TIED TO YOU

CHARLES

The files landed roughly on the oak table of the meeting room, my forefinger splitting the silence as I rhythmically tapped the table. Twelve crooked oldies spread across the expanse of the meeting room, their lips shut, their unease fanning me.

“We're not accepting this offer,” I stated simply, dropping the pen in my other hand on the table while waiting for the one insistent thorn in my gallantly adorned side to pick the bone I'd just dropped.

As expected of him, William’s lips parted, and out came his disagreement. "But sir, we have enough money to exchange for the goods they have–"

"It will be a waste for this company, Williams. This company is already near a dead end. I would have expected you people not to waste the money on importing stupid goods that won't sell, but to use your brain to find a way to bring this company back to life." My eyes fixed on Williams who'd sprung to his feet when he spoke.

He shivered at the glare that I leveled on him. I watched him debate keeping shut before he decided feigning bravery would be wise.

"Charles–"

"Mr Charles." I corrected.

This time, he was unable to hide his bristle, resulting in a smile that snaked my lips. “I'm sorry, Mr. Charles,” he said tightly, adding a stiff bow. "I feel you are in haste to condemn the company's… slow revival. Buying metal scraps from them can–”

“Be direct, doctor,” I cut in, checking my wristwatch even though I hadn't spent twenty minutes in the room.

To his credit, all Williams did was cough slightly, even though he couldn't hide the anger leaking out of his eyes. "What I am trying to say is, that you should read the files again, you will see that this will do our company good.”

I waited for him to reclaim his seat before scanning the men and women who sat on either side of me. Truthfully, the majority of them were old enough to be my parents, but even I couldn't have hidden the disgust I felt whenever we met.

The thing with old people is, words aren't enough.

"I have made my decision," I finally said, throwing the files to Robinson. "Do away with that. This meeting has come to an end."

I stood without offering any of them a glance, grabbed the coat I'd set on the chair's hand, and walked out of the meeting room.

***

Standing beside the black Chevrolet Equinox, I waited for the only human thing in this too-large building. There were signs of clouds beginning a meeting in the distance, a reminder to get into the comfort of four high walls.

“William never gets tired of trying, does he?” I said by way of greeting before entering the car.

The door opened and Robinson sat beside me, a sigh spilling out of him as he did. He was still holding the folder I asked him to throw away in his hands, and he made sure I understood how tired he was by resting his head on the window.

“Well, this time it wasn't exactly a hidden threat, he just sent me–”

“To convince me?” I finished.

“Has anyone ever told you how excitingly good you are at cutting people off mid-sentence?” I leveled him with the same glare I'd conditioned Williams to but he only chuckled. “Yeah, he did.”

“And were you planning to do that?” I asked as I turned on the ignition. Robinson used the time to drop the file in the back seat.

"Of course not. I know it will be useless. But," Robinson paused for effect, “the deal looked good for the growth of the company. Why did you reject it?"

"Fraud. The company, its opening statement, signatures, even the international numbers… were fake."

One thin eyebrow raised as I pulled the car out of the driveway. "Fake? You mean the company is non-existent?"

"Yes. I'm trying to believe the directors didn't study the file well, but my guts tell me they knew exactly what they were doing when they compiled it," I finished before finding a cigarette in the glove box.

"Williams included? He always chickened out from things like this."

I let a sigh, the only sign of my being tired as well, pull out of my lips. Though, it was disguised as a puff of the cigarette. Wear a mask long enough and it becomes your real face.

“Williams can fool anyone behind those glasses. So yes, Williams included. Were they testing my intelligence? Because the fakeness of the company was simply unintelligent."

Robinson let out a sigh that I wouldn't let myself release. "Well, Mr. Williams surely has a hand in it. Little wonder as to why he was so bent on you reading the files again and again." He pulled off his deep blue suit as the heat of the car began to set in, night-sky blue shirt coming into focus. “When are you going to remove him?"

"Soon, not just now. Let's keep playing the games they think they have mastered. For now, let's go home. Eleana has already called me."

Robinson chuckled and shook his head, settling further into the seat. "When will you tell her the truth?"

"She knows; she just loves the attention."

"I'm not sure she does, Charles. Yesterday, she told me that when she becomes your wife, she will convince you to increase my salary."

"Ha! She loves dreaming big." I laughed loudly. "And what did you tell her?"

"Really? What do you want me to say?" He chuckled, then shook his head again.

"Oh, well. If I tell her and she goes, who will always be there to service the big man down there?"

"You're incorrigible. Everyone knows about your frequent visits to brothels making her presence or absence pointless.” Deciding the conversation would lead nowhere, Robinson switched topics. “My stomach hurts, I need Anna's chicken sauce."

"Hope that's what she cooked today."

And with that, I shot the car into the night stretching ahead.