Take Down Every News

Jacob Ruben stood in front of a polished door. On the door was a gold plated inscription of the word 'Chairman'. Behind the door, there was someone he dreaded meeting up with even at crucial moments. Someone who gave him the chills even as he was the almighty president of the Ruben Corporations. Someone he literally feared the most at his age. The only person he reported to accordingly without being able to showcase any sort of domineering attitude.

His father!

He clenched his fists as he cursed under his breath. There was a dire issue at hand that put him in such dilemma of meeting the old man, because why else would he be summoned? He couldn't help but use swear words at whoever irked up the issue that resulted to this... even promising to deal with the said person if he gets to find out who.

Three minutes or more has passed since he began standing in front of the door, fixated like a statue and receiving constant stares from the innocent secretary who couldn't help but pity him. The collar of the white long sleeved shirt beneath his coat was already drenched in sweat and his expression switched between anger and nervousness.

After a while, he took in a long drag of air and eventually manned up, taking hold of the door's golden knob and twisting it to get in.

A luxurious interior came into sight as he walked into the tiled floor office which had the size of a two. A large sofa was near the wall which was receiving the ray of the early sun emitting through the window panes. Ahead of him, he could see a desk harboring only a laptop with two receiving chairs facing the entrance. Behind the desk was a mobile chair rolled around with the back facing his direction.

And that was where the nervousness came lurking in again...

...for he knew just who was behind the chair.

Atop, there was a flat screen TV presently on and revealing a news which was now a hot topic in the country. The news being broadcasted by a certain media organization was the one regarding his younger brother's hospitalization. It was obvious that the person behind the chair had his senses keen on the news being showcased so he decided not to reveal his presence just yet.

"What kept you so long?"

His presence was already discerned by the person sitting behind the chair and a question was thrown at him with a husky voice. Inwardly, he prayed the person wouldn't turn around...

...but his prayer instantly went unanswered before he could complete it as the person immediately did a U-turn with the mobile chair. An older version of his face now gazed at him with an aloof expression. He wasn't scared, just a little fazed as he couldn't handle the calm but cold glare being directed at him.

"I– I had something doing," he finally let out, nervously, while trying to gain a bit of composure in front of the aloof old man.

Silence ensued for what seems like a minute before a reply came out. "What is this I hear about your brother?" the old man finally asked.

He knew this was why he was summoned, obviously. Anything crucial, especially one that had to deal with the family name, was the only reason why the old man would always want to meet him in person.

"Uhm... it's just a minor problem..."

"Hmph, just a minor problem," the old man reiterated his words; his voice entirely calm but distinct. "Then why is it on air?"

The air-conditioned filter immediately added up to the bit of chill he felt in his body. Or maybe it was just the ongoing cold season doing it's thing. But, what was he going to say to the old man? What reply was he going to give out? He had no concrete answer to the question but he couldn't avoid it nevertheless.

"I can't quite say for sure how it happened, but my best guess is that there's someone involved in it. Someone from the inside,"

The old man put a finger above his lips as he rested his elbow on the desk, his eyes not attempting to tear away from the man standing in front of him. "Have a seat." he eventually told the man who seemed entirely surprised by his statement.

Jacob immediately discarded the surprise on his face and pulled out one of the receiving seats before sitting down, patiently waiting for the old man's next statement.

"So, what move have you made regarding the issue?"

He began a full detailed explanation about the situation. "Contacts with the top media houses in the whole country, especially the ones here in this city, has been made and strict measures has been taken to ensure they take down every news about it. They promised to compile with it except they wish for a legal battle. So, by tomorrow, we should be expecting a wrap up of the topic.

As for the issue about who leaked the information to the public, we haven't made any progress yet. For now, we only know it was written by an anonymous source. To trace the IP address of the user, it has been handed over to John's company to make in-depth findings. Soon, we'll get the result."

The old man nodded his head in approval. "Very well," he remarked. "But make sure this doesn't happen again,"

"Be rest assured that I will try to put up stricter measures to ensure such doesn't happen again."

"Hmph."

.....

"Why would the director do such?" Matthew sounded annoyed as he lamented while standing in front of Ryan's desk. His hands were folded akimbo as an invisible steam exuded his body.

"Didn't I already tell you yesterday that there was something tricky about the news? What then are you so upset about?" Ryan spoke without looking at him, his elbow leaning on the table as his hand went up with two fingers rubbing against each other.

"I only wish he was getting annoyed about something relevant, that sure would have been nice," From beside both men, Megan chipped in while casting a sneer at Matthew.

"What's my business got to do with you, Meg?" Matthew questioned the lady, intentionally calling her 'Meg' to infuriate her.

The lady ignored him and faced Ryan. "Is there any reason behind the director's decision?"

Ryan tilted his face to her direction, uncertainty clear on his face. "I don't know,"

Mathew suddenly snapped. "Or could it be the hand of the Rubens?"

"A wild guess, but every possibility aiming at it." Ryan stated, picking up the styrofoam cup of coffee which he had requested Matthew to get earlier before he went to the director's office. "You see, Matthew, I was right when I said there was an insider leaking out information about the man's health state. Isn't it getting obvious right now?"

Matthew scoffed. "Yeah, yeah. Stop acting like you're all-knowing,"

Ryan stared at him with a smug smile escaping his lips. "At least I know better," He took up the cup to his lip and gulped down a decent content before putting it back down. "And what hospital was he admitted to again?"

"Linken Hospital?"

"Say no more..." He waved Matthew off without buttressing on the point.

Linken Hospital was actually a private hospital in the city with the strictest of security. If one wanted to keep a medical issue a secret, it was advisable to go the hospital and that was what he wanted Matthew to realize.

"But, the public... how will they react to it? Surely, we'll need to take down the news from our site too, right? They will definitely throw a fit when all these happens, that I believe," Megan expressed her worry about the situation.

"The issue seems kind of elusive, to be honest. But we have no other choice, do we? We don't really have a say concerning the situation so we just have to watch as everything unfolds." Ryan commented. "Besides, we can always make use of the PR* to make them see the good side of things whereas there isn't,"

Megan replied. "PR alone can't suppress any kind of reaction they would showcase, you know? Let's just hope the issue doesn't escalate to the point of making use of the PR."

Mathew traced a line on his brows ad he thought of something. "If we're going to have to take down the news about it, then there's a possibility we're not the only organization affected,"

Ryan nodded his head in understanding of Matthew's reasonable comment. There was truly a possibility that other media organizations were going to experience the same ordeal as them. But how will they handle the public's supposed reaction when they find out? There was bound to be a negative effect on this one move.

"And things might worsen if every media organization takes down the news at the same time," Ryan added to Matthew's point.

The other two sighed as they were now seeing the matter in a more difficult limelight. If such disaster happens, then their works for tomorrow would greatly be affected.

"Be ready for a mind-stressing show tomorrow,"