In the Game of Love

Chapter 2

A gentle drizzle casts a thin veil over the idyllic scenery around me as I stroll through the cobbled pathway. My umbrella makes sure the moderate effort I put in today on my hair and makeup is not wasted. Good thing I was prepared, knowing that there is a decent chance of rainy weather in France at this time of the year.

I don't hate rain – surely I couldn't have survived London life for as long as I have done if I did – but this was not exactly the 'fun' holiday I was promised. Okay I guess no one used the word holiday. But still, it might have been a bit cheerier if it was sunny, I scowl to myself. At least Spurs won this last weekend. It was against bottom table Nottingham Forest, but I'll take it.

I take in my surroundings. It's a beautiful resort really, filled to the brim with old European charm. Quaint cottages with tiled roofs and walls clad with ivy just starting their new growth create picturesque clusters. The thoughtfully designed landscape is peppered with wildflowers meant to appear as if they were just there. The little wooden signs, worn with age, are still guiding visitors just as they have been doing for decades if not longer.

I pass by what looks to be a fenced garden, a soft floral bouquet of scents hitting my nose. 'Closed for Maintenance' a sign says in French. That's too bad. That would have been a nice spot to visit.

The conference space is housed in a large building with elegant facades and big windows. It would make a beautiful wedding venue for those who can afford it. Today though, the multi-room events center has been set up with projectors and tables to divide the conference attendees into small panels, so that the discussion can be more meaningful and focused within each group.

Or it could be a ploy to keep the riffraff, like me, away from their precious reality TV stars. Who knows.

Straightening my dress, the blue chiffon one, I take my seat among my colleagues. While quite a few people from my company are in attendance, there is only one other person here I've personally met before. We don't know each other too well, but it's still nice to see a familiar face. Acknowledging everyone at the table with small nods and smiles, I open my MacBook to do final preparations. There is a low hum of whispering all around me, a sense of anticipation filling the air. Do I hear murmur of potential celebrity sightings? Hmm, I don't see anyone in this section of the room at least.

The program starts and I try to give it my full attention. We listen to a talk that is happening in another room, but the presenter and his slides are being shown on the big screen for us. There is a tinge of anxiety in the back of my mind in anticipation of my presentation. But hey, I've done my prep work, and besides, most of these people will probably forget about me and my speech the moment I'm done.

Just focus on the recording camera, make the boss happy, and inch closer to that promotion.

The minutes tick by and soon it's my turn. I take a deep breath and gather my notes. Fumbling with the cable, I manage to connect my computer to the projector. I freeze with a microsecond of panic that I might be sharing something embarrassing, not sure what that would be even to be honest, but no, it's just my familiar slides on the screen.

With everything in place, I take one more steadying breath and smile at my audience.

'Imagine a world where our daily scroll through social media not only connects us but elevates our well-being. Now, ask yourself: In this digital age, where the lines between online and offline blur, how can we harness the power of social media to not only build bridges but to fortify the very foundation of our collective happiness?'

***

The day unfolds with a predictable rhythm of presentations and discussions. There are actually a lot more global brands here than I had anticipated, we heard from Nike, Pinterest, Patagonia, and EA among others. Some great thought-provoking insights were shared, but just as often there was the all-too-familiar corporate lip-service we have heard a hundred times before. It really is a microcosm of the broader discourse on social responsibility in the digital age – a space where genuine passion collides with the sometimes-formulaic nature of corporate commitments.