Sanchez Group had a billion-dollar contract that had just gone sideways. Christian had rushed back to the office from the auction specifically to deal with it.
First it was errors in the contract figures. No sooner had he resolved those than he was informed the company's cash flow was insufficient to cover operations.
When he heard the news, Christian slammed his fist into his desk so hard it left a dent in the surface.
"Sanchez Group is a corporate empire. How the hell does a company this size fumble basic details?"
He turned his gaze on his assistant. "Suspend the project lead immediately. And pull the quarterly financials. I want them on my desk."
A suspicion had already taken root in his mind: someone inside the company was sabotaging them.
It wasn't the first time a mole had surfaced. Sanchez Group was powerful, and powerful companies bred envy. There was never a shortage of people who wanted to see them fall.
But back then, he'd had Marjorie by his side. Her Pruitt Group had been strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sanchez Group. With Marjorie in his corner, a crisis like this would have been nothing for the two of them to handle together.
Now, though, Marjorie had dissolved Pruitt Group to chase after him, and he was fighting alone. He was juggling the hunt for the mole with one hand while his partners bombarded him with increasingly aggressive messages with the other. It was enough to make his head split.
Mr. Sanchez, the project is ready to break ground. What about the funding?
Christian Sanchez, is a company your size really going to default?
Christian Sanchez, was all that power of yours really just Ms. Pruitt's doing? If I'd known, I would've partnered with her instead.
The way they addressed him shifted from respectful to dismissive, and then to outright contempt.
Christian had never been subjected to this kind of humiliation. He wanted nothing more than to crush every last one of them, make them vanish from Northgate City overnight. But the problem had to be solved first. He swallowed his fury and called Marjorie.
He would borrow some money from her. She had plenty, and she loved him so much she would never refuse.
He called five times. Every single one rang out unanswered.
The messages from his partners kept flooding in, and by now they had escalated to personal attacks.
Christian knew he couldn't afford to wait any longer. He dispatched his secretary to the auction venue to find Marjorie, and simultaneously dialed another business partner, a man named Abbott.
Christian still had some money of his own. If Abbott could lend him a bit more, it would at least be enough to plug the gap and keep the project moving.
The phone rang twice before it was picked up. Abbott's voice came through from the other end.
"Mr. Sanchez, what can I do for you?"
Unlike the barrage of insults from the others, Abbott's tone was eager to please, practically fawning. Christian found it soothing. His own voice softened considerably.
"I've got a project on my hands. Sixty-forty profit split. Interested?"
He didn't mention the cash flow crisis. He simply assumed that given how desperately Abbott had always tried to curry favor with him, this offer alone would be enough to have the man falling over himself to help.
After all, Abbott's company was an ant next to Sanchez Group.
And sure enough, the moment Christian finished speaking, Abbott scrambled to agree. "Absolutely, absolutely, Mr. Sanchez. Just say the word."
Even through the phone, Christian could practically see Abbott nodding his head like a bobblehead.
Half the tension drained from his chest. He was already telling himself that he could weather this storm alone, no help from Marjorie needed, when Abbott's voice came through again, tinged with surprise and hesitation. "Hold on, Mr. Sanchez. I think I might need to reconsider."
Before Christian could get a word in, Abbott hung up.
Christian stared at the screen, stunned. Before he could even process his anger, his assistant's panicked shout cut through the office: "Mr. Sanchez, this is bad! Check what's trending right now! Negative stories about you are everywhere. Sanchez Group stock just hit the limit down!"
