Fortnight

Chapter - 27

Josh sits at the head of the long, polished conference table in the grand hall of Martin Enterprises. The room is filled with the buzz of reporters and camera flashes, and the tension is palpable. On either side of Josh, two of the senior board members sit, their expressions stern but supportive. In front of them, a crowd of reporters is poised with their notepads and recorders, ready to fire questions.

Josh adjusts his tie, takes a deep breath, and leans into the microphone. "Good afternoon, everyone. I understand you have many questions, and I am here to provide as much clarity as possible during this difficult time."

A reporter in the front row stands up, notepad in hand. "Mr. Martin, can you tell us who will be handling Martin Enterprises now that James Martin has been arrested?"

Josh nods. "Yes, as of now, I am the acting interim CEO. However, we will be holding a board meeting in the coming days to officially decide on the new CEO. The decision will be based on what is best for the company's future and stability."

Another reporter jumps in, her voice sharp and demanding. "Are all the allegations against James Martin true? Was the company involved in illegal activities?"

Josh's face remains calm, though his eyes reveal the weight of the situation. "The allegations against Mr. James Martin are currently being handled by the authorities, and we are fully cooperating with the investigation. As for the company, we are conducting a thorough internal audit to ensure that no other illegal activities were taking place. Our priority is to maintain transparency and restore trust."

A third reporter, looking concerned, asks, "What will happen to the company now? Are there any plans to mitigate the dropping share prices?"

Josh takes a moment before responding. "We understand that this news has caused uncertainty among our investors. To address this, we are actively seeking partnerships and collaborations. One of our immediate steps is to collaborate with SimTech, a move that we believe will bring stability and confidence back to our stakeholders. Additionally, we are implementing a strategic plan to manage and recover our share prices."

Another reporter speaks up, "Mr. Martin, what measures are being taken to ensure such incidents do not happen again in the future?"

Josh looks directly at the reporter, his voice firm and resolute. "We are implementing more stringent compliance and oversight measures within the company. This includes hiring an independent auditing firm to regularly review our operations and financials, and establishing a whistleblower policy to encourage employees to report any suspicious activities without fear of retaliation."

The board member on his left, Mrs. Park, adds, "We are also setting up a new ethics committee to oversee all business practices and ensure they adhere to the highest standards."

Josh nods in agreement. "Our goal is to rebuild Martin Enterprises with integrity and transparency at the forefront. We are committed to earning back the trust of our employees, investors, and customers."

A final question comes from a reporter in the back. "How are you personally handling this transition, Mr. Martin?"

Josh smiles slightly, a hint of fatigue in his eyes. "It's been challenging, but my focus is on steering the company through this crisis and ensuring we come out stronger on the other side. With the support of my colleagues and the board, I am confident we can achieve that."

The conference room begins to buzz again as the reporters jot down notes and prepare their follow-up questions.

Theo and Jaehyun are snuggled up together on the couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket. The soft glow of the TV illuminates the room, where Josh's press conference is being broadcast. Little Taemin sits contentedly on Theo's lap, engrossed in a game on his phone, occasionally giggling or clapping at the screen.