Chapter Four; The Hidden Talent
Ted’s voice was laced with worry. “Boss, we have a problem. Our website has been down for the past 24 hours, and we’re losing customers by the minute.” John’s expression turned serious. “What’s going on, Ted? We can’t afford to lose any more business.” Ted shook his head. “I don’t know, boss. Our team has been working on it, but so far, all to no avail. We’re trying to troubleshoot the issue, but it’s like nothing we’ve seen before.” John nodded. “Let’s get to work, Ted. We can’t let our customers down.” Together, John and Ted worked tirelessly to resolve the issue. They poured over lines of code, tested servers, and consulted with experts. Finally, after hours of work, the website flickered back to life. They screamed in excitement and felt a sense of relieve. Suddenly his phone beeped, incoming call from Rachel his physiotherapist. He picked up. Hi John, this is to remind you of your evening session for today. Oh yes, I have that In mind. John answered slowly but his voice sounded tired. Are you okay? She asked. John smiled weakly. “It’s been a long day, Rachel. Our website was down, and we were losing customers left and right.” Rachel’s responded sympathetically. “I’m so sorry to hear that. But you guys fixed it, right?” “Yeah, we did. Ted and I worked together to get it back up and running.” John responded Rachel smiled. “Well, you’re a genius, John. I’m not surprised you fixed it.” Thank you Rachel, John smiled See you later in the day! With this, she hung up. John was engrossed in his computer project at home when Rachel arrived for John’s physiotherapy session that evening. “Hey, John! How’s it going?” she asked, noticing the look of exhaustion on his face. “It’s going great, Rachel,” John said, his eyes shining with excitement. “I think I’ve discovered a new talent!” Rachel’s curiosity was piqued. “What is it?” “I’m a natural at graphic design!” John exclaimed. “I’ve been working on a new logo for Jays Tech, and it’s turning out great!” Rachel smiled. “That’s fantastic, John! You’re full of surprises.” John eagerly showed her his design, and Rachel was impressed. “Wow, you’re a genius!” As they worked on his physical therapy, John shared his design ideas with Rachel, who offered valuable feedback. John’s creativity and determination inspired her, and she found herself looking forward to their sessions more and more. John’s passion for graphic design grew, and he spent every spare moment honing his skills. He devoured tutorials, practiced diligently, and experimented with different styles. His hard work paid off, and soon he was creating more stunning designs that impressed even himself. The next day, Ted, his PA, called with an unexpected request. “Boss, we need a new brochure for Jays Tech. Most designers we’ve contacted can’t create something that represents the brand, but I think you’re the only one who can create something amazing.” John’s heart raced. This was his chance to showcase his talent again, especially for the brand he was building. “Absolutely, Ted! Give me a second.” With Rachel’s encouragement, John worked tirelessly on the brochure. He poured his heart and soul into the design, making sure every detail was perfect. When he finally presented it to Ted, the response was overwhelming. “Boss, this is incredible! You’re a genius!” Ted exclaimed. John felt satisfied. His hidden talent had finally been recognized. John grinned, feeling proud of his accomplishment. “Ted, I’m so glad you like the booklet! I worked really hard on it.” Ted replied immediately, “I don’t like it, I love it Boss, it’s phenomenal! I’m sure this will bring in more clients and become the talk of the town.” As the session progressed, John’s fatigue began to lift, replaced by a sense of pride and accomplishment. Little did John know, his talents were about to be recognized on a global scale. The new logo design he created for Jays Tech had caught the attention of international organizations, and they were clamoring for his graphics design services. Rumors began to circulate about the mysterious CEO of Jays Tech. People whispered that he was a private person, extremely handsome, with piercing blue eyes and chiseled features. In reality, John was just a regular guy with a passion for design and a determination to succeed. As the days went by, John’s design skills were in high demand. He worked tirelessly to meet the requests pouring in from all corners of the globe. He created stunning graphics, logos, and websites for clients in every industry. His talent and dedication earned him a reputation as one of the most sought-after designers in the industry. But as John’s success grew, so did the suspicions of his family. Sarah and Emily exchanged worried glances as John spent every waking moment glued to his computer screen. “John, you need to take a break,” Sarah said, trying to hide her concern. “You’re working too hard.” John barely looked up, his eyes fixed on the design he was working on. “Just a few more minutes, Sarah. I promise.” Emily frowned, her voice laced with suspicion. “Dad, what’s going on? You’re always working on your computer now. Are you sure everything is okay?” John forced a smile, trying to reassure them. “Everything’s fine, Emily. I just have a lot of projects going on, that’s all.” But Sarah and Emily exchanged a skeptical look. They knew John too well. Something was going on, and they knew he was up to something but they couldn’t figure it out and are determined to find out what it was. As John continued to work on his designs, he began to receive requests from major brands and organizations. He created a stunning logo for a new startup, a website for a non-profit organization, and even a brochure for a government agency. His work was met with critical acclaim, and his reputation as a top designer spread far and wide. But with success comes a price. John’s family began to feel neglected, and his relationships with Sarah and Emily began to suffer. They felt like they were losing him to his computer screen, and they didn’t know how to get him back.Chapter Five; The Mysterious ThreatJohn’s success with the brochure design led to more projects and recognition within Jays Tech. He was thrilled to be making a name for himself in the industry, despite his lack of public exposure as CEO and his physical limitations. However, with growth comes challenges, and John was soon faced with a mysterious threat that tested his resolve. It started with strange emails and messages that hinted at a hidden agenda against Jays Tech. John dismissed them as spam or jealousy, but the warnings continued.One evening, during a meeting with Ted, Ted received a call from a private number, which he picked up only to hear the other end of the phone… “Hello, Jay Tech… The voice was strange and angry. “You’re playing with fire. Back off before it’s too late.” You’re stealing our clients and putting us out of business. If this continues, we will go after everyone in the organization and their families, including your sick mother and your crippled boss
Chapter Six; Finding a Savior Anthony called a family meeting with Emily, John's daughter, Sarah, John's wife, Joy, and Alex, Sarah's sister and fiancé, to discuss the bankruptcy of Dragon Digitals, their key partner. The mood was tense as they gathered in Anthony's living room, the weight of their financial struggles palpable. "We need to work with Jay Tech to secure our position," Anthony said, his voice grave and full of urgency. "We can't afford to lose any more ground." John spoke up, determined to prove himself. "I can help you secure a treaty. I have connections, and I'm confident I can make it happen." The room erupted in laughter, mocking John's offer. "You? Help us? You're useless, John!" Alex sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "What could you possibly do to help us?" Sarah and Emily exchanged looks of disbelief, adding to John's frustration. Even his own family didn't believe in him. "I can do it!" John insisted, his face flushing with determinatio
Chapter Seven; The Refusal Joy and her fiancé Alex left the meeting with Anthony determined to secure the contract with Jay Tech. They were convinced that their charm and business savvy would win the company over. But when they arrived at Jay Tech's headquarters, they were in for a surprise. "I'm sorry, Joy and Alex, but we're not interested in working with you," said Mr. Mark, Jay Tech's managing director, bluntly. "We've done our research, and we don't think your company is a good fit for us." Joy and Alex were stunned. They'd never been turned down before and didn't know how to handle it. "But...but we have the perfect proposal for you," Joy stammered. "We also have better prospects than the other companies you've accepted to work with. We can offer you..." "I'm afraid it's not about the proposal, Joy," Mr. Mark interrupted. "It's about the company's reputation. And let's just say your company's reputation precedes you." Alex's face flushed with anger. "What ar
Chapter Eight; The Unveiling The day of the Jay Tech launch event had finally arrived, and the anticipation was palpable. The company was unveiling its latest innovation, the ‘EmpowerD’ – a revolutionary device designed to help people with physical disabilities, this was inspired by John’s impairment. He realized he was able to achieve a lot to include building his brand from scratch despite his physical limitations using the virtual world. Today, a lot of questions will be answered, John thought to himself. The city’s top families had received exclusive invitations to witness the unveiling, and Anthony saw this as the perfect opportunity to network and secure a contract with Jay Tech. As the guests began to arrive, Anthony’s eyes scanned the room, looking for the high-profile families he was trying to impress. In order to ensure their family business does not crash. He spotted the prestigious Smiths, the influential Watsons, and the wealthy Taylors, all mingling and
Chapter Nine; A Surprise Honor As John gave his speech, a sudden announcement echoed through the hall, sending a wave of surprise through the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, The Coopers family is here!John was surprised, The Coopers family was the least he had expected to show up today.While he looked towards the entrance, he saw a familiar figure, his dad in the company of other relatives. Mr. Michael, John’s father, walked onto the stage, accompanied by several family members.They approached John, their faces beaming with pride.His dad suddenly started speaking “Ladies and gentlemen,” He began, his voice trembling. “Today, we are here to right a past wrong. A wrong that has caused a lot of havoc to our family John, our son, was disowned by us many years ago due to a misunderstanding. We thought his association with Emily, his wife, would tarnish our family’s reputation. We decided to let him go, hoping he would come back to his senses.But we were wrong, and we’ve com
Chapter Ten; The Mysterious Walking Stick.John’s journey to recovery began with a long-awaited trip overseas for his spinal cord and orthopedic surgery. The cost were fully covered by the Coopers Family.Sarah, his devoted wife, accompanied him, providing emotional support every step of the way. The flight was extremely tiring and demanding, but John’s determination to regain his mobility kept him going.The surgery lasted for about twelve hours and was a success. Soon, John began his rehabilitation journey. The initial days were challenging, but with each passing day, he grew stronger and more determined. Sarah was always by his side, encouraging him through the tough times and celebrating his small victories.After several weeks of intensive therapy, John was finally cleared to return home for follow up. He was excited to see his daughter, Emily, and hopes to start his new life with his newfound mobility. As they arrived back home, Emily eagerly welcomed her father, she miss
Chapter Eleven; A New Chapter.John’s days passed in a blur as he delved deeper into the mystery of the walking stick. He spent every spare moment researching, experimenting, and practicing with the stick, hoping to unravel the mystery. Sometimes, he feels overwhelmed and wants to avoid the situation, but he just finds himself drawn towards the stick as if it was a part of him.Emily and Sarah watched with a mix of fascination and concern as John’s obsession grew but they knew they had to keep the secret and stand by him.John walk about the neighborhood with the stick, like he was still dependent on it to prevent suspicions from anyone.The once lively atmosphere of their home had shifted, the air heavy with the tension of unspoken fears and uncertainty. One afternoon, Emily, bored and restless, full of inquisitiveness, snuck into John’s room, seeking adventure. Her eyes landed on the walking stick, leaning against the wall, and she couldn’t resist the urge to hold it, she felt d
Chapter Twelve; The WarningJohn's eyes snapped wide open, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.He was drenched in sweat, and his heart racing, he looked scared and terrified.For a moment, he lay there, disoriented, unsure of what had awakened him. Then, the memories came flooding back, the dark figure, the sinister laughter, the feeling of impending doom.He suddenly had a weird headache.He became more worried. He threw off the covers and sat up, his mind racing. The room was very dark, and he could barely see around him.He rubbed his face, trying to shake off the vivid nightmare. But the fear lingered, and the memories came flooding.He swung his legs over the side of the bed and planted his feet firmly on the ground as if anchoring himself to reality. His breath slowly steadied, but his thoughts remained a mix of anxiety and unease.Without hesitation, John quickly threw off his pajamas and slipped into his robe. He didn't bother with slippers; the chill of the night ai