“I'm stuck, okay?" Onyx confessed. Even he couldn't figure out why it took a nosedive.
“Are you messing with us?" someone accused. “Keith, say something!"
This accusation ignited Onyx's ire. "I didn't beg for your cash. When we were raking it in, where were the accusations then? Now that we're in the red, suddenly I'm a scammer. If Uncle Keith hadn't nudged me, I wouldn't have put in effort for you guys."
"What's that supposed to mean? You lose our cash; you owe us an explanation!" someone demanded.
“Onyx, got any tricks up your sleeve? We've sunk tens of millions here. We can't just let it vanish! You're the brains, think of something!" Keith's frustration was tangible. The thought of Losing millions weighed heavily on him.
Onyx persisted, “Uncle Keith, all we can do is sit tight."
“What?" Keith was so livid, he could've passed out.
“The fund Lilah has invested in shot up again! Can you believe it?
Now it's over a million!" someone shouted in excitement.
"What? I have to see this for myself."
"Yup, it's legit. And it's still climbing! I've recouped my previous losses."
“Lilah's a real ace. Wish we could make back what we lost with Onyx."
"She's talented! Still going up, even faster now!"
The people who chose Lilah were excited.
"I'm back in the green."
"Me too, finally."
The crowd erupted in cheers, and then someone chimed in sarcastically, “Remember someone saying they'd wash their hair upside down if Lilah's fund went up?"
That person immediately shut up, embarrassed.
"Onyx, look at Lilah go. She's the real deal, making moves without boasting. What about you? You've cost us a fortune."
“Janis is spot on. Some folks need a reality check, forgetting where they came from. Humility goes a long way."
Fuming at the insults, Onyx snapped back, "What's there to brag about?
Lilah only made you some pocket change. You think I enjoy leading you to success? You lot lack vision."
“It's your own fault you can't lead the family," someone said with a sneer.
"You..."
That was a sore spot for him and it always would be.