Are You Happy?

Chapter 2: "Are You Okay?"

"Father..." Roman whispered in a faint voice. His face turned pale as if a gust of wind had taken his breath away. His father ignored him and stood up shaking the new president's hand.

Hastings Company was having a meeting discussing the new president for the company. All the shareholders, current President, Robert Dex Hastings, and the Vice President, Roman Vincent Hastings were all there.

Roman had never doubted for a second that he would not be chosen. He had arrived all smiles ready to step up and claim the position.

He had been waiting for this day since he had started working. It was all a perfect dream, until his father announced someone else as president.

Roman was sitting down at the table with the shareholders and his father was standing at the podium shaking the new presidents hand with a wide smile on his face.

Roman's heart sank in his chest as he stared up at his father's gleaming face. His dream was crushed. His only way to freedom was gone. Anger filled his body as his thoughts raced in his mind.

He clinched his fist tightly trying to refrain himself from punching something or someone. He tried to hide his anger, but rage filled his pink eyes and hardened his face making him appear as though he could explode any moment.

He stood up from his chair with a piercing stare at his dad then quietly left the room. He went to the rooftop of the building and kicked and punched the side walls while screaming from the top of his lungs.

After a few minutes of exploding he just blankly stared at the view as tears ran down his face. A worker from the office was quietly watching him from the other side with his jaw open.

When Roman settled down, the worker walked over to him. "Are you... okay?" He asked in a hesitant voice. Roman turned his head to him and sighed as he put his hands in his pockets. "Are any of us okay?" He scoffed as more tears ran down his face.

"Excuse me?" The worker asked raising his eyebrows. Roman turned his head back to the view and lowered his eyes. "Do I look okay?" The worker looked him dead in the eye and said, "That's why I am asking you."

Roman quickly twisted his body towards the worker and screamed, "NO! I AM NOT OKAY!!". He then stomped away leaving the worker shaking and trembling.

He went back to his office and started working hoping to distract his mind from his raging emotions. Before he knew it, ten o'clock had come.

He groaned and rubbed his eyes as he stood up from his chair with a stretch. He was really dreading going home tonight. He decided to call his mom and tell her he was going to be working late.

Even though it was a lie, he knew if he went home he would do or say something recklessly to his father. Instead he went for a walk around the city to clear his mind.

The cold air filled his lungs making goosebumps appear across his body as he walked though the bustling streets. He gripped tightly to his coat pulling it closer to his body hoping to feel some warmth.

The more he walked the more tired he became. He started to pay less and less attention to his surroundings. Finally, he dropped his gaze to the floor and walked with his head low.

A few minutes passed by and he came across a water fountain. He looked up at it and watched the water shoot up into the sky then fall gracefully into the pool beneath it.