Chapter Five; The Mysterious Threat
John’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.” The phone rang, leaving both Ted and John in shock. The voice was distorted, and John couldn’t trace the number. He felt a shiver run down his spine, but refused to give in to fear. “What was that about?” John asked Ted, trying to hide his concern. “I don’t know, but it sounded serious,” Ted replied, his brow furrowed with worry. “We can’t let them get to us,” John said, his voice firm. “We have to keep moving forward.” Ted nodded, but John could see the fear lingering in his eyes. Boss, what if they truly come after us? John smiled and said authoritatively, “All the companies in this town combined can do nothing! Ted is surprised where this boldness comes from, not knowing that John was the heir to the world’s leading company owned by the Cooper family, but ran away from his family because of his marriage to Sarah and his quest to be loved for himself and not for money. As the days went by, the threats continued. Emails, messages, and even letters arrived at the office, all with the same menacing tone. John tried to brush it off, but the words began to sink in. He started to wonder if he had made a mistake by taking on the project. Was it worth putting his family and employees in danger? One night, as he was working late, John received a call from the same private number. “You’re running out of time, Jay Tech. You have one week to back off, or we’ll make you regret it.” The voice was cold and detached, sending chills down John’s spine. “The voice continued. “You’re trespassing on our territory, and we won’t let you get away with it.” John’s heart raced as he realized who was behind the threats. Dragon Digitals, a rival tech company, had been trying to take down Jays Tech for months. He tried to stay calm, but his mind raced with thoughts of his family’s safety. He couldn’t let anything happen to them. He decided to take matters into his own hands and called his secret PA from the Cooper family. “I need your help,” John said, his voice low and urgent. “I have a situation here, and I need it taken care of.” His PA replied, “I’m on it, sir. What do you need me to do?” John gave him the details, and his PA promised to take care of it. John felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing that he had someone he could trust to handle the situation. But as the days passed, the threats continued. John started to feel like he was living in a nightmare, with no escape from the constant fear. He began to question his decision to take on the project, and wondered if he had made a mistake by trying to stand up to Dragon Digitals. Ted noticed the change in John and approached him one day. “Hey, boss, is everything okay? You seem a bit…distracted.” John forced a smile. “I’m fine, Ted. Just a bit stressed with the project, that’s all.” Ted nodded, but John could see the concern in his eyes. “If you need any help, just let me know. We’re all in this together.” John appreciated Ted’s support, but he knew he couldn’t share the truth with him. Not yet, at least. He had to keep his family and employees safe, no matter what it took. As the deadline approached, John’s anxiety grew. He knew he had to do something, but he didn’t know what. He felt like he was running out of options, and the threats were starting to take a toll on his mental health. One night, as he was working late, John received a call from his PA. “Sir, we’ve found the source of the threats. It’s Dragon Digitals, and they’re not backing down.” John’s heart raced as he listened to the details. He couldn’t believe it. All this time, he had been wondering who was behind the threats, and now he knew. He felt a surge of anger and determination. He was going to put an end to this once and for all. Without hesitation he spoke into the phone, “I want Dragon Digitals down, I want to destroy all collaboration with them and I want them out of this town! “Take care of it,” John said, his voice firm. “I want it done tonight.” His PA replied, “Yes, sir. It’s done.” John felt a sense of relief wash over him.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
Chapter Thirteen; The TranceJohn's hands trembled as he held the parchment with the strange symbols. He had only 48 hours to uncover the truth.His eyes scanned the parchment, trying to check for any hidden meaning within the cryptic symbols. As he examined more closely, he noticed a faint mark in the corner.It looked like a small arrow, pointing towards a specific symbol.His heart raced with the realization that this might be a secret message and guide.He followed the arrow to a symbol resembling a cross with two curved horns on either side.A memory suddenly stirred within him. He was trying to figure it out when he suddenly remembered that he had seen this symbol before in an ancient text, one associated with a long-forgotten cult.His mind flashed to the dusty pages of the book he had studied months ago."Could it be?" John whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the silence of his study.Suddenly, the symbol began to glow, filling the room with a soft, strange a