Through your eyes

Elliot

Before dinner, I disappeared to the upper balcony to get a breather. After a long work day, I really craved a quiet minute. Also, after that weird interaction with Jannah I needed to get my head straight. So I stood there watching the people below and noticed how segregated everything was, students on one side and then everyone else. Hopeful students went to the people they admired only to be shut down. Only to be looked down upon. It's ironic how they are treated like intruders when this event is for them. It reminded me of when I was in school and even in the early years of Echo. How no one took me seriously.

I feel guilty because I was part of that group. I was standing on the side of everyone else. Unapproachable. Unavailable. Not giving them a chance. It's easy to forget that this is university event, with the glitz and glamour, the exclusivity like you're part of a special club. But really this evening is about the students, for them.

I'm going to make sure of that.

...
After dinner people are more relaxed and chatting away. I'm pleased when a few students come up to me to ask me on ideas. Dex, a computer tech undergraduate approached me. I could tell he wanted to say something and before he could change his mind I introduced myself. It's been half an hour of non-stop back and forth and I'm not bored at all. The software ideas this kid has are incredible, he could give my creative department a run for their money. I give him my office business card and ask him to give me a ring if he wants. Honestly he could go anywhere with ideas like that but I want him at Echo. And whilst there were a few ladies with flirty invitations, I've met quite a few students who I've had intellectually stimulating conversations with. These kids are passionate and the excitement in their eyes, this hunger for their work is inspiring. I am surprised I'm enjoying myself, the evening has become interesting.

I get a call from Adam. Since he knows my schedule and doesn't call me at events like this, it must be urgent. I excuse myself and walk through corridor back to the upper balcony. It is loud up here but I spotted French doors the open to an outdoor area earlier which I make my way through. The cool breeze feels nice and I look over the meticulously groomed gardens. I allow myself a minute of peace before I return Adam's call.

"Evening Elliot, Sereco wants the proposal Echo have drafted for the Games. Their CEO Ms Adeko wants to meet tomorrow for lunch."

I sigh, this is a deal we've been working on for months. I know we've got most of it sorted, my employees have stayed overtime to get the proposals ready. But of course they would want to spring this on us, see us scramble. Unbeknownst to them we're always prepared.

"Do you want me to call a meeting with the departments heads?" Adam asks when I don't reply.

It's Friday, everyone has gotten of work for the weekend. And whilst I pay my staff well enough to be on call, and have called them up in the past, they have worked incredibly hard these last few months and deserve some time off. Still I'll have to call strategy lead for some details, but I hope Harjas won't mind.

"No Adam, I'll call Harjas myself. Thanks for letting me know. Email me the outlines, I'll take it from there. It's Friday, go have some fun."

"Okay, I'll have my phone on me if you need me."

"Thanks Adam".

It's 10pm so I guess it's a reasonable time to take my leave. I'll have to go home, read outlines, organise a proposal file and prepare my pitch for tomorrow. Hopefully Harjas will be able to brief me on most of it.

I unbutton my tux jacket and rest my elbows over the balcony. I'm positive we'll do well tomorrow, our proposal is advanced, goes above and beyond . I'm confident we got this in the bag. But if Sereco don't choose us then... i guess it wasn't meant to be. Huh who would've thought? There was I time I wouldn't take no as an answer. I would not let a client slip from our hands. I would fear the failure. The insurmountable pressure on my shoulders to ensure we deliver. To prove myself. But I don't feel any of that now. Echo is doing great, and yeah we will do better with this deal but if not we'll still be doing great. Weird how the more money you make the more it loses its value.

There's a click of heels behind me on the tiled balcony floor.

Jannah's eyes widen in surprise "Oh... I didn't know anyone was out here, I'll just go..." she points back inside hesitantly.

"It's fine, I'm just about to go anyway" I say, I needed to leave like 5 minutes ago.

Still I let myself run my eyes over the gardens again, savouring the view with the purple night sky. I sense Jannah stop a couple feet away also leaning on balcony. I steal a glance at her and see her eyes close as she takes a deep breath, hold it for 3 seconds and then let it out. Before she can catch me I turn my head back to the gardens.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier". I'm still looking at the gardens, I don't want to see if there's discomfort in her eyes. It will only make me feel more ashamed.

"What do you mean?" She says hesitantly, as if she wants me to explain myself.

"What I said earlier sounded inappropriate and I didn't mean for it to sound that way, I was just being genuine." I can feel her staring a laser into my cheek.

I finally turn my head and make eye contact with those pretty brown eyes. She looks confused.

"I was happy to see you."

"Oh" is the only response I get. A rosy blush warms her cheeks and it's so pretty, I want to keep it there. I think I might have embarrassed her again. Oh God, I'm being honest and it still sounds flirty. If I said this to my mum, even my friends it would be totally fine. Guess I'm not used to talking to a girl I'm not related to.

I clear my throat. "I think I'm digging myself a deeper hole" I say on a sigh.