The End

Wednesday, 17th November 1993

"Did you hear the story of Consonni's wife, is it true?"

"Which one? There are many."

"The one telling she tried suicide because he betrayed her with a girl working here."

"So it is said. It's a while it's going on; first she moved to her parents in Canada because she couldn't withstand it anymore, then she came back to clarify but he refused even to meet her. At that point she fell into pieces, irreversibly."

"Poor woman."

"After all he is a powerful man here. He can have whatever he wants, including women."

"Do you know this girl giving him so much pleasure?"

"However a slut."

"Or more."

"But you'll see, it won't last long, he'll screw her as long as he likes, then he'll go hunting for something fresher. They say it's not the first time it happens. What envy."

"Have you ever seen her?"

"No, but they told me she likes not only sex, even power, exactly like him. First she succeeded to get her boss fired, then she took her place; now she's the unique commander of the finance department, she overtook even Elio, yet everyone knows he's the best here in Milan."

"Eh, but you know, only women have certain skills."

"And this girl never said no. They told me she had a sleazy love story even with the CEO, between slimy careerist they immediately understood each other."

"Maybe this bitch accepts to try even with me!"

"I could offer myself too. Besides they say she's a hot piece of tail."

"And what's her name?"

"I don't remember. Anyway when we'll go again upstairs we'll see her. In the summons of the meeting there was written she'll be present."

That was the last sentence I had to listen to in the break room, where I went to get a coffee before the start of the meeting.

Despite my close presence they kept talking as I wasn't there.

But they had seen my face, for sure.

And in a short time they'd have bitterly repented.

*****

With timely delay Miguel walked towards Mars room, inviting me to follow him.

Nothing impossible, the usual monthly meeting with the last new entries, summoned in Milan for a first training day. It was Miguel's habit to entertain the audience until lunchtime, dense minutes where he gave show of himself telling company's mission and many other beautiful things which most of those young guys would have forgotten as soon as they'd have left the royal building.

When I got into the room next to him my two friends felt bad, in a way as sudden as evident, too much.

"What's going on there? Why those faces?"

They still didn't know that the slimy careerist noticed everything, exactly like the ruthless woman accompanying him.

"Is your charming presence Miss Molinari?"

"Maybe they got disappointed, they were expecting more. Or they preferred to meet Mr. Consonni and consort."

"Marco and Antonella are in Dublin today, for you marketing and sales director. A fantastic couple, don't you think Giulia?"