I generally hate summer mornings. But today was the worst morning in days for me. I had already been stressing about the big, fat recession for almost a month now and counting on my days as to when it was going to strike my company. The scale made me believe that. I knew it would come – perhaps harder than I could imagine. I was still rather unsure. But it finally kissed me... yes.
So, it's been almost a fortnight now that the value of our shares has been dropping fast. It was time now for me for regular blood pressure check-ups at Dr. Steve's. "You need to get rid of the blubber" – is what he said to me. Well honestly, I don't think at almost two hundred pounds I needed to care that much (also being a hundred and eighty-five in height) but yeah, the old man cares for me and he does want me lose weight. It was not until I mentioned about my stakes to him that he understood my worry. Anyways, why am I talking this shit? It's a week now.
Coming back, when I woke up at seven, Aly was already awake and was busy in the kitchen chores with the maid. I knew I had to get to office early and I had already woken up late (I had to reach by eight; an important meeting as I had mentioned the other night). Never mind, I slept at three the night before after coming back late and completing yesterday's diary.
I decided not to bother Aly. The past few days had been harsh on us. So was I on her, I could understand. I can't even recall when was the last time I had taken her to a dinner also. With the enterprises growing up and then the hit, I was badly busy and messed up.
As soon as I got up, I rushed in to the bath, got my teeth brushed, got two muffins from the fridge, dressed up, and collecting half a dozen of folders from my work-table and stuffing them into my bag, rushed out of the bedroom. First, I went in to Nancy's room. Realizing that she was still asleep because of the holiday, I decided not to sneak in and slowly closed the door behind me. I flighted downstairs and walked over to Aly in the kitchen. She was chopping some veggies while Martha was washing dishes at the sink. She gave me a sharp, impassive look as she saw me. She had already been asleep last night when I came back. "You okay, hon?", I asked her. She nodded lightly while never stopping on her errand. She didn't seem to be in any mood to talk. I kissed her on the forehead and then checked my watch. 7:29 – it read. Bidding her a goodbye, I rushed out and got seated in my car as the driver started pulling it out.
I was not that worried anyhow by the time I reached office. The meeting was in the Conference Room on the fifteenth floor. As my chauffeur dropped me off at the building entrance and drove away to park, I saw Adrian, my employee, in the lobby. He looked worried. He was sitting on a couch in the sitting area before the reception. I walked over to him and asked him if he was alright. "There has been something big, sir. They are not telling us".
"Big? What happened?"
"I don't—".
"Yes, yes. Relax", I patted gently on his shoulders.Then I walked up to the reception and asked Rachel if everything was alright. "Whatever it is, sir, it has been confined to the fifteenth floor. There was a maddening rush this morning but now there's silence". I was terribly worried now. I rushed to the elevator.
As I reached up, my secretary, Rosie, jog-trotted at me and told me that the meeting had started early, at seven. I gasped a little and looked at my watch. 7:54. So I wasn't six minutes early but almost an hour late. I was still amazed though. Being the boss, I should have been informed!
As mentioned by Rachel, the office really looked off. It seemed like there was no elan anymore. I asked Rosie what was it. And she did have the answer. "There has been another plummet, sir. And your officials in the Room say it is concerning". I was triggered now. 'Another plummet' and 'concerning'. I almost ran to the Conference Room right then. You finally got me, you got me, you—
YOU ARE READING
The Cathabella Diary | Novella
General FictionGENRE:- Literary Fiction/Philosophical When we are kids, our grandparents recite to us stories of fables and fantasies. But Martin Brown would recite to his grandson stories of his good old voyages across oceans around the world as he had been an ex...