At the Johnston &Co. building..
In the large spacious, brightly lighted conference room, the meeting had just ended, bringing the signs of relief in the constipated face of the employees. All the employees thanked the president with a slight bow as the man left the room with a straight face and long strides.
The meeting was becoming more and more intense with each passing hour and it was getting hard for them to match with the President's expectations. Everyone was literally praying for it to end as the meeting has already extended nearly two hours, nearly eating up their lunch time too. As soon as the man on head chair adjourned the meeting and was gone everyone wind out an air of relief.
"Ahh .... thank God it ended, I swear in the name of Jesus if it had continued for few more minutes I would have died because of lack of oxygen..." said one of the employee making a chocking face, gaining a laughing for his actions form his colleagues.
"Totally agree with you... think we have to come up with some really good ideas for the next time if we don't want to get fired.... Ahh my brain had stopped working I really need to have my food. My brain needs to nourish itself to face the demanding president again..." quipped the other employee in support of his friend.
"Haha.... let's go and eat now before canteen is closed..." jested another. Everyone left the room laughing after collecting all their stuffs.
... .... ....
The straight look on the face of the man was making hard for others to even give a second look at him. If one pays a close look at the man dressed in a formal well-fitted black suit, he can easily detect the weariness and tiredness on his face.
Ron was fast to approach Andrew as soon as he came out of the room. He informed him about the lastest development in the most awaited project of Johnston's before he will fly to country A.
"President... we have come across with some problem in southern zone developing site, the social workers are again creating a havoc not allowing workers to get in, saying we have not compensated the parties reasonably..." Ron updated him quickly while walking with him to his office.
Andrew took long strides to reach his office while he said in complaining tone, "Oh come on , not this again ....why they come up with this topic every time..."
He made himself comfortable in his chair and look at Ron with a blank face and said in a threatening tone, "I remember we had resolve this matter last month only and had paid the concerned parties heavily. The parties involved have also signed a contract with us for not hindering our work. They can't force us like this every time. Ron you know what to do, just take the required actions against them ... anything else .."
"No all other things are under control. I just needed to know your views on this matter before proceeding with it, don't worry I'll handle it precisely...." answered Ron instantly in affirmative tone.
After a pause Ron again started the conversation as he was concern about Andrew's health, looking how drained out he look at that time, "President you don't look well, you haven't had your lunch too yet... Should I bring something to eat, you can take a break to replenish your energy as it's going to be a long day today.. "
"Thanks Ron for the concern, I loved to have something light ..." said Andrew while blowing out his exhaustion. He leaned and swivels in his chair while closing his eyes to relax a bit.
After sometime Andrew open his eyes to look around his office. He blankly look at the dark walnut bookshelves lining the entire left-hand wall, different kinds of books on business, management and other stuff were neatly organized there.
His reverie was broken when someone knock at the door. "Come in.." said Andrew by picking some papers on his table to read.
Ron walk in the office with two bags of food and some drinks. He sighed seeing him absorbed into the papers, "Please leave them there and come here to eat first... if you continue doing like this you will surely collapse..."
Andrew languishly glided himself towards the leather couch placed at the right corner of the office. After making himself comfortable he takes a look at the parcel placed on the glass coffee table.
Ron excused himself to answer a call, "Please help yourself and I'll send someone after sometime to clean it up when you are done .. "
Andrew hummed in response and started having his meal. He didn't know but it feels like that he had missed out something important, but he can't pinpoint it.
.... ..... ...
At the airport
Andrew reached the airport at sharp 5:30 to board the plane. He was sitting inside the business suite of plane on his chair comfortably with his eyes closed, when suddenly he remembered Ron coming inside his office in the morning and telling something about Ariena.
''Right Ariena, I have said I'll call back to her in the afternoon and I forgot to do so..oh God " Andrew dialled to Ariena while mumbling to himself, but to his dismay she was not answering his call.
"Is she mad at me for not calling that's why she is ignoring me ..?" he mused over the fact. In the next moment he dialled Ron to know for what she had called him for.
"Ron, in the morning Ariena called to have something to discuss with me do you know what it was.. ? "he asked instantly without fiddling around.
"Yes President, Madam did call but I don't know what it was for, she said that she herself will discuss about the things when you get back from the trip ...." replied Ron.
Andrew let out a sigh as he heard the announcement for taking off and said, "Ron , I can't get through Ariena and my flight is about to take off,so I'll not be able to contact her. please can you check on her if everything is okay and message me the same.. "
"Okay...I'll do it.. have a safe trip president..", Ron answered him.
Andrew cut the call and kept his phone back on the side, while poundering on the reason why Ariena didn't receive his call.
He sighed while convincing himself that she must be busy with her work in Matilda's.
"I hope you are safe..." he mumbled as he closed his eyes again in respect of getting some sleep on the plane.