Sharon's Plight

Chapter 3

"Brring... brring!" rang the alarm hours later. "Oh, I so hate jetlag!" Sharon exclaimed. "I am so tired, I'd just rather stay in bed!!" Holding her forehead in pain, Sharon moaned, "I am still suffering from lack of sleep from the graduation party."

"What!" She quickly jumped out of bed. Sharon stretched out for the cell phone at the same time, turning off the alarm. "I am running late again. Forty-five minutes to the interview or meeting! What am doing!?"

Sharon rushed into the bathroom and got ready in fifteen minutes flat! She made a cup of coffee while looking for the chauffeur's card. "Where on earth did I drop this card? I need to call him." She searched through her scattered belongings around the room but did not find the card. Filled with frustration, Sharon reached for her phone thinking, "Lord, I don't know what is happening! Is this a sign that everything will go wrong? Please guide my steps and lead me on this path of your righteousness.

"Hello, can I get an Uber taxi?" called Sharon, ordering a taxi.

"Where would you like to be driven to?" came the accented voice from the other end of the line.

"I would like a taxi to Graceoak Oil and Gas, please."

"Where do I pick you up?" said the voice.

"Honestly, I do not know, let me check," replied Sharon, as she rushed outside to check for anything that showed the address.

The voice on the line said, "Is there an address posted outside the apartment building?" "Let me check around, okay... 7 Palgrave Road," offered Sharon.

"I will pick you up in five minutes," said the driver.

"Thank you," she muttered.

Picking up her bags, Sharon proceeded to the apartment door, locking it behind her, wondering what the driver or even the CEO will think of her. The taxi showed up precisely in five minutes. She quickly leapt into the cab. Three minutes early for the scheduled appointment, she walked through the revolving doors of Graceoak.

Once inside, Sharon found the building was not as attractive from the outside, but the inside was mind-blowing. The design was consistent with every current sustainability factor she had ever read from books. Picking up a pamphlet from a table nearby, Sharon learned that recycled materials were incorporated into every part of the building. Sharon saw ventilation fans and vents used in the building for its ventilation; many water fountains helping to provide hydration, which served to increase the productivity of employees within the offices.

Sharon felt gobsmacked by the variety of eco-friendly materials used in the overall construction of the office building. Wandering further in a daze, she observed PVC-free linoleum and water-based paints were well used throughout the building. There were carpets in the building made from wool from the Trust's flocks of Herdwick sheep; ventilation snouts on the roof, which had come from recycled beer cans; a combined heat and power plant provided the building with its main source of heat; and the pamphlet stated the building laid claim to having the most extensive grass roof in Houston.

The densely planted roof with alpine sedum mosses trapped most of the rainwater falling onto it to reduce the risk of flooding; the solar panels installed in the building supplied 80 percent of the power used for heating; furthermore, rainwater collected in an underground tank provided flushing toilets and any other water function.

Upon her approach to the reception, the chauffeur hurried towards her. "Miss O'Loan, good morning! Thank goodness! We were all anxious about you. I expected your call for a pickup. The Managing Director had, some minutes ago, instructed me to drive over to your apartment."

"Sorry," apologised Sharon. "I woke up jet-lagged and discovered I could not find the card you gave me yesterday."

"It's all right, Ms O'Loan. I am glad you are OK," assured the driver.