Diana

11

At work everything was quiet all week. In Diana's personal life, however, things were different.

Although they talked and saw each other every day, Jason and Diana never seemed to be left alone to speak privately. Jason avoided going to her apartment again. He seemed anxious every time Diana offered to go upstairs so they could watch a movie or eat together. He preferred to eat together, but in Jenny's restaurant. He always invoked other things to do when Diana insisted, and he would quickly leave afterwards.

Diana tried not to look like a possessive girlfriend and preferred to give him space. Maybe that's what he needed, she thought.

On Friday morning, as she entered the company's doors, Lucy approached her.

"I have news for you. Are we talking about it at lunch?"

"Sure."

Diana goes on alert. Had something happened? Had Lucy found any useful information?

She could feel the time moving in slow motion until lunch time. At 1 o'clock on the dot, she snatched Lucy from her reception chair and took her to the kitchen, to a secluded table in the corner. She had already arranged the plates with food for both of them so that they would not bother with anything other than the discussion they were going to have.

"Oh, but I know you're hungry, no kidding," Lucy said with a smile.

"I am. For information, in particular," Diana said with a smiled. "So, what do you have for me?"

"It looks like Smith bought a company with the same profile as ours in California. As far as I can tell, he wants to merge. The process is already underway and will be completed by the end of next week. Which means Smith will be here to announce his great glory next Monday."

The first thing Diana did when she got back to her desk, was to create a new group on her messaging app, in which she introduced Jenny, Andy and Jason so that she wouldn't waste her time giving each one of them a message. And written.

In an hour in my apartment. Mandatory attendance.

She finished the work plan for next week, packed her things and left. At the reception desk, she stopped for Lucy.

"Lucy, I have to leave early. If anyone asks..."

"Don't worry, I'll have your back."

"Thank you, Lucy. You are my guardian angel in this company. "

"Angel is my middle name." She put a thin file in the bag that Diana hadn't been able to close yet and winked at her. "Now go where you need to," she said and pushed Diana towards the entrance door.

Diana didn't have to be told twice. She got in the car and floored the pedal.

Once at the restaurant, she parked her car with a creak like she just ended a rally. Jason and Jenny were already there and headed for her as soon as they saw her enter the restaurant.

"Are you ok? Did something happen?" Jason asked, examining her from head to toe to make sure she was whole.

"Not here. Let's go upstairs."

Andy was already waiting for her at the door of her apartment. All four of them entered the apartment, and all their attention was on her.

"So?" Andy asked.

"Smith just bought a company in California with the same field of activity as the one I'm working for," she said, rummaging through her bag. "Lucy made me a copy of the documents found on the server." She handed the file to Jason. "He will merge the two companies. The papers will be ready by the end of next week. This means that he will come to brag in the company next Monday. But he can come back anytime. From Friday evening until Monday morning, he has enough time to do so. It's just that no one knows exactly when. So, we'll have to be alert."