Captivation: Want Nothing But You

News about the findings of the investigation of the Sullivan Group had proliferated through various media outlets. 

“According to reports released at eight o’clock this morning, the Sullivan Group is engaged in jerry-building, tax evasion, and bribery. Furthermore, there are problems in many of the company’s projects. The investigation team, together with Apliaria’s discipline inspection department, has already summoned the people in charge of the disputed projects. Meanwhile, the authorities have sent people to secure the ward where Victor Sullivan, CEO of the Sullivan Group, is presently confined. Until he is cleared for his involvement in the cases, he is not allowed to leave the ward and no one is allowed to visit him. When the market opened, the Sullivan Group’s share price fell to its lowest price ever. At 9:08, the Sullivan Group is facing risk across multiple project defaults. Financial experts are advising shareholders that the Sullivan Group is likely to hit limit-down today. This has triggered many shareholders to sell their shares in an attempt to retrieve the loss. For our part, we caution you that there are risks in the stock market, and so, prudence should be best considered when making investments.”

The news anchor concluded the report about the investigation of the Sullivan Group. The news had left many people flabbergasted. It was unthinkable that the Sullivan Group would go bankrupt. So, many people were discussing the challenges that the Sullivan Group would face, considering that the voting rate of bankruptcy could be as high as seventy-three percent. Dark clouds seemed to shroud the offices of the Sullivan Group People were walking in the corridors with their heads down. Others sat in their workstations in utter dejection.

That their company, the Sullivan Group, was under deep scrutiny made people feel crestfallen.

Moreover, they were afraid that if they said something out of line or strayed from the path, so to speak, they would be fodder for the investigations, getting themselves into trouble.

But with several people in the company, there could be one or two who would talk boldly about what they knew Someone passed by the meeting room and peeped through the door crack to see what was going on inside. 

“So, have you found anything?” asked a voice from behind the man. He also felt a hand patting him on the shoulder. His heart leaped and he immediately turned around to see who was behind him. 

“You scared me!” said the man, sighing relief seeing that he was a colleague. He glanced at the door of the meeting room and said, “Nah, I don’t know what they’re talking about. The voices were low and soft.” 

“Well, stop peeping” The colleague looked at where the man was looking and then looked away. 

“Aren’t you going to the coffee room? C’mon, let’s go.” 

He thought he heard something and stopped in his tracks immediately. The conversation inside the meeting room seemed to have stopped, too.

would be coming out

say something to his colleague when they ran into a member

will be like this for some time.” The

know when this

asked curiously when he saw what could be perceived as an unperturbed look on

else can

the meeting room. How long has Ivan talked to them? More than an hour, right? Besides, Mr. Sullivan is still in the hospital, practically

now the stock price of the Sullivan

disturbing. But then, what’s the point

do you think will happen to our company? Will it go bankrupt? Those

colleague could only shake his head. Before he could open his mouth, a

he said,

into the coffee room. He looked at the men up and down.

are you

something the matter? What made you come down to the