章 21: No Longer Hiding

Alan rose from his king-sized bed and strode into the kitchen, the smell of bacon and eggs wafting in the air. He had always loved cooking breakfast for his family, especially for his son, John. Alan had married John's mother when John was only five years old and she passed away when John was ten, he remarried after that and his second wife was now John's stepmother.

As Alan was preparing breakfast, he could hear the sound of shuffling footsteps coming down the stairs. He turned around to see John entering the kitchen, holding his head and wincing. Alan raised an eyebrow, knowing that his son had a wild night with his friends and was now suffering the consequences.

"Good morning, son," Alan said with a hint of sarcasm. "Looks like you had a wild night."

John groaned in response and took a seat at the table. Alan's wife, Sarah, walked in and joined them for breakfast. The conversation was stilted, as there was always a little tension between Sarah and John since Sarah wasn't John's biological mother.

Alan decided to steer the conversation in a different direction and said, "John, it's about time you stopped messing around and joined a business school. You need to be capable of taking over my company when I retire."

John looked up from his plate, surprised at his father's suggestion. "Really, dad? You think I'm ready for that?"

"Yes, I do," Alan said firmly. "But you need to start taking responsibility and learn the ropes. I can't have you running my company without proper training."

Sarah chimed in, "Your father is right, John. It's time for you to grow up and start thinking about your future."

John nodded, a determined look on his face. "I'll do it, dad. I'll join a business school and make you proud."

Alan smiled, pleased with his son's response. He knew that John had the potential to be a great business leader, he just needed the proper guidance and training. The rest of breakfast was filled with plans for John's future and Alan felt a sense of pride and contentment, knowing that his legacy was in good hands. Even though Alan knew that he was no way good person he always cherished his family and his son.

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Karen arrived at the meeting room at Portal Ltd, feeling intrigued and curious about the company that had reached out to her. As she entered the room, she was taken aback by the youthful appearance of the CEO of Portal Ltd. He couldn't have been older than eighteen. Nevertheless, Karen was determined to give the meeting a fair chance.

After the initial introductions, the young CEO, Alex, got straight to the point. He presented to Karen a crystal that he claimed could double any electricity that passed through it. He explained that the Electric Crystal had the potential to revolutionize the battery industry and could help Voltronix recover from its losses.

Alex proposed that the two companies collaborate and produce a battery that was not only more affordable to make but also sold at a lower price than any competitor. He presented Karen with a detailed plan that showed how the partnership could help Voltronix turn its fortunes around.

Karen was skeptical at first, but as Alex continued to explain the benefits of the Electric Crystal and the potential of the partnership, she began to see the potential. This was a chance for Voltronix to get back in the game and compete with companies like Tronc Co. and PowerPulse. Karen decided to take a chance and agreed to the partnership.

But she asked why? Is he selling away the Crystal when he can make a battery on his own in few years time?.

Alex answer "I have a beff with the Tronc's owner Alan Raven"

Karen leaned back in her chair, studying the young CEO of Portal Ltd. with newfound interest. "So, you have a beef with Alan Raven?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

"Yes," Alex replied, his jaw tightening. "Alan and I have a long history, and I'm done playing his games. I want to take him down, and partnering with Voltronix is the first step towards that goal."

Karen nodded slowly, taking in the gravity of Alex's words. It was rare for someone to speak so openly about their personal vendettas, especially in a business setting. But she could see the determination in Alex's eyes, and she couldn't deny the excitement she felt at the prospect of taking on Tronc Co. head on.

"I understand," she said. "But why come to us? Why not just partner with another company?"

Alex's expression softened, and he leaned forward. "Because I believe in Voltronix," he said. "I've been using your products for years, and I know that you're capable of producing high-quality batteries. Plus, I don't want to work with just any company - I want to work with a company that shares my passion for making a difference in the world."

Karen felt a warmth spread through her chest at Alex's words. She had always been proud of Voltronix's commitment to sustainability, and it was refreshing to hear someone else share that same passion.

"Okay," she said, offering Alex a small smile. "Let's do this. Let's bring Alan Raven down, and make a difference in the world at the same time."

And with that, the partnership between Voltronix and Portal Ltd. was officially formed, marking the start of a new chapter in their respective companies' histories.

After the recent visit to his father's grave, Alex felt a newfound sense of bravery stirring within him, and he made the determined decision to put an end to his hiding and face his challenges head-on.