It was a more stressful week than Lana could admit. First they had gone for the interview, and then she had to attend a parent-teachers association meeting in the kids’ school. It was a Thursday, and she was more than too lazy to do anything. She thought about how she was going to cajole Cameron into taking the kids to school. After much persuasion, a pinky finger promise, and tonnes of bribe kisses, he agreed to drop them off, dropping the keys to the Cadillac, which I always use, and taking the Ferrari instead. “Babe, take the subway." More protection for the kids.” “How does it protect the kids?” “Double armour coating, speed, and cruise control settings, and it has more focus on the parental control in the car.” He looked at me, shock written on his face at how I had gotten so much information. “I read their manual on their website; it’s nothing new. I would even like you to explain some terms to me when you’re back.” Dawn was just breaking, and the kids had to be taken earl
Cameron got back from the school drop-off a little early, excited as if he had seen Santa Claus in real life. He came outside, perspiring and telling Lana all about his day, trying to go slow while telling her about the race. He narrated everything to her: the adrenaline in his energy, the power of his engine, and the manoeuvrability of his vehicle. He even tried to visualise it from the other racer's point of view and described the story to her. Lana listened with intent attention, not understanding over eighty percent of everything he said. When he mentioned the keywords relating to cars, she felt lost like a star in the vast emptiness of space. Cameron had always told her to get her head around those terms, but she couldn’t just see herself doing it. They had to dress quick and sharp; they were having an international business meeting, the Annual Regional Business Meeting, the annual period where business representatives from different brands, groups, and conglomerates come tog
The annual business meeting tagged “Summit of Titans” was the most anticipated event of the year by businessmen and women alike, drawing the who’s who of influential figures from the corporate world. Held at the luxurious Grand Plaza Hotel, a bastion of elegance and sophistication, the gathering promised to be a spectacle of high-powered networking, deal-making, and inspiration. As attendees arrived from different corners of the world and different professional backgrounds, they were greeted by a red carpet and a phalanx of efficient staff, who whisked away their luggage to their reserved rooms and escorted them to the opulent lobby. The atmosphere was electric; the hum of conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses filled the air. Despite arriving over an hour early for the event, the place was filled with business personnel of different calibers. Even with the crisp folds of their suits and the shiny glittering jet black polished shoes, every aspect of the ballroom reflect
As the sun began to set, the room was bathed in a warm, golden light, and the evening festivities commenced. The evening session was just lightweight sessions and workshops, splitting them into different classes where they were taken by different coaches. Lana could feel both Andre and Cameron constantly staring at her, her eyes usually catching both of them. Towards the end of the day, the businessmen were called to dinner, cooked by the hotel’s renowned chef. Each dish was a work of art, presented with precision and flair on fine china and crystal glassware. The aroma of roasted meats and fresh herbs wafted through the air, attacking the senses and building anticipation. The first course, a delicate seafood bouillabaisse, was served with a side of crusty baguette and a dollop of creamy rouille, all of which looked strange to Cameron. He looked at it with admiration but ate with a different attitude. The flavours danced on the palate—a perfect balance of sweet and savoury. As th
Lana hoped she was not going to regret what she was doing, but she hoped in her heart that this was the right choice for her and the children. People were starting to suspect her and Cameron’s relationship to be beyond official business, and if there was something she could avoid, it was definitely a scandal at the moment. If the news leaked that she was staying at his place despite not being married or engaged, they could be in more trouble than they bargained for. The thought had suddenly occurred to her during the business meeting after she had met Freda. For yet another time, she weighed the consequences of what she did in her mind, hoping that Cameron would be emotionally okay. Sinking on the couch in the long, deserted, untidy room, she flipped the light switch, the light blinking to life. She took a look around, taking in the scenery. A thick layer of dust coated every surface, softening the edges of furniture and belongings. Cobwebs clung to corners like delicate tapestri
The day was cold and windy, steadily announcing the near arrival of winter and its children. Settling for a fully furred sweater with a turtle neck, Kathy came out of the convenience store, bags in hand, breezing through to the sedan parked on the other side of the mall. She walked to the car, almost tripping over on the interlocked tile floor twice. After successfully navigating to the car, she settled in, rolling down her window to look for her way out. The lights on the cell phone sitting on the dashboard blinked repeatedly, and the phone rang out, sending Kathy jolting back. She picked it up and found a strange number; she had been wary of picking unsaved contacts ever since she left Andre, but something kept picking at her to pick it. She held the phone, measuring the weight of the decisions in her mind. She picked it up, and the familiar raspy voice of Andre came over the phone, booming loud and clear with an ever-authoritative tone. “Hey, where are you?” “I guessed you di
Still curious as to who came down the car with Cameron, Lana tried to look beyond his head, but he had overshadowed her from the front, not allowing her to see anything but his clothed torso. “Where is your guest?” She asked curiously. “Good morning, Lana.” “Morning Cameron.” She realised she had not even greeted him that morning.At the same moment, Andre came into the hall, intentionally brushing past Cameron and extending a hand to me with his smile. “I called you this morning. I guess you were not on your phone.” He said, a naughty smile dancing on his lips. His gaze shifted from Lana to Cameron, and he let out another laugh. “Oh, we shouldn’t really talk about your romantic life around your boss.”Lana knew what he was driving at, and she was not ready to let him achieve it. She stepped in, giving him a side eye. “Have you lost your way, young man? Or have you sent Kathy packing again?” He looked at her in shock and bewilderment, mouth wide agape. A vengeful, naugh
It was the fourth and final day of the meeting, which also doubled as the most anticipated and filled moment of the meeting. The grand ballroom had been redecorated for this event and was abuzz with excitement as the crème de la crème of the business world gathered for the annual Business Excellence Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the industry. One would know that this was indeed an awards ceremony that was worthy of being the talk of the town; everything was top-notch. The media presence at the ceremony was impressive, with a diverse range of outlets and journalists invited to cover the event. The list included leading dailies of national newspapers like the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal; industry-specific business publications like Forbes, Fortune, and Bloomberg Businessweek had a strong presence; and digital media outlets like CNBC and Reuters were also in attendance. Regional newspapers and business journals from the host city and its environs we