Chapter 423 Facing It Together
After we reached an agreement, Edward sat across from me, and we started hashing out our strategy for real.
As the sky darkened, the dim light filtered through the windows, casting a gloomy vibe over the room.
Edward rubbed his temples and then got up, fumbling with the switch panel until the lights flickered on.
The bright light did little to lift the shadow from his face. Despite his attempts to appear calm, his slightly trembling hands gave away his inner turmoil.
He cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice as he began, "Diana, my company's got some issues."
I locked my gaze on him, nodding, sensing something off in his demeanor.
Edward was always composed, so whatever was bugging him must be serious.
"After Fiona pulled her investment..."
Edward paused, a conflicted look crossing his face. He lowered his gaze, seemingly unable to meet my eyes, his voice tinged with self-reassurance, "We've hit some financial bumps, especially with the big commercial projects."
"Progress has slowed down a bit. But it's not too bad; some projects are still on track, like the tech development one we've been pushing hard."
He was downplaying the situation, but his evasive eyes and the way his fingers tapped nervously on the table revealed his anxiety.
Watching him, I became more convinced that things were far from simple.
I pressed, "Slowed down? Or completely stalled?"
Edward knew he couldn't hide the truth any longer. He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world had been lifted, only to be replaced by exhaustion.
"Yeah, it's stalled. The machines have stopped, the team is frustrated and helpless. All the hard work and research are just sitting there. The project managers come to me every day, but I..."
He trailed off, covering his face with his hands, silent for a long time.
"What about the partners and clients? What are they saying?" I continued to probe.
Edward's eyes dimmed, his energy visibly draining away. His voice was filled with despair, "The clients are all waiting and watching. The ones we had the best relationships with are either saying they need to reconsider or making excuses to delay. Worse, the company's internal morale is in shambles, and productivity has plummeted."
Edward shook his head slightly, the bitterness on his face deepening. He buried his head in his hands, his voice muffled, "I didn't want to burden you with these troubles, but I'm at my wit's end. I had no choice but to come clean."
I was momentarily speechless, my brow furrowed as my mind raced to find a solution.
"I know we need to stabilize our cash flow and find new investors," Edward continued, his tone filled with resignation. "I've reached out to potential investors, but they're hesitant. The company's current state isn't exactly reassuring."
Just then, Edward's phone rang, snapping me back to reality.
Edward stiffened, his eyes glued to the caller ID. His face turned pale, and he spoke in a strained voice, "It's Fiona."
After a brief moment of shock, I nodded, urging Edward to answer the call.
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, and pressed the speaker button.
I sat right in front of Edward, clearly hearing Fiona's arrogant voice through the phone, "Edward, have you thought it over? If you come back to me, I'll reinvest immediately and solve all your company's problems."
Her tone was dripping with superiority.
Edward let out a cold laugh, his response firm and resolute, "Fiona, you're dreaming. Diana and I have decided to face this crisis together. Your tricks won't work."
Fiona's voice rose sharply, dripping with sarcasm, "Edward, how long do you think you can last? Your company is on the brink of bankruptcy. Soon, you'll be penniless."
She laughed, a grating sound that made my skin crawl. "I know Diana is right there with you. Do you really think she can help you? She's just a burden. What can she possibly do in your already troubled company? She'll only make things worse."
She emphasized the word "burden" with such disdain that I could almost see her sneering through the phone. She was determined to crush me.
"Face it together? Do you think she can magically bring back the Howard Group for you?"
Hearing her insult me and Skylar, my anger flared. My fists clenched tightly, filled with rage.
Just as I was about to retort, Edward quickly interjected, "Fiona, you'd better watch what you say. If you insult Diana and Skylar again, I won't let it slide. We have the confidence to solve our company's issues and handle your threats. Just wait and see."
His voice was low but powerful, carrying an undeniable authority. With that, Edward decisively ended the call.
"Don't be angry, Diana."
Despite his own frustration, Edward's tone was gentle as he tried to soothe me. He sat beside me, gently prying open my clenched fists, his gaze steady and reassuring. "She's trying to provoke us, to make us panic. We can't let her get to us. We need to stick to our plan."
Looking at him, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. He was right; we couldn't let Fiona disrupt our focus.
Edward then laid out his plan, "Diana, let's review our current resources. I have some good connections in the industry who might help us find potential investors. Even though the ones we've contacted are hesitant, we can try again. We'll prepare a detailed new development plan for the company, highlighting our strengths and potential to win them over."
I nodded in agreement.
"Fiona won't give up easily. She'll keep trying to interfere. We need to stay vigilant and not give her any openings."
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