TOUGH MEETING

"Do you really think that this is the best idea, sir?"Patrick asked with a concerned look on his face.

"Yes, I am sure." I said trying to mask my obvious concern

Patrick tried to read my expression as he looked into my eyes to see if I was really prepared to put a sudden deadline to the competition.He frowned at me ,that was one of the few times when Patrick was not immediately obediant. I was worried that he would be able to read that it was not what i wanted. All the rash decisions i made in the past weeks definitely made him concerned. A lot of things had happened since MIranda came back. I made a gaming tournament for hackers, a got a girlfriend who i hired in my company and i fell ill to a special disease and i was put in mandatory quarantine. All these events were abnormal and to someone like Patrick he might have been worried that something else was happening behind the scenes.If Patrick ever found out he would lose his mind.

"Sir if I could give my own opinion on the matter."Patrick said with his hand shaking uncontrollably.He looked pale and could fall over at any second.

"That is odd of you but go ahead i would like to hear you're opinion."I said hoping that he did not faint from his nervousness.

"What if you did something instead of closing the competition. Like announcing a special event that will boost their stats on the game.That will definitely help out if you wanted more sudden and rapid participation."He said as sweat dripped down his face.He quickly got his handkerchief and wiped it off and looked at me with hopeful puppy dog eyes.

I thought about the idea and it was clever and it could work out put i knew it would not be as effective as putting a final deadline. I wanted to find XR as soon as possible it was the safest route and i never wanted to go Miranda's plan which could put all of us in harm.If XR was as great as everyone put him out to be then i knew that it would be safer to use him.The risks were lower and if we failed i hoped that XR could mask our identities and would could work something our later.

"I will think about it." I said

"Do i still call up Daniel and Susan?"

"Yes. by the time those two arrive i would have made my decision."

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Have you ever wondered how cave men would cope with anxiety? Would they even get anxious?It was possible after creating the first fire the creature was definitely anxious.It was an unknown thing that he created something that he never even knew could be created.I imagined the creature would stretch out it's hairy hand to the fire to see if it could touch it and then it suddenly burned and it would scream in pain.After that it would try to fight the fire and try to get it out of its presence and throw it's weapons in it and watch his weapons being engulfed in the flame. It would be scared and then suddenly it would start raining and the fire dies down.

After the fire is completely gone it would look at what is left and wonder how that was possible he would wonder how water would defeat the great flame over his own weapons which had been used for years to hunto down other animals for food. he would look at the fire and be curios and it would be the start of the first experiments with the fire. To a creature like that the days were never numbered for it. It do not grasp the concept of time. All he knew was day and night. With the day and nights it would continue to learn about the fire and see what it could do with it, sometimes it would burn and lose its weapons and other days it would learn that the heat could soften his meat.

That was the purpose of the fire it was a trial and error system in which it never knew nothing about.It was a painful experience with some rewards and sometimes it had it's downfalls but the mystery of exploring the bright red and yellow flames would always fill a hole in his chest.

Even years after that, after evlotion and becoming smarter,humans always had to explore the mystery that lied in front of them. We never knew what was right or wrong.We were making calculated guesses with hopes that our choices would lead us to our desired end. That was what i thought about when i waited for Susan and Daniel.I thought if i was making the right choice if i was intentionally placing my hand in the flames and was about to get burned.It was all for Miranda but what will happen after all that.What will happen if both failed and we still needed resources but we could not be able to obtain them because of the downfall of the company because of making rash decisions. I have seen many fall in small ways when people lose trust in them.

Other than Miranda,Digicliff was the only thing that made me feel like I could still have led a normal life. I had done so many things that i never imagined were possible.But then the more i thought about myself the more I felt my selfishness creep in and i could see the scars on Miranda's back,the gruesome images and videos i would look at every night of the citizens where i would pray that Miranda would not die in such a terrifying and horrendous way. I was overthinking once again and i never knew if i was right or wrong.

I walked to my window and looked outside to look at Paradise City.It was as beautiful as it was every single day.The city felt warm and peaceful.It was safe and secure.It was true paradise,I wondered how a city that would have the whole characteristic feelng of peace and tranquility could not feel the pain of another location which was suffering.It even felt unfair.Looking at people who would have good lives from the day they were born to the day they would die.That was supposed to be the fate of all born in Paradise.Unless you do something stupid like me and then it takes a whole turn to the opposite direction.You lose the paradise,You Lose the peace of mind and you without a doubt lose the security.

"they are in the boardroom sir."Patrick said.

"On my way." i said getting back into my senses.

I knew that Daniel might be angry if i told him about my decision and i never knew i was prepared to handle him like last time i just had to hope that i could handle the situation like last time.Susan was a kind soul so i hoped that she would be much easier to deal with.

Before entering i took a deep breath and levelled my breathing. I knew the weight of the situation and i could not mess it up by all means.I slowly opened the door and looked at them and put on a small grin as i greeted them

"What is this sudden meeting Cyrus?"Daniel asked tapping his feet on the ground in impatience.That was not a good sign but i had to brave through also considering that all i had managed to do was to greet them.

I sat at the table with them this time and made sure to practice some of the tips and tricks that glenn had taught me to help me negotiate with them.I opened my arms wide and made sure to look confident by straightening my back and looking at them in their eyes in a way that it would look like i was sure of what would tell them.Anything to make the process easier was helpful.It also helped to relax knowing that i was statistically increasing my chances of winning in my negotiations.

"How are the both of you today?" i asked grinning like an idiot.Susan and Daniel looked at each other. It was as if the both of them were confirming that they were not dreaming.They did not even respond, business representatives were always tough to deal with when everyone was trying to read each other's minds.

"Okay now i wanted to discuss NP."

"I hope it is not anything dumb. like asking for more money."daniel immediately said still being impatient I looked at him and gave him a friendly smile and prayed that he would not continue with that kind of attitude throughout the meeting.

"no we do not need more money. So now concerning the contest after going through the participation rates and the speed at which they are completing the quests we have stagnated."

"And where are these statistics?"Daniel asked skeptical.

I looked at him and clenched my teeth.Being in my position it was difficult to actually tell him to be patient since i was the one who was going to ask for a favour. i was under his will and he knew it and would make anything i said difficult to deal with.I took out my phone and pulled out the statistics and displayed it on the smart board which was the boardroom.

"There it is."i said looking at him and he looked content for once the entire meeting.

"So after discussing among us the hosts of the tournament we came with an idea of giving a sudden deadline to the--"

"Sudden deadline?"susan immediately questioned with her head turned in sudden shock.

"Yes for this weekend to get more people-----"

"Forget it Cyrus you know how sudden deadlines and delays would make all of us look."Daniel looking away.

"But it is the best way to get the best people out of the contest."

"What happens after that?"Susan asked looking at me,"I hope you know that this tournament is just a promotional event and is nothing to damage our images for."Susan said serious.

"yes it is a promotional event. If we give a sudden surprise we are changing dates .How would that make us look?"Daniel asked

"It--"

"we will look ridiculous. We can't do that. After your big announcement for it and perusading us to put our companyies' names on it we can not risk it by looking unreliable."Daniel said now pacing in the room

"But--"

"I am in complete agreement with him. It is not a good choice and you know you cannot do it if our sides are not in agreement."

I looked at the both of them with their faces in disbelief.This was the one thing that i never wanted to happen. The moment when i had to solve the issue. I knew they would beyond persuasion just by their reactions. Even if i made the announcement myself without their permission it would lead to grieve consequences and i could not do anything that could be such a big risk. Miranda might be upset with me if i do not do what we agreed to do the other night and i was put on the spot.I wish glenn was with me he would knew what to do since he was the only one who could easily think under pressure.As i was thinking harder and harder on what to do, i took a look at they were already at the door ready to leave.

"Wait what if we arrange a special event then and we keep the end date there ?"I asked without thinking.

Daniel's hand was on the door just like last time.the only difference was that this time around i was the one who was at a disadvantage.Hopefully Patrick's idea would be the solution to my poblem.

"We are listening."Susan said turning her head toward me prepared to heat me out.