The Meeting

MASON

“So how long do I have before I have to see your ugly faces again?” Carl asked his hand tapping on the steering wheel in rhythm and his face showcased his white teeth, which I hoped were greasy and yellow but of course ‘you cannot have everything you want now, can you?’.

Rolling my eyes, I looked at Carlson sharing a smirk then back at carl and replied

“1 hour tops and if not you’ll always have an opportunity to wait for us in the waiting room to witness our ugly faces which by the way still look better than yours”

“And I think that is saying something” Added Carlson with raised suggestive eyebrows.

“whatever” he replied rolling his eyes.

“Now, dumbass com’on give us all the luck that you’ve got!” Carlson said punching carl’s shoulder playfully.

“All the flucks! to you two assless assholes, rock your non existing ass infront of their face and get the deal signed!!” Carl shouted fist punching the air.

Chuckling we climbed out of the car and walked inside the huge grey building.

The building all the way from the front look to the reception area to the corridors to the meeting room Carlson and I were sitting in right now was, to say the least, was elegant.

Most of the walls were painted in shades of grey still the building was nowhere close to boring or plain.

There were paintings, art, creativity displayed on every fourth wall. Colors contrasting or just proving to be a good combination with grey splayed all over in one shape or another, making one thing or the other.

If anything the building was an inspiration, a art-museum and a displayer of the power of creativity and innovation.

No one in there right mind would want to miss an opportunity to work in a place like this, filled with motivation, I think they would beg, try everybit of themselves to get in here.

I couldn’t help the smile that plastered on my face while I looked around the office. A light shade of grey, with the fourth wall of nothing but glass displaying the city view but also penetrating sunlight, lighting the whole office with yellow-white rays, I could only imagine what it would be like at the time of sunset.

The wall beside it, not the one with shelf and drawers attached all over with small plant pots no, the other one right opposite to it. There was a large bird in the middle of flying made with triangles of different colores all the same light shades, some pastel some not.

It was beautiful, admirably beautiful.

Exchanging a look of being completely awestruck with Carlson I looked back at my watch waiting for the head of the project to enter.

About two minutes later a woman dressed in professional work gear entered, her wite shirt and grey pencil skirt suited her figure all too well and through she had glasses on and her hair were ina ponytail she looked good, professional and authoritative.

And the proof of her beauty, it wasn’t seen on her face, no. instead, it was visible in my brother’s eyes!

If I didn’t know better I would’ve thought he saw a girl for the first time and was mesmerized by the other…….creation the almighty god created.

His eyes weren’t wide but they weren’t their normal size either, his eues were stuck on her and I could have sworn I saw his iris change from brown circle to red heart just like in tom and jerry.

My imagination almost made me laugh but I controlled before it could have been noticeable to anyone.

I kicked Carlson under the table to make him realize that he needed to blink and act humanly, they couldn’t know he was a vampire now could they.

The horrors of being caught ogling at your soon to be business partner, awfully embarrassing I mentally shook my head.

He blinked a few times at me then rolling his shoulder back and breathing deep, he came to focus.

By the time we got out of our little mental conversation trance and back to the world and I realized we had already missed her apology for being late and her introduction.

“Oh no that was fine, we didn’t wait long” I said smiling and stretched my hand out “im mason by the way”

“Rodgers, Carlson Rodgers,” Carlson said, did he just try James Bond on her. I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrow at him in question and in a warning.

‘Dude limits the deal is important’ I tried saying with my expressions, he seemed to understand. I hope he did.

Chuckling nervously she had shaken his hand, just informing if you were wondering.

God am I witnessing love at first sight right now?

We were here for a business deal, just let the deal be signed.

Gods! Carlson is so going to ruin this, I whinned in my thoughts.

He can get the girl later just let the deal be signed please god please, I prayed.

“Mr. Rodgers’s would you two like to drink something” She joked

“Oh no, I am good” “me too” we replied.

“You were send a proposal the other day, I assume you guys went through it already” She said, we nodded, and then she continued again

“We would just need to discuss the details of the contract, I would run them with the Head Of Project and then we can sign the contract”

“Ah, wait, What do you mean?......I thought you are the Head Of Project” I said more alert now.

“Uh no…mr Rodgers I’m the P.a. of the Head Of Project, I’m sorry but I mentioned this a few minutes ago” she said with a frown looking at me and Carlson.

“Oh….I am sorry I must have missed it, but don’t mind me asking when will the Head Of Project be attending this meeting?” I asked, how could I discuss these important business details with a p.a., decide terms as per her terms and not take the word of the person himself I was supposed to be partnering with.

“I am sorry sir but the head of project had some urgent matters to deal with, she wont be able to attend this meeting,” She said

“Excuse me? But we need his presence, we cant discuss the details with you alone! We need his opinion in finalizing the terms deciding changes in the clauses, after all it’s his word we wi; be partnering with” Carlson said

“I understand but you can take my word as hers, they actually are hers, I assure you it wont be a problem” she said trying to assure us pointing at the Bluetooth piece in her ear.

“Not now, but we can’t risk having them in the future, I am sorry but either we have this deal with him to witness the builting of the same or we don’t have it at all” I said a but angry and agitated.

Carlson said agreeing “sorry but we cant trust this…..arrangement”

We could not discuss the terms for such a big partnership like this, they could easily sue us in the future for any disagreement in views and ideas and point a finger on us without blinking an eye.

And the fact that it would be us acing the loss and trouble not them.

No chance, not a risk I’m letting us take.

“Mr. Rodgers, I assure you both, my word is literally the hop’s word there is absolutely nothing to doubt here” She tried to convince.

“I’m sorry either we have this partnership with him or we don’t,” I said fuming.

Juana turned to Carlson trying to convince but he beat her to it and spoke first.

“I’m sorry either he trusts us and be here for the deal or we don’t have a deal, you might be right and we could actually take your wots but I am sorry we cant risk it”

“Gentleman, would you rather have another meeting fixed where the hop would be present?” She asked after communicating the situation through that ear piece.

“And what about this meeting we arranged it as per both party’s schedule,” I asked, wait so now did he not see us important enough to be able to grace us with his presence.

“I think you should ask the hop if she can attend the meeting in the next half hour, we can wait till then” Carlson suggested placing a hand on my shoulder to relax and I huffed a breath, this- it was unacceptable.

Juana nodded and repeated the same then continued, looking at us “She’ll be here thank you for waiting”

In all the confusion and anger I didn’t even notice she referred the HOP as she and not he until I saw it myself.