A throw away

I know business.

Takashi is not happy. The head -aches were getting stronger and it hurt like hell. His hands reached for his temples and massaged them. For a man of 28 he appeared older, worn out by time and stress. The digital clock read 9:45 AM and showed its red light at him.

The company was in a troubling state. Many of the share -holders had been at each other's throats. He had to act like the diplomat over several feuding nations. Petty feuds really so he had them under control. Until recently that is.

Takashi sighed. None of the jobs part, being CEO, has ever made sense to him. But it was in his father's last will. And he had no life plan then. What could a try cost him? His sanity it turned out. Those grey eyes of his wandered to the print of the city's sky line right across him, about 5 meters away. He stared in to space as those eyes lingered.

A ring on his desk telephone jerked him away from idleness and he grabbed to answer.

"Mr. Denver, someone from Greenwood hospital is asking to speak to you. She has not given a personal contact number and insists that it is urgent. Should I connect the call?"

It was Janice his secretary. She was just outside the room, through the thick solid doors of his office.

What was it about now? Last year his teenage cousin had managed to get involved in a mob bar fight and was admitted to a hospital. Needed someone to sign him out, someone who wouldn't tell. He called then Takashi drove an hour to get there and another 2 to get him home. The boy was more trouble than he was worth. But he was family. Takashi would help him again if need be. But the call was not about his rebellious cousin.

"It's all right. Put her through."

"Hello. Thank you for talking to me Mr. Denver."

"No problem at all Miss—"

"Oh I'm sorry. Havent introduced myself. This is Nurse Kyoko Tsuruga speaking."

"How may I help you Tsuruga-san?" The woman was a bit surprised to be addressed in a Japanese manner, by family name then honorific. It had been a long while since anyone had done that since she moved abroad.

"Yes well. We have a patient who had your company's number listed for emergency contacts. There is no name written for the patient. Which is odd, this cannot have passed our regulations. This patient had been missing. And may have-"

"What is it?"

"Broken out? He was admitted in the psych ward 5 years ago."

"Right. Do you have a name for who wrote my company's number?"

"Certainly. It says here. It was-Edward Denver."

"This man is my uncle. I would be happy to give you his personal contact."

"Thank you Mr. Denver. Let me just snatch paper and a pencil."

Takashi dictated and repeated it to the nurse for good measure. She dutifully wrote it down as the phone was pressed to her ear.

"Thank you for your time Mr. Denver."

"Have a good day then."-"And to you too."

The line was cut and Takashi was left to wonder. What the hell was that about? He added it to the mental list of things he had to ask his Uncle Ed. Since he was coming over to their house for a family dinner this evening he thought it would not be long until he got the answer.

For now, he had to stay alive and crawl through the war zone that was his company. Black strands of hair toppled over his forehead as he hung his head and sighed yet again. He held the lock and looked up at it. Oh he had forgotten to comb and wax his hair today. It was unknown to Takashi that his secretary had not recognized him at first sight and that she found him rather attractive with the tousled hair.

None of that mattered to him anyhow. Takashi was a serious driven businessman. He had no sense of romance. It was always work with him. His only past time was going to museums and art galleries. Which was not as often as he went to theatre and socialite events. The latter was actually inclined with work as well. Way back in college was his last girlfriend. Waaa-y back. And as he checked the stock market online, he wondered if he should try dating again? Maybe try online dating? No. That always takes a wrong turn. He assumed.

Takashi shook his head. He was at the office. He was going to have to work. The air-conditioning unit hummed and filled the room with cold air. The folders on his desk caught his attention. These were the plan proposals that were just made yesterday. He glanced through the pages and checked which had potential and needed only a little more revision. And stamped some with a big red REJECTED.

Suddenly he remembered. Right. He had a lunch meeting at some fancy restaurant. That would be at around noon. By 11:30 he had to be going it was some ride away. Lunch time always started a rush and some traffic. No way to go around it. Just have to deal with it and find the shortcuts leading to main roads.

Takashi wondered why in the last 5 years the only change in his life was a new secretary and a new car. He was leading a bleak unexciting life. The future had a lot more in store which would soon make things jump. But he didn't know that. So he glanced at the digital clock and got out of his chair. The pristine coat, he wore to lunch.

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