Stranger at My Door

CH06: Christian

Stranger at my door

CH06: Christian

Tuesday, Seattle WA

“Sale it!” I scream to Ross, my second in command, and walk away leaving her with my vice presidents. I walk away from the meeting as their murmurs fill the office. I pay them well enough to put up with my temper, and if they do not like it, they can find employment somewhere else. I look at the time and know that by now Ana probably has seen the tabloids; the only good thing about it is that her name has not been mentioned – yet.

I stand up, pace around the office as I dial Ana’s number. I stop at the bookcase and pick up the picture that tugs at my heart; it was taken a few months ago. I am carrying Christy, her face is scrunched up about to cry as paparazzi swarm all around taking pictures. It is not like I live in the public view; I am not an actor, a rock star or politician; I am a business man – why can’t they leave me, us, alone?

“Hello!” Ana sounds stressed, I guessed right she is not happy being papped, and she wants to cancel our date – not a chance.  Soon, I have reassured her that our date will not end up on the tabloids and my security team will be at hand.

“Andrea, arrange a private dining room, for two, at Marrakesh.” I tell her through the telecom.

“Two!... Uhmm … for Marrakesh, Sir?”

“Yes, it is a restaurant.” I push the off button and I turn to Taylor, “arrange tight security for it.” Taylor looks up at me in surprise; he damn well knows what ‘tight security’ means and he better deliver.

“We’ll be picking Anastasia up at six,” I say with finality; Taylor knows he has been dismissed and leaves my office.

The rest of the day is a blur of meetings with my financial team. By midday, I am in a meeting with my research and development team which is led by Shane Whitman, my vice-president of R&D. Before I enter the room, someone, I think it is an intern, explains that when he went skiing his phone ran out of power and that solar charging batteries pack should be considered. Whitman looks over and shakes his head; obviously the idea has no merit to him and he has turned it down.

The R&D unit is supposed to bring new ideas to the table. Their charter is unique within my organization, because rather than be focused on the merge and acquisition side of the business, I pay them to brainstorm on new technologies, applications and business developments. I walk in and at once the room falls silent, I take my seat, and the team starts with a presentation of graphs and statistics about solar energy.

Obviously they are aware of my renewal energy passion; it irritates me, I pay them to come up with fresh ideas, and nothing they are presenting appeals to me. Why do I pay bozos like these? There is a slide pitching a smart phone line for business men and I stop them, this is lunacy.

“Very much like an iPhone or perhaps a Galaxy? Surely you can do better than that.” I say flatly. Whitman is obviously disconcerted and my temper is very close to the surface. I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

Whitman has taken over the discussion and is presenting some idea or another, which has no value at all. I am about to end the meeting when I get a text from my mother, Grace. I look down and read my mother’s text instead of paying any mind to Whitman.

-          GTG: Good Morning, dear, I would like to visit with Christy sometime soon, once a week is way too infrequent. Also, do not forget your father’s surprise birthday party is this Saturday night. I think it will be too late for my grandbaby to be awake; if you could be here earlier so we can visit it will bring all us such joy. Oh, and if your lady friend is available we will love to meet her. Love you, your mother <send by Dragon from Dr. Trelawney iPhone>