The Broken Tale

Help Us

            The days after the meeting were tiring. Chanel visited Layla and Brian again after the meeting, quite relieved to see them both less stressed and worried but they still looked exhausted.
            Nevertheless as much as Chanel wanted to help, there was only so much she could do for Layla. Her emotional supporter had to be Brian not her or else she could not tend to matters of the case.
            The five weeks after they returned to Sydney were troublesome, busy and tiring. Time only flew by like a whisk of air. There was barely enough hours in the day for everything she had to do.
          The sun was shining just as brightly as it could be in Toronto.
"With that I think it can earn back more than its investment by twice fold in a few months." He said concludingly, "So. What do you say, Mrs.Valdez?"
Chanel played with the food on her plate before she looked up at him with her patient eyes.
"This isn't the best suggestion, Mister Dudley, I must admit." She said, "But I hate to turn down something without a second glance at it first."
"So...is that a yes?"
She shrugged as she took a sip of her drink.
"Like I said. It's a risk."
He laughed, "What's a risk for the richest woman in the world?"
She shook her head a little with a dishearten sigh.
"You see, this is the mistake most entrepreneurs make." She said, poking a piece of tomato on her plate, "Let me give you some advice for your entrepreneurial career. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is being reckless with your projects once you gather up some money."
"I'm sure the Chanel Valdez has more than just 'some' money."
"Either way, if I neglected my projects then I'd easily squander all of it. Be it thousands or billions."
"So you're rejecting me for...what risks exactly?"
Chanel put her glass down, leaning forward on her arms on the table.
"First of all, I never said I rejected your project completely, Mister Dudley." She answered calmly, "Secondly, I'm sure you're well aware of the risks."
"Let me guess." He leaned in as well, "It's my past. The most prominent entrepreneur of the century doesn't want to be working with a-"
"Mister Dudley, when picking my employees, I have always tended to focus more on skill than background." She interrupted, eating a small piece of the steak, "I should say of course, there are certain limits to how much I can overlook I can my employees' backgrounds and pasts but I try to give everyone a second chance to how much is in my capability."
"So it's not my background?"
"No, it's not your background. It's the risk I'll have to take with your project. Putting a few million is a gamble for me. I can stomach the money but I have to take into account my company's reputation."
He sighed, sipping the whiskey like her.
"I get it. Working with a lowlife like me, then if it fails and you lose a few million, it'll hurt your company's face."
"Mister Dudley." Chanel said more gently, putting her hand tenderly on his, "Please don't misunderstand me. You're defiantly not defined by your past at all. And believe me when I tell you that it's defiantly not your past that makes me refuse your offer. Not at all."
He nodded slowly with pursed lips. But Chanel could see that he was still hurt and disappointed.
"Look, I have a different idea." She said, "I have a tech designer position open in Miller Corprations. Maybe a few weeks in the right environment can help you fix your project. And if it turns out well then maybe we can actually do something with it, hm?"
He raised a suspicious eyebrow.
"The position pays well. You'll make some cash while improving your project ideas." She continued.
He hesitated for a moment. But a few moments later, he broke his gaze from the glass of whiskey and looked back at her.
"That'll be amazing, Mrs.Valdez. Even better than I had anticipated since I'm a little short on cash at the moment." He answered.
Chanel smiled brightly, "Perfect. Will you be able to stop by the office tomorrow morning for the final interview?"
"Does it have to be tomorrow?"
"Yes since I'll have be flying back home in two days."
He nodded, "Of course then."
"Perfect. Well you-"
Her phone rang loudly, interrupting her. Chanel fished it out of her purse.
Looking down at the caller ID, sorry stirred up instantaneously in her stomach like a rock. She sighed and stood up.
"Excuse me. I have to take this."
He nodded, "Of course, take your time."
Ignoring some of the people who recognized staring at her as she stepped outside and picked up the phone.
"Hey, Bri-"
"Help us!"
"Wh-What? Brian, is everything okay?"
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"
Chanel's heart dropped to his stomach when she heard Layla's cries in the background.
"You have to get us a doctor immediately!" Brian shouted in fear.
"Why? Is Layla okay?"
"Sh-sh-she's g-going into l-l-labor!"
"Labor?"
"You have to get us a doctor!"
"B-Brian, I'm in Toronto."
"How do we get out of this damn house so I can get her to a rucking hospital?"
"Y-You can't! Don't you dare, Brian, you'll get Layla arrested! Everything will be for nothing!"