Chapter 5 - The Meeting

Dominic found himself spending more and more time at bars with his old friends as the company's profits continually plummeted.

The whiskey flowed freely, and the laughs came easily, but underneath it all, Dominic was spiraling deeper into despair. One night, he sat at the bar nursing his drink when his friend Mike slid onto the stool next to him.

"Man, you look like hell," Mike said, signaling the bartender for another round. "Everything alright?"

Dominic sighed, rubbing his temples. "The company’s tanking, Mike. I don’t know what to do. Nicole always had the answers, and now... I just feel lost."

Mike clapped him on the back. "Hey, you’re not alone. We’re here for you. Why don’t you take a break from all that stress? It’s Friday night, let’s just have some fun."

They drank and joked, reminiscing about old times, avoiding the heavier topics that weighed on Dominic’s mind. A couple of girls tried to join them at the bar, but Dominic politely waved them off, still loyal to the memory of Nicole.

"Man, those girls were into you," Mike said, laughing.

"Yeah, well, I'm not really looking for that right now," Dominic replied, taking another sip. "Nicole's still... you know."

Mike nodded, understanding. "Yeah, I get it. But you gotta take care of yourself too, Dom. You’re looking pretty rough."

Dominic sighed again, staring into his glass. "I know. I’ve lost some weight, haven’t I? Can’t seem to eat much these days. My mind’s just... it’s like it’s not working right anymore."

"Why don’t you take some time off?" suggested Mike. "Go somewhere, clear your head. This stress is killing you, man."

"Can't," Dominic muttered. "If I leave, everything falls apart. The company's already on the edge of bankruptcy. I can’t afford to take a break."

Another friend, Pete, joined them, slapping Dominic on the back. "Come on, Dom! Let’s hit up the pool table. You need to get your mind off all this crap for a while."

Dominic managed a weak smile. "Yeah, alright. Maybe a few games will help."

They spent the next couple of hours playing pool, laughing, and joking like old times. But every time Dominic looked at his reflection in the bar mirror, he saw a man who was slowly falling apart. The weight of the company’s decline and Nicole’s absence bore heavily on him, but he did his best to hide it, at least for a few hours.

As the night wore on, Dominic’s friends grew more boisterous, but he found himself retreating into his thoughts. He stared at his phone, considering calling someone at the office, but then shoved it back into his pocket. Not tonight.

"Hey, Dominic," Pete called, "you with us, buddy?"

Dominic forced a smile. "Yeah, just thinking. You know, maybe you guys are right. I do need to take care of myself. Just... not sure how to do that anymore."

Mike leaned in, serious for a moment. "Start with small steps, Dom. Eat a little more, maybe lay off the booze a bit. We’ll help you through this. You’re not alone, man."

Dominic nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. Really."

They raised their glasses in a silent toast to better days ahead. For now, Dominic would take things one day at a time, surrounded by friends who cared, even if he couldn’t see a way out just yet.

As the night wound down, the bar started to empty. Dominic and his friends found themselves one of the few groups left. The bartender, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, walked over to them.

“You fellas need anything else?” she asked.

“Nah, we’re good, thanks,” Mike replied, glancing at Dominic. “Right, Dom?”

Dominic shook his head. “No, I’m good. Just thinking about heading home.”

The bartender nodded and walked away, giving them some space. Mike leaned closer to Dominic, lowering his voice.

“Listen, Dom, I know this is hard, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Maybe tomorrow you can come over for a barbecue. Get out of the house, be around some friends and family. What do you say?”

Dominic hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Yeah, maybe. That sounds nice. I think I need that.”

Pete chimed in, grinning. “It’s settled then. Tomorrow, our place. We’ll have some good food, good company. No business talk, just a good time.”

Dominic smiled, feeling a bit of warmth in his chest. “Thanks, guys. I’ll be there.”

They finished their drinks and headed out, each going their separate ways. As Dominic walked away, he felt a little lighter. Maybe, just maybe, things would start to get better. One day at a time.

Meanwhile, a commotion began at the other end of the bar. A stunning woman with long, dark hair and striking green eyes was sitting alone, nursing a glass of wine. She had a poised, elegant demeanor and wore a fitted black dress that highlighted her figure. A group of rowdy men, clearly drunk, had started harassing her.

“Come on, sweetheart, just tell us your name,” one of the men slurred, leaning too close.

“Leave me alone,” she said firmly, trying to ignore them.

Another man grabbed her arm. “Don’t be like that. We just wanna have some fun.”

The woman pulled her arm away, her eyes flashing with anger. “I said, leave me alone!”

Mike and Pete, noticing the situation, stopped their game and walked over. “Hey, back off,” Mike said, stepping between the woman and the men. “She asked you to leave her alone.”

The leader of the group sneered. “And who the hell are you?”

“Just guys who don’t like seeing jerks harass women,” Pete added, crossing his arms.

The man shoved Mike. “Mind your own business.”

Mike stood his ground. “This is our business now. Leave her alone.”

The situation escalated quickly. The men started yelling, pushing, and shoving. Chairs toppled over, and drinks spilled. The bar's atmosphere shifted from relaxed to tense in an instant.

Dominic, hearing the commotion, looked over and saw his friends in the middle of a heated argument. As he got closer, he noticed the woman they were defending. The woman’s eyes widened in shock when she saw him.

Dominic stepped between his friends and the rowdy men, his presence momentarily silencing the chaos. He turned to the woman, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?"

Before she could respond, one of the drunk men sneered, "Oh, so now we got a hero here. Who the hell do you think you are?"

Dominic glared at the man, his voice steady but firm. "I'm someone who's not going to let you harass her."

The tension in the bar was palpable as the confrontation continued. The rowdy men were clearly spoiling for a fight, but Dominic, Mike, and Pete stood their ground, ready to protect the woman.

The argument grew louder, drawing the attention of the remaining patrons. The bartender quickly called for security, but before they could arrive, the situation reached a boiling point. The leader of the group took a swing at Mike, and all hell broke loose.

---

The next day.

Laura entered Dominic's office, her expression serious. "Mr. Sandford, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are in the meeting room waiting for you."

Dominic’s heart sank. He knew this meeting was inevitable, but the timing couldn’t be worse. The company’s profits had been steadily declining, and he dreaded facing Nicole’s parents with the grim news. He took a deep breath and stood up, straightening his tie.

"Thanks, Laura," he said, trying to sound composed. "I'll be there in a minute."

As he approached the meeting room, he could feel his anxiety building. Pushing the door open, he was stunned to see not only Michael and Linda Henderson but also a striking woman who looked somewhat familiar.

Michael Henderson stood up first, his face a mixture of concern and sadness. "Dominic, we understand what you're going through. We're grieving too; losing Nicole has been... devastating. But we need to talk about the company's situation."

Dominic nodded, his throat tight. "I know. Things have been tough, and I appreciate your understanding."

Linda Henderson gave Dominic a sympathetic look. "We know it's not easy for you, Dominic. You've been thrown into a difficult position. But we want you to know that we're here to support you."

Dominic was about to respond when the woman stepped forward, her demeanor confident but kind. "Hello, Dominic. I'm Natalie Mills."

Dominic blinked, trying to place her face.

Natalie smiled warmly, though her eyes showed genuine sadness. "We met the other night at the bar. You and your friends helped me out of a sticky situation."

Recognition dawned on Dominic’s face, but his expression remained guarded. "Oh yes, I think I remember that."

Natalie continued, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. "It's quite the coincidence, really. Almost feels like destiny. Nicole was my childhood best friend, and I owe it to her to support you during this tough time. Her loss has been incredibly hard on all of us."

Hearing Nicole’s name made Dominic feel like he was being pulled underwater, the weight of his grief pressing down on him even harder. He forced himself to maintain composure, though inside, he felt like he was drowning.

Michael stepped in. "Natalie comes from a very influential family. She's been studying in London since high school and has recently returned to Everglow. She's offering a partnership to help stabilize the company."

Linda added, "Natalie is incredibly capable, Dominic. Her family has significant resources and connections that could be invaluable to us."

Dominic’s expression hardened slightly. He had seen numerous partnerships fail in recent months, each one a crushing blow to his dwindling hope. He wasn’t keen on yet another proposal, but the fact that this offer came from someone who was close to Nicole gave him pause.

Natalie leaned forward, her demeanor unwavering but her voice soft. "Dominic, I know you're facing a lot right now. I have a business proposal that I believe could turn things around for Henderson Industries. My family’s resources and our connections could open up new opportunities and stabilize the company financially."

Dominic listened, his expression neutral. "Alright, let's hear it."

Natalie began outlining her proposal, detailing how her family's investment could provide the capital needed to innovate and expand the company's product line. She spoke with a mixture of passion and professionalism, clearly determined to make a difference. As she spoke, her genuine love and sympathy for Nicole shone through.

"Nicole was like a sister to me. Losing her... it's been devastating. But I believe we can honor her memory by ensuring her company thrives. This proposal is a way to do that, and also a way for me to repay a part of the kindness she always showed me."

Dominic nodded, though his demeanor remained somewhat aloof. "I appreciate your input and the effort you've put into this, Natalie. It's a solid proposal."

Michael leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. "Dominic, we trust you. You've been doing your best under the circumstances, but it's time to accept help. We're all in this together."

Dominic took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Alright. Let's move forward with this. We'll work out the details and see how we can implement these changes."

Natalie offered a soft, genuine smile. "Thank you, Dominic. I know this is just the beginning, but we'll get through this. For Nicole."

Dominic nodded curtly. "We’ll see."

---

As Dominic walked back to his office, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Maybe, just maybe, things would start to turn around. But he knew this was only the beginning of a long and challenging journey, and he wasn’t sure if he could trust Natalie just yet.

The next few days were a whirlwind of meetings and planning sessions. Natalie threw herself into the work with a dedication that impressed even the most skeptical members of the team. She brought fresh ideas, leveraging her family's vast network to open doors that had been previously shut.

Dominic watched her from a distance, still wary but beginning to see the potential in her proposals. He spent long hours poring over the details, meeting with financial advisors, and trying to reconcile his grief with the pressing need to save Henderson Industries.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, Dominic found himself alone in Nicole’s office. Her personal items were still scattered around, a painful reminder of her absence. He picked up a photo of them from their wedding day, the joy in their faces almost unbearable to look at now.

There was a knock on the door, and Natalie stepped in. She paused, taking in the sight of Dominic holding the photo. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude."

Dominic set the photo down, his face hardening. "What is it?"

Natalie hesitated, then walked over to the desk. "I just wanted to check in and see how you're holding up. I know this must be incredibly difficult for you."

Dominic nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

Natalie continued, her voice soft. "Nicole was an amazing person. She had such a bright spirit and a kind heart. I miss her every day."

Dominic’s defenses started to crumble slightly. "Yeah. She was everything to me."

Natalie sat down, her expression earnest. "We’re going to make this work, Dominic. For her. She would want us to."

Dominic took a deep breath, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Alright, Natalie. Let's do this. For Nicole."