Slandered

Three months later …

John walked up to the CEO office door. He knocked on it slightly before hearing instruction to enter. He walked in and saw Sara standing with her back to the door looking out the window behind her desk. How could John not forgot the broken person he had to go pick up from Sean's mansion that day he disappeared. Claire had told him that he returned to Europe but he couldn't tell Sara that, she would exhaust everything at her disposal to find him. He sighed before speaking to the woman who seemed to ignore his existence. "Ma'am Ms. Camilla is on line 2." Sara turned around and nodded. Ever since that day she hadn't smiled, not even the first time it snowed, which the first snow always made her happy. She looked at John who hadn't left the office before coldly speaking, "is there something else?" John looked at the woman,' if I would've known she'd become the Ice Queen when he'd disappeared I would've begged him not to leave.' John thought as he sat down on of the chairs facing Sara, "she said I need to hear the conversation too." Sara promptly put the phone on speaker before the cheerful woman's voice rang out in the office, "Sara long time not see. How have you been. The profit from the factory you invested in, is doing amazing. You aren't working your self …"

"Emma" Sara quickly cut the woman off from her ranting. "I'm very busy can you please get to the point." Sara's bluntness caused Emma to cough before responding, " okay child before I tell you anything. I must warn you. You cannot get involved. This is a battle between the Henson's and him okay." Sara's eyes seemed to turn gentle hearing Emma mention the man but it was quickly replaced with coldness. "What's going on Emma" Emma audible sigh could be heard. Just turn on the tv child. Sara quickly reached over to grab the remote to the TV in her office and she heard Emma hang up.

After a series of local news the announcer was heard "In breaking news: Golden Business Consultants employee Sean McAlester is under investigation in the largest known scam operation. He is believed to have cheated out billions from companies including Dearborn Industries. Here is an interview with current Dearborn CEO Sebastian Nunez." The interview covered how Sean came in and "restructured a subsidiary" only to find that nothing had changed and the company was still failing when he left. John's eyes turned fire red at the interview that was slandering his boss's name. John didn't seem to notice the softness in Claire's eyes when the camera showed Sean walking out an office building and was immediately swarmed by reporters. He ignored all of them and quickly got into his car and drove away. The news report continued "no news on when the hearing will take place as Mr. McAlester has just returned from overseas." Sara turned off the tv before sitting down sighing. She turned to John, "what can we do?"

"Nothing ma'am, we know the accusations are false but when Dearborn speaks its a death certificate." Just then a woman barged into the office. It was no other than Samantha Hayes. She glared at Sara before speaking, "Now that he's on deaths door career wise he's mine. I can only save him from this and stay out of my way or I will destroy this little company you run and any job you take." She then turned and left. Sara looked at the door that has closed not losing her composure when suddenly her phone vibrated. She picked it up and tapped the notification. 'Official Dearborn Industries Twitter account: As of 11am Sebastian Nunez has been released from his duties as CEO. Our original CEO has returned and will hold press conference 9am tomorrow.' Sara was shocked at the notification m, because it was the first time they had stated anything publicly since they announced Sebastian as CEO. "Guess we have to wait until the press conference tomorrow." John looked at the same notification but was shocked for a different reason, "he's going public!!" John mumbled under his breath.

Meanwhile across the city …

The elder Mr. Hayes was in a room with Justin Henson and Marcos Henson, Justin's father. Mr. Hayes spoke first as they all saw the same message from Dearborn Industries. "Marcos it seems your man inside Dearborn is gone." Justin spoke up in response, "it doesn't matter. The entire business world is against Sean now. The old CEO has returned and is known to be ruthless against people that even try to cheat him out of money, and someone succeeded. Sean's future in the business world is ruined, which means he'll have no other choice to accept the marriage proposal you give him." Marcos then spoke up addressing his friend, "the elders meet tomorrow as Justin turned 25 a week ago. They'll see that Justin is the only future we have now and have no choice but to hand him the shares. Then we can do the cooperation with out fail." Mr. Hayes nodded slightly at the words puffing on a cigar. He responded after pondering the words, "the elders will surely watch the press conference tomorrow. And there is no other competition for this?" Marcos shook his head, "the only person we can't nail down is Kimberly Henson , my niece but she surely can't be a threat to this."

Mr.Hayes nodded before sighing, "the way you do this is unique but it's your way of doing things. Let's see the press conference tomorrow and see what happens." Suddenly everyone's phone chimed as another notification from Dearborn Industries Twitter came in: We are happy to announce the completed takeover of Barton Industries. Everyone's eyes in the room grew in size. This deal meant that Dearborn was alone on the top of the mountain. If Dearborn controlled a 1/4th of the worlds goods the Barton practically controlled another 1/4. This takeover meant that Dearborn practically controlled 1/2 of the worlds production and goods.

The next morning an air of ominous surround the Dearborn Industries Headquarters building. The news of the CEO returning and holding his first ever press conference was a big deal but just after announcing the press conference they announced they took over Barton Industries making the CEO, the unofficial king of business around the world. A document detailing the takeover was released from Dearborn's press department that stated that none of the Barton shareholders where receiving shares in Dearborn. It was a straight buyout of the current shareholders.

As the press began setting up inside the hall, many business people also showed up. Among the people that showed were dismissed CEO Sebastian, Samantha Hayes and Justin Henson. They were among the group that wanted to see the man who everyone would be currying favor with now. But the group of three who had concocted this scheme to ruin Sean were waiting to see how the CEO would lash out at Sean. Among the crowd was Sara who was more worried about Sean. John directed her to a seat reserved in the front and center. Shortly before 9am a woman wearing a white dress walked up to the podium.