Chapter 280

EDWIN POV

The past twenty four hours had been a whirlwind.

Information was being thrown at me left and right, and it felt like I couldn't get a second to myself.

Kendrick had hundreds of people working for him and it seemed like all of them required something from me.

I couldn't take all of it. I was sick of answering a phone call or attending a random meeting that I knew nothing about.

I escaped to Kendrick's office when nobody was looking and took a seat at his desk. It was much quieter here and I was only surrounded by the grandness of his office.

Unease settled over me as I let my thoughts wander.

This is it. This is what I had always wanted.

I had finally taken control of the Busch empire. Obstacles like my cousin and uncle didn't stand in my way anymore.

Yet, as I scanned through the endless stacks of paperwork and reports, I couldn't shake the feeling of overwhelming dread that washed over me.

Taking over Kendrick's empire wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

The weight of all the responsibilities bore down on me like a suffocating blanket, and with each passing moment, I felt more and more out of my depth.

Despite my outward confidence, I was drowning in a sea of stress and doubt.

The phone on my desk rang, making me jump. I snapped out of my worries and with a sigh, I picked up the phone, dreading what awaited me on the other end of the line.

I couldn't even have five minutes to myself.

"Mr. Busch, this is Mrs. Jennings from the accounting department," the voice on the other end said, her tone strained. "We need your approval on several financial matters, but we can't seem to reach a consensus without your input."

I forced a smile, attempting to convey a sense of control that I didn't truly possess. "I'll look into it right away, Mrs. Jennings. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."

As I hung up the phone, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

The phone rang again, and I answered, "Hello?"

"Edwin, or uh Mr. Busch... this is Mark from the legal department," a voice said on the other end. "We have a situation that requires your immediate attention. There's a dispute over a contract with one of our major clients, and they're threatening legal action if we don't resolve it soon."

My heart sank at the news. Another crisis to add to the growing list of problems I was facing.

"I'll be right there," I replied, trying to sound confident despite the rising tide of panic within me.

Hanging up the phone, I searched the room for any sort of answer.

The truth was, I had no idea how to handle all of the issues currently plaguing the company.

Despite my best efforts to act as if I knew what was going on, it was becoming increasingly clear that I was in over my head.

It wasn't long before reports started flooding in from various departments, each detailing a new crisis or problem that demanded my immediate attention.

From plummeting stock prices to disgruntled employees, it seemed as though the entire company was on the brink of collapse.

After one problem was solved, another one needed attention. There wasn't a single second for me to catch my breath.

Frustration and panic gnawed at the edges of my composure as I struggled to keep up with the relentless onslaught of responsibilities.

It was then that I realized the harsh reality of my situation - I wasn't sure if I would be able to do this.

I had no idea how to navigate the treacherous waters of running such a massive company... no, an empire.

What was I thinking?

Why did I think that this would be a good idea without any preparation? Without any help?

Maybe if I had my father here with me, it would be much easier. But now my father was in prison, and I had a feeling he wouldn't be coming out for a long time.

I ran my hands through my hair, realizing just how stupid our plan had been.

I didn't want to lose my father, and now it seemed like that was the case.

This is what I wanted, but not like this.

I had been so consumed by my desire for power, so blinded by my ambition, that I hadn't stopped to consider the consequences of my actions.

And now, as I struggled to keep my head above water amidst the chaos that surrounded me, I couldn't help but wonder if it had all been worth it.

With a heavy heart and a sinking feeling of defeat, I knew I had no choice but to seek help.

There was only one person besides Kendrick who could help me, and I knew that he wouldn't want to speak to me right now.

But I didn't know what else to do.

Swallowing my pride, I picked up the phone on Kendrick's desk, steeling myself for the confrontation that awaited me.

As I dialed the number, I found myself taking a deep breath. This could go one of two ways. One, Lucas is disgusted that I'm calling him and hangs up. Or two, Lucas comes to my defense and takes all of this off my hands.

After a few rings, Lucas finally answered the call, his voice guarded and curt. "What do you want, Edwin?"

"Lucas, I need your help," I blurted out, my desperation seeping into my tone despite my efforts to remain composed. "I... I can't do this on my own. I'm drowning here, and I don't know what to do."

There was a tense silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I feared that Lucas would simply hang up on me.

But then, to my surprise, his tone softened ever so slightly. "What do you mean, you can't do this on your own?"

"I mean exactly that," I admitted, my voice trembling with a mixture of frustration and shame. "I've taken on more than I can handle, and I need someone to help me navigate this mess."

Lucas sighed and I could tell that he was trying to hold back from cursing me out. "You realize this is all your fault, right? If it weren't for your reckless actions, my father wouldn't be in the hospital right now."

I winced at his words, the weight of guilt settling heavily on my shoulders. He was right... all I had wanted was power, and now that I had it, I was completely overwhelmed by its magnitude.

"I know, Lucas," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen."

"You knew exactly what you were doing," Lucas said. "I don't even know if my father is going to survive this."

Lucas and I were silent for a moment as those words hung in the air.

Guilt ran through me, and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Was he going to help me?

Then, with a heavy sigh, he finally spoke.

"Fine," he said, his tone resigned. "I'll help you, but only because I refuse to let my father's company crumble because of your incompetence. He doesn't deserve anything that's happened to him, and I won't let you ruin anything else for our family."

I nodded, gratitude welling up within me. "Thank you, Lucas."