Roses and Flames (ongoing)

1. Thea

"So I guess That's it. Ms. Carter, mail me the final report of the merger."

"It's not complete yet," she answered slowly.

I calmed myself before I asked Chloe Carter, the litigation team staff "How much more?"

"The conclusions are yet to be completed"

I closed my eyes and sighed. Tomorrow was the meeting we all had been working on for the past week and she hasn't completed it yet? "You better mail me before midnight. I've to check it before it's given tomorrow at the meeting."

"Yes, Ms. Smith"

"Good job everyone. Tomorrow's a big day. Prepare yourselves for the new CEO, and two more staff will join after the merge. That's all. Meeting's dispersed."

As I made my way out of the meeting room in a brisk walk, Nate, my assistant, called me from behind running to me.

"Ms. Smith. Mr. Anderson wants to see you," he said, panting.

I nodded at him handing over the file and the laptop I had in my hand and said before walking up to the elevator, "Well, keep this on my desk."

Getting on the elevator, I pressed the button to the top floor of the building where Mr. Anderson's office was.

Henry Anderson, CEO of Athena Group, where I'm working as the legal department head, is very fond of me. Unfortunately, he is going to step down officially tomorrow. His being fond of me had done good for me in many ways. Most of the department heads were in their thirties and above and I'm the only one who's in her late twenties. So my opinions and suggestions wouldn’t have gotten the same boost if not for Mr. Anderson's support.

I reached there and knocked on his door waiting for his reply.

"Yes, come in," he said.

"Mr. Anderson," I greeted him with a nod and he gestured to me to sit on the chair opposite to him. Smiling, he handed me an ivory-coloured shopper. Taking it from him, I peeked on the inside. It was a box and I couldn’t tell what was inside but it sure was some accessory from our brand.

"Oh. Thank you, Mr. Anderson. You didn’t have to." I said, with a polite smile.

Shaking his head once he said, "It's alright. It's a parting gift. I gave one to every department head. You guys have been working so much as it was a quick decision."

I nodded while he continued, "I called you for something else though. My grandson, Tyler, who's going to take over might face the same problems as you have to. Even if he is in his early thirties, he is going to get challenges as the position is a higher one. I would remain the chairman, but some of the board members are a bit on the edge, even though he proved himself deserving of the position. I need you to support him, those decisions which you feel are worth it."

"Don’t worry about that. I'll make sure of it." I said.

After having a small chat with him about tomorrow's preparations, I headed back to my office.

Letting out a weary sigh I settled back in my chair with a cup of coffee. It was a long, exhausting day and I just wanted to go home and read something. Something fictional. Reading has been my hobby since childhood, but soon it became my comfort zone. Escaping reality to the fictional world seemed to give more happiness than from the real world.

As I kept the coffee cup on the side I took my phone to see two messages waiting for my reply lighting up my phone screen.

The first one was by Emma. My best friend since middle school and now my flatmate. We planned on working in the same city and being flatmates when we were in middle school since she and I went on different paths for our university studies.