To Infinity and Beyond

Circus Monkeys

Mark's POV

"Selena, what kind of a trash report is this?" I slammed the documents on my secretary's desk, "I told you how important this was for our pitch next week, yet you sent me such careless mediocre work?"

"Mark, I proofread every detail, that's what the R&D Head claimed as the final version."

"You call this the final version? Is this project a fucking joke to you, Selena?"

"I..." She gulped, "I am sorry, I will check with the R&D team right away." She murmured and scurried out of her office. I finally gushed out a deep hot breath. You shouldn't have talked to her like that.

I picked up the report and trashed it in the bin before slamming the door of my office, oblivious of the fact that I had company. I didn't see Emma was already seated inside, perhaps waiting for me.

"Hey, Emma! Sorry, I didn't see you there." I took a couple of deep breathes before taking my seat and finally face her.

"Hi Mark, no worries. I wanted to talk to you about the Research and Development report. I think it ..."

"You think it's crap, I know too. I just gave Selena a piece of my mind. They will re-work it. I have it covered, don't worry."

"Wow. That's harsh. I was about to say, I think the R&D report had potential. We just need to add more supporting evidence to it from our prior projects.."

"Yes, agreed. And that should have been done before it reached our office. Not when the deadline is hanging on our heads" I raked my hand through my hair while letting out a frustrating growl, "God, how I hate incompetence!"

"Mark, relax! You are fretting over nothing. The deadline is a week away, and we still have a lot of time to polish..."

"No, we don't. I do not encourage lame behaviour in my team, Emma. Richmond Corp thrives on efficiency, you should know that more than me." I retorted, a bit too harshly, but I wasn't in a mood to back down. I had to make my point.

Emma's expression shifted. She opened her mouth, only to close it later. I gave her a couple of seconds to respond.

"Anything else?" I reiterated.

After a pang of silence, she finally muttered, "no. Nothing, it's okay, if you insist. Please send me the re-worked report whenever it is ready." I nodded, and opened the latest financial numbers on my laptop and started working on them. I didn't look back at Emma's face, I wasn't in the mood to feel guilty at the moment.

Observing my indifference, she eventually got up from her seat and nodded at me before leaving.

"Emma?"

"Huh?" She was almost at the door when she turned.

"I really think I won't be able to make it to your party this weekend. Mia has an exam and she would do better under my supervision. Please let Jake know." She narrowed her eyes at me but still didn't utter a word. I rambled a bit more about how behind Mia was in her studies at the moment, that's when I realised, Emma was now looking at me with a solemn expression on her face.

Truth being told, I wasn't really in the mood for another social get-together with my perfect friends and their perfect spouses. But, I couldn't express that aloud. I admired their marriages, but it got a bit overwhelming at times.

Mia did have an exam though, but I knew she was well-prepared for it already.

Emma's stern gaze was piercing my face. I realised I must say something before I make her angrier than she already was.