Mallory Industries

"Send it my house, I'm heading to my office. I've transferred your payment"

"Thank you, Sir"

Arnold Mallory shook hands with the driver of the moving van and went to his car.

He looked up at the pink neon sign above the shop.

It read:

"Aurora, making your fairytale dreams come true"

He scoffed quietly :who was the idiot kidding?

He rolled the car into the road and drove to his office.

All the way he thought about how to deal with his friend for ripping him off.

It was a hot summer day with the temperatures ranging from twenty to twenty-eight degrees Celsius. He reached for a button and turned on the air conditioning.

He still couldn't believe that he had been *convinced* into buying a bed at such a time.

He drove to his office quietly not at all feeling the urge to turn up any music. To him it was hot enough as it was. He'd feel better once he reached his office and took a shower.

He found his personal assistant waiting for him at the door.

"Yes, Derke. Give me the update" he walked past him and entered his personal elevator.

The young man followed him in and proceeded to give a detailed account of what had happened in the boss's absence.

"And also it seems as if your private quarters on the office floor have run out of water again." Derke somehow felt the need to lower his voice.

"What? Derke explain to me- in this fifty floor building-are you saying I can't afford to supply my room with water?"

"No, Sir"

"Then why isn't it fixed yet?"

"We're working on it Sir but rumor has it that it's your sister's doing"

"My sister? What's does she have to do with it?"

"Ever since she became CFO it seems that she hasn't been satisfied with you and keeps forgetting to pay the water bill for the fiftieth floor"

"This is the sixth time such things have happened. I'll go and have a word with her. It's twenty-five degrees out and I can't even have a shower...I don't get why mother punished me like this."

"The president also called this morning"

There was an electronic bell sound as the doors of the elevator opened onto their floor.

He had a floor entirely to himself. His team was made up of Derke, his personal assistant and Lilian his secretary. Derke's office was near his and Lilian operated a desk the main purpose of which was to greet visitors.

Arnold had issues with noise so he preferred things better with smaller populations.

"What did she want?"

"She wants you to go on a blind date"

"Another one of those??? Which company is it now?"

"It's the tissue paper company called Swish and Co."Derke put a hand on his mouth to stop himself from laughing.

Arnold opened the door to his office and tossed his jacket on a leather couch. He dropped into his revolving chair and propped his arms exhaustedly onto the desk.

"Derke, do you think I'm a joke too?"

Apparently Derke's little slight had not gone unnoticed.

The secretary shook his head and straightened his face.

"No, Sir"

"Then why do you find mirth in such a situation as my mother arranging a blind date for me with a toilet company?"

"With all due respect Sir, I believe you deserve better"

"I do, don't I?"

Arnold swung his chair to face the tall glass wall. From his position on the highest floor of the building, he could see the vast city sprawled out beneath him. At night he could see lights twinkling down below and up above as if there were no difference between earth and sky.

Right now he could see cars going up and down the streets and hundreds of people going up and about their daily business.

He wondered why even in this hot weather no one stayed at home. The same reason probably: money.

He repeated himself.

"I do, don't I? I work really hard for this company. I even have sleepless nights and overtime weekends. Why do I still have time to go on a blind date?"

"Boss...?"

"You heard me. Fill up my schedule now. Even night time should be packed. I'll sleep in the office."

"What should I tell the President?"

"What else? The schedule is full. I don't have time for anything else."

Derke nodded and left for his desk outside the office.

Arnold smiled wickedly," I'm not going on a blind date. Not with some toilet paper girl".

He reached for some files and began flipping through some pages.

Mallory Industries was one of the corporate giants of that time. Owned by a first generation chairwoman and managed by her children, it was the most remarkable of family successes.

It had begun from the industrious woman who had been urged to cook by the need to feed her family. She has sold pastries to survive. She ended up opening a shop and within decades she had built a thriving empire. She now owned several Michelin star restaurants across the globe, dedicated to providing the best quality of food to the millions of people who would have it.

This woman was Catherine Mallory.

Tall and humble she had the gait of a woman used to labouring in the kitchen. Sharp-eyed and tight-lipped her grip was that of an ironman. Men shirked from her handshake and some even looked away from the honest grey eyes that seemed to search deep into people's souls.

With her honest and carefree attitude, she won hearts with a smile and good food. People who did not know her did not believe that this could be her secret to success.

The luckiest people in the world were her three children whom she loved the most: Arnold, Auxilia and Alexander. Arnold and Auxilia had studied to take over the company after their mother and Alex was a renowned chef. He had written cookbooks that even professors recommended.

Catherine loved and thought the world of her children. Her only wish was to see them settled and happy before she died.

This was why she insistently tried to get her son to go for a blind date. He continuously refused and instead gained a notorious reputation for standing up his dates and making a fool of himself if he decided to appear.

All the same girls kept accepting the invitations hoping that they would be the the one and he would accept them this time. It did not work.

Catherine did not give up. Instead she became more obstinate and was the one to send all the good girls she could find to him.

Arnold still found excuses to make and ruined all the blind dates.

Right then she sat behind her desk on the second floor. She held a file in her hand. She smiled as she looked at what seemed to be a biological profile of a girl. There was a knock at the door.

"Come in" she called.

A young woman in her thirties opened the door and walked in.

"Good morning, Ma'am"

"Hello Priscilla. Look at this one. She's from Swish and Co. Isn't she pretty?"

"She's beautiful. I heard that the young master cannot see her though"

"Why? Has he found someone himself?"the president lifted an eyebrow.

"No, it seemed his schedule is packed once more"

Catherine slammed a hand onto the desk and stood up.

"No. He will not trick me again. I will go to the fiftieth floor now and see him."

"I'm afraid that is not possible. He has gone out to meet a client"

"That child...that child will give me an illness one day, urghhh"

She sat back down in resignation. A sigh escaped her lips. "Am I being too much? Tell me honestly"

"Maybe just a little bit"came the reply.

"Fine. I'll let him off for today. Is there something for me to do?"

"No. It seems the young master has taken most of your duties for this week and packed them into his schedule. You might be idle for a while"

"That sly fox...what about something to approve? Are there no documents, projects, proposals that need me to look at them?"

"None"

"Well, for goodness sake Priscilla get me some dough! I'll just make bread then"

Catherine let out an exasperated sigh as her secretary scurried out of the room.

What was she to do with this son of hers?

"No, this won't do. I have to see him myself"

She got up from her desk and made her way to the fiftieth floor.

"Boss, a guest to see you" the secretary buzzed.

"Lilian, I already told you. I'm not seeing anyone. Didn't Derke notify you?"

"He did but Sir..."

"No buts. I'm too busy with work right now"

The door banged open.

"I said I'm too bu-" Arnold half rose from his chair in irritation then saw who the guest was and froze in mid-air. "M...m...mother" he stammered.

"My darling son. What did I do to deserve such a filial son as you?"

"Mother. What brings you here?" He stood up and rushed to help her into a comfortable leather sofa.

She sat down.

He rushed to bring her some lemon juice and water. He knelt at her feet and gazed at her with adoration as she drank the water he'd brought her. He took away the glass and sat by her side reaching for her hand.

"Mother, why did you take the trouble to come up all the way here? You could have just called me down if you had something important"

Catherine took her son's hand.

"Ah, my son. I would have but you have apparently locked yourself in here. Deciding to work yourself to death. Who else would dare to barge in here?"

Arnold smiled, "Only you Mother, only you"

"And also you took all my work. I could only come visit and kill time with you here"

"Uhhh, mother?"

"Oh, Arnold. I know I've grown old. I shouldn't even be in the office. I started this restaurant chain business for you my children and now you're all grown up and capable. I should be at home by the fire knitting some booties and taking care of babies"

Oh boy, here it comes again thought Arnold.

"Mother." He protested.

"Child, you are a second generation young prince. I understand what poverty is like. I don't care where you find a girl just fall in Iove please " she touched his cheek.

"Look at your siblings. Outgoing and full of life. I'm hoping Alex will get married next year. As for Auxilia, I've already met her boyfriend. Such a charmer. What about you?"

She sighed sadly. "I never thought I'd have to beg my son to get married"

"Mother, I...it's just that I...the company is at a sensitive stage right now, if we manage to get the suitable inve-"

"I don't care about the company. As long as you've got a roof above your head and food on your table it's enough for me. This involves your happiness." her eyes dampened.

Catherine wiped away moisture and sighed again.

Arnold felt emotionally attacked.

"Mother please" he tried one last time to protest.

Catherine grabbed her son's hands desperately and looked into his eyes.

"Arno, it's alright. Mother won't blame you. At least just go on this date. Just this one with Swish and Co. And please show some manners your mother taught you. Think about my reputation for once please."

Arnold took a deep breath.

"Alright, may you live long mother"

Catherine smiled indulgently at her son.

"You've no idea how happy it makes me feel" she reached for the glass and sipped some juice.

Arnold stood up and took his coat.

"What's up?" his mother asked standing up with him.

"I'm going home. Since overworking failed, I might as well go and rest. Wouldn't want to show up for a date with Panda eyes."

"Of course. How is your insomnia these days?"

Arnold closed the office door and passed a command to the secretary who sat just outside "Tell Derke to handle what's left. I'm knocking off for the day"

He accompanied his mother to the elevator.

"It hasn't improved. I still have a hard time sleeping but I bought a new bed today."

"A new bed?" Catherine was genuinely startled.

"Yes, Aurora had one that was custom made for me. I had it sent over to the house"

"Of course. He is running furniture these days. I had forgotten. That kid is always changing businesses. I wonder how long this will last"

"I wonder also."

The elevator opened onto the twentieth floor.

"Bye mother. I'll tell you more tomorrow."

Catherine kissed his cheek.

"Bye son".

"Bye Mother"

As the elevator door closed behind Catherine, she smirked and cocked an eyebrow briskly walking back to her office.

"I knew I'd make him come round. Seems like for some things I've just got to do it myself"

Priscilla opened the office door for her.

"All good Ma'am?"

"All done. I made it work"

Arnold clicked the button on his car keys. He cursed under his breath.

"I'm so useless. This has happened many times, how could I let myself be tricked into going for a blind date. I might as well just die."

He stopped in his tracks.

"What's the big deal anyways? Isn't it just getting a girlfriend? We'll see what the toiletry girl is like but ugggrhhh my mother is driving me crazy "

He opened the door with a groan.

"Hey hey hey give me a lift!" a voice called out urgently.

Arnold turned to find his best friend, Roland running up to him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd just pass by. Who knew I'd bump into the CEO of Mallory Industries playing hooky." Roland opened the door.

"Why were you talking to yourself?"

"Mother pulled a number on me. I'm going on a blind date tomorrow"

"Really? Which company?"

"Swish and Co"

Wow, congratulations to you! I wonder if she's the one"

"Go hang. What about you? What neighborhood nonsense were you blabbering?"

"I...I ...uh, was in the neighborhood," Roland grappled for an excuse.

"Say it"

"My car broke down today. I went to work by bus. I came to ask for a lift."

Roland and Arnold had been friends since childhood. Unlike Arnold, Roland had been born from a rich family. They had become friends after spending an afternoon in detention together during which they discovered that they had a lot in common including pranking teachers.

Roland was forever changing businesses because of his family's backup. These days he was into furniture.

He buckeld his seatbelt and took out his phone to answer a call.

"Yes. Yes. Do it. Sell it to someone. Arnold?" He placed a hand on the receiver. "Hey, Arn, do you want to buy latest game console?"

Arnold frowned slightly, "The version 2.0?"

"Yes"

"I bought a 2.1 last week."

"Oh, right. I'd forgotten"he turned back to his phone, "Yeah, I don't need it. Sell it. He's got a 2.1. If your customer is not interested then fine, I'm not selling. I won't haggle for prices with you. Okay then. I'm not changing my price. I said I'm not changing my prices!!"

Roland hung up.

"Take that you foolish person" he scowled at the phone before tossing it into the glove compartment.

"Sleeping beauty, what happened to you?"

"I'm just having a hard time with this guy. His friend wants to buy my console for a price that's only 70% percent the original. It's not like I've had it for long. And also it's in excellent shape"

"Don't my mind it. I've got good news"

Roland brightened up. "Tell me!"

"I bought your bed"

"Really? What did you think of it? Isn't it amazing? It's half a water bed with seven layers of packed down. I was worried since you complained about the price over the phone so much."

Roland's eyes took on that dreamy lustre they got when he was talking about food and beds.

"I get it but charging me a million for a bed...isn't that too much? I don't think I'll be able to sleep in it anyway."

Roland took out a dollar from his wallet. Here's your change. "It cost you nine hundred and ninety nine thousand none hundred and ninety nine dollars only. And trust me it's worthwhile your money. I heard that a special deity for those in need of sleep lives in the bed. She blesses all occupants of the bed with good sleep."

"Really? What is she called?"

"She's called the Goddess of Comfort. Legend has it that she's an ethereal beauty and that all who behold her fall in love at first sight. I heard that the bed you bought was made with feathers plucked from her eternal wings."

"Now that's just nonsense "

"I'm telling you. It's the truth. Believe it or not it's about time fate found you."

Arnold pulled up in front of Buts and Nolts, the garage they both frequented.

"Fine. Whatever you say. This is your stop. You can get out now"

"Whatever you say. Drive safely"

"Yeah, you too"