CHAPTER 6: Softhearted

Cynthia sat slumped at her table, her shoulders drooping, and her head heavy in her hands. The room was silent, except for the sound of her deep, heavy sighs that filled the air. 

She couldn't believe that everything she had worked so hard for was now falling apart like a house of cards. It felt like her world was collapsing around her, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Cynthia felt a pang of disappointment as she whispered Jonah's name, her voice barely audible as she tried to keep it steady. 

She felt so overwhelmed that it was hard to keep her emotions in check. 

She let out another deep sigh and put her head back in her hands, feeling the weight of the situation crush down upon her. 

Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, it actually got worse.

Cynthia felt a lump form in her throat as she recalled the events of the day. She had been so sure that she was going to win that contract, but instead, she had lost it. 

She had poured her heart and soul into the presentation, working long hours, and sacrificing her personal life for it. She had put everything on the line, and now she was left with nothing.

Taking a deep breath, Cynthia called on Jonah again. She knew that she needed his support now more than ever. However, she also knew that there was not much he could do to fix the situation. 

She had two major setbacks in one day, and her company was going to suffer a big loss. It was a hard pill to swallow, but Cynthia knew that she had to face it head-on.

Feeling defeated, Cynthia leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She didn't know what she was going to do next, but she knew that she couldn't give up. 

She reminded herself that she had overcome obstacles before, and she would do it again. She would pick herself up and dust herself off, ready to face whatever challenges came her way. 

Cynthia sat nervously on a plush chair at the party, trying to hide the worry lines etched into her forehead. She sipped her champagne, lost in thought as the chatter of the other guests filled the room. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Jonah asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Cynthia shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, I'm not. My company is going to meet a big loss," she said, her voice trembling.

“It is really sad” he said as he sat down next to her, his brows furrowed with concern. 

"I'm sorry about everything. I also felt sad when I didn’t hear the Toluene company’s name on the list. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Cynthia gave him a small smile, grateful for his kindness. "Thank you, but I don't think of any way. It's just... it's hard to face the possibility of failure."

Jonah leaned in, his voice soft. "Hey, don't worry. I'll call my father, see if there's anything he can do to help you out. He's a pretty influential guy, you know."

Cynthia's eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for Jonah's offer. "You would do that for me? That's incredibly kind of you," she said, smiling.

Jonah grinned, happy to see Cynthia's mood lifting. "Of course. We've got to look out for each other, right?"

Cynthia nodded, feeling a small glimmer of hope in her chest. "Thank you, Jonah. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, just let me know if you need my help."

Cynthia couldn't help but feel thankful for her friend's kindness. She knew that Jonah always had her back, and she felt lucky to have him as a friend.

Meanwhile, Gibson's phone rang, interrupting what he was doing. 

He excused himself from the party and took the call in a quiet corner outside the building, his face growing increasingly grave as he listened to the news.

It was president Adams on the phone. 

"All the orders have been canceled?" The president said. 

“They have been cancelled?” Gibson asked again to be sure.

He was very softhearted and didn’t really  want bad to befall his ex wife. 

"Yes Sir, it has been done as you said. Also, there is something else you need to know,," the President continued.

“Go on,” Gibson muttered. 

“The Toluene company wasn’t on the list of business partners with the Fernandez family.” The president said. 

Gibson's mind raced as he thought of the implications of this news. 

If the orders were canceled, that meant Cynthia's company was done for, owing to the fact that they had lost the opportunity to be a business partner of Lina also. 

Cynthia's company would really really be done for.

He knew he had to do something to help. He thanked the President for the update and ended the call, feeling a sense of determination welling up inside him.

Gibson headed back to the party in search of Lina, his mind spinning with ideas on how to save Cynthia's company.

At the gate of the party, Gibson was stopped by the guardians, who asked for his invitation and the number of the host. "I don't have an invitation, but I'm here with Lina, Lina Fernandez," Gibson said.

The guardians looked at each other and then at Gibson suspiciously. "Sorry, sir, but we can't let you in without an invitation or confirmation from the Fernandez," one of the guardians said firmly.

Gibson was furious. "What do you mean you can't let me in? I've been inside this party for some hours or more. I only came out to make a phone call, I need to see Lina," he said, his voice rising.

Just then, Lina walked out of the party. "Gibson!" she exclaimed, relieved to see him. The guardians looked terrified as they realized they had stopped someone important.

"It's alright," Lina said, smiling at Gibson. "He's with me." She said to the guards. 

Gibson ignored the guardians and turned to Lina. "Listen, I know this isn't the right time or this might sound really weird, but I need to ask you something. 

Is it possible to add my ex-wife's company back to our business partner list?" he said, looking serious.

Lina smiled and then nodded. "I'll make a call immediately and we'll get it sorted out," she said reassuringly as she dialed her phone. 

The music was blaring inside the party, and the room was filled with the buzz of conversation and laughter. 

Cynthia and Jonah walked out of the door, and the noise abruptly faded away. The cool night air hit their faces, and they both took deep breaths.

Cynthia looked uneasy, and her eyes darted around, scanning the street. "I don't like it here," she muttered under her breath.

"What's wrong with here?" Jonah asked, amused.

"It's just not my scene," Cynthia replied, shrugging.

Jonah chuckled. "You'll get used to it."

Cynthia forced a smile and glanced around again, searching for an escape. She spotted Gibson and Lina standing a few feet away, and her face changed immediately.

 "There's Gibson and Lina," she said. 

She didn’t want to have any conversation with them so she attempted to leave, Gibson glanced at them briefly before returning his gaze to the horizon. Lina forced a smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

Jonah, however, wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. He immediately started to mock Gibson and Lina. "Well, well, well, look who we have here. The rejected couple standing outside for hours," he said, grinning.

Gibson ignored him, still lost in thought. 

Cynthia rolled her eyes, but Jonah continued to taunt Gibson and Lina. "What's wrong, guys? Can't find anywhere else to hang out? Are you two really that desperate?"