The Comeback

The sun reflected on the highest buildings that seemed to have been carved from marble as it reflected the sun almost too perfectly. Pedestrians in different kinds of clothes walk around in their hundreds on either side of the road with most people wearing summer-friendly themed clothes of light jackets, singlets, and breathable tops. Cafes, jewelry stores, and hardware stores just seemed to be opening at this time of the day as it was just a few minutes after rush hour. As the pedestrian walkway was packed with walking and interacting humans, so was the road jam-packed without cars of different colors, backgrounds, and purposes, steam emanating from each one as they are all stopped in a red light sign but the focus lies on a single pitch black Toyota Camry 2024 version. The reflection of the people walking on the streets, the stationary car, and the old man frying some delicacy on the other side of the road could be seen on the side of the pitch-black hybrid. Emily shifted her gaze from the hustle and bustle of the pedestrians outside her car to the charts of declining stock in a tablet on her thighs looking her in her doubting eyes. The driver looks through the rearview while holding the steering wheel of the car. " Ma'am, you look tensed. Is anything the matter ?" " Not tensed,... confused. It says here that we are actually in debt..." Emily picks out three different documents from a file holder beside her, scrutinizing both the results on the screen ." How is that possible? A week ago the company was at an all-time high, breaking last year's record...now all of a sudden we are in the red". "Ummm, can I help ?" " No what do you know... you're just a driver" she reminded him words slow but sharp. The driver focuses his gaze on the road as if on cue to the clearing jam lock. The driver started with a slow toil before picking up speed through the urban terrain of Ontario looking disappointed and at the same time disrespected. Emily regretting what she said begins.... " I'm sorry " touching her forehead as if the answer to her problems would go away. " I shouldn't have said that. It's just...this isn't adding up." The driver salutes her while bending a little to look at Emily through the rearview mirror. " No worries ma'am, see I've worked with you long enough to know that you're a good lady and your heart is always in the right place, even though you hurl insults at me."the black driver smiles. "Whatever it is, I know you got it". By this time the car had pulled up in front of a magnificent high rise that reflected the blue sky above. Emily is led out of the car by her driver who drives off as soon as Emily enters the building. Emily had not completed fifty steps when a blonde staff with freckles in her early twenties holding a black folder came running to her. " Good morning Mrs Robinson " flustered and she tried to keep up with Emily and organize the documents in her hand. " Good Morning Alexis, give me the status report " " I gathered some information about the ..um ...companies you told me to research on. The metal steel company and core 7 enterprise...," Emily and Alexis walk past the reception with some of the staff looking at her before the duo entered an elevator. "... ultimately both of them would pose a great threat to us in the next 5 years... potentially. Meel steel in the building and construction aspect, core 7 in the programming and information technology areas." Emily takes one of the printed papers from Alexis staring so hard at it as if trying to burn a hole through it, Alexis falters with all the documents she has for a while, trying to put them back in order as the elevator dings to a stop. The doors sliding open Emily and Alexis walk out and a group of workers rush in. Emily gives the document back to Alexis before speaking. " .. anything else?" Alexis pulls out a white apple tab from her big bag, tapping and scrolling through it ." Yeah... A Mr. Quentin called ...it's about to spark". Emily turned back to meet Alexis' eyes. " My dog ?" Looking confused. " Oh, it's Tuesday, God, I forgot. Tell him I'll send someone later in the day." The duo are standing in a white busy hallway with staff pushing trolleys of paper, others carrying files while walking to and fro and a few of them discussing in a group at a corner. "Is there anything else". Alexis keeps scrolling for some seconds as both of them stop in front of a translucent glass door. " All your other meetings have been canceled or rescheduled and you have an ongoing meeting with Mr. Zuriel himself, oh my gosh ". Alexa covers her mouth with both her hands as she blushes. " I can't imagine what you feel his masculine body his deep voice his aura... His big veiny strong arms holding at the most sensual points of your body...so exciting so romantic" She screams in joy like the fan girl she is, attracting the attention of all the staff around her to look at both of them. " Ahem.." Emily cleared her throat to signal her presence to Alexa who'd forgotten she wasn't alone. " Sorry ma, I was carried away".Alexa fixed her glasses and adjusted her suit. " You do know that Zuriel is my husband right...?" Emily reminded Alexa with her hands akimbo. " I know Mrs. Emily, I'm sorry...it's just we, the ladies here in the office seeing both of you together is so amazing, you don't know how lucky you are to have someone as put together as the Zuriel Robinson as a husband. The way he walks, the way he talks, the way he treats his staff with respect ..." While hugging her black handbag and the folder to her chest. " He's just so perfect. I wish I find a man just like him". " Be careful what you wish for, not everything that glitters is gold". Before she could say anything else the translucent glass door beside them opened to reveal a man in his early thirties wearing a fitted black suit with a red tie and transparent glasses at least a foot taller than Emily. " Babe... Just the lady I was looking for" "The athletic framed man held Emily by the waist ushering her into the room which was hosting a very important board meeting which was deduced by Emily since she only knew half of the directors in the large rectangular room. Emily whispers to Zuriel." Zuriel, first of all, you're not allowed to hold me like that, we're at work. Second who are these guys and what are they doing here ?". She greeted them all with a slight almost non-existent nod of her head. " Good morning ". " You're here just in the nick of time. We are here to celebrate and finalize the merger between Zuritech and B.p coin and yes they are an up-and-coming crypto company. Gents what do you say, we've signed one part of the paperwork where we could as well fund all of your operations for two years. But why stop there when you could just Join the entire network of companies under Zuritech.". " I'm afraid that can't be possible, even if we know that the move of joining your company would promote us up and above the ranks of many other small companies, we can't decide that now in the absence of all our other board members." " I agree, "Kay okay no pressure, just a little reminder everyone seated at this table representing each of your companies, ..we are one big family. I help you when you feel down, you do the same when I feel down. There's this quote that says if you can't beat them ... join them. In this case, it's helpful to both parties that they join forces to tackle challenges of our everyday world "