2023-07-22 07:40:50He touched his head. He needed to unwind.
"Hello.""Miss Shannon O'Malley, this is Edmund. I hear that you give guitar lessons.""Yes, you've come to the right person. I'm your girl. What time are you available to take lessons?""5 o'clock." He spoke. "I have a roster for everyday.""Aye, 5 o'clock. I don't think that'd be necessary.""You give guitar lessons and you don't understand the concepts of time management?"Shannon squawked. "Of course I do. See you there."Dax frowned impatiently. "Thank you for your time, miss O'Malley.""You're welcome."Dax lowered the phone and sighed. "That was difficult." He couldn't wait to start learning."Get me a guitar." He said and the errand boy nodded leaving.He sighed. He couldn't get anything done just anticipating Allora's return. There had to be a way to solve this amicably.Shannon O'Malley arrived. "Shannon, I'm here to teach the master a lesson." She said.The guard eyed her. "What do you have in your case?""A whole bag uh poison porcupine quills if that's what ya think. I was called here. I will not stand for this." Shannon spoke.Dax arrived and she grinned."Thank the heavens.""I asked him to."She gasped. "I've never been so insulted in my entire life. How could you accuse me of_""It's procedure. Check it."Shannon blinked at Dax, he was hotter than hell. She composed herself while the guard checked her custom made guitar. She went red with embarrassment at the half-eaten energy bar.Dax grimaced. "Definitely no weapon.""Excuse me." She said standing akimbo.He walked back in. "I'm sorry for the delay but I don't want any surprises.""But I came as early as I possibly could.""Something tells me that you were okay with the security check.""That is not fine by me. You did not tell me about a security check." Her curly sandy hair bounced."Oops." He shrugged.She cursed taking out her guitar."Do you need a minute_""I'm fine, Mr Edmond.""I'm sorry, did you just call me Edmond?"She rolled her eyes. "Forgive me."He gulped taking out his guitar. "How much do they pay you for each session.""Can we not discuss about money at the moment and just get it over with?""You sound tired.""Mr Edmund, if you would just please let me concentrate.""Okay, just trying to make sure." He said.Shannon growled sitting on a stool."First we'll start with simple chord progressions and strumming pattern."He watched as she strummed agitated that he was taking on a passive stance."No, you got it all wrong. Strum a C."He rolled his eyes and strummed."That's an F. Try again Mr Edmund.""Your teaching style is weak.""Not with that attitude. I've helped the lot who are willing to learn.""Well, I want some freedom of choice and autonomy.""No, you need to listen to me, are we clear? You're not the boss here, I am and you need to show some respect, do you understand?"Dax winced. He didn't know whether to agree or disagree with her. "I digress."Shannon smiled. "Alright, we're going to start with the chord progressions if you're willing to work with me. Unless you're going to give up like the rest of them.""I accept your challenge."She strummed and Dax played a C repeatedly."Neat." She said.Dax was not expecting the positive feedback. "Sure."Shannon looked pointedly at him. "It's gonna take a miracle to put this one down that's for sure.""You're just gonna have to be patient with me."They shook hands and she pulled back."Excuse me. I have to go."Dax smiled proud of himself for his accomplishments. He had never felt relaxed in a long time, he would play more often....Dax hired the temporary workers and they were slowly meeting up with the demands. He made sure that they were cross trained to meet up. He took a stroll, the workers composed themselves while he supervised.He went to work with the customers team. "How is it looking?""Some of the agents are complaining about the customers failing to put up with the appointments. It's also a fault on our part sir." He sweated hoping he wouldn't displease Dax.He glanced at the screen. "Bezos, what do you suggest?""But she's not part of the_""We can create a search engine to help users find the ideal home they're looking for.""Bookings are full, there's barely enough to go around.""How long will it take to perfect that engine?""Months, years even, with the right amount of resources.""Good, get on with it."He said taking a seat in his office. He watched the pendulum swing. He felt like something was missing, there was a void.He was prepared for the appointment with Mr Vitaliy.After the day's work, he was able to get the partnership deal done. He checked in on the divorce papers.He heard a knock, it was 5: 00pm, he expected Shannon but the lady at the door was Allora. "Did I ask for you?""Dax, please take me back. It was an honest mistake."Sometimes he forgot he was rich.Shannon arrived adjusting the bandanna in her hair. "Good evening.""Why are you late?" Dax asked her.Allora looked taken aback. "Who is she?""Who are you, you're intruding, this session is meant for the both of us." Shannon spoke holding her case."Now's not the time, Allora." He spoke. "Come inside." He pulled Shannon into the room."Goodness me, what do you think she wants?" She pointed a thumb and she noticed that he was raging."I'm sorry I didn't make it on time, I have other responsibilities, ya know.""Don't let it happen again.""Who is she?""That's not part of the deal.""I'm in suspense, Lord help me but the sooner I know the better because I don't want to be a part of this mess."Dax pursed his lips. He took a drink to cool his high-strung nerves."I wouldn't advice you to have a drink before going into a lesson that demands high concentration.""Don't worry about it." Dax said maintaining professional grounds but he regretted that she had to see him like this.That Allora clearly meant something to him."Can we just take 5. You must be exhausted after that trip." He said."Oh, I think it would be best if we started immediately. Did you practice?""Yes." He said in a compromised state now. He couldn't give in to the pressure, not now."I'm sorry things took a dark turn.""That's my wife, Allora. My ex-wife if that makes you feel any better."."Better, I feel worse. I can't ignore her forever.""Neither can I." He couldn't ignore her forever. He had a feeling that she was going to give him a difficult time.Shannon took his hand. "I think you should move on."Dax yanked his hand. "You make a good point but don't touch me like that.""You were thinking too hard." She said. "Should I come back tomorrow?""No, I accepted your challenge, remember? And you came all this way so why waste it?"She didn't like his attitude but it was better than seeing him sulk.
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Dax tried hard to meet up, he had inventory management. He was aware of the competition, he wanted to make sure that they were the best choice.He offered the team some incentive to find some weaknesses on the part of the other companies.The permanent workers were making progress being installed.He checked his watch. He had the technical team work on the search engines and the newer project, a user friendly app to keep up with their demands.He had a gala event to attend and He upped the prices and offered incentives like discounts on home maintenance services or free upgrades to premium features. "Put that on the ad."He brushed his temple and he took down a suit."Sir.""Bryson, I'm so surprised to hear from you.""Are you ready for the event."He wanted to use the opportunity to network with some business owners and potential partners. By 8 pm. He was on his way to the event.He emerged from the car and he went towards the building decorated with lights.He walked in and declined
The Astonishing Dax Edmund Chapter 6
"Mr. Edmund, this is Mr. Johnson," the voice on the other end of the line said. "I've been thinking about our meeting, and I've decided to go ahead with the partnership. I think it's a good opportunity for both of our companies." Dax couldn't believe his ears. "That's wonderful news!" he said."Indeed. I cannot wait to work with you." He beamed.Dax kept his composure. He summoned Jennifer Bezos, his assistant."We have Johnson on our team."She clutched her hands together. "That's wonderful news.""That's what I said." Dax beamed."This calls for a celebration." She added mirroring his excitement."Get out of my office." He said. He hoped to maintain professional grounds now that he was the CEO. He went to the gym lifting weights. The bench felt cool against his skin, the lights bounced off the acrylic painted walls and the mirrors. His back pressed against the bench as he pushed up. There was tension on his face. There was nothing but the sound of the ceiling fan to fill the sile
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"What's happened?""There's a fire on the fourth elevation."Dax gasped, a vision of a blazing fire flashed before his eyes, his knees almost buckled thinking about what he was going to see once he got there. But he had a firm grip on the seat.Jennifer gasped. "Oh dear.""We called the fire department and they're on their way."He sat back trying to keep his breathing steady. "Is everyone else okay?""Yeah but, our inventory is gone." The manager said."Forget the inventory dammit."He slammed his fists on the table, forcing them to answer the call to attention.He was thinking about going to see the levity of the damage."The show must go on. We have guests waiting and we cannot cancel right now."He shuddered just thinking about attending that event while there was an emergency below them. He was not prepared for the calamity but he had responsibilities. He felt a strong need to see the damage that he had caused. There was no easy answer.He went to the commissioning event, by car j
The Astonishing Dax Edmund Chapter 8:
His ex in-laws were pleased to see him fall."I apologize to the public for my nonchalance towards the plight of my loyal customers."Shannon clapped slowly and so did the crowd. Dax went down the podium with Shannon.He saw that she was uncomfortable. She lowered her hand. "Let's go, I bet those lessons can't wait." He muttered.Shannon held his arm. "I bet they can't." Dax smiled. "Thank you for your time.""You don't need to thank me." She said and took her leave.Shannon adjusted her headband when he dropped her off."You know you should wear a dress more often.""Who says I don't?" Dax waved a hand, he watched her until the car drove out of the apartment. He squinted his eyes and faced the road. He had a lot on his plate.Dax returned home, he heard the car tires and the stones crackling when the car slowed to a stop. He blinked when the driver adjusted the mirror and the lights flashed across his eyes.He hopped down hoping to get some sleep and he got a guitar pick from the e
The Astonishing Dax Edmund Chapter 9
The team looked at each other, then one by one they nodded their heads. "We're in," they said in unison.Dax looked at the data on his computer screen, his heart pounding in his chest. It was clear that the large scale business had been a massive failure. The new strategy had reduced the sales by a significant margin.He lost his breath when he held both sides of the computer screen, on the verge of panic. He couldn't believe he was back to square one. "Impossible."His heart raced faster. He felt sickly after that investment. He was at a corner, he cried hard punching at the wall. He bashed his palms against it until he couldn't seem to find the strength to punch anymore. He took deep shaky breaths.His heart skipped a beat when he saw the red arrow. He lost money to the marketing strategy. His dream and vision went down the drain.His hair fell over and stuck to his damp face. He plonked down hard on his chair, ruminating if the marketing board had not tried hard enough. He wondered
The Astonishing Dax Edmund Chapter 10
The team looked at each other, then one by one they nodded their heads. "We're in," they said in unison.Dax looked at the data on his computer screen, his heart pounding in his chest. It was clear that the large scale business had been a massive failure. The new strategy had reduced the sales by a significant margin.He lost his breath when he held both sides of the computer screen. He couldn't believe he was back to square one. "Impossible."His heart raced faster when he did a double take. He felt sickly after that investment. He was at a corner, he cried hard punching at the wall. He bashed his palms against it until he couldn't seem to find the strength to punch anymore. He took deep shaky breaths.His heart skipped a beat when he saw the red arrow. He lost money to the marketing strategy. His dream and vision went down the drain.His hair fell and stuck to his damp face. He sat back ruminating if the marketing board had not tried hard enough. He wondered what he had done wrong. H
The Astonishing Dax Edmund Chapter 11
Dax was so happy that he had the majority in his vote to build the houses. But he couldn't go headlong into the project, after all the mistakes he made. He put on a brave face knowing that he was doing this for a good cause.He read the newspaper in hopes of finding something new about himself, his chest tightened at the news of the poor sales report on Haven Homestead and then another that made him turn pale as a ghost.Dax got a call from Allora Hills, he rolled his eyes. He heard the door click open."Who is it?" He roared and his voice echoed in the large room.Shannon entered, she had arrived too for lessons. But she had something on her mind to talk to Dax about."Oh Shannon, it's 2:55PM." He checked his watch."Dax, we need to talk." She said. "The news report.""I have a function to attend at 3PM." He said. "Look, this is important. I can't let this_" Allora walked towards him accompanied by her in-laws, Celina and Martin Hills. "What's going on? Did I invite you three?""Oh
The Astonishing Dax Edmund Chapter 12
"Oh, has he come to beg for forgiveness?" Martin Hills said holding a cocktail drink. "It only makes sense." Allora growled when Dax approached with Bryson and his other bodyguards.Allora's mouth fell open at him.The sight of the men in black intimidated the workers and Bryson punched the guard running towards them. They buffered Dax who walked out to the least threatening people. The Hills."Celina, Martin?"Allora glared at Shannon smiling with her arms folded. Sweat trickled down her face, the workers pondered on why he was here.Dax had them wrapped around his fingers. He reached into his jacket and he took out the big guns, the divorce paper. "No need to panic. Just sign the divorce paper and we're done here.""I see you brought your bitch too." Allora's cousin said.Shannon kept her cool. They didn't understand why they didn't get a rise out of her. Regardless of the rumours.He pressured her. "Sign this." Allora was scared for her life and her reputation, if she made a slip
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Chapter 84:
Dax took a deep breath and considered his answer carefully. "I'm still processing everything that's happened, and it's not easy. But I'm committed to doing what's best for the company, and that means working with Seamus. I'm not going to pretend that everything is fine, but I'm willing to put the past behind us and focus on the future. I know that won't be easy, but I'm willing to try."Roger studied him for a moment, and then nodded. "I appreciate your honesty, Dax. It takes a lot of courage to admit that you're still struggling. But I admire your commitment to doing what's best for the company, even when it's difficult. That's the kind of leadership we need right now."Dax felt a sense of relief, knowing that he had gained some of Roger's trust back. But he knew there was still a long way to go. He decided to be open and honest from now on, no matter how difficult it was. It was the only way to move forward."Let's talk about the shares."Roger opened the meeting by laying out his of
Chapter 83
He grabbed the phone and hurled it against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces. He sank to the floor, burying his head in his hands. He felt completely alone, and he didn't know how to get himself out of this mess. In that moment, he realized that his anger and resentment were only hurting him. He knew he had to find a way to let go of his negative feelings, but he didn't know where to start. Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind. It was of his grandfather, James, who had always been a source of wisdom and guidance in his life. He remembered something James had once said to him: "Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to let go of the things that are hurting us."Dax was feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knew he was letting everyone down, but he didn't know what to do. He couldn't bring himself to face Roger, and he couldn't bring himself to tell Jennifer the truth. He was stuck in a lose-lose situation, and he didn't know how to get out.Meanwhile, Jen
Chapter 82
As Seamus offered to sponsor the party, Dax couldn't help but feel suspicious. He knew that Seamus had ulterior motives, and he suspected that the offer of sponsorship was just a ploy to put him in debt. Dax didn't want to be beholden to Seamus, and he certainly didn't want to give him any leverage over him.HDax narrowed his eyes, his jaw clenched. "I don't want your money, Seamus. I don't want anything from you. You've done enough damage."Seamus's smile faltered, and for a moment, his facade of calm composure slipped away. "I know I made mistakes, Dax. I've been trying to make things right. I just want to help."Dax scoffed. "Your help is tainted. You can't buy your way back into my good graces. You should know that by now."Seamus's face was pale, and he looked truly distraught. "You're right. I know I can't buy your forgiveness. But please don't shut me out completely. I'm not the same person I was before, and I want to prove that to you."Dax shook his head. "I'm done talking a
Chapter 81
"I'm so sorry, Maureen. I never meant to hurt you or Dax. I was just worried about the future of the family business, and I made a terrible mistake." Seamus said, his eyes brimming with regret.Maureen gazed at him coldly. "Worried? You lied to everyone and dragged Dax's name through the mud. If you were worried, you should have talked to us instead of trying to destroy him."Shannon stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "Dad, I can't believe you did this. Dax is the best thing that's ever happened to me, and you tried to ruin his life. How could you?" She glared at him, her voice shaking with anger.Seamus hung his head, the shame written all over his face. "I know, Shannon. I know I messed up. But I want to make things right. I want to do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness, both of you."Maureen and Shannon exchanged a look, their faces etched with doubt. Dax had been the perfect husband and father, and Seamus had betrayed them in the worst way. Could they ever forgive him?"It
Chapter 80
Shannon's anger toward her father was mixed with a deep sense of shame. She felt embarrassed that she had believed the lies that Seamus had told, and she felt even worse that she had considered telling Dax to give up and just let her father win. But as she thought about it more, she realized that Dax had been the one who had been honest and fair, and that her father had been the one who was acting dishonorably. She began to see that she had been blinded by her loyalty to her father, and that Dax had been the one who was truly honorable all along."I'm so sorry for everything that happened, Dax," Shannon said. "I never meant to hurt you or make you feel like you weren't good enough. I was just blinded by my loyalty to my father, and I didn't see things clearly. Please, will you forgive me?" Dax smiled at her. "Shannon, there's nothing to forgive. I understand how hard this must have been for you, and I admire you for doing the right thing.Dax was surprised when he received an invitat
Chapter 79
In the weeks and months that followed, Dax saw his business grow. People flocked to CollabSpace, eager to be a part of something they could trust. They wanted to be a part of a community that was built on honesty and transparency.At the same time, Seamus saw his business suffer. People were turning away from him, no longer interested in what he had to offer. His reputation was in tatters, and he was left wondering how it had all gone so wrong.But for Dax, it was a time of hope and new beginnings.Maureen O'Malley, Seamus' wife, was deeply disappointed in him. She felt like he had betrayed her and their family, and she didn't know if she could ever forgive him.Shannon, Dax's wife, was also disappointed. She had always thought of Seamus as a friend and a mentor, and she was shocked to learn that he had been lying to them all this time.Aisling, Liam and Connor O'Malley, Seamus' children, were all feeling a mix of emotions. They were angry and hurt, but they also felt a sense of betray
Chapter 78
"You'll see that no one will want to do business with you," Seamus continued. "No one will want to use your platform, and you'll be ruined."Dax felt like the walls were closing in on him. He knew he had to do something to defend himself. "You can't do this," he said, his voice shaking. "It's not fair. It's not right."Seamus just shrugged. "It's business, Dax. And you're in my way."Dax felt like he was going to explode."I'm not going to let you ruin me," Dax said, trying to sound confident. "I'll fight back. I'll show everyone that you're the one who's lying. I'll expose you for the fraud that you are."Seamus laughed, a cruel, mocking laugh. "You think you can take me on? You're nothing but a small fry. You're out of your league here."Dax's hands were shaking with anger. He felt like he was about to lose control."Just watch me," he said, his voice low and dangerous.It was true, Dax couldn't bring himself to hate Seamus. Despite everything he had done, Dax still felt a sense of l
Chapter 77
A few months ago, Dax's team had just launched the CollabSpace app. They had been working hard to get the word out, and it seemed to be paying off. They had already gained over a million users, and the number was growing every day. Dax was thrilled - this was the success he had been dreaming of. But then he started to hear about Seamus' campaign of rumors. He was worried that it was starting to take a toll on his user numbers. How could he fight back?Dax decided that he needed to set the record straight. He started doing interviews and writing blog posts, explaining the truth about CollabSpace and debunking the rumors. He also tried to focus on improving the platform, to show people that it was worth using. And little by little, he started to see his user numbers rise again. But Seamus wasn't giving up. Seamus still had the power of money behind him. And he decided to use it. He started to buy up advertising space on all the major social media platforms, to promote his own platform.
Chapter 76
She was clearly troubled, and Dax could tell something was bothering her. "What's wrong?" he asked."I need to talk to you about your new project," Shannon said, looking down at her hands. "I'm not sure it's a good idea."Dax's heart sank. He had hoped that Shannon would be supportive of his idea. "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm."I just don't think it's going to work," Shannon said, her voice shaking. "I don't want to see you get your hopes up, only to have them crushed."Dax sat down, feeling deflated."Why don't you think it will work?" Dax asked, trying to keep his voice level. "What are your specific concerns?"Shannon hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I just don't think it's feasible," she said. "It sounds like a lot of work, and I'm not sure it will pay off in the end. I know you're passionate about it, but I'm worried that you're setting yourself up for disappointment."Dax looked at her, trying to hide his disappointment. "But what if it does wor
