ELENA
I saw the unimpressed looks and condemning eyes in front of me, but after working with TGF for more than four years, I was used to such reactions.
"Now let's not waste more of our precious time and get straight to the point. I have asked all of you to come here for discussing the long pending matters between us.
The court cases are an easy way to handle these situations for all of you but for them", I pointed at the group of people that now sat to the one side and away from the filthy rich ones in the centre of the hall. "it is the most difficult way as they don't have legal giants to back their cause."
I watched the smirks appearing on many faces.
"Then tell them to give up and draw back the cases they have filed against us and we all will be free from the trouble."
"And then we will not need to see you again!" Someone from the crowd added rudely.
But it took more than just a rude remark for Elena Bell to accept her defeat.
"How about you all pay the compensation for the losses these people have suffered because of your industries, and you actually start following the Green guidelines provided by the government?
Then not only you but none of us and our future generations will face any trouble?" I raised my straight brow at them.
"Miss Bell" I heard Mr Filler's voice. "Look, I understand your intention, and I appreciate your efforts of saving the climate, but you must understand our perspective too.
We all have invested billions of dollars in these projects. Many of us have taken enormous loans and outsider investments to fulfil our needs. These businesses are what our nation needs and are contributing to our boosting economy.
Do you want this whole empire to crumble down for a handful of people?"
He didn't sound angry, nor he was mocking me. He was just genuinely asking me a question, and the answer was not in his favour.
"Mr Filler, which economy you are talking about? Your industry runs on the blood and sweat of these people. The business giants like you locate your factory base in some small town or village to avoid the strict government rules.
None of you follows the safety standards, the guidelines for preventing pollution, and the basic rights of the natives of that town. You exploit their natural resources, and human resources to the point they are thrown out of their own homes.
If these people decide to go on even one week's strike then your empire would not only crumble but will also bury every one of you under its weight. Do you want that?"
I didn't care if my voice came louder and louder as I spoke.
"These people have no resources like you to present their pleads. And that is where TGF has to step in. We provide them with free legal guidance and lawyers. These lawyers are paid by TGF.
We are not a multi-billion dollar company to afford these expenses for years and years. And that is why I want you to discuss and find a middle ground where we all can be at a benefit." I again managed to calm down myself as I didn't want to trigger any of them and spoil the situation.
A woman whose name was too difficult for me to remember scoffed. "But we can afford that expense so why should we compromise Elena?"
My little finger twitched in irritation. "Miss Bell. It is Miss Bell for you!" I gritted through my teeth.
I could feel Steve shivering beside me as the air tensed. Joanna was trying to catch my gaze to tell me to calm down and that was why I kept avoiding looking her way.
"And the answer to your question is here." I signalled Steve with my head, and he understood what I wanted to say.
He rushed behind me and pulled down the charts I had prepared, working for hours, in these past two weeks. This plan must succeed, or all my daily ten hours of hard work would go in vain.
"I request you all to pay attention here ladies and gentlemen."
I took the pointer and began explaining a few mathematical equations to these dense-headed people.
"Mr Filler, TGF filed a case against your leather factory in the mid-west about six years ago. Since then you have spent this much amount on the team of lawyers, this amount on the legal documentation and generating fake certificates and permissions."
Mr Filler, who was patient until now, looked enraged by this.
"Miss Bell! Now you are crossing your limits. How dare you put up such stats about my company in public like this? I can sue you in the court!" He jumped to his feet, glaring at me angrily.
I matched his heated glare with my calm one. "No need to get all worked up, Mr Filler. Please sit down and let me explain.
By the way, you cannot sue me for using information that is already available in the public domain. I haven't breached your privacy or stolen these numbers from your company.
These numbers are available on the quarterly reports of your company on its official website. I just used my brain to simplify that data and get these numbers."
That left many faces hanging. Mr Filler didn't know what else to say, so he just sat down wordlessly.
"But we know such numbers already. What's the point in repeating the same?" Someone asked.
I sighed. How these people reached the top, I could never understand!
"Right but have your efficient finance team has given you this third number?" I pointed at the third column that I had prepared.
I smirked to see Mr Filler's eyes grow saucer-shaped, looking at that third number because it was greater than the first two numbers combined.
"Wh-what..." He mumbled in shock.
"This is the amount of money that you have LOST in these past six years, Mr Filler. This is the money you could have earned if you had diverted the manpower used in this case, the money and the resources you needed to use to not lose this case."
I turned to give a good look at that number before I asked, "Wouldn't you have bought your lost shares in the PN Industries with this money?"
I heard a few gasps from the crowd. And Mr Filler... his face looked as pale as a white paper.
Losing the shares in PN industries came as a big blow to his reputation in the business world. He had to save one of his factories and had no money to do that. And thus, he had to sell those shares at such a low price that the incident came as a humiliation for him.
He managed to silence the media about it, but the business world is too cruel. Nothing can keep hiding for a long here.
Everyone knew about it, but nobody dared to say it in open for fear of rivalry with Mr Filler, but I was not a part of his world and thus had nothing to fear.
"Now let's move to the next one. Oh yes! Miss-"
"Miss Bell!" The woman I was planning to target next stood up abruptly.
"Yes?"
"I... I think we should discuss this matter in private. We don't want to waste everyone's time right?"
Many heads nodded in agreement.
"But I just started. I have prepared such reports on everyone of you. Shouldn't we discuss and calculate how much money you will need to spend if you don't follow our conditions?"
"Miss Bell, I think she is right. We should discuss these things in private. I am sure we all want to find a middle ground for this problem."
I smirked inwardly in victory. I knew this was going to work. For a businessman, his greatness doesn't only depend on the profit he makes, but also on the status he builds for his brand.
And gathering them all to reveal their weaknesses was the best way to target both of these conditions. If the word about their losses leaked out of this hall, the values of their brands would have fallen down drastically in the market.
And thus, they must cooperate now in fear of TGF exposing this data in the media.
"Alright! Joanna, please note down the dates and the time carefully. I am sure none of our guests wants to waste more time in these private discussions. Right?"
"Yes, Boss!" Joanna's face lit up in happiness.
"Please don't forget to give the details of these meetings to Joanna, my colleague before you step out of that door. I don't want to get these meetings overlaped." I smiled sweetly before everyone stood up with displeasure.
"Wow Boss! You just rocked this morning! Oh my goodness!" I heard Steve gushing excitedly.
I only smiled his way before walking to the group of people who were only listening to everything in silence. They were the ones who approached TGF with their various pleas. They lived in different towns and parts of the country.
But TGF brought them together and helped them to understand their basic rights and how to fight legally for their protection.
They stood up as soon as they saw me approaching them.
"Miss Bell! Thank you! Thank you very much!! Without you, we don't know how long we would have kept fighting these legal battles without seeing any actual results." A man in his late fifties said gratefully.
Others agreed, nodding their heads with grateful smiles.
"You don't need to thank me. I am just doing my job!" I spend fifteen minutes with them before I headed to my office, which was on the third and uppermost floor of the building.
Entering my simple cabin that was full of small green plants, I closed the door behind me. I went to stand near the large window that looked out at the town's skyline.
And at a distance, my gaze fixated on the place where a factory was under construction.
Before my mind could run more in that direction, I heard a knock on the door before Steve entered inside.
"Boss, befoe these meetings you might need an important meeting to attend."
"What do you mean?" I asked him without turning to look his way.
"Devon Sanders is in Swinden now."
Steve left after giving that news. I stood rooted in my place, staring at that incomplete structure. And my brain began to weave the thoughts into a poem.
= = One thought on the mind, eyes on the goal
I am walking on a difficult road
The thorns, the stones, the turns and more
They are ready to rip my soul
Yet I'll not stop, not halt
My vision is greater than their force
Because I have one thought on the mind
and my eyes are on the goal
I will win the victory that can't be ignored! = =