37 - Business is business

RYAN BURKE

I stepped out of the elevator when it stopped on the top floor, where my office was. Juliana, my secretary, greeted me with a shy 'good morning,' like all the women in this building, she didn't know how to act around me. I chuckled at her reaction, making a small gesture to take the meeting reports from her. "Mr. Burke, there's a guy named Diego Sanders waiting for you in your office."

I nodded and entered the room. Diego was a childhood friend, it had been years since the family sent him to Japan to take care of business, and our contact had been scarce. I entered the room, which was large enough to have a small sitting area, and saw him sitting on the couch reading a magazine.

"Ryan!" he exclaimed loudly, his eyes shining with enthusiasm as he spotted me, getting up to give me a hug , "Long time no see!"

"Oh my God, you son of a gun! Long time!" I replied equally excitedly, leading him back to the couch , "Is there a reason for your visit? Don't get me wrong, my friend, I'