Disgusting Appetite
Previously...
...
Thawwwwwww!!!
Mr Willow's discipline echoed throughout the entire house. His palm left a painful imprint on James' handsome face.
"Stupid boy! I knew it must be you! Blockheaded Fool! No Hughes is a no-name, you idiot!", Mr Willow reprimanded.
"There's no such thing as bad luck in business. Everything is well thought out, plotted, and planned. Only a brainless mutt like you would mess up this bad! You better fix this mess!!", he bellowed, fuming dangerously.
...
Just then, the side door creaked open and in came Mr Willow's assistant, saving James from another annoyed assault.
"Yes. What is it Richie?", Mr Willow asked with a roar, transferring some of his aggression and frustration to his assistant at the door.
"Uhh... Pardon me, sir, I- I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's urgent. The financial department just called to inform us that Garner, another major partner just called to cancel their partnership because our stocks keep falling. We've tried everything, but investors keep withdrawing their investments. They have no hope in us rising again without the favour of the Hughes Group.", Richie the assistant said shakily.
"Arrrghh! F**k!! Stupid!!!", Mr Willow let out his frustration on the antique wooden side table by him, smashing it to bits!
Richie froze, stunned by the sudden crash.
"I'm sorry!" he cried nervously.
Mr Willow collapsed on the chair behind him, hopelessly pinching his forehead, and desperately searching his mind for a solution.
...
*****************
"Huff...", Mr Willow sighed weakly.
"Just... Keep calling and convincing investors to stay calm. Tell them the rumours are exaggerated and talks with the Hughes are still on. Convince them that they will lose more if they pull out in panic. Offer some incentives from our reserves to encourage them to stay... Blackmail the ones we have dirt on. We're not going down without a fight.", he instructed Richie with desperate eyes.
"...Certainly not because of this fool.", he added, staring James down with fury in his eyes. He spat with spite.
...
******************
....
20 minutes later after making several calls...
Richie returned to James' living room where a worried Mr Willow stood with folded arms and a wrinkled frown.
"Richie, have you found anyone willing to take our offer?", he asked his assistant.
Richie gulped.
"No sir. Rather all our major partners have dumped our stocks and are moving to Prime, our top rival. They refused the incentives.", the assistant replied, trying to sound as professional as he could even though he was scared.
Mr Willow reacted with a frustrated facepalm.
"...Is there anyone willing to take our deal?", he sighed, obviously distressed.
"Well, no sir. However, Lady Brentford is on the phone now. She says she has an offer for you.", Richie replied, holding on to one last string of hope.
James cringed the moment he heard the name 'Lady Brentford'.
'What?! That obsessed, rich, fat, ugly cougar again? What does she want now? She's crashed all my concerts lately requesting a private performance...', he thought to himself.
Mr Willow seemed familiar with the name as well.
"Mmm... Lady Brentford is a big name in industry and one of our biggest investors. She's super-rich! Let's hear what she has to say. Give me the phone.", he instructed Richie.
The assistant complied.
...
"Hello, lovely miss...", Mr Willow greeted politely. Distress works wonders.
"Yes, Hello Willow...", a woman's voice came from the other end of the line.
"...Willow, I'm so sorry to see the current crisis with your company. I hear stocks have fallen 50% in just a few hours...", she added, obviously well informed.
Mr Willow broke a sweat.
"Yes. But I assure you, my Lady, we are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible...", he said scratching a nervous itch behind his ear.
"...By the weekend we are certain stocks will be up-"
Lady Brentford suddenly cut Mr Willow off mid-speech.
"Hush Willow. I'm old in business. You can't deceive me with your silver tongue even if you try. I'm not calling to pull out my investment. You know that is an insignificant amount to me. Rather, I have called to offer you a helping hand. I will invest 10 million dollars to help stabilize your stocks at the current price and save your company...", she offered generously.
Mr Willow looked pleasantly surprised.
"Ahhh... This is remarkable news! You are most wonderful, Lady- ", he said before she cut him off again.
"...Of course, there's a condition that must be met. This is business after all.", the female voice added.
"Oh? Yes, of course. What is your condition? We will happily do it if it is something in our power...", said Mr Willow, eager to please.
Lady Brentford flashed a smile.
"Oh, it is very much within your power... You know, Willow, I am a big fan of your son, James. I don't recall meeting him quite satisfactorily yet. My investment of 10 million is out of my true love for James and of course, my kind empathy for your family. I want to meet him properly and spend quality time with him. I hope you do understand what I'm asking...", she replied.
Mr Willow scratched another itch on his ear with a sigh. He clearly understood Lady Brentford's request.
"Of course, I do. I will speak with him and see what I can do.", he said to the phone in his hand.
"Ah! Good, good! You are too kind. Thank you for your understanding.", the rich Lady sounded excited.
"Send James over to... 'facilitate' the transfer of funds. Time is ticking, Willow. The longer the wait, the greater the dip.", she added, hardly restraining her thirst.
"Of course. Thank you for your generous contribution, Lady Brentford.", Mr Willow replied before he hung up.
...
******************
...
"So, what did she say?", asked an anxious Mrs Willow.
"She will send us 10 million dollars.", Mr Willow broke the good part of the news first.
"Ten Million?!!!", Mrs Willow gasped with dollar signs in her eyes.
"Wow! That's enough to stabilize the company stocks! Incredible!", James commented on the far side. His face still bore the painful imprint of his father's palm.
"Yes. But she wants something else in exchange for it.", Mr Willow added.
"What?", both mother and son were curious.
"James. She wants to spend some time with him. Apparently, she's a big fan.", Mr Willow answered, staring daggers in his direction.
...
A moment of silence reigned.
James suddenly noticed both his parents were staring at him.
"What?! I'm not meeting that ugly walrus! She's borderline obsessed!", James objected loud and clear.
"No way! I have a girlfriend. Amy-", he added before he was immediately shut down by a furious Mr Willow.
"That Amy McDollar is of no consequence! She is too little to save us from this crisis now. Even Lisa is more remarkable. Get rid of her!...", he snapped.
"...Besides, the fact that you've been running around with so many other girls shows you're obviously not serious with her. This company is your future, James! You must learn to make harsh sacrifices.
You have to do this. If a little meeting with Lady Brentford can fix this company, then you must! This is your mess and you finally have a chance to fix it! You must meet the 'ugly walrus' and satisfy her disgusting appetite. You brought this upon yourself. Don't mess this up!... And you better be smart about it!", Mr Willow instructed.
********************
...
...
******* TKE Q&A *******
...
Lisa: Haha! What an interesting development. I can't wait to see this play out. Hahahaha...
Ruby: I've got my camera out haha!!!
Crowd: (Roaring laughter) Woooo!!! (Applause)
Surrealish: You took the words right out of my mouth, Lisa hahaha! Keep reading to find out what happens next.
See you later on,
Crowd: T! K! E! Q&A!!! Woooo!!! (Applause)
...
*****************************
*****************************
...
MORE BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:
- Celebrity Crush! In My Bed (romance, comedy, fantasy drama, ceo, showbiz)
- Thirsty Royals: NEW (romance, comedy, fantasy, drama, action, villain, R18)
...