Chapter 132
ASHTON
"Excuse me?" The strategy committee head asks, gaping at me as intensely as the rest of the members seated in the conference room. Father leans back with a hand under his chin and says nothing.
"I didn’t stutter, did I, Kopek? You heard me right. I need you guys to postpone the conference for at least two weeks till the storm blows over."
"But Mr. Asher, we’ve been planning this conference for months now. Invitations have been sent out. Expenses have been made. If we reschedule now, we might lose the interest and trust of potential investors." A middle-aged lady quips with eyebrows arched worriedly. The rest of the team nods in agreement with her.
She has a valid point but I can’t organize the conference in Asher’s stead with only a day’s notice. There’s a limit to what I can do while pretending to be my very competent brother. Asher is in no position to host the conference and I don’t want to be the reason it flops so I am sitting this one out and buying him time to get better.
"Losing the interest and trust of some potential investors will be inevitable at this trying time. We all need to accept that. However, it’s not smart to push through with the conference in light of the prevailing circumstances we find ourselves in. We will only be wasting money to get blasted by the media and the handful of guests that will deign to attend. The logical thing to do is to postpone the program. It will be understandable and when we do organize in two weeks’ time, it will be bigger and better."
"Asher"
I glance down at Josh and put my surging anger in check. He’s been acting smug all day.
"I agree with the points you’re making. I just don’t see why we have to reschedule the program in two weeks’ time. A few days should be fine. I vote three days." He gives me that smug grin again before turning to father. "Mr. chairman, I want to assure you that the rumors will blow over before you have your dinner tonight."
Father’s eyes light up.
"Yes, Mr. Rollins. I handled it."