Fading Echoes of Love

Chapter 5 - A Battle with Deja Vu

Sierra woke up feeling exhausted and drained after having a dream the night before, although she couldn’t remember what it was about. She wondered if it was due to the intense workout she had done the day before after a long hiatus.

Sierra used to be an athlete but since switching careers, she found it hard to maintain her fitness routine. Although she still managed to go to the gym three times a week, her recent overtime at work had made it challenging to find time for exercise. Yesterday, she finally had some free time to go for a run and do some stretching, but she still felt depleted. Perhaps the dream had taken more out of her than she had realized.

Nonetheless, Sierra knew she had to shake off her lethargy and get on with her day. There was a morning meeting where the new general manager for Quantumware was going to be announced, a position Sierra had been striving for. She knew she had to be ready for the moment of reckoning.

Sierra was determined to claim the general manager position, feeling that it was rightfully hers. As she rose from her seat with resolve, she accidentally kicked a nearby piece of furniture and felt excruciating pain shoot through her little toe. Despite the discomfort, she persisted, hobbling to the bathroom to fix her orthodontic cup, only to find that everything was in order. Confused, she pushed the odd sensation from her mind and focused on her day ahead.

Sierra’s morning began with a steaming cup of coffee and a resolute determination to make this the most important day of her career. However, fate seemed to have other plans as the elevator passed her floor not once, but twice. Living on a high floor in a building with only two elevators was a constant struggle, causing congestion and long wait times during rush hours. Sierra found it difficult to get to work on time and often had to queue up for hours at night, with the line snaking around the building more than once.

Sierra was determined to make it to work on time, but fate seemed to be against her. As she anxiously waited for the third elevator, the “overload” warning blazed red on the 22nd floor. With no time to waste, she decided to take the stairs, gasping for breath as she descended to the garage.

As Sierra turned on the radio in her car, she was bombarded with news of earthquakes and terrorist attacks that plagued the world. Feeling overwhelmed, she tried to tune into some music, but before she could find a station, the car in front of her suddenly lurched forward. In the process, she missed the button and angered the driver of a black Audi beside her.

The Audi’s driver, an entitled man, cut her off with little regard for anyone else on the road. Sierra was no stranger to reckless drivers in New York City, but the man and woman in the Audi turned out to be particularly cruel. Though their faces were barely visible through the car’s tinted windows, Sierra recognized the woman in the passenger seat and felt helpless.

The woman in the copilot seat was no stranger to Sierra. It was her ex-lover, Christina, who had tied the knot with Larry, the man at the helm, just a month ago. Sierra had received the wedding invitation, and Christina had specifically requested her presence.

“The most important moment of my life, I hope you can be there,” Christina’s words echoed in Sierra’s mind.

A single sentence was enough to bring tears to Sierra’s eyes. How had she been so blind to end up with such a scoundrel? As the night deepened, Sierra was consumed with sorrow and doubt about her existence.

She couldn’t fathom if Larry was aware of her past with Christina. It seemed unlikely that anyone with half a brain would bring up their non-heterosexual inclination to a bride about to walk down the aisle. So how did Larry become privy to it? Had Christina confessed her past voluntarily, or was there more to it?

Sierra was feeling weary as they navigated through the throngs of traffic. If it weren’t for societal norms and the congested roads, she would have gladly switched lanes in a heartbeat.

The Audi revved its engine, determined to join their convoy. Sierra didn’t argue and let it pass without a fuss.

Once the Audi had settled in, Sierra focused her gaze on the car ahead of them, but her concentration was disrupted by a notification on her phone. It was a w******p message from Christina.

“Why stick to that old, broken Peugeot even after getting promoted to manager? Planning to pay respects to your father’s grave this year? Can I catch a ride with you?” Christina’s message read.

As Sierra read the message, she was overcome by a sense of déjà vu. It was as if she had experienced this very moment before, reading the same message from Christina.

Déjà vu rode into town like an old acquaintance, familiar to many folks. A tune, a phrase, or a scene could trigger a response in the mind, and the subconscious would echo with “sameness” to past fictional moments, creating the illusion that “this happened before.” Sierra had read in a book that it might be a sudden discharge in the brain, which could be called an “illusion phenomenon” or “visual memory.” Perhaps it was even a dream scene remembered from the night before. Dreams often faded with the morning light, but when “sameness” was felt, it deepened the room for contemplation.

Cutting Christina’s w******p was like cutting a snake’s head off. She should have done it long ago. After sending out a wedding invitation, Christina had sent a vague w******p message. Then, in the middle of the night, drunk, she had taken a picture of Sierra’s house. Sierra should have completely cut ties with this restless woman, but she hadn’t been ruthless enough at the time.

Larry’s guidance had helped Sierra to finally let go of her lingering attachment. With a just a touch on her phone, she added yet another name to the blacklist.

Pulling into Quantumware, she quickly parked her car and she entered the company premises, Sierra observed the front desk girl flirting with the courier’s brother, gyrating her hips with abandon. However, upon noticing Sierra’s serious expression, the girl immediately straightened up and greeted her in a formal, almost military-like manner.

As Sierra walked past the front desk girl, the scent of fresh coffee and warm pastries wafted towards her, reminding her that she hadn’t had breakfast yet. The girl’s cheerful greeting was drowned out by the sound of Sierra’s heels clicking against the marble floor, echoing through the lobby. The courier’s brother observed Sierra’s cold demeanor, noticing the way she held her head high and strode purposefully towards her office. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of intimidation.

The front desk girl’s dismissal of Sierra was accompanied by a bored yawn and the rustling of papers on her desk. As she spoke, the sound of a nearby printer filled the air, churning out yet another report. The courier’s brother’s chuckle was deep and throaty, resonating through the lobby. The girl’s scoff was accompanied by the sound of her tapping her long acrylic nails against the desk.

Cheyenne’s approach was announced by the soft padding of her flats against the floor, barely making a sound. As she handed over the documents, the sound of rustling paper mixed with the clicking of her pen, as she made a quick note on a pad of paper. The courier’s brother’s acceptance of the documents was accompanied by the sound of pages turning and the rustling of a messenger bag as he stowed them away.

As the front desk girl trembled with fear, her breathing became more audible, punctuated by small gasps. Cheyenne’s pat on her shoulder was gentle, accompanied by the faint rustle of her silk blouse. The girl’s sigh of relief was deep and shaky, accompanied by the sound of a nearby fountain, its gentle bubbling providing a soothing background noise. Cheyenne’s once-sweet smile turning cold was almost palpable, like a sudden drop in temperature, leaving the front desk girl feeling uneasy.

As Cheyenne accompanied the courier to the door, her assistant caught up with her, offering to take over the task. “Cheyenne, let me send the courier! You still have a lot of business to attend to,” the assistant suggested. Cheyenne waved her off and explained that she was tired of sitting and that overhearing interesting conversations was a welcome distraction.

“Intriguing,” the assistant replied, eager to learn more, but Cheyenne simply smirked and replied, “Just something I overheard. Anyway, Delilah is waiting for me. I’ll leave you to prepare for the meeting.”

“Of course. Coffee or milk without sugar today?” the assistant asked, but Cheyenne had already begun to walk away, declining the offer.

Cheyenne knocked on Delilah’s office door and heard the sound of a muffled phone conversation. Upon entering, she found Delilah on the phone, her face contorted in disgust and frustration.

“I understand, Gary. But it’s not a big deal. I’m not some frail old lady, just a little under the weather. Yes, yes, thank you. I appreciate it. I’ll have Cheyenne go in my place. She’s our new general manager in Quantumware, after all.”

Cheyenne arched her eyebrow attentively as Delilah informed her of her new title, then poured herself a cup of coffee from the pot in the corner. She took a sip and waited patiently while Delilah concluded her call.

“It appears that Sierra is off the hook this time,” Delilah sighed, rubbing her temples. “You’ll be heading to Connecticut on my behalf. It’s your first significant challenge as general manager, and it’s crucial that you remain in contact with Gary. Speaking of which, would you pass me that cup? I’m incredibly thirsty.”

Cheyenne hesitated before handing over the coffee to Delilah, who drank it down without a second thought. “You’re drinking that like it’s water,” Cheyenne cautioned, with a hint of concern. “Slow down when you hit fifty.”

Delilah placed the cup on the table and glared at Cheyenne. “Don’t mention my age.”

Cheyenne raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you just mention it?”

“I did, but that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to,” Delilah replied sharply.

Cheyenne noticed that the coffee cup had two different colored lip prints overlapping. Sensing Delilah’s irritation, she wisely chose to say nothing more.

Delilah dialed the executive herself and inquired about the availability of a plane to Connecticut that day. Unfortunately, the executive regretfully informed her that all the air tickets had been sold out. “Why not take the train?” the executive suggested. “It’s fast, convenient, and less likely to be delayed, with stations located in the city.”

Delilah gripped her phone tightly as she turned to Cheyenne and inquired, “Are you comfortable taking the rail?” Cheyenne nodded in agreement.

“Very well, please purchase two rail tickets for us as soon as possible. We will depart at 12 noon, correct? Excellent. You have the ID numbers for both Sierra and yourself, so kindly secure tickets for both of you as well. That will be all,” Delilah conveyed calmly into the phone.

As she hung up, Delilah noticed Cheyenne’s curious gaze upon her. “Yes, I secured the general manager position of Quantumware. Here it is,” Delilah announced calmly.

Cheyenne appeared incredulous. “That’s it?” she asked, clearly surprised.

Delilah regarded her curiously, seemingly unfazed. “Is there an issue?” she inquired.

Cheyenne leaned back on her desk and shared her concerns. “I’m just worried about Sierra. She has more experience and a better performance record than I do. Everyone seems to think that she should have been given the General Manager position this time. Now you’re giving it to me…what will she think? What will upper management think? What will our colleagues say?”

Delilah waved her hand dismissively. “What others think is irrelevant. I am the one in charge, and I have made the decision.”

Delilah playfully poked Cheyenne in the stomach and responded, “Oh, come on, Cheyenne. Enough. I have made my decision, and the board fully supports me. Sierra will be your assistant, and you will be in charge of Quantumware in the future.” Delilah pointed at Cheyenne. “Work well together. You are both my right-hand people, and you cannot function without each other. Sierra may not be happy about this, but you should try to convince her.”

Cheyenne expressed her concern, “What if she becomes angry and quits?”

Delilah replied firmly, “I do not care. She is your responsibility. It is your job to retain her. It will be easier for Sierra to stay. You know what to do.” Delilah deftly tossed a warm croissant to Cheyenne, who caught it effortlessly. The two women, accompanied by a group of influential leaders, headed to the conference room for the morning meeting.

While passing Sierra’s office, Delilah gave Cheyenne instructions on how to handle Gary. Cheyenne noticed Sierra glaring at her and hoped for a friendly smile, but Sierra quickly looked away. The meeting commenced, and Delilah astounded everyone by announcing Cheyenne as the new General Manager of Quantumware. The Marketing Manager was the first to clap, and soon, the entire room followed suit with applause.

Cheyenne graciously received congratulations from her colleagues, discerning genuine sentiments from feigned ones, before her gaze landed on Sierra. The usually composed woman looked bewildered, defeated, and remorseful. In that moment of negative emotions, Cheyenne detected a glimmer of stubbornness and resistance in Sierra’s eyes, reminding her of Delilah’s earlier words.

As Delilah scanned the rugged landscape, her mind filled with thoughts of the impending decision, she required someone to lead the team, a person who was not only skilled but also possessed the charisma to earn respect. And at that moment, she knew exactly who that person was.

“I chose you because you’re the best,” Delilah stated, turning towards Cheyenne. “You are more accomplished than Sierra, with a much more affable personality.”

Cheyenne stopped, taking in Delilah’s words. “Because I’m attractive?” she queried, with a hint of skepticism in her voice.

Delilah chuckled, shaking her head. “No, it’s your character. Your most significant asset is your popularity and amiable nature. You have a way of bringing people together, inspiring them to give their best. And that’s precisely what we require in a leader.”

As Delilah spoke, Cheyenne experienced a sense of pride washing over her. She realized that she had worked diligently to cultivate connections with her colleagues, to earn their confidence and admiration. And now, that laborious effort was paying off.

“May I address your concerns about Sierra’s qualification for the position?” Cheyenne inquired, her brow furrowed with concern.

Delilah affirmed with a serious expression, “Sierra is undeniably skilled in her role and has demonstrated excellent performance. However, her potential as a leader for a higher position is limited by her character. She lacks the necessary cohesion and leadership qualities to effectively lead a larger team. As such, this position is more fitting for you.”

Cheyenne felt a sense of apprehension as she considered the weight of Delilah’s words. Leading a team was a challenging task, and she acknowledged that she would have to work diligently to excel. Nonetheless, she was prepared to confront the challenge.

~~~

As the rest of the group departed, Cheyenne lagged behind, deliberately slowing her stride. Meanwhile, Sierra marched forward, oblivious to Cheyenne’s contemplative state. Cheyenne’s gaze fixated on Sierra’s silhouette, and she felt a longing to comfort her troubled friend with a consoling pat on the shoulder and an extended soul-searching conversation. It was evident to Cheyenne that Sierra bore a perpetual weight on her shoulders, consumed by anxiety.