RC.

Ch8 ........ H

Read slowly..

When I arrive at the top of the building, a security guard, as friendly as a prison door, asks me for my invitation card.

I hand it to him without taking offence. All day long I wondered whether I'd show up or not.

After spending all morning lying in bed, I get a grip of myself and ended up getting ready in the late afternoon.

No way was I going to let him see me dragging myself around, looking defeated. I put on some makeup and I slipped on a beautiful evening dress.

(He's going to regret what he's lost.)

I hope that when he sees me this evening he'll realise what he's lost. And that it hurts him as much as it hurts me.

I go to the roof, after showing the inside of my purse to a security guard. Actually, the security tonight is increased for a simple opening ceremony.

But I guess in that in the hi-tech field one is used to being careful.

There are quite a lot of people on the roof of the building. Several small groups of two to five people have already formed.

A man with a bow tie hands me a flute of champagne. He smiles at me politely, before presenting his tray to another guest.

I'm looking for a familiar person...

(I look for Mark.)

I stretch my neck out and scan the place in search of Mark. I'm sure he's invited. The contrary would be surprising.

Feeling a little alone, I decide to approach the edge and watch the big apple by night.

From here, seeing its imposing, lit buildings, it's even more impressive. It looks like the rumbling belly of an enormous monster...

Mark:"Tayla! You look stunning tonight!"

As I turn around, I'm happy to find Mark. A big smile illuminates his face.

T:"Mark! How are you?"

Mark:"Good and you ?"

T:"I'm okay."

T:"I've been looking for you, but with this crowd ... I'm glad you found me, I felt a bit lost!"

Mark:"It's normal. You'll soon get to know people. The business world isn't all that big, you know!"

He winks at me.

T:"On the contrary, I feel like a tiny ant in a very big anthill..."

Mark:"You just need to know the right people."

(Ask him what he knows about the evening.)

I look around for a second.

T:"This crowd is ... Do you know what it's about exactly?"

Mark:"Carter Corporation has acted as a mentor for the start-up that is inaugurating these premises today."

T:"Oh..."

It seems as if Carter is everywhere at once!

Mark:"Normally we should have visited their laboratory after Mr. Carter's speech but..."

We're interrupted by a lady who warmly greets Mark. I glance around through the crowd and see Jake standing by the entrance, his arms folded across his chest.

I get a sharp jolt to the heart. As if I was zapped by electricity.

(It's knowing that Carter must be here.)

If Jake is here, his boss must be here too... The prospect of running into him makes me feverish.

I move towards Jake. I see him glance at his watch several times and nervously look around.

He's frowning, looking tense.

T:"Hi, Jake."

His worried eyes meet with mine. He relaxes almost immediately.

Jake:"Hi Tayla, you ... er ... you look beautiful."

T:"I've come back from the dead!"

He gives me a faint smile, then his eyes scrutinise the people around as if he were watching oil on fire.

T:"Is something wrong? You look worried?"

A big man, in a black suit, approaches him. He whispers something in his ear, then he leaves as discreetly as he came.

Jake types something on his phone before looking back at me.

Jake:"There's a lot of people here tonight and it worries me. I don't like it."

Why worry...?

T:"You should relax a little, it's just an opening ceremony! What can go wrong?"

He worries me.

T:"What? Is there something to worry about?"

He stays quiet.

T:"Does it have anything to do with the car that was following us the other night?"

He glances again at his phone, arranges his earpiece and puts a hand on my shoulder.

Jake:"I have to ensure security with the rest of the team, Tayla. The speech is any minute now, go have a drink."

(In other words, kindly shut it.)

I pout as I watch him walk away. Mark is still in discussion with the lady. A man has joined them.

(Where's Ryan?)

Jake's anxiety doesn't bode well. I wonder where Ryan is. I can't see him anywhere. He's probably preparing to make a majestic entry before his speech...

And, no doubt, everyone will hang on his every word, with his magnificent sense of rhetoric.

I make my way through the crowd overhearing some conversations.

People are talking about marketing performance, financial investment, mergers and acquisitions or being successful in innovation.

(Exciting topics.)

There are undoubtedly very big business players present here today and a conversation with any one of them would be very interesting.

It's a little frustrating not knowing anyone. I wonder for an instant why Ryan asked me to come here...

I go and stand in a corner, folding my arms across my chest. The evening air is refreshing, making me shudder slightly.

Unless it's the expectation of seeing Ryan that's making me nervous...