FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A MAN

KATE

When we got back to the company as expected father came down to meet us .

" Where have you been ? " He barked .

I looked around at the people watching.

" Relax , father. I just went to meet Mrs. Vivan, head of fashion department and discuss about the clothes for the upcoming programme. It was in my schedules today "

Father looked angry " Secretary Bessy !"

"Yes sir "

" Get my phone right now and put Mrs Vivan on the phone "

" Yes sir "

Father pointed at me " if I find out you are lying , you will regret this "

Bessy came back with Dad's phone.

" Call her"

" Yes sir "

The phone beeped.

" Hello ?"

" Yes, Mrs Vivan . How are you doing today ?"

" Mr Ken , it's such a pleasure to hear from you . To what do I owe this pleasure?"

" I just wanted to confirm something. My son Nate ,did he come visit you today?"

" Your son ? Of course . He came to discuss about the clothing brand and see if they were ready "

Father's eyes widened " I see"

" Mr Ken, you spoke so highly of your son . Don't tell me you actually think he forgot or something"

Ken laughed" of course not . Well , I best free you now. Have a nice day "

The line went beep .

" If you were going to go anyways, why didn't you atleast go with your bodyguard?"

I walked away .

" I'm talking to you !"

" And I don't have time to talk. I have a company to run . Marketing team A and B to the meeting room now ".

" Yes sire"

We got to the meeting room.

" What's the daily report ?"

" Umm...it stocks dropped from last week. Some customers complained that the lipstick product taste weird and left bad reviews"

" Who was in charge of making the lipsticks?"

" Marketing team B"

I nodded my head. " So in other words team B is made up of incompetent people. Okay . Let's swap it up then , team A from now it's your job to make the products. Team B you check the reviews . Is that taken ? "

"Yes sir"

I looked at Nathan and smiled as I remembered how he helped me .

" help me " I had said

" What ? Me ? How ? "

" To be honest...I don't know anything about business "

" But you went abroad and studied business for a long time sir "

" Hey, just help me okay? I really need to prove to father that I can do this "

"Okay , then first we better call Mrs Vivan of the fashion department "

"Her ? Why ? "

" You had an appointment scheduled today by 2:30 sir . Don't tell me you actually forgot"

I had forgotten. Alot of things happened in just this one day.

" I'm doomed "

" No , you are not. We can still fix it "

" How?"

" Like this ". I watched as Nathan called her.

" Mrs Vivan?"

" Yes ? Who am I speaking with?"

" Nathaniel, Mr Nate's boss "

" Ah "

" Could the appointment be pushed forward ? Mr Nate is unable to make it at this time "

" Hey , look here. I'm just as busy as the chairman . If he can't make it he should forget about it "

" Actually , the chairman was on his way to see you and decided to pick some flowers for you and was nearly hit by a car. The shock made him faint and he is in the hospital now. We are not postponing to another day just pushing the time a little more forward"

" Really? Oh , my. I hope he is alright. Yes , we can do that . I'm free by 6"

" Oh and if Mr Ken calls and ask can you please tell him that you two already met. We don't want to get him worried "

" Of course , of course"

" Thank you , have a nice day"

" You too "

The line went beep.

I looked at Nathan in surprise and clapped for him " That was smooth"

"Wasn't it ?"

" Okay so what next "

" Now ...we go back to the company . When we get there , you ask for daily reports and look at what has fallen and what needs improvement"

"Wow , you are really heaven sent . I knew it. Hey , just because I asked you for help doesn't mean we are close though , okay ? "

" Why? There's nothing wrong in a friendship between a man and a man"

Nathan looked back at me and smiled.

Nothing wrong in a friendship between a man and a man ? That is if it was actually between a man and a man .

***

NATHAN

When I got home after work , I called out for mom. I found her on the floor sleeping.

" Mom , wake up. I'm home "

Mom woke up " huh? Nathan is that you ?"

" Yes I bought you your favorite side dish " I said handing her the bag in my hand

Mom smiled " thank you "

" Mom"

" Hmm"

" Today...I taught someone busniess "

" What do you mean "

" I mean today I taught someone about business and it was fun. For the first time, I was glad I had actually taken your advice and read it . It felt really nice "

" Really ?"

" Hmm"

" Nathan ... tomorrow are you going to work ?"

Tomorrow, why ? Why had mom asked? Then I suddenly remembered , it was Dad's wake tomorrow " of course not. "

" Really ?you didn't forget ?"

" Of course , Mom. Let's eat now and wake up early for tomorrow "

Even if Dad used to beat up Mom ,after he passed Mom always remembered his wake. She never once forgot. I guess she still loves him that much .

I picked up my phone to call Mr Nate and inform him that I won't be at work tomorrow but it was dead.

Whatever,he might not even recognize my absence .

***

THE NEXT MORNING

KATE

That scumbag !

I thought we had gotten close yesterday. To an extent . Not showing up at work at all is one thing but then not calling is another.

" Bessy!" I called for her .

" Yessir"

" Did Nathan not really call you to tell you that he won't be at work ?"

" Yessir"

" Then what is it ?!"

" Can I ask sir why you are bothered by Mr Nathan's absence? You aren't one to be taken by such trivial things "

I scoffed" bothered, my foot. I'm just worried because-" because now that he is gone ,I'm on my own to run the company.

" Because?"

" Just go Bessy, I don't even know what you are trying to point out here"

" Yessir"

Bessy bowed and left. I looked at my phone and screamed. Seriously not even one phone call?

"Mr Nate "

"Yes, what!!"

"We are having a meeting now "

"Yes, I'll be there In a sec"

Mr.An walked in.

I sighed " please...not today "

"What did I-"

I walked away and heard him mutter "that rude brat"

When I got to the meeting room , I sat on my chair and asked " okay so what's the daily report ?"

Fiona spoke up " uh..Mr Nate , sorry to say this but Mr Nathan isn't here".

That's it .

My anger suddenly came loose as I couldn't keep it in anymore. Why was I angry? I don't know either . Because Nathan didn't show up for work and didn't call ? I don't know .

I just was .

"Fiona"

"Yessir"

"You are fired"

***