Invest In Me

“My mother is dead! She died!” Bella’s face was a terrible mask of misery, depression, and shock. “I lost her! I lost the only family I had! All of a sudden!” She screamed her soul out, but nothing could be done. Just like that. Like the blowing of a candle, her mother departed the world.

*****

He didn’t know if he could take it any longer, but Thomas Graves, although involuntarily, still entered his company’s headquarters. He needed a vacation. A summer, three-month-long vacation on some deserted island that would have cocktails and parties and gorgeous women but not cell phones or computers.

Thomas was one of those CEOs who went into his own firm with his head held high, his back straight, and a neutral expression on his face. There wasn’t a smile for any of his colleagues, but only his calm face that ruled the corporate world. Yet unpredictably, he was loved among his coworkers. And he was well aware of that fact.

There were several reasons for that. The first one was that he was incredibly generous, unlike other bosses of multi-billion-dollar companies. He gave bonuses to the most hard-working employees, was flexible with giving them free days, and in general made sure that there was a positive, working climate. The second reason explained his popularity among the female employees. Thomas was an exceptionally gorgeous guy in the beginning of his thirties, plus an eligible bachelor. His chocolate skin was the perfect contrast against his cotton-white teeth, and when he smiled, it was more than enough for a woman’s heart to flutter. His hair was raven-black and short. He had done some modeling when he was a teenager and was now working extremely hard in the gym, from where he got his body many men would kill for.

“Good morning, sir,” the female receptionist said and waved at him. Thomas just nodded briskly and went on.

“Morning, sir. Did you sleep well?” one woman, who he thought worked in the human resources department, asked him and put her forefinger on her lips.

His steel expression didn’t give anything through, but he was laughing inside himself. Did he sleep well? That was an awful question to ask your boss. It practically said ‘please get me laid.’ If she wanted that, she knocked on the wrong door.

With a couple of other nods, he went into the elevator and clicked on the button marked as 79. He had read somewhere that those two numbers had been considered as magical by the ancient civilizations. Thomas wasn’t a superstitious person, but he liked the combination of 7 and 9, so he chose his office to be built there.

It was a huge space, ordered by the minimalism principle with very few things. There was one desk, two guest chairs in front of it and a leather one behind it. Expensive paintings by world-famous artists hung on the wall and together with a couple of vases and a floor-to-ceiling bookcase, it represented the decorations. It was very practical and functional and that was precisely what he needed in a workplace.

Just as he unbuttoned the jacket of his suit, his secretary came in to brief him on the day’s activities. She was always careful to enter at least five minutes after he had entered his own office.

“May I come in, sir?” she spoke in a high voice.

“Yes, you may, Christy.” Thomas’ voice was a bass with a little husky tone to it. It made everything he said sexy and he was told that many times before.

“Sir, the CFO is waiting with his team for a very short meeting with you. They say that it’s quite urgent. Then, at twelve, you have a lunch with the new partners…”

“The ones with the idea of going to Africa and establish a division there?” he asked, looking at the papers placed before him as his ears listened intently to Christy’s words.

“The very ones, sir. After that, you have a meeting with the tailor for the new suits and then a meeting with the event organizing firm.” The secretary finished everything in one breath.

“It seems to be a busy day. Send me the memo on my email and you’re free to go. Anything else?” he asked and raised his gaze at her.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Royce Petric called. He said that he studied in elementary school with you, sir, and now he needs a favor,” Christy said, writing something on a checklist tightly clutched in her hands.

“If he calls again, tell him that I’m extremely busy or out of the country, okay?”

“Right, sir.”

“And bring in the CFO and his team, will you?” Thomas asked as Christy opened the door and exited his office.

It wasn’t a full minute before the familiar face of his chief financial officer came into his focus, followed by five men and women. They were standing all before him, and Thomas stood up from his chair to shake hands with every single one of them.

“Sir,” the CFO began. “We’re here to report on the financial status for this week.”

“Yes, please. Do tell,” Thomas said and offered them a small smile.

“Everything is moving swiftly. All of our divisions and departments are signaling profit. However, I think that we should be careful on the loans we take from the banks. We predict a high credit risk and –”

“Okay, you know that I trust you. Do what you see fit with your team. Just report back on the final solution before I sign it,” Thomas stated. He was starting to get a headache because of all of the information and obligations. Anyone who said that being a billionaire was easy surely wasn’t a billionaire.

In that moment, Christy showed her head from the half-opened door. “Sir, the investors are here to see you. They say that they are sorry to pop up in your schedule unplanned, but apparently it’s extremely important.”

“Send them in,” Thomas told her with a sigh. He started to rub his temples. When was this day going to end?

The men in black suits entered his office and now there were more than ten people in total. Although he didn’t say it, the CFO and his team understood that they should leave with only a single glance, leaving Thomas with the investors.

“How can I help you, gentlemen? What is so urgent?” Thomas again stood up and shook hands with his visitors.

The one in the middle spoke first, “We need to express our concerns for the brand, sir. The newest poll came in just this morning. There is nothing to worry about, but the numbers are a bit scary to the eyes of the experts.”

“What do you mean? What kind of poll?” Thomas was utterly bewildered. He felt a strong wave of ache storming his mind. His other employees had just told him that everything was doing fine as they had predicted and now these investors were painting an entirely different picture.

“As a part of our extensive research, we put together some questions about you and our brand and asked our focus groups these questions.”

“And?” Thomas was on the edge of his seat. He was one of the most popular billionaires in the country and a loved one at that. He could have easily run for President, and he was sure that he would be elected. He appeared in prestigious papers, for God’s sakes, and was even crowned ‘the sexiest billionaire in the world’ in one of them.

“Our focus groups say that you are a bit standoffish,” the investor said without blinking. “Here is the official report on the whole subject.” He placed a manila folder on the desk.

Thomas picked it up. “Standoffish? Really?”

“Yes. Our focus group is a rather specific one, you see. But it is crucial for the further future of the products, the brand, and the company, sir. The members of the group we are targeting are, after all, the ones that buy our products.”

Thomas nodded. “I completely understand. And why is that? Did they provide an explanation?”

“As a matter of fact they did,” the investor replied quickly. “According to them, you give out the impression of being standoffish because of the simple fact that you are single and still not married.”

Thomas started to laugh. “You have to be kidding me. Is it April Fool’s? Because this surely sounds like the most horrible joke I have ever heard. It is outrageous!” He raised his voice as if these investors were to be blamed for the situation and the results of the poll.

“That is what it is, sir. We are not making up a single word.”