Believe It When

. . .

On one of the corners inside ZA International, an angry mob of employees surrounded someone.

"What happened?!" Mr. Francisco asked, "You told us that if we were to resign from our jobs, Miss Lin won't have to step down from her position?! Then why did she lose her title? We need an explanation!"

The unknown person remained silent for a few seconds.

"Look. We don't like what's happening too. We said she won't step down. Having thousands and thousands of employees is one of ZA International's biggest asset. But at times like this, you can be reason enough for Miss Lin leave. And if she doesn't have to worry about you, then nothing will keep her from keeping her position. That was the plan... to prevent her from stepping down. But this sudden twist of happenings and how she got fired surely came out of the blue. There's nothing we can do about it."

All the employees slumped on the floor. A few days ago, they were offered to leave ZA International. An offer to which they firmly declined. But when the other side told them about the possibility of CEO Lin stepping down from her position just to save them and their jobs, they had to make a decision. They loved their jobs in ZA International with all their hearts. But they respected CEO Lin more.

Inside their minds, they couldn't bear to see their own CEO losing her own company. Thus, they all decided to quit to lessen the burdens on her shoulders. But everything backfired. They left their jobs, abandoned their CEO. And to make matters worse... she was abandoned by the person she trusted the most.

"How could Assistant Wang possibly do this?" They all wept. "Our resignation was already painful for Miss Lin. She mist have felt betrayed. We left her all alone. And now..." they all broke down crying, "N-now even Assistant Wang turned his back on her. How painful must it be for her!"

As the walls echoed their cries, their tears flooded the entire floor. They were heartbroken. And every piece breaks even more upon thinking about their CEO.

. . .

Going back to the park...

"We can help you get ZA International back." Oneil said.

Zeirenne turned her head to face him. "And how are you gonna do that?"

"Look," Thirdy said, "Each of us has a five percent share in your company. We received a report that you lost 20 percent in stocks because of an arranged oath."

Zeirenne nodded her head. "That's right. Unfortunately, they had to sell 20 percent of my stocks to compensate for the 20 percent minority."

"So now you're left with 35 percent? Because you had to 'refund' the money of those small investors?"

She nodded her head.

"What? Why would you need to compensate them?" Four argued, "That sounds like bullshiz! It's their own money, they should be responsible for their loses!"

"Did they forge that document?" Oneil asked her.

Zeirenne shook her head. "No. I wrote that myself."

"Why?"

"You see, it would be easy for other investors to get their money back. They have countless resources and funds. But for some, those who decided to give ZA International all they had, every penny counts. I didn't want them to be aggravated in case something happens. That's why I wrote that agreement."

"That sounds like you," Dos said, "But aren't you teaching them to be dependent? Life's not always easy, you know? Just like in the stock market. There's always turmoil now and then. They should learn how to take a risk and not depend too much on you."

"They're the type of people who'd never had an easy life, Dos," she said, "For us, life's a straight path that can get bumpy sometimes. Thus, the turmoil. But for them, everything's the opposite. They walk on that bumpy path all the time, and gets to walk down the paved path once in a blue moon. It's easy for us, but it's twice as hard for them."

The quadruplets fell silent. All their life, they've been sheltered. Wealth, Food, Shelter, Education--every basic necessity they needed was well-provided. They felt thankful and at the same time, sorry.

"As for risks? They are taking a risk. Those money they entrusted in our hands, were meant for a different reason--all kinds of reason. Most of their money came from their life savings. Some from their retirement fee, and some had to borrow from other people. We even have students who buy our stocks from their own allowances. Those money would serve them different purposes, but somehow, they took the risk and believed in us."

Four rubbed his temples. "You didn't want them to suffer so you put your position into wager? All those years of hard work? Your entire company?"

"Yes, and if my company has to go down, I want it go down that way," she said, "ZA International's vision is about the progress of a society as a whole. If it's going to be a company that will aggravate those at the bottom, I'd rather have it shut down. And if people keep on losing their money on us, that's on me, the CEO. It means the Chief Executive Offer should be replaced. I should be replaced. That's why I wrote that agreement."

They all fell silent.

"Then does that mean you see yourself unfit for the position? Are you giving up on being the CEO?"

"Of course not. I'm still testing the waters for now. There are still a lot of things I can't seem to understand."

She surveyed each and everyone of them. "But I liked your plan. It's foolproof."

"So are we gonna stick to it? We'll arrange everything right this instance."

They all took their phones out to dial their assistants. Zeirenne stopped them.

"No, It's fine. I have everything covered."

Four stood from his seat and went beside Zeirenne to elbow her, "Ey! Come on!" He said, "There's no need to be shy now. We'd be glad to help you!"

"Or is it that..." Dos gasped, "You don't have enough money to buy our stocks from us? You? Zhi Lin? Has gone bankrupt?! That's impossible!" He over exaggerated his reactions before keeping a straight face all of a sudden. "Don't worry. I'll have it transferred to you. You can pay me back later."

"No. Really." Zeirenne said, "It's not that I don't want to ask you guys for help..." The quadruplets looked at her. Waiting for her words.

"There's nothing we can do at this moment... because my plan's already being put into action."

. . .