  
  “Did you scare the woman in there?” Raul’s voice rang out as he majestically approached. Ivy spun to him lazily with a frown hugging her face. 
  “You’re the last person I want to speak to, Raul. Get lost!” Ivy snapped, walking down the hallway that led to the meeting room. 

Raul followed Ivy until he fell in step next to her. 
  “Ivy, I'm truly sorry about what I said to you the other time. I acted out of character,” Raul admitted as Ivu halted her steps, scoffing. 
  “You think so?” she asked. “Tell me something I don't know, Raul. When is the best time to see someone after the untimely death of their loved one?” Her gaze was sharp, but her tone was sharper.
Raul rubbed his jaw as his lips twitched slightly before speaking. 
  “There is no rule regarding that. It's a choice—when they are ready to let go, they can move on!” he said. “Look, Vee, I hate that I said that, I was only bitter and selfish, okay? Maybe putting it out on you after my girlfriend left. I'm sorry, okay?” he pleaded.

Ivy’s eyes rolled, she couldn't hold a grudge against her friend, someone she had grown to love and respect. 
  “Come on, Raul! I could never stay mad at you forever, we are both nutjobs right here—a fucking work in progress…” she teased, pulling the well-built man into her embrace. 
  “God! I missed you so much, Vee!” he sighed, rubbing her back as they both chuckled. 
  “Isn’t it time for the meeting?” Alvin asked as soon as he saw them hugging. 

It was a pang in his chest.

He hated it when any man was around Ivy, knowing fully that Ivy had how controlling he was. 

Their hug broke, catching Alvin’s gaze. 
  “No, I didn't think you'd show up for the meeting,” Raul stated with a contemptuous gaze. 
  “I guess you can't stand the fact that I'm here to oversee my brother’s affairs, right?!” Alvin sarcastically blurted out with a smirk hiding his rage. 
  “Yeah, ‘cause you killed him! Of course!” Raul fired back with a thick frown as Ivy interrupted. 
  “Guys? This is public property. Let’s head in for the meeting. Y'all are not kids,” she snapped and headed into the meeting room assuming that they would follow her. 
  “Raul, a little advice? Stick to your damn office business and not mine or else you'd definitely pay for it,” said Alvin before heading in. 

Rail scoffed, convincing himself that it was an empty threat even if what he said about Alvin was part of the truth. 

…
The meeting progressed, from debates to deliberations about the company’s progress. It was obvious that the company had so much to lose than to gain because of Nate's shady business. 

The truth about the company’s funds is only known to Alvin and Ivy. The theft was almost untraceable. At least, Alvin and Nate assumed that they were the only ones who knew what had really gone wrong in Nitro groups. 
  “This—all of this is becoming a child's trick. I mean, huge sums of money have been transferred to another account, and not even the company’s accountant can trace that? Isn't that diabolical?” one asked. 
  “Very… diabolical. I don't understand how a modern operating firm could be blind to these heinous crimes,” another said. 
  “Say we are unable to find the culprit, which I believe is one of them, do we just sit back and let the company die? God help me, I'm taking my shares with me,” someone lashed out but that was the truth to Ivy. 
  “Mrs. Hart, Nate was your husband. He ran this company to his best ability. Now, he was the only one who was a signatory to the accounts. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” the head of HR asked her question. 

Ivy was left in a daze, washed in embarrassment. Berate husband was behind it all. He ran the company’s funds to nothing and now she had to answer for him. 

Ivy chinned up, straightening her shoulders. 
  “Thank you all for your observations. At this rate, I will find out what and how it went wrong in Nitro Groups. I assure you,  we will get the company back on its feet again,” Ivy said.
  “And about the employees? They are resigning? Three people have submitted their resignation letters. Last week, two left. Mrs. Hart, what is the fate of this company? What is left?” the Head of HR asked again. She was bitter just as Ivy had been. 

It was a rocky path that was backfiring against her, Ivy thought silently. 

“I am not oblivious to that fact. Give me three days to come up with a final decision. Then, we would know if it is to close down the company or take a very drastic step,” Ivy firmly stated with indignation in her tone. 
They partly agreed but they had to keep mute. 
  “The—”
  “Sir? Is there something you want to add that has not been tackled by Mrs. Ivy? She asked for three days and not three damn years, Goddammit!” Alvin almost flared up as the man swallowed up the rest of his words. 
  “Noted,” he added as Alvin let out a small smile which was more like a warning. 
  “Once, Mrs. Hart has concluded, I will schedule the next meeting for a briefing. Let's not lose hope, everyone. Nitro Groups will take its place again! Meeting dismissed!” Raul stated that, being the Chief Technology Officer, he had that much power to close or postpone the meeting. 

Alvin was a part of the directors in the company, he had large shares in the company but he wanted to run the company himself for his own reasons. 

Ivy was only a substitute for Nate’s position given that she also had shares and would also hand the company to Justin, her son after he had concluded his university. 

When everyone had left, the three of them were left. Sulking in their thoughts. 
  “That was a blast,” Raul said as he walked over to the see-through glass, staring at the city’s view. 

He pocketed his hands and heabiky sighed as if tossing his stress into the bin.
  “Ivy, you said three days back there. What are you going to come up with in three days?” Raul asked, his curiosity spilling over as he spun to her, splitting his gaze between them. 
  “I don't know but I would come up with something,” Ivy said. 
  “I'm sorry, but this is not a cosmetic firm, it's a tech firm. The perks differ,” Raul pointed out. 
  “Well, what has the tech firm produced for the past months?” Ivy asked as he remained silent, rubbing his chin swiftly. 
  “Look, this is not helping. What ifs and what nots are exhausting, okay?” Alvin chimed in as their gaze fell on him. “We have two options here; dissolving the company or seeking to provide investors using a strong firm,” he added. 
  “Sounds like a death trap to me,” Raul blurted. 
  “No, I was talking to an assistant like you. I was talking to someone who actually has shares in the company—your ass is not included,” Alvin snapped at Raul. 

Raul was pissed and Ivy was pissed at them both. 

“Couldn't you guys just pretend to be adults for once?” Ivy exhaled. “By the way, I won’t dissolve the company that we've worked so hard to build over the years…” she began. 
  “What should we do?” Raul asked. 
  “We are going to pay off the company's debts and move forward….” Ivy said as their faces squeezed. 
  “You don't just need to pay off debts, the company needs a capable hand—someone who is devoted enough,” Alvin said, shooting them sharp gazes. 
  “And by that you mean Justin? The kid is yet to graduate—”
  “No, asshole! I mean, myself…”Alvin blurted, catching Raul by surprise. 
  “What the fuck?” Raul let out with crumpled brows.