Sweet Love
Chapter 16: A Wild Card

Sunny is hesitating but she just knows how determined Macy is and that she can't do anything to change her mind. So she opens the door to the conference room.

Very soon, the door is pushed open and a cluster of people flood into the room. Extreme anger is on each one's faces.

"Downey! We need a solution!"

The protesters are surrounding Macy. Fearing that people will hit Macy, Sunny tries to squeeze herself into the crowd. Out of nowhere, someone in the crowd reaches out his arm and pushes Sunny aside. Macy shouts among the unsettled crowd, "Everybody please give me a second. I am here today to liquidate all the surplus properties and assets of our company."

"Bullshit! The Downey's is just an empty shell and in a great amount of debt. Where is the money of our severance pay from?!"

There is countless scolding and swearing coming from the crowd. The words are direct and humiliating.

"Exactly! Don't fool us around! You are going to carve the remaining money up among the managerial staff and leave us the front-line workers aside!"

"Yeah! Why do we need to cover your ass? I must have been blind that I chose to join this company!"

"Right! Where can I replace another job afterwards? Without severance pay, do you want me to die?"

35

Macy feels her brain is going to blow up upon hearing these noises. She thought her colleagues will understand the difficult situation that she and her company are in, but it turns out that no one is willing to sacrifice his interests for others.

Macy grits her teeth and raises her voice, "If you don't even have the patience to let me finish my words and I don't have to waste time with you! The reason why I open the door is that I want to give an explanation to all of you guys!"

"I was having a meeting with the financial department and you just interrupted the progress, which has really affected the process of your severance pay! I have nothing to do with when you get paid! But all I know is that one day more wasted on something outside of the severance pay, one day later you will get your money!"

Macy's words get everybody attention and enable them to think rationally. Even though some of the employees are desperate, deep down they understand that certain procedure has to be went through before they get the severance pay.

Someone in the crowd says, "Miss Downey is right. We just need a little more patience..."

The other person beside him disagrees, "Patience? What if she runs away with the money? You won't have another way to handle it!"

Macy takes in a cold gasp and clenches her fist. She reaches out her arms and makes her way to the podium in the front of the conference room.

She stands by the podium and scans every face in front of her.

"I believe, all the employees in this room are the best of the Downey's. The Downey's now is going through a very difficult situation. Many people were afraid of being involved and chose to resign and left. Over half of the employees have left but you chose to stay. I know a lot of you have been worked here for many years and witnessed the growth of the Downey's. I and the Downey's have been grateful and thankful for your support and company. Thank you!"

Macy bows to the crowd sincerely when speaking.

The conference room is completely silent and no one speaks, even if the ones who confronted Macy furiously stop speaking.

A few seconds later, Macy straightens her body and her tone becomes vigor and assertive, "Right now, the Downey's has been bankrupted and it is under the process of bankruptcy. I will give you the severance pay according to the procedure. Although after liquidation, the surplus property of the company has yet to afford the severance pay of all the employees but I'm herby making my promise, all the employees will receive their severance pay. I won't delay our payment and I will replace the money no matter I borrow money or apply for loan.

"If you are willing to believe me and the Downey's, we will be able to use the shortest time to prepare for the money for the severance pay and distribute to all of you. You can have a one on one conversation with me if you have any opinions or advice. Except for that, I hope nobody will damage the trust between us! If you don't have disagreements, please replace Sunny and verify your information. Please wait patiently for the result!"

People in the conference room look at each other, and they choose the smartest way. All of them walk to Sunny and register. Nobody shows any dissatisfaction.

This lady in her light blue suit standing straight at the podium and making her promise in front of everyone makes people feel secure and trustworthy.

Yusef Penn is watching Macy by the window of the conference room. His emotions are gushing out.

This assertive and strong woman is exactly the same woman he met at the very beginning, like a strong reindeer who perseveres no matter what circumstances she's at.

The secretary next to Yusef asks quietly, "Mr. Penn, do you want to go inside?"

"No." Yusef withdraws his gaze and turns over towards the elevator.

Since Macy has got her way to handle the issue, he doesn't need to go inside. The effort of coming here has been paid off for Yusef as he witnessed her ability to handle this crisis.

Upon seeing everyone registering, Macy walks down the podium and has a glimpse of the rear window. A familiar back of somebody flashes by.

She is intrigued. Yusef Penn's face suddenly crosses her mind. Is that him? Would it be possible that wide and chic back belong to others rather than Yusef Penn?

Macy walks out in big strides, but someone happens to come up and blocks her way, "Miss Downey, I want to ask about the severance pay..."

When Macy walks outside again after consulting, she replaces the empty corridor, and that familiar figure has left for long.

...

After she has left the company, Macy goes straight to the bank and asks about the loan. She has promised all people to pay their severance, so she needs to fill the gap between the cost of severance and the residual properties of the company.

She visits several banks in a row but the bank clerks subtly reject to issue loans to her by showing their hesitation or replaceing excuses from the loan requirements

Macy is very clear about the reasons. The Downey's is in bankruptcy, which is a fact known by everyone in the city Marea. Besides, the Downey's is still in debt, so it is going to be difficult for Macy to apply for loan in her own name.

Macy stands in front of the bank entrance thinking about what the bank clerks have just said. She frowns and is short of solutions at the moment.

Suddenly, her phone vibrates. Macy takes the call, "Hello?"

"Which bank dares to issue you loans?"

The deep voice of a man comes out from the speaker. Macy is immediately alert and looks around and searches for Yusef Penn, "Where are you?"

"Come to my villa." Yusef drops the line coldly and hangs up directly.

When Macy visited the first bank, the bank manager had called Yusef Penn. There is no way that he doesn't know where Macy is. This woman is smart when things go on well with her but when they don't, she becomes dumb.

As long as she calls, he can send her money directly, why does she bother visiting the bank for nothing?

It is very clear that Macy doesn't get the whole picture of their deal. Yusef slaps the phone on the table and purses his lips.

It doesn't matter. He just likes the fact that she is a wild card.