It was 10:49 and Bruce got into the elevator at his company with his Armani Custom made leather bag in his hand and he walked out of the elevator on this floor- the 34th of the 42 storey building where his board meeting was to happen.
Bruce's company, ProZeven, was a multi-billion dollar international company involved in real estate, pharmaceuticals and a number of 5-star hotels with branches around prominent cities of the world.
Bruce has always had a topnotch dress sense and his outfit today was nothing short of that class and elegance that he wore with all confidence.
His suit and his pants were designed by the Italian Genius, Alphonso and that was not an outfit that the other 99 percent of the world could afford. He invested in wristwatches as well. One could recognise Bruce as a wealthy mid-aged handsome guy who invested in arts, women and all pleasure that matched his class.
As he walked majestically and yet smartly towards the board room, his secretary, Melissa was right by the door, waiting for him. Melissa was a blonde gorgeous lady with ocean blue eyes and she was in her early twenties, smartly dressed in a blouse matched with a tuxedo and a blue pant trouser, and it was no secret, despite how poorly she tried to hide it that she had a huge crush on Bruce.
Bruce on the other hand, never saw Melissa in any way different than he'd seen his sibling and since he had none, he couldn't be more concerned about Melissa. She was simply his secretary and he had work respect for her even though he had a very bad way of expressing it.
"Good morning, Bruce" Melissa said with a smile that was louder than her pretty and soft voice.
"Hey, Melissa. How many of them are in there yet?" Bruce said with a fixed face that held no bit of attraction or romantic admiration whatsoever for her.
"...eerrnmm.. there are 6 of them already" Melissa said, stuttering and with shuddering breaths which she was trying so hard to hide.
Melissa could never not be this way, awkward, whenever Bruce neared her and she could smell the ancient Greek God, Eros on his body with his bewitching accent, and her face was slightly below his stubble facial hair. She was always either drowning in her erotic fantasies or was too lost in his entirety to find her way back to reality.
"Ggggg…" Melissa cringed as she uttered meaningless words to herself after Bruce walked away from her and went right into the board room.
Melissa was disappointed in herself. She had slipped up again and she wondered if she was ever going to get used to him to a point where she wasn't bothered by his presence.
Bruce stepped into the room, closing the door behind him and all the people in here got on their feet from the chairs in which they sat.
The room had a median age of 49 with most of them being in their early fifties and two of them being in their late forties.
Bruce had gotten used to this ovation they always lavished him with and also the smiles of admiration on their faces and he never protested any of it. He looked to the chair to his right hand side which was empty and once again, Edward was late to a meeting.
Edward, who was in his early thirties was not new to this setting but had always been a late comer and showing no quintessential business prowess whatsoever. After all, he never really belonged here. It was only after his father's death and the transfer of shares to him that he could he in this room with them all. To Bruce, he was a mere statistic who only had value when a vote was needed.
"Good morning, Directors. Let's get to it." Bruce said in an audacious tone and yet one could not deny that he was charismatic too.
They all returned to their sitting positions and fixed their eyes on him as he brought out his MacBook and opened to the schedule of the day's meeting.
"We haven't finalised if we'll be proceeding with the Ibiza hotel launch this month or the end of the next quarter…" Bruce was interrupted by the sound of the door behind him as Edward walked in calmly and unbothered about his lateness as he found his way to his chair and sat, removing his sunshades which were strictly out of fashion for this season which wasn't summer and he nodded his head to greet those present in the room while pulling out an unfinished Debauve & Gallais chocolate bar from his blazers' pocket which made a disturbing squeaky sound that Bruce was disgusted at.
All board members looked at Edward with faces of disgust, contempt and utter disappointment in his presence among them.
"So, when are we going to launch it?" Bruce continued as the board members fixed their eyes on him once more.
"I find it strategic to launch towards the end of the next quarter alongside the already refurbished Zai'm media outlet which we could collaborate with to even further our popularity among them in Spain."
Other board members except Edward and Bruce nodded their head in what looked like agreement to this Marketing's tactic.
"I don't find that strategic at all. What happens when the media outlet isn't received well? That's not a risk I'm willing to bank on" Edward said with relaxed shoulders and a pompous posture expressing every bit of pride.
"No one is asking you to bank on anything here, Edward. You seem to be forgetting your place. Director Philip is a marketing genius and not once has he disappointed or failed to deliver on his tactical suggestions. I, however, can't say the same for you."
"Mmpphh" Edward scoffed as his posture became defensive with his pride having been bruised as the other board members laughed lowly as him.
"Let's take that vote now" Bruce said as he glanced at his Patek Philippe wristwatch.