4. Brother's task

When I got home, I was welcomed by Lady Anna.

"Lady Anna! you are back." I was surprised at her presence or rather happy more than surprised.

She's a short lady with silver hair tied in a neat bun. She has gray eyes with a small nose, where wrinkles formed under her eyes when she smiled at my surprised face. She was at her sister's place, who was hospitalized for some reason.

"How is your sister now?" I asked with concern in my voice.

"A lot better." She responded with a smile. And we walked inside.

Adam was playing a video game. I walked towards him and knocked on his head. "Hey! Kiddo."

"Oh! You are back Levy." He turned his gaze towards me, then again shifted it back onto the screen.

I glanced at our clock, it's 10 to 4.

I have to be there at 5'O clock.

I had my lunch which was prepared by Lady Anna. I'm glad that she is back. After having a quick bath, I dressed in a suit. Yes, a suit. Blue color trousers and coat with a white shirt inside it and tied my long hair into a neat bun, where some flicks were falling on my fake glasses.

As I walked out of my room, both of them stared at me with their dropped jaw.

This is awkward.

"What's gotten into you, Levy?"
Adam asked with his eyes wide whereas Lady Anna just stayed quiet.

"Brother's second soul," I replied while walking towards the door.

"Don't tell me you're going out like that," Adam said, frowning slightly.

"I'm not saying, but going." With that, I left and drove towards our office.

I reached the front of a 7 floors building and took an elevator to the last floor which landed me in front of a big glass door. Taking a deep breath, I flew open the door with a swift moment, gaining the focus of all the eyes. I stayed there for a couple of minutes until uncle Wilson arrived. An old man with silver hair on the back and side of his head with round bald at the center. Wrinkled skin and barely opened eyes. He has a sharp nose and small lips. And was wearing a black suit along with a tie and black shoes.

Next time I should remember a tie in my dress code.

He introduced me as 'Miss Troustkey' to everyone which caused whispers among themselves.

"Is she going to be our boss?"....."She is just a teenager"....."What is Mr. Wilson is thinking?"

Oh no! This is exactly happening as I thought.

Within these whispers, I heard someone chuckled. This is going out of hand.

I walked in the direction of the chuckling sound with a cold and sharp look on my face just how brother told me to do so. I could see a normal height man wearing a white shirt,  brown trousers, and a red tie.

Getting close enough to his table, I placed my hands on it and frowned with coldness in my eyes. I wished I could freeze him. Without me saying a word he murmured a low sorry.

Really?

Wow! This cold gaze is working. 
What should I reply now?

Suddenly I remembered words of Loren and I mimicked him.

"As it's your first mistake, it's forgivable," I said boldly, maintaining my look which made him gulp hard.

I scared him.

This time, silence formed in the room. No whispers, no chuckles. Only stares, everyone was staring at me with surprise. I didn't bother to look at them and walked straight towards a cabin.

"Phew!" I sighed heavily as soon as I was inside the cabin.

Then turned towards uncle Wilson. "Uncle Wilson-"  before I could speak to him, he cuts me off.

"You are not supposed to call me 'uncle', Miss Troustkey."

"Why? I have always called you uncle."

I know him since I was a kid. He was mother's secretary and often visits us. 
"Because now, I am your secretary and you are my boss." He said calmly.

"But-" I was cut by him again.

"Now, have your seat and" He took out a file and put it in front of the employer's seat. "Read this file." He supplied.

I did as told and read the complete file thoroughly. There was a pending work on certain lands. I asked uncle about it. He explained to me everything.

"So, can we conduct a meeting now?" I asked him.

"Now?" He questioned my question.

"Yes, can't we?" I was confused. Was there a particular time to hold meetings.

"We can, are you ready?" He asks surprisingly.

"Yes." I nodded. 

The meeting room was a big hall with a long table and chairs were placed on either side of it. A big projector screen is fixed exactly in front of the table. 

Slowly 10 members, who are in this project gathered and took their seats. I stood in front of the screen and started speaking.

"Welcome everyone."

No greetings nothing. I started directly.

"Firstly," I said while presenting the project on the screen and continued.

"I want to know why this project is not yet started?"

I stayed quiet for them to answer. Everyone exchanged some glares and then a man stood up.

"Because it's risky." He said nervously. 
How could you directly say such a thing to your employer?

I clear my throat and spoke.

"Taking the risk will end up on the two things. Either you can win or you will be wise."

This caused silence in the whole room. I clear my throat again to kill the silence.

"Now people, explain merits and demerits please." I supplied, acting all mature.

The same person stood up and spoke. 
"This land is a bit far from the main city, where you can barely find houses. Starting construction will cause loss."

I gave a thought to his words. "What do you want to construct there?" And asked in my thinking state.

"We have many options; a hotel, a shopping mall and anything else if you prefer." He answered.

I thought for a while before answering.

A hotel will not work no one is there to stay, neither a mall, hmm.

"Ok, we are going to construct a building whose ground floor will contain a medical hall, 1st-floor food restaurant, 2nd a hotel, 3rd a shopping mall and 4th a gaming center."  I halted. "Any queries?"

"Will it work?" The same person asked,  furrowing his eyebrows.

"Of course. Every need for the people will be full fill at a single place."

Now, this sounds wise.

"And, can we add a swimming pool on the top?" I asked.

"Ma'am this might create weight on the building." He said stammering on the word ma'am.

"Yeah, that's right. So, start working on it and get me a blueprint of the building within an hour and meeting dismissed. You may leave now." I said straight.

I don't know how to end it

Maybe I sounded a bit rude.

I went back to my cabin. Uncle smiled at me with 'you did well.' He just faked that. I sat in my employer's chair. Yes, my employer chair sounds funny. Removing my, coat I hung it on the chair's hand.

This thing is tiring, but I'm enjoying it.

I leaned forward on the table, resting my head on my stretched arm. Time passed without my realization. On seeing a cordless phone, I took its receiver to order a cup of coffee.

I have to differentiate between when I am hungry and bored.

Within some time there were 2 knocks on the door of my cabin. First was my order and second was the same person who was answering at the meeting. He was standing at the door with a file in his hand.

"Come in," I said.

He was a young man with normal features, hazel color eyes. Wearing a sky blue shirt along with a black tie and black trousers.

He was standing and staring at me.

What's wrong?

I clear my throat and repeated myself. 
"Come in, Mister."

He did and put the file on the table with continues staring.

"Take your seat," I said acting like a complete boss while placing my coffee aside.

Why is he staring at me? This is making me uncomfortable.

By his stare, I realized my bun was loosing some strands of my hair. But that's not the reason for his stare, my first button of the shirt was undone, I wasn't even wearing a coat and books were spread on the table.

Oops. You know the button which is suffocating.

I ignored his stare and cleared my throat to alert him. Steepling my fingers while placing my elbows on the table, I said. "Present your work."

He started settling the papers in the file, nervously.

Wasting time.

If he wastes time like this, my hot coffee will turn cold.

"Take your time Mister," I said. moving my chair back while picking up the cup of coffee.

I drank my coffee but didn't ask him to show his work immediately. This will show that I gave priority to a coffee rather than him. So, I picked a book from the table and started reading it to actually give him time. It's a French dictionary.

I needed it.

After complete 15 minutes, I asked. "Ready to present?" While glancing at my wristwatch.

"Huh?" He looked at me. "Yes", then answered.

He explained everything which he prepared.

Quite impressive.

"Accepted," I said and he stood from his chair to leave.

Before he could leave, I asked his name which was 'John Aderson.'

"You may leave," I said in a calm voice. He nodded and left the cabin.

The clock strikes 9, indicating the end of my job. I told uncle that I'm leaving. He affirmatively nodded. Picking up my coat, I put it on and saw a door in the right corner.

Suspicious.

"What's that door for?" I asked the uncle.

"It's a personal elevator." He answered while arranging some files.

I am going to use that.

I am not going to face their stares again.

My personal elevator starts from my cabin and ends in the parking area. No other stops in between.

I was back home tired at 9:45. I slept without changing or having dinner.

Day ends.

The next day, I was almost late for college. Jacob was already in class, he asked my math notes.

Oh no! I haven't done my homework.

This time Afrodoid, Jacob and I were in Loren's cabin doing our homework. Sleepily, my head was making to and fro movements while I was writing.

"Levy. Levy!" I heard Jacob calling me in a low voice while hitting me with his elbow.

I didn't respond. My eyelids were getting heavier by each second, then darkness surrounded.

I fell asleep.

••••••••••••••

H.LOCKHART.