Classic Novel
A merger
A Merger.
Mr Staffers couldn’t believe his eyes, while Mr Martins got up slowly, with a huge grin on his face.
” Yes Staffers, it’s me Martins” Mr Martins said to his friend who was looking lost and dumbfounded.
” Oh, my God” he ran to hug him. They engaged in a very tight hug as they exchanged manly pleasantries.
*
*
” Woah… it’s been what now.. eighteen years?” Mr Staffers said happily.
Both friends still couldn’t believe they had found eachother.
” It’s been so long,” Mr Staffers said again.
” Yeah…I’m so glad we finally met again after so many years” Mr Martins said too, with excitement.
” Yeah…how were you able to locate me?” Mr Staffers asked in bewilderment.
” I saw you on the news. Actually, it was my wife that saw you and called me to come see . I was dumbfounded and thrown aback when I saw it was you. I couldn’t believe my eyes at first” Mr Martins said happily.
” Yeah…I guess you know then” Mr Staffers said sadly.
” Speaking of wife, are you referring to Tracy?” He asked. Mr Martins nodded.
” Let’s put that aside. What happened? Why was your company in that state?” Mr Martins asked with concern.
Mr Staffers took in a long, deep breath.
” It’s a long story, but to cut it short – I got involved with a certain guy I didn’t know is a fraudster, got duped and now my company is in a mess” he said with a pitiful look on his face.
“I’m sure it’s not that bad”
” It’s worse…I couldn’t even take my kids for vacation this…”
” You’ve got kids? How many?” Mr Martins asked with smiles.
” Two. A girl and a boy” Mr Staffers replied And they both laughed.
” That’s lovely…I also have another child – aside Nathan – a girl”
” Tracy’s child?”
” Yeah. She’s eighteen now”
” Woah!! Same with Ruby” Mr Staffers exclaimed.
” Ruby?”
” The name of my daughter”
” Nice name” Mr Martins said and a short silence stepped in.
” So…what plans are you setting up to get your company back on its feet?” Mr Martins asked after a while of silence.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.
” I honestly don’t know. In fact, I don’t think I have anything to do. I just have to look for a way to clear up the debts and then maybe close up the com…”
” What? No…you shouldn’t do that. There has to be a way out” Mr Martins butted in.
” But there’s none. I think giving up is the best thing to do right now. I can always go back to setting it up when things are alot better, but for now…it’s a no no” Mr Staffers said sadly, his mind already made up.
Mr Martins sighed and thought of what to do to help his friend.
That’s the main reason he called for the meeting.
His company is where it is today because of his help and he can’t just sit down and let his fall down.
He could think of only one way to help his friend and needs to share it.
” You mentioned having a daughter?” Mr Martins said but it sounded more like a question.
” Yeah. What?” Mr Staffers asked , examining him with his eyes.
” I know this might sound crazy and probably stupid, but it’s the only thing I can come up with. It’s also the only thing the board of directors, shareholders of my company – any company, would understand”
” What’s that?” Mr Staffers asked with eagerness in his eyes.
His ears were itching to hear what his friend has to say.
“I was thinking…how…how about a merger?” Mr Martins asked, not knowing how best to put it. He doesn’t know how his friend is gonna react to it.
” What do you mean?” Mr Staffers asked, looking perplexed.
” Your daughter”
” Yes…what does my daughter have to do with this?” Mr Staffers asked, giving him a cranky look.
Mr Martins didn’t say anything and just stare at his friend.
Mr Staffers figured out he was trying to tell him to think and figure it out himself.
He thought for a while till it finally clicked.
He gasped when it dawned on him what his friend was trying to say.
His daughter…a merger.
Oh!!! A marriage contract.
Ruby’s Pov;
Dad has left super early. Not that early though, but I had woken up late.
Not that late, but…urghhh!!
Whatever. I just know I didn’t see him when I woke up this morning
Michael was downstairs watching cartoons as usual. I wasn’t in the mood to watch those dumbass cartoons with him, so I had stayed back in my room – doing nothing
There was nothing for me to do. No one to talk to.
I laid on my bed and rolled from one end to the other, completely consumed by boredom.
This is the boriest holiday of a lifetime. I shut my eyes tight, trying to get sleep to come, but it was just so impossible, probably because that’s what I’ve been doing since the start of the holiday.
I heard the doorbell rang, followed by Michaels shouts.
” Dad, Dad” he screamed out.
My eyes snapped open immediately, as I ran out of the room.
I got downstairs with a thumping heart to meet Dad with Michael.
He was all smiles as he gave Michael the things he bought.
Why did he come home early?.
I watched as Michael happily went back to the couch, opening the cup of ice cream as he began eating from it.
Dad walked closer to me, till he got to where I was standing by the stairs.
I stared at him with a questionable look. He itched his head as he took his gaze to mine.
” I’m sorry sweetie…I didn’t get you anything and I know…”
“I don’t care about that. Why are you home so early?” I asked, studying his expressions.
He sighed and took his hand to his hair, giving it a gentle ruffle.
” We need to talk, Ruby. I wanna discuss something with you” he said, his face void of emotion.
I stared at him, as he started walking to the dinning. I followed him and we both sat down.
He sighed again, making me wonder what he has to say.
*
*
” What Dad?? You gat to be kidding me?” I screamed out in disbelief.
No way!! I just hope Dad isn’t being serious right now. I just hope it’s one silly joke he’s trying to tell me, so I’ll laugh over it and then It’s over. I just hope.
” I know Ruby, I know it’s stupid, inappropriate and out of control?”
” Exactly” I butted in.
He sighed in frustration.
” But I want you to know I’m also doing this for you…for us” he said and I scoffed.
” Are you being serious right now Dad? You call marrying me off to some guy, just because you need money to set your company up again, helping me? Really? Are you being serious right now? Are you even listening to yourself?” I roared in anger and bitterness.
Of all the things he could come up with, why this?.
Why did he even give the suggestion a thought? Why?.
” Look honey, I know how you feel”.
” No Dad, no you don’t know how I feel and I don’t think you want to know” I said and ran out of the dinning, climbing up the stairs.
” Ruby” he called, but I ignored him and ran to my room.
I got to my room and slammed the door hard, before slumping in the bed, covering myself up with a duvet, with my face on the pillow, soaking it with tears.
How could Dad do this to me? How??.
*
*
” Have you told Nathan about it?” Tracy asked her husband.
” No” he replied.
” I think you have to soon” she said.
” I know” he replied and continues eating.
” Where’s Ella?” Mr Martins asked.
” In her room” Tracy replied, as she watched him eat.
Mr Martins Pov;
I was in my room when my phone started ringing. I picked it up to see it was a call from Nathan.
” Good news Dad” he said immediately I picked up the call
” What son?” I asked with furrowed brows.
” I just signed the deal,” he said happily.
I sat upright immediately, on hearing the good news.
Woah…it’s good news indeed and a splendid one at that.
It’s a multimillion dollar deal we have been trying to get for some months now, and now, it has finally been signed.
It sure is goodnews and definitely calls for celebration.
” Woah son! This is superb” I enthused.
” I know right. Well, I just called to let you know I’ll be coming home soon” he said.
I nodded with a smile. I suddenly thought it was a good time to tell him about the merger that was scheduled to take place when he eventually returns.
” Son?” I called slowly.
” Yes Dad,” he answered.
I took in slow breaths, before speaking.
” There’s something I’d like us to discuss,” I told him.
” I’m all ears dad, what is it?” He asked.
I sighed again, not knowing how to break it to him.