It was Denise's first day in her internship. She appears to be naïve and weird as she shift her façade and she greeted with nervous tone all the supervisors she meet in the Rising Empire Corps. She appears fidgety et yet she was trying to know which of her subjects appear to be reactive to her naivety. She nodded to lengthy instructions she handled as pile of paper works stack waiting for her to organize.
She observed keenly at her superiors as an intern, she witnessed that every minute was well spent in creating and expanding her empire. She smiled as she looked proudly at her employees who worked hard for the company. As expected, effort will be heavily rewarded. She will personally raised this department compensation to set a good example in good working habits. Assigning herself specifically to be the intern of the planning department since it was her field of expertise. She silently listened to every novel and fresh business ideas lay down at every meeting. She as an intern also keeps up not to lag and delay of her employees work. She had a long thought of finally revealing herself. This might add productivity and dynamic inputs of her workforce unit. As she observed placidly, the CCTV caught her eyes as it moved to where she goes and roams. Allison, the very name appears in her mind as she noticed that it monitored her. She glared at the cameras and it seems stopped. As expected to her instincts, it was Allison who watched her. That impostor!
Allison flinched as he felt in his spine the goose bumps as he saw Denise looked and glared at the camera. He couldn't help it! He wouldn't miss what could his CEO do in this pretense. He couldn't believe that she played her role well, being a timid and naive intern. If she was not a business woman, she surely do dramas as of the moment as he witnessed how well she portrayed her role as a newbie. She could still earn millions or even billions if she had led the life of acting. His phone vibrated that he came back to his senses. It was of course from his glaring and austere boss who prompted him from stalking and told him to mind his own business.
"There will be salary deduction on slacking off employees," it was a warning of course.
He typed Noted and he halted and resume in reviewing the piled documents. Not a minute ago, another notification came and this time it was from the new CEO of the Carri Corporation. It was asking if they could have resume the work plans as the agreement of both parties are settled. This is a serious matter. He sent a message to Denise who is currently organizing proposals done earlier in the Planning Dept.
"What should I do with this short sport meeting?"
"Attend it."
"But," Allison realized that he didn't even know what sport they are engaging.
"Request the Planning Department that you need an intern in accompanying you for the meeting. You emphasize that you need an errand employee that definitely suit my pretense personality."
This must be a good idea. Allison could really be the bridge between both CEO's of the company. This business realm was a pond he must be bait for sure for fishing the best negotiation and agreement well. His life really do not stand out well, he thought and sigh deeply. This is the very role that he needed to fill. To be crushed between this fierce and rolling stones, that merciless CEO's.
"Yes I will." As if he could oppose.
They arrived at the exclusive and elite sports club in the Rio Plains. Only rich businessman can lurk inside this place. It is restricted to anyone who is not connected in business realm or industry. Both Allison and Denise head to the VVIP reserved to both of them. The Ring Empire Group is with their company legal team and secretary. Denise was behind Allison the acting CEO since her identity can't be revealed yet. Not yet.
The club employees welcome them warmly and there with their legal and secretary, the Carri Corporation is already present.
Allison was in dazed as they were inside a hall that no trace of sports equipment as he expected. As they had their formalities, both of them seat at their own couch as if they held a grand yet cautious agreement.
"It was nice to see you Mr. Carri." Allison greeted as he warmly seated in the luxurious couch. He just felt bad as he glanced over Denise who was still standing behind him with his team.
"It goes the same with me." There was a trace of authority yet formal tone from David.
He scanned the RE group of employees. He could really sense that they are edge to edge with his employees too. It was just a slight negligence brought them to this far.
"I hope we could regularly meet like this outside the business." David smiled politely at his opponent. He was also reading what Allison could be thinking of.
"It would be my pleasure." It was surely an awkward reply from Allison.
"Since we will be truly partners in the future, why not we play something challenging to deepen our brotherhood?" David asked.
"I have no objection of that Mr. David Carri." Allison was mentally prepared the sport he think both of them can truly be at par.
Denise, despite her aching calves from standing, she patiently looked what will happened next. She was just stunned to look that it was Davin's twin who was the CEO of the Carri's. She wondered what happened. Davin was expected to inherit the family business; she never heard that Davin even had a twin as they identically looked the same.
She secretly glanced at them challenging with each others play of words.
"I believe you were truly sport enthusiast, Mr. Allison." He signaled his hands as if he was going to bring something. "Let's have mind sports instead." As the chess board was placed between them.
Allison froze for a while as if his mind went blank the moment he saw the chess board. He never anticipated that to deal business with the chess as David mentioned. He never played chess in his entire life since he is into physical and outdoor games.
That silence was deafening as if Allison was tested beyond measure. He thought of how could he pull it through if the man in front of him, is the God of chess?
"You seemed off Mr. Allison, is chess is not your liking?" There is a tone of sarcasm that everyone could hear that.
Think Allison! Think! Allison screamed in his mind as if he tried to solve this dilemma. Admitting that he doesn't know chess is acceptable but this seems to trap him. It was a quick glance that he came up with a good solution.
"It seems you are barking at the wrong tree Mr. Carri. Even the newest intern in our company can even be at par with you edge to edge. If you would agree, I would like someone to represent me. Her prowess is my prowess. Her victory is my victory, her loses reflect mine. Will you consider this proposal?"
He signaled Denise who wanted to scoff but she looks fired up. If I can't match you, perhaps my boss could? He silently thought as Denise walk towards the table.
"Would someone so genius like you Sir acknowledge this humble intern's basic skill?" the glint of her eyes shows that she was accepting the war invisible to them.
David chuckled, fascinated to the audacity of this intern to even play chess with him.
"Challenged accepted." Both of them comfortably occupy their seats. Their provocation is surely commenced.