NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 63 Not Accepting Defeat Easily
In the stark, fluorescent-lit office of Solar Dynamics Corporation, CEO Francis Peralta sat behind his expansive desk, eyes locked on the live feed of the stock market on his sleek, widescreen monitor. The graph lines, predominantly in shades of alarming red, told a tale of continued decline, mirroring the plummeting confidence of the company's investors. It had been days since the revelation that Solar Dynamics Corporation had falsified a technical report on Michael's innovative solar panel technology, yet the repercussions were still unfolding with relentless intensity.
Francis rubbed the bridge of his nose, a gesture of fatigue and frustration that had become all too common. The stock market's relentless descent was a visual representation of the eroding trust in his leadership and the company's integrity. Major investors, once steadfast supporters of Solar Dynamics' mission to revolutionize renewable energy, were now bombarding him with calls and emails demanding an explanation. The most devastating blow had come from Antoinette, a key investor, whose withdrawal of her substantial investment had sent shockwaves through the corporation.
Surrounded by papers strewn across his desk, Francis felt the weight of the crisis bearing down on him. Each document, each report was a reminder of the gamble he had taken by authorizing the falsification of Michael's solar panel report—an attempt to undercut Michael's burgeoning reputation and secure Solar Dynamics' position in the market. Instead, the scheme had backfired spectacularly, casting a shadow of doubt over every achievement and claim the company had made.
He couldn't take it anymore—In a moment of overwhelming frustration, he swept his arm across the desk, sending papers flying like leaves in a storm. Reports, graphs, and personal memorabilia crashed to the floor in disarray.
He stood abruptly, chair screeching against the polished floor, and paced the confines of his office like a caged animal. Without a word, he grabbed a coffee mug from the desk and hurled it against the wall.
Francis slumped against the desk, the fight drained from him. The room was silent once more, save for the faint hum of electronics and his own ragged breathing. "This is not my fault…this is not my fault," Francis repeated under his breath. "This is all happening to me because of Michael! If he hadn't, everything would have gone smoothly. I can't accept this…I will not accept this!" Suddenly—someone rushed inside the building. It was his secretary.
"Sir…are you ok—" the secretary seemed to have found her answer, evident from all the chaos that met her eyes as she entered Francis Peralta's office. Papers littered the floor, a shattered mug lay in pieces against the wall, and Francis himself looked like a man on the edge. "I'm fine," Francis managed to say, though his voice betrayed the turmoil he was feeling inside. He straightened up, attempting to regain some semblance of control over both his emotions and the situation at hand. "What is it?" he asked, his tone sharper than intended.
"Nothing sir…I just heard that the board of directors has scheduled an emergency meeting," the secretary hesitantly informed him, cautiously stepping over the debris on the floor. "They're discussing strategies to salvage the company's reputation and address the investor backlash."
Francis straightened, a spark of urgency lighting his eyes. "When is this meeting?" he asked, his tone now laced with a newfound sense of purpose.
"It's set for first thing tomorrow morning. They're expecting you to present a plan, sir," she added, avoiding the mess of broken ceramic and scattered papers as she moved closer to the desk.
Francis nodded, his mind already racing with potential strategies to propose to the board. "Thank you," he said, more composed now. "Please, prepare the conference room for tomorrow. And…," he glanced around the disheveled office, "have someone clean this up."
The secretary nodded, relieved to see Francis regaining his composure, and quickly exited to carry out his instructions.
Alone again, Francis turned his chair to face the window, gazing out at the city skyline. "A plan on how to solve this huh? It's going to be tough." ***
A day later, Francis was in the conference room along with the board of directors.
Francis stood at the head of the polished wooden table, his gaze sweeping over the stern faces of the board members seated around him. They were a formidable group, each with their own stake in the company's success and their own expectations of how this crisis should be managed.
"Thank you all for being here. As you're aware, the recent events surrounding our company have caused significant damage to our reputation and investor confidence. But I firmly believe that we have the opportunity to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever."
"Our first priority must be to regain the trust of our investors and stakeholders. To that end, I propose a three-pronged approach."
Francis outlined his plan with precision, addressing each aspect of the crisis head-on. He proposed a comprehensive review of the company's internal processes to ensure transparency and accountability, along with a public apology acknowledging the wrongdoing and outlining steps taken to rectify the situation. Additionally, he suggested reaching out to key stakeholders individually to reassure them of the company's commitment to ethical business practices and innovation.
"As for Michael," Francis continued his tone firm, "we cannot undo the damage that has been done to his reputation. But we can offer him a public apology and a substantial settlement to compensate for the harm caused."
He glanced around the room, meeting each board member's eyes in turn. "This will not be easy, and it will not happen overnight. But if we work together and stay true to our values, I believe we can rebuild trust and emerge from this crisis stronger than ever before."
There was a moment of silence as the board members processed Francis's proposal. Then, one by one, they began to nod in agreement, recognizing the necessity of the plan he had outlined.
"Very well," the chairman of the board said finally. "Let's get to work."
With that, the board of directors began filing out of the room, leaving Francis and his secretary alone.
"Sir…we are doing what you have proposed right?" "As the CEO, yes, but personally?" Francis paused, shaking his head. "No. What's the news on Michael?"
"Well, I heard that he had filed an application for patenting his solar panel." "Okay…delay that, file an injunction or anything but don't let it trace back to us. We can't afford to let him gain any more ground while we're trying to salvage our own reputation," Francis instructed firmly, his mind already churning with the next steps to take.
The secretary nodded, jotting down notes on her tablet. "Understood, sir. I'll get our legal team on it right away."
"Good," Francis replied, his expression determined. "And keep me updated on any developments. We can't afford any more surprises."