Should We Just Keep Driving? [Zarry Stylik AU]©️

Chapter 11

Earlier that morning,

Zayn signed the last contract termination on the dotted line and handed them all to Helena, the head of HR. She had compiled a group of workers who were closer to retirement, with about three or five years to go, alongside workers who had underperformed in their mid-year review and workers who had too many strikes on their performance.

Those were the first batch to go. It wasn't even close to enough; after all with settlements, it was still money that would be allocated out of the company. Most likely, they would have to move over to the factories, after cleaning up the headquarters and then to the other offices around the United Kingdom. Then, they would focus on the international offices.

It hurt Zayn. It hurt signing those leaver sheets and saying goodbye to people who, even if they had joined the company a month ago or twenty years ago, were important for Innov to continue. He hated doing this. He hated being this man. He tried hard not to focus on the implication this would have on their families, difficulties and stress. If he focused on that, he'd lose his mind.

The issue with the money leak remained a secret and it would stay like that. It did not leave the boardroom level. To the outsiders, the company was going through a hard time, just like any other company in this day and age. And, despite it being a done issue, it was still a question of who, why and from where did they the leak was. How could it go, undetected for five years? Was it really undetected or just allowed to happen?

Zayn couldn't even begin to answer these questions without fearing the answer. He wouldn't dare to think that it was nothing more than just something that happened to this company. It could've happened anywhere, but it happened at Innov. It is what it is.

"I want to do something." He announced, giving back the contracts to Helena. "Give the people who are leaving something more. Not a check or a settlement or reference letter...something... meaningful ."

"I'll think of something and I'll let you know."

"Thank you."

"Of course," Helena replied. "You should talk to those who stay, though. It would be nice for them to hear from you and to calm those who might be more nervous about the upcoming months. A last-minute town hall."

"I will,"

"Okay, I'll get everything set up."

"Thank you."

Helena left Zayn's office leaving him alone with a burden too heavy to carry by himself. In the quietness of his office, he got up and walked around a bit, stretching his legs after a rough morning.

Was he good enough to steer this massive ship in a good direction into the future? How would he know what good choices to make? Where to go? If they should go anywhere? Questions that plagued his mind and made him uneasy. He had big shoes to fill under his father who had done his best. Now, here he was trying to solve a problem too big for him to fight by himself.

However, despite the heavy iceberg ahead, he wouldn't give up. He'd do his best. Respond in the best way possible. He wouldn't give up or succumb to his inner saboteur. He might be crumbling inside, but on the outside, he'd hold firm.

A soft knock on his door brought him back from his funk and welcomed the visitor thinking it was Niall.

To his surprise, when the door opened he saw someone he hadn't seen in ages. One of his older sisters.

"Doniya?"

The woman smiled at him, entering the office. Doniya lived abroad for a long time now, after a lot of arguments and going toe to toe with their father, the oldest daughter decided that staying away from the family was the best for her mental state. For the past five years, she had moved from Italy to Paris, to Istanbul and was now back in London.