Chapter 72

Thanks to the capable PR team that worked under the Ford group, different media companies were gathered in one of the conference rooms of the company. They were eagerly waiting to get the scoop because the Ford group had got the media and everyone else looking their way.

The Ford group rarely found itself surrounded by negative controversies due to their chairman, Mr. Alexander Basil Ford: The man went high and low to maintain a straight character, not only in his personal life but he extended it to his company.

It is said that every employee got a complete background check in order to avoid circumstances that could cause grumbles around the company. This is the reason why Alex felt stupid after realizing that Christopher had survived five years without him knowing that he was a Beckett.

"Is Mr. Ford going to handle them?" asked one of the employees as she looked towards the media people sitting in the conference room.

"I don't think so, the was a briefing from Mr. Ford to the PR team earlier. I believe that the PR director would be doing the whole talking today" answered another employee

Looking at the room that was filled to the brim with media people, one could conclude that every media house in the country had been gathered.

Alex was in his office awaiting the outcome of everything. He had to turn the negative press from them before any more could come out.

As he sat there with his screen on and awaiting the stations to start airing the live press conference, he remembered the sleeping beauty home and realized that with the chaos going on, he had forgotten to check in with Dawson.

"Hello, Dawson? he said as soon as the phone got through

The call went on for about five more minutes with him inquiring about the Luna and whether the doctor had shown up.

Much to his comfort, Dawson informed him that the doctor was quite competent and that he was there and saw how she had handled the Luna.

Everything reported by Dawson made him feel a little less worried. Alex was suspicious of new faces because of everything that the Hunters had pulled over the years. He wanted to be conscious enough to protect his family.

Checking his wristwatch for the time, his look turned to a serious one: it was time for the press conference to begin. It was now or never, and he wasn't playing nice anymore.

Alex then picked up his phone and sent a text message, then place his phone back on the table.

On his screen, the company's PR chief, Mr. Caleb Wilson was addressing the media teams gathered in the conference room.

The issue had become personal with this particular project, so he had to stay away from the press conference.

The Press Conference.........

"The following are some of the materials used during the idea development stage of the project in question," said Mr. Caleb Wilson as he presented documents and charts that were used.

"The creative and planning team of Ford group worked on this particular project for a period of three months after the government had announced the project. The proposal was finalized three days before the final date set by the government, but we didn't get to hand it in.

Reasons why, I guess we all know that by now."

After his address, Mr. Caleb Wilson welcomed a few questions before Arnold would step in to address the media.

"Good evening, fellow media teams, my name is Agatha from Light media. To Mr. Wilson, Why didn't the Ford group sue or come out to oppose the Almond group three years ago when they discovered that their project had been stolen by them?"

After Agatha's question had been asked, all the present members of the media shook their heads in contentment because she had asked what they wanted to ask too.

Some of them echoed her question just so they could make it more clear to the Ford members that they needed the answer.

"Any other questions, please?" asked Mr. Wilson as he looked over them

"Yes, please". Said one gentleman dressed in a BNews channel jacket as he raised his hand.

Mr. Wilson looked over and, he was handed the microphone. "Hello, everyone. My name is Jacob from the Bnews channel. My question is If it is proved that the Almond group did indeed steal your proposal, what is the way forward?"

Another good question that got everyone whispering and assuming.

"Thank you all for the questions asked. To answer, the question, I would like to call Mr. Arnold Williams; the Executive Assistant of the President and Chairman of Ford group, Mr. Alexander Basil Ford"

"Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and our friends of the media. I would like to start with the last question, asked by Jacob of the BNews channel.

Last week, Mr. Ford went to the Almond group to speak with the Chairman of Almond group about the matters pertaining to the said project, and it was concluded that both companies would get a fifty percent share each," Arnold paused to look over the media

Each and everyone nodded because it sounded like a good way to conclude the whole confusion since one had worked on the project for three years and the other company had generated the idea.

"We thought that the matter had been handled, but much to our disappointment, the situation overturned when we got much more evidence, and that got Mr. Ford to go over to the Almond group again, but as you may know, the current situation happened. The Almond group's President Mr. Emmanuel Almond brought matters to the attention of the public.

Finally, to answer your question, Mr. Jacob, Mr. Ford is done playing nice. The Ford group asks that the Almond group return the entire project and eighty percent of all the profits made. Mr. Ford would also like to inform the Almond group that we are ready to sue if called for"

Arnold's statement caused an uproar in the conference room and among those that were watching live from wherever.