Gasp filled the air as Kennedith delivered the shocking news, his voice low but trembling with urgency.
"Companies are pulling out," he said, eyes scanning the room, lingering on each face. "They're withdrawing their contracts with us."
A stillness took over the dining room.
"Due to the rise in negative reviews and the feedback about our product—VRS," he added, his voice now barely above a whisper.
Dr. Raymond, seated at the head of the table, received a call mid-sentence. He picked it up quickly. The room watched him as the conversation unfolded. Each word on the other end of the line stripped color from his face. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone, his eyes wide and glassy. When the call ended, he slowly lowered the phone and dropped into his chair as though gravity had increased tenfold.
"Our company... has been banned in four countries," he said quietly, his voice almost inaudible. "They're blaming VRS for the deaths of civilians. Forty-two lives... lost. And all four governments are suing us."
The weight of the words sank into the silence.
Hayden suddenly stood, desperation in his voice. "No. No, it's okay. I have a solution. Just let me call Mr. Lockwood. He'll fix this. He'll know what to do."
He hastily pulled out his phone and dialed. But before it rang, Kennedith's voice cut through.
"He's gone."
Hayden paused, disbelief warping his features. "What?"
"He left the country. Terminated his contract. Paid the breach penalty."
Hayden laughed nervously. "That's impossible. He was with me—he sat right next to me in the meeting."
Kennedith nodded slowly, the truth stinging as he delivered it. "Yes. He left immediately after that meeting. It's like... he knew this was going to happen."
Before anyone could respond, Michael's voice broke through. "Everyone, look at the television."
They turned toward the screen. Kennedith grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. The news broadcast was already in progress.
"GLOBAL BACKLASH AGAINST RAYMOND TECH: 42 DEAD FROM CONTROVERSIAL PRODUCT VRS"
The reporter's voice was grave, urgent:
"An international tech giant is now under severe scrutiny following reports that its revolutionary product, VRS, has been linked to the deaths of at least 42 civilians across four countries. Authorities in those nations have issued immediate bans on the product and have launched lawsuits against Raymond Tech. Early reports claim the product caused severe health complications, many of which were fatal. This has triggered outrage across global markets."
The footage showed protestors outside Raymond Tech offices. Families of victims. Legal analysts debating liability.
"The corporation is being accused of gross negligence and failure to ensure adequate safety standards before product launch. Investigations are ongoing. The company has yet to release an official response."
The broadcast faded to an image of one of the victims' families. Everyone in the room fell silent. Hayden sat down, as if his legs couldn't hold the weight of the moment.
Dr. Raymond's phone rang again, piercing the silence. He answered.
It was Melissa, Head of Public Relations. Her voice was tense, hurried.
"Dr. Raymond, we need an emergency board meeting. Right now. We're spiraling. We can't control the narrative. The media, the lawsuits, the public outcry—it's too much."
"Understood," he replied, his voice hollow.
Within thirty minutes, the entire board, along with Hayden, Kennedith, and Dr. Raymond, gathered in the conference room. The tension in the air was suffocating. Every breath felt borrowed. Melissa stood at the front, eyes scanning the room.
Dr. Raymond's voice finally cut through the silence. It was cold, firm, demanding.
"What exactly is the problem with our product?"
Melissa stepped forward, composed but visibly shaken. "Sir, we ignored the early signs. Minor complaints grew. We saw the patterns and did nothing. Our QA team flagged instability in the neural feedback system of VRS. Some users experienced migraines, seizures, and in rare cases, cardiac arrest. We brushed them off as isolated incidents."
Dr. Raymond leaned forward. "Where is Mr. Emmanuel? I want answers from the operations side."
Melissa hesitated. "Sir… Mr. Emmanuel doesn't work here anymore. He was fired... over three years ago."
Dr. Raymond blinked, realization crashing over him. He turned to Hayden.
"You fired him."
Hayden didn't speak. He looked away.
For minutes, no one said a word. Then Mr. Daniels, the youngest member of the board, spoke up. His voice was calm but determined.
"What if we bring in someone who can fix this? Someone with experience. What if we hire Jedidiah?"
The room froze.
Jedidiah.
The name hadn't been spoken in years. A name buried by politics, pride, and pain.
"Absolutely not," Hayden snapped, his voice rising. "We are not bringing him back. Have you forgotten what he did?"
Daniels cut in. "What he did was warn us. Repeatedly. He questioned Lockwood. He asked about testing. And you, Hayden—you laughed it off. You trusted a man you met in a week over someone who helped build this company for four months straight."
Hayden stood. "Even if you find him, he won't come back. He won't help. His pride won't let him."
Daniels didn't flinch. "We're not asking for his help. We're offering him a job. A contract. A paycheque to clean up this mess. Would you help a company that tossed you out after you resurrected it?"
Dr. Raymond tried to intervene, siding with Hayden. "I don't think we should—"
But Daniels held his ground. "With all due respect, sir, this isn't about personal feelings. This is about survival. And if pride is the only thing stopping us from saving this company, then we deserve to fall."
He looked around the room. One by one, the board members nodded in silent agreement.
Even Kennedith offered a small, approving smile.
"Vote," Daniels said simply.
Hands rose. One after another. The vote was unanimous.
The decision was made.
Back home, the family sat in the dining room. The meal remained untouched. Tension gripped the air.
Dr. Raymond's voice broke the silence. "The board voted. And we're bringing him back. We need Jedidiah."
Hayden stared at the floor. "He left years ago. He wanted nothing to do with us."
Kennedith leaned in. "That was before all of this. Before VRS. Before Lockwood. Before we lost our way."
Michael nodded. "He left because he saw this coming. We mocked his foresight. Maybe he was right all along."
Dr. Raymond stood, heavier now than ever before. He walked slowly to a drawer and pulled out an old business card. He slid it across the table to Hayden.
"Here. His contact address. Last known location."
Hayden picked it up. The weight of it felt heavier than paper should be.
Kate crossed her arms. "Even if we do reach him, what makes you think he'll say yes?"
Dr. Raymond turned, locking eyes with Hayden. "You helped break this company. You'll help fix it."
Hayden hesitated, then nodded.
As Dr. Raymond turned back to the others, his voice shifted—from weary patriarch to resolute commander.
"We need Jedidiah."