RED INK
Ep 21: One Ego in mind
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~~Linda's Point of View~~
"Have you prepared the presentation?" She asked Greg who was standing opposite her.
He came forward and handed her the flash drive in his hand.
She collected it and looked at it, it was a tiny flash drive, it barely reached one-third of her finger. "I will go through it one last time. Have you been able to contact Mr Dillion?"
"His assistant has been picking the calls."
"So, not once has he communicated with you, himself?"
He shook his head. "No."
Linda scoffed. "What does he feel like? " She murmured to herself. "If not that this is important, I wouldn't have bothered." She looked at Gregory, "So, is it certain he will be attending the meeting?"
"Yes, young madame. His assistant confirmed he will be there."
"Then we better see for ourselves. Wednesday morning, 8:00AM is the fixed time. We will be there thirty minutes early. After all, we are the ones going after him."
"Madame, don't you think going thirty minutes early will make you appear desperate for the partnership?"
"I don't see a reason why we shouldn't be there on time."
"But madame, it would be preferable to arrive five minutes to eight minutes early."
"Look Greg, I understand your concern. I really do. But punctuality matters in business. If we want to prove that we are worth investing in, we need to convince the investor that he isn't dispensing his money to a blithe company. And first impression matters a lot. A man of that caliber must have done his research on us, don't you think?"
"I still think fifteen minutes earlier is way better of."
"Or we could be the first to get there. We may appear desperate but then, they will know we are serious. You could view it as desperate, but I choose to think of it as persistency; which could sometimes get you what you want. Or you could view it as both. We have to strike this deal before Light-Green does. Our sources have confirmed that they are beginning to poke at available talents to boost their resume. I can't let that happen. If I am able to meet Mr Dillion directly, I will want to leave a good impression on the overall boss of Agio. Who would miss a chance like that?" She stood up from the chair she was sitting on. "Having a huge investor and a limited partner like Agio behind us will give us a stronger hold into the market share."
She had showered earlier that morning after eating breakfast, she had laid in her bathtub too soon to calm her nerves. Right now, she felt she needed a massage. A spa day couldn't be bad. She placed her hand at the back of her neck, trying to look for the point of turn to free up her ligaments and muscles. It was futile. Guess she would have visit the chiropractor and go for that spa massage.
She was dressed in a sporty short knicker, her furry slippers to her feet, her hair held up with a band around head, in a big long sleeve shirt which when looking at it twice could be mistaken as belonging to her boyfriend... but it was her father's. She had always found her father's shirts very comfy.
She turned to look at Greg again. "But I am confused as to why Mr Dillion will choose to be a limited partner...it seems too low for someone like him. A lot of shareholders these days want to partake fully in company business. Even those whose shares are low."
"That shouldn't surprise you!" It was Mr Springdam. He came into the living room they were at with a full golf uniform and a cap on his head. Beside him was his PA, George and his body guard, Gray. Her father seemed to have a thing for men with names that started with 'G'.
George collected the golf bag that Mr Springdam was holding in his hand.
Mr Springdam walked in, both hands at his back, head out like a curious cat. "I thought you were smart, Linda. Tsk tsk tsk. May God help us all. Isn't that a simple question you can answer yourself?"
Linda sighed and folded her hands. "Okay, daddy sir, why is it that a known company like Agio who is on its way up close enough to monopolizing the city will choose to become a dormant partner?"
Mr Springdam smiled. "Well, your proposal solely puts him in that position. He is only interested in profit, he does not want to partake in our company's business, how we decide to run the company is not his problem. At the end of each month, his profit must count. For the brand you are sponsoring, the name Agio will help boost the sales as it is already an established name and will gain more popularity alongside the partnership. And even now, if Mr Dillion offers me billions, I will refuse to sell my company to him." Mr Springdam straightened his back, dropping his hands by his sides. "Was that good enough an answer for you, or you have more questions to spur?"
Linda shook her head. "No. It's enough."
"Better."
"I knew the answers anyways."
"Hm. I am sure you did." Mr Springdam looked at her from head to toe. "Child, Is that my shirt?"
Linda looked down at the shirt she was wearing, raising her head to her father, she grinned. "Yes."
"How many times have I told you to stop wearing my clothes? Whatever you wear, they don't come back to me and I never see you wear them again. Yet, you take away new ones everyday!"
"They are so comfortable."
"Pull it!" Her father yelled. "Pull it off, this instant!" Seeing the reactions of George, Gray and Greg, he lowered his tone. "Um...not here. In your room! Next time when you want a shirt like mine, go to Shoppers' Mart— men's section and get for yourself a pair of MEN'S clothing. Leave mine alone! Seems I will have to start locking my room door." He stared her down again. "And are you naked in the middle of this house? I thought you were shivering from cold this morning, am I wrong? Someone who is prone to cold so easily does not wear this kind of short. Go change."
"Dad, I am home, on my day off. If there is anything I need, it's to be as comfortable as ever."
"Do that in your husband's house!"
Linda walked to him and wrapped her arm in his. She rested her head on his shoulder. "No dad, I will do it in my father's house. You are stuck with me for a long, looooong time." She grinned.
Mr Springdam tried removing his hand, but he was enjoying the warmth his daughter gave him. He thought of Diana, Diana wasn't the touchy or affectionate type, she only came hugging him when she was at her weakest and vulnerable point, and for her to get to that point is the same as waiting for snow to fall in Tribat.
"Father?" Linda called to him without letting go.
"Hm?"
"Are you staying long in your gulf club? How long will you be gone for?"
"I don't know. I have few people I need to meet with. It will take a while. Why do you ask?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. I just wanted us to go out for dinner. Me, you...Diana...all of us."
"Hey!" Her father yelled and released his hand. "Don't even try to get out of this one!"
Linda looked at him, confused. "Get out of what?"
"I already booked your date night with Spencer, you will need to meet him and offer your apology."
"I thought that was tomorrow!"
"It's tonight."
"But father—"
"No buts. It's booked. Standing him up again tonight will mean you are asking for a death wish." He looked at Greg. "Make sure you remind her or you yourself will ask for a death wish also."
Greg nodded. "Yes, boss."
Mr Springdam turned to go. "Let's go." He saif to Gray and George as they led the way out of the house.
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Lorin picked up her phone from beside her, on the chair where she was sitting. She was holding a bucket of popcorn with her laps, legs on the center table, remote in one hand and watching the drama she had missed multiple times in a row. She didn't want to think about the work she wasn't doing today. She felt relaxed and refresh.
She slid up receive button, it was Aurora on the line. "What's up?"
"I don't think I will be able to make it on time."
"Ow! Why?"
"It seems my meeting here will take longer than I expected."
"Couldn't your boss wait till you were on duty?"
"I wish the same thing."
Lorin heard sigh on the background. "Sorry dearie. Thank God I haven't reserved a table yet."
"We can shift it to when next you will be on your day off."
"Ai! Our days off don't tally. You always have busy schedule and you love volunteering to help your seniors. It's fine. Whenever the next unlikely event may take place, we will go for it."
"I am sorry, Lorin."
"Oh please! Nothing to be sorry about. I even have a better idea, I think ordering it from the restaurant and eating it at home will be a good idea. What do you think?"
"I think it wouldn't be the same as eating it in the restaurant in a different environment."
There was silence for a while. "I will make out time one of these days. I promise."
"Don't promise, cause then if you can't keep it, I start feeling bad. I will not expect much. Whenever you are chanced, we will go. Okay?"
"Okay. I have to go."
"Alright. Take care. Come back on time."
"Sure."
The call ended. Lorin dropped the phone back on the chair and threw a popcorn back in her mouth, repositioning her legs to a more comfortable pose. She kept on watching the series.
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Aurora dropped the phone in her pocket and adjusted her backpack. She felt bad that she had postponed a lot of times for this planned event. Lorin was always excited to try out a new restaurant and she had invited her, stood her up and Lorin had refused to taste the food without her. She felt bad because she was the reason why Lorin has refused to step her feet in the restaurant in on any other day. And today that she had called her after her exam that they could finally make it to that restaurant, she heard the excitement in Lorin's voice even though she hid it. Calling her back to cancel plans on her for the 100th time yet...she was sure Lorin felt bad...or not. She had probably grown out an immune system against the several disappointments she had introduced her to.
She watched doctor Hither come out of a VIP room and entered another. Sometimes, he was with either the urologist or the cardiologist. She found a chair to seat in and thought to do something to keep herself busy. If she went downstairs to help in the Emergency room, she may not leave and may even forget her appointment she came here for. She'd be so engrossed with performing surgery and saving one life saved after the other; she would feel obligated to perform more surgeries. She shook her head. Nope! She won't do it.
She picked up her earpiece and put both sides to her ear. She clicked her phone and decided to play music to pass out time. When the song started playing, she rested her head on the glass frame behind her and soaked herself in the moment, her head moving slowly with the song's Rhythm, she hummed along, keeping her voice as low as possible.