CHAPTER 330
The quiet streets in the early hours made for an easy and uninterrupted drive to King Enterprises.
Xander and Ronald arrived swiftly, heading straight to the top floor where the large conference room awaited. The moment they stepped inside, they were met with the sight of directors and senior executives seated around the table, their expressions tense and grim.
The atmosphere was thick with unease, but Xander’s composed demeanour remained unshaken. His features betrayed no emotion as he strode confidently to the head of the table, taking his seat. With a slight nod toward Ronald, he gave a single command:
“Make the call.”
“Right away, Mr King,” Ronald replied, promptly dialling an overseas number. Within moments, the massive projector screen lit up with the faces of Michael and his board members. Their expressions were severe, their frustration palpable even through the video feed.
Michael wasted no time on pleasantries, his tone cold and direct.
Mr. King, I require clarification regarding the issues involving your wife. This matter is intolerable.
The strategic partnership agreement between the two companies had been a groundbreaking development.
Both entities stood to gain immensely, with their combined market values projected to multiply several times over.
It was supposed to be a moment to celebrate, but instead, the wave of controversy overshadowed the partnership.
Initially, the scandal had been confined to domestic news outlets. However, Xander’s public defence of Arianna and his dramatic intervention quickly drew global attention, directing scrutiny not only at him but at King Enterprises as well.
The corporate world was a relentless battleground, rife with rivals eager to see the downfall of a dominant player like King Enterprises. The timing of the controversy couldn’t have been worse, as public outrage surged and the situation spiralled out of control, eventually crossing international borders.
Accusations against Xander—claims that he abused his influence to protect his so-called "ruthless" wife and acted recklessly in her defence—dominated global headlines. The story skyrocketed to the top of trending topics worldwide, plastered across major media outlets.
As the face of King Enterprises, Xander’s actions are reflected directly on the company.
His reputation, once synonymous with precision and strength, was now under intense scrutiny. The fallout raised doubts about his judgment and cast a shadow over his ability to steer King Enterprises through such a turbulent time.
Xander's narrative has captivated the world, with allegations surfacing that he has leveraged his influence to intimidate others, while his swift defence of his "malicious" wife has made headlines across the board.
As the head of King Enterprises, every action he takes reflects on the company. This controversy has cast significant doubt on his judgment, tarnishing both his reputation and his capacity to lead the organization effectively.
Being perceived as lacking integrity is a major setback for someone in his role, impacting him on both personal and professional fronts.
During the meeting, the executives all nodded in agreement with Michael's grave assessment.
One executive finally spoke up, stating,
“Mr King, we understand your desire to support your wife, but your approach has been excessive. It appears as though you’re directly confronting the public. Aren’t you essentially turning the entire nation against us?”
Another added, “The narrative is shifting to imply that we’re abusing our power to silence dissent. There are already indications of a potential public boycott against King Enterprises. If this continues, the fallout could be catastrophic!”
A third voice broke through the tense atmosphere, “We demand an explanation, Mr. King!”
No matter how powerful an organization might be, it could crumble under the weight of unchecked public outrage if not managed carefully.
Ronald began to feel beads of sweat forming on his brow as he took in the gravity of the situation.
The reality was far worse than he had initially anticipated.
When public sentiment began to spike early that morning, Ronald immediately implemented an emergency public relations strategy. However, his focus had been concentrated solely on domestic matters, overlooking the global repercussions.
While he managed to suppress the domestic uproar to some extent, the situation spiralled out of control internationally.
Public outrage, like a wildfire, was impossible to contain once it began to spread. In the short hours since the incident had gained traction, it had not only crossed borders but had also become a global headline, rendering all his prior efforts futile.
Shortly thereafter, Ronald received frantic calls from both the board of directors and Michael, all insisting on an immediate emergency meeting.
Xander remained seated, his silence heavy as he hadn’t spoken a word since the meeting began. Ronald stole a glance at him, sighing inwardly as he pondered whether Xander could once again navigate the storm and emerge unscathed, as he had done with every crisis since taking over the King Corporation.
Observing Xander rub his temples in visible fatigue, Ronald quietly rose from his seat and slipped out of the boardroom.
He made his way to the break room and prepared a strong cup of black coffee, knowing Xander would need the energy. As he exited, coffee in hand, someone entered the room abruptly, colliding with him.
Ronald’s reflexes kicked in, and he quickly steadied the cup, preventing any of the hot liquid from spilling.
Ronald shot a disapproving glare at the newcomer,
“What, are you blind? Watch it! Can’t you watch where you’re going? Be more careful next time!”
The person who had entered was a young woman with an apologetic expression. "I’m so sorry, Mr. Crawford! I didn’t see you there," she said quickly, her tone filled with regret.
Ronald looked at her more closely and recognized her as Noelle Walsh, one of the new interns. He raised an eyebrow and asked,
"You’re here this early? Work doesn’t start for a while."
Noelle offered a small, shy smile.
"I had some unfinished tasks from yesterday, so I thought I’d come in early to catch up. I was just grabbing some coffee to wake myself up and didn’t notice you. I am sorry."
Her reasoning seemed valid. With the last-minute nature of the meeting, she likely thought the office would still be quiet. Ronald sighed inwardly; she appeared to be earnest and hardworking, which made it hard to stay annoyed. He gave her a brief nod.
"Fair enough. Just be more careful next time. By the way, there’s a meeting in the conference room. Could you grab twenty packs of breakfast and bring them up?"
Noelle nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course, Mr. Crawford. I’ll handle it right away."
Satisfied, Ronald picked up the coffee and headed out. Noelle lingered for a moment, watching him leave, before stepping into the pantry to prepare.
About 20 minutes later, she arrived at the conference room with the requested breakfast. She knocked lightly before entering. Inside, the air was tense, the discussion heated, and the atmosphere heavy.
Without letting the charged environment affect her, Noelle calmly placed the food in front of each attendee. When she finished, she set the tray on a chair by the wall and quietly slipped out, making sure to close the door gently behind her.
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