Comari Dawn

Part One: A New Dawn - Chapter Seven

The next week was more challenging and fulfilling than the previous two years at the company as I began to stretch out to take my new position. I helped reorganize the department which I'd recently been a part of, giving the team a new lead which they really deserved.

Sally had been more than a little flattered, but she quickly showed the competence which I was familiar with and quickly sorted out the mess which David had left behind. Her housecleaning had meant I'd had to approve several dismissals of people who'd done little other than to help David puff himself up.

While things were beginning to show some signs of stability on the personal front, I could quite easily see the storm clouds on the horizon as the world was starting to come to grips with what had been called Chimera. I was fully aware of what Chimera could result in, being a perfect example of the results, though it appeared the results weren't always the same.

Chimera's unpredictable results weren't the only thing which was causing the medical community to question everything they, up until now, had established as hard truths about viruses. It's virulence and long gestation period, more than three weeks, made it something which was almost impossible stop. A person could be carrying Chimera, be completely asymptomatic, whilst spreading it around without knowing they were doing it.

However, I really wasn't so much concerned about what the virus was doing to the medical community. I was more concerned on the effect Chimera was having on the financial systems which I was working with. I was having to work, increasingly long days as I worked to try and insulate the company from what I could see was coming. The markets were moving in a downward trajectory and there was little I personally could do to stem the tide of losses which were piling up.

Tracy, Amanda, Sally, Walter, and Simon were easily able too see the rising levels of stress which I was being forced to deal with as I worked hard to try and keep things from falling apart for us.

"Martin..." I distantly heard Simon's voice as I shuffled some more investments in the portfolio of the company almost a week and a half after I'd been given the position of CIO.

"Yes Simon? What can I do for you?" I answered without looking away from my lower left monitor. "I'm doing everything I can, but right now trying to rescue our finances from the markets is like watching a house on fire. You know what is going to happen, but there's nothing you can do to prevent it from happening."

"Yes, but you've been here since six this morning." He said, "Walter's also told me his daughter is more than a little displeased with your conduct."

I paused and looked across at Simon, "I know she's not happy, I've been working twelve-hour days and..."

"You have a cub Martin, and she needs your attention too." He said firmly. "I know things aren't improving the way we'd like them too, but you also need to take some time for her." He told me before stepping around my desk and taking my large hands in his. "Take this from me, go home, spend the afternoon with your cub. Walter and I can take care of things for the day, we aren't incompetent." He told me.

I considered what he'd said, and I had to admit since I'd become the CIO of the company I'd yet to take a day, or even an afternoon, off to spend time with Tracy. "Yes, I will admit I've been here most days, but under the current market volatility I really don't have much of an option." I told him, "However, I will take the rest of the day off if you want me to." I said before beginning the process of shutting down for the day.

"Yes, I insist Martin." He said before looking me straight in the eyes. "Martin, I don't want you to end up with the kind of relationship I have with David. I didn't spend enough time with him as a kid, and now I am reaping the fruits of my lack of presence with him." He told me with a regretful tone in his voice.