Love on the Run: Adaora

Close Encounter

Bank Bernstein Bahnhofstrasse Zürich

Aurick

I hung up, satisfied to have solved that issue. I must give to Heidi that she is brainy and ambitious. She picked the wrong guy. After hinting that our six-month-old relationship could go to the next level, she gave a 'tell all' interview to a tabloid about our relationship; 'Aurick 'the rebel' Bernstein hitched ?' is the headline of the article supposed to be published tomorrow. What a joke; she calls a relationship the fact that we sleep together. This interview was a miscalculation from her; I could have tolerated the leak of our pictures together to social media that happened last week; this is going too far, her fame-hungry attitude could cost me a lot.

The bank Bernstein doesn't need this type of publicity, the kind of trash with the potential of ruining the last six months of perfectly orchestrated PR.

My family has been keeping a low profile and is working tirelessly to restore the bank public image following a financial debacle; the cause? Incriminating data exposing many of the bank Bernstein prominent clients were leaked to the media. Politicians, business people, famous philanthropists, all found guilty of tax evasion. For the first time in a century of existence, the reliability of the bank was questioned.

My family has to present a united and confident front to reassure shareholders and clients. As my dad calls it, the operation 'all hands on deck triggered my return after ten years of exile in the US. He turned our family dispute into a publicity stunt. The 'rebel' Bernstein or the prodigal son, depending on the source, is now presented as the future of the bank.

At 18, I changed my name to Rick Axton, left for the US to become an entrepreneur in new tech and cyber security. I am now a billionaire in my own right.

Aurick Bernstein, the new CEO of the bank Bernstein, cannot afford to be publicly associated with an obscure reality tv star. Heidi Kreisel most outstanding achievement is her appearance, topless, in the Swiss version of 'Big Brother.

I am always private with my affairs and choose successful career-oriented women. Heidi was a mistake that should not have lasted more than a night. Honestly, I am angrier at myself more than anything else.

Fortunately, the silly article will never see the light. The first thing I did as new CEO was to quietly buy off influential media groups to control the information and censor any damaging article.

It is close to midnight, and I should probably leave my office and go back home. Unlike New York, where I lived, Zurich is primarily quiet at night. Only party animals know where to meet during the week.

Enough for today! The firewall prototype I am working on can wait a couple of hours. I need to rest and think about the best way to discourage Heidi from pulling out another similar stunt.

I decided to drive through the Sihlwald forest to get to the side of the Zürich Lake where I live. I always enjoyed the kind of magical atmosphere of this area at night. The beech forest, with its century-old trees, gives off a sort of creepy vibe. It gives the impression that creatures of another world inhabit it. More so tonight with the full moon. I laughed at myself for the kind thoughts going through my mind as I crossed this forest. I must be more tired than I thought.

Suddenly, coming out of nowhere, a creature jumped in the middle of the road. I tried to avoid a collision and fortunately stopped the car without damages. That was the best thing that could happen now, really: having an accident. I got out to check what almost caused me a heart attack. The creature was now on the asphalt. I was not sure what to expect, but certainly not to see a beautiful unconscious black woman. What could she be doing here at this time of the night? I looked around, but everything was quiet. She did not react when I came closer or picked her up from the floor. Trying to ignore my body's reaction to her proximity, I installed her on the back seat of my car. I had my share of girls acting in all kinds of ways to get my attention; I remember Celia twisting her ankle close to the VIP section of the club where I was. I can't help but think this might be one of those. I decided to take her to my place. I kind of wish she was acting; she would be a pleasant interlude between Heidi's drama and work stress.