“Ever said anything you regret saying and then not regretting it when you got to realize the logic behind it? I regretted saying a lot of things, but the problem wasn’t because I said them, the problem was because of who I told.”
There’s a thin line between thoughts and actions and often we cross it without even knowing it.
The thin yet pivotal grey area is often an emotional frenzy. A rol ercoaster ride of absolute instability. It’s the place where thoughts and actions col ide yet are also separated. Where logic meets anomaly and anomaly leaks logic.
What can make sense in that subtle ribbon of enigmatic euphoria, can also be perceived as total oblivion. There are no stereotypes that walk the line because it is so thin. So thin, that sense becomes inconceivable but despite that, it also remains understandable. It often only lasts a moment, but it can take years to reach a point of crossing. Despite its brief existence it can easily be traced in the wake of what succumbs to it and is exhumed from it. Of course, this truth is not quantifiable, nor can it be denied as false. This is because to every version of truth, there is a dispute and to every version of falsehood there is some form of agreement. Without the two being conflicted, how can any one thing be labeled anyway? So, in the end, al things are true. Just not
particularly acceptable or correct. So, what do these grey ribbons and thin lines have to do with anything”
Wel I guess the best place to start is with a day job. Nothing fancy and considering what a few saw him as, he was just an ordinary guy working an ordinary high-end job. However, as we al know, onions reflect a lot of what makes a human, a human [layered and covered in the sands of time]
and this particular human was nothing short of normal. A man with a past grander than his own present that no one could fathom [at least not without any enquiry].
However, that’s not what makes the grey ribbons and thin lines such a valuable reference [not in this story at least] … it’s everything that no one knew he was about to do that makes him the perfect depiction of a man with a plan. Success is often seen through appearances and it’s no mistake that success is definitely a combination of thought and action with a few lucky spel s of ribbon-time.
There's a common saying that goes, "we make our own luck," and it wasn’t until that fateful day, that the saying never made more sense but if at al there is any advice that can be given to anyone wanting to be as successful…it is best delivered as a single question;
"At what cost?"
It's a simple question real y but it's never an easy answer and no one person has the right answer, that's because it's not an answer with one side.
Costs are always measured with losses and gains but in life there's morality, there's opinions, there's laws and there's norms. It's a success because it looked that way from a biased perspective.
However, by then it's too late to be biased because the costs have been measured and there is no tel ing the ful effect or rather, the actual cost.
The best and worst part of any one thing is its truth. The gray areas are the moments that define it. It's like a pendulum, you can state a ful swing when it hits one end . . everything else in-between is simply…uncertainty. A lot of that can be reflected in life…of course the specifics are up to you to tel but you can only appreciate
life once you've lived it. You can only anticipate life once you start it but you wil face your fair share of chal enges too. It's neither nor but it's always, always a two-sided affair and that, no matter how many angles you look at it, is the definition of life. Not to say I know it al but I do know al I need to, to point that out.
…
It was going to be a hot day and he had never been so excited to final y be starting his new job.
He had played the cards right. He had his papers in order and yes of course he had listed the pros and cons. He made sure the list was balanced in order to get a clear enough objective drawn from the analysis. He was ready and he was there. He wasn't sure if he wanted to make a world changing difference but he was excited and nothing could stop his confidence from weaning.
He entered the six storeyed building and took the elevator to the fifth floor; Management.
Unlike most companies this one occupied the entire building. It was a multi-mil ion venture with branches scattered across the entire globe but that never got to him, that's because he had told
"It's the 21st century son, you should ensure that you're a complete person," his father told him when they sat down a few months ago to chat about what his plans were if he got the job.
"You have to keep your social media attractive as wel as your offline presentation," he continued.
"It's too much work dad, an attractive social media needs an entire entity on its own, you can't expect me to run figures al day and stil know what any random social media person is looking to see, I mean most don't even know what they go online for anyway. I'm okay with letting that part of me take a hit, the world can wait."
"I understand, son, but you can't ignore the impact your generation has al owed those platforms to have. There are more people downloading these apps, than there are phone holders. It's not a known fact but you are in charge and I support you, no matter what." His father was a retired fireman, he was actual y quite active online and his new fishing passion was gaining quite a large crowd.
"Maybe I can use you to be manager one day, how would you like that dad?" he asked as they sat at the cabin his father had bought a few years back.
The sun set and his dad laughed at his question.
"Better yet get Tory to do it, he needs the experience more than I do." Replied his dad. Tory was Jeremy’s younger brother. Fresh out of high school and stil exploring what life was al about, the perfect candidate, if he could be disciplined.
"He thinks everything's a video game, I don't want him to bear my weight, but I'l see. He should've been here to give his opinion on this." He said. His father pul ed out his phone and gave Tory a video cal .
"Wel , let's see what he has to say." He said as the phone rang. Tory cut the cal and sent a message saying that he was in the middle of an online game and that he'd cal in an hour.
"You see, I didn't even need to say it, the kid's a headstrong gamer, I don't know how mum puts up with him. She never al owed us time online when we were al home." He complained as his father exhaled in agreement.
"Maybe she just needed time to understand son.
We probably showed her that having a house ful of techy men is a good thing away from technology too, you know. Besides, your girlfriend is way too active online for you to feel the weight of al these online-offline shenanigans. You two
are practical y two peas in a pod. Speaking of Claire, when are you two getting married? You’ve been at this dating stuff for almost a decade now, what's going on?" His father was in his early fifties and he was right to be concerned. His fitness was far from dismal but his health had always raised concerns. He had been diagnosed with a skeletal problem that mainly affected his joints. He was a great fireman but it took its tol a little sooner than they had al expected. He always feared one day the worst would happen, that's why he chose fishing. He had already started to gather some volunteers to supply for the vil age where the cabin was and it was a growing business despite it stil being in its baby steps.
"She's the perfect friend dad, honestly I'm worried the responsibilities that come with marriage wil take that away from us…"
"Son, you're too old to let uncertainty stop you.
You have your entire life to make amends for mistakes you make but you don't have al the time in the world to make the right decisions to succeed. Not after ten years." His father sounded frustrated when he spoke but even with his frustration Jeremy knew that his concern was always greatest.
"I know dad, but you have to understand I have to make a decision and I know it's been a long time but it's going wel ."
"If she wakes up tomorrow and tel s you it's not working because it's taking too long for you to pop the question that's on you but your move al ows you to prepare for both. There's nothing to lose, ten years saw you and your brother enter this world, don't let it be the heartbreak you never saw coming. I've learnt one thing from life son, prepare for your decisions and the outcomes wil never surprise you . . but even more importantly, there have to be decisions made either way so make them." His father stood up and grabbed another can from the cooler. He handed him one and they sat quietly for some time. It was the last conversation they had before his first day at work and it was the conversation he held on to quite dearly.
"Jeremy Akanje?" Said the receptionist on the management floor.
"Yes." He replied confidently.
"We've been expecting you." Her name was Florence and she was gorgeous. The kind of good looking that actual y left al men stupefied. She
directed him to his office; a corner office that had a view over the city. It was early morning but he could already feel the pressure. He knew what to expect as the interim operations manager but he couldn't
be
too
confident,
a
permanent
assignment depended on it. She opened the blinds and introduced him to one of the five administrators on the fifth floor. His name was Carl. He was to be his personal assistant during his time with Forge. Forge was an international distributor of hardware equipment and it was a major firm in the industry. Known for its rigidity and efficiency, the company was almost always being mentioned in business publications. Its credibility was unquestionably one of the most affirmed and it always delivered. Though in the time leading to his appointment at the company, it had undergone some rigorous court dealings of some sort but it was played down. Jeremy never paid much attention to the news after the case was settled but it always had him thinking of the one night during orientation, when he had experienced something strange.
The company had taken al the shortlisted candidates to one of the manufacturing sites for a three-day workshop where each of them, after signing NDAs, were shown various parts of the manufacturing process but it was the dinner that
stood out. On the final day of orientation, they took the staff and the candidates to the local restaurant. It was the best in town. With its dim lighting, velvet furniture, wooden interior and painted wal s, it was an intense setting. Known for its wining and steak, it was always bound to be a place to remember. There was music playing that night. Low tempo and rhythmic tunes fil ed the rooms.
"Do you enjoy this kind of music?" asked Shea.
She was one of the orientation officers that had been with the group throughout the workshop.
"Yes," he said. He was a little flustered by her ambience. Her curly hair was dark brown and her eyes too. She had tied it in a bun leaving her neckline wel exposed. She wore a ruby necklace that complimented the dining room.
"I do too. Top three genres actual y. Recently it real y started catching my attention, especial y the slower songs."
"Yeah, it's been trending. Especial y the coastal ones. What do you do at the company?" asked Jeremy.
"I'm in operations. You actual y might see me one day if you get the job. Do you think you'l get it?"
She asked, somewhat seeking to get an answer
"I real y need it, it's not exactly an option. It's not like there's a stack of companies lining up you know." He said, failing to comprehend why she had chosen to approach him.
"Oh but after today there wil . Forge has a reputation that beasts everyone else; they select the best … They are the best." She emphasized as they sat at the bar drinking wine as they waited for their host to announce the table gathering.
"You know, I heard they're about to make some real good deals with one of the dealers next door.
You could get a job there too if you play your cards right." She continued with a slightly drowsy-eyed expression sweeping across her face.
"Explain…" Jeremy replied.
"I'm just saying, there's a rumor that management could be getting some sweet incentives tied to the company but that's al I'm saying." She smiled cheekily.
Jeremy was intrigued. Was this a test by the company or was she actual y that free-wil ed?
She explained less and less as he tried to enquire.
The thought lingered throughout the dinner as to
why she spoke to him. Every so often, they would look at each other and she would look down shyly, as though tel ing him something but there was a lot going on and the chef was the center of attention with his in-house cook expo. He was dicing steak and adding an array of spices for al to taste. It was delightful. Of course, it was free as the company had paid quite a lot to book the place for the night. When the dinner was over, the guests were moved to the club-house hal , which was another room in the restaurant that was meant for modest socializing and had a stage for live performances. That night it was a pianist and violinist playing. The mood was mel ow and after a hefty dinner, Jeremy was feeling quite calm. He went to mingle with other candidates and got to know a few of his competitors. Despite the show of egos and al kinds of linguistic prowess, everyone was quite friendly. As things wound down, Shea approached him again and slipped him a card.
"Cal him a week after you get the news of your status. If you get the job, you'l understand what I'm on about whilst obviously enjoying the view of your office window. If you don't get the job, you'l stil be told what to do. It's your choice." She stepped away slowly. She practical y whispered what she said when she did, which made him
think twice about her intentions.
Later after the dinner and the socializing had drawn to a halt, he spoke to his roommate as they rode in the back of a hired vehicle on their return to the hotel they stayed in and asked him if he had been approached by anyone offering any counter offers that night. He said 'yes' but said he had declined on the spot.
"You know, people like that are nothing but trouble. You can never tel if it's the company or just some in-house sabotage. How about you, did you get approached?" He asked, worried he might have said too much.
"No." Jeremy knew that his roommate was hiding something. He couldn't tel if it was the same thing but he was sure the driver was listening in.
The awkwardness made Jeremy less inclined to let what happened throughout the dinner put him in any situation that fol owed him to his hotel room, so he lied.
"Then why did you ask me?" The question caught Jeremy unaware as he thought his false answer wouldn't attract any counteracting questions.
"Coz I was told by someone that at such events, people tend to push personal agendas on the newbies. It's not always bad but it definitely
almost never is something to take lightly.
Especial y if it's an employee." The answer made Jeremy uncomfortable with talking but Joe was intrigued by his blunt answer and tried to continue the conversion.
"Something tel s me you're being a tight-lipped man. What's your secret?" Joe meant no offense, he was quite a friendly person but Jeremy was in no place to be free with him, not after what he didn't decline when Shea approached him earlier.
"I've lived my fair share of life. Of course I have secrets but I guess those are stories for another day. Besides, I'm tired and quite ful ."
Joe smiled and shook his head. He realized that Jeremy was a lot more withdrawn than he thought, he just couldn't tel if he was the smart one to hide whatever he had decided to involve himself in.
By the time it was sunrise, Jeremy was sure he was in for something special. He lay back in the hotel bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking about the what ifs and maybes that lay ahead. Despite working two jobs prior to the opportunity that beckoned at Forge, he felt at ease knowing he wasn’t out of his depths. Al his previous occupations were in operations and each had a
different twist but he had never experienced an opportunity of this magnitude. Often before the orientation, he questioned why he had been selected but Claire always said to him, 'why not.'
She always believed in him and she always saw his potential but more than that she loved him. He meant more to her than anyone else in her city life did.
The day they met was no special day, at least as far as grand events go. It was a typical Monday for Jeremy, who was job hunting at the time. He had graduated from his degree program a year prior to his fateful day and had spent the year having al kinds of fun. It took him eight months to realize that his dad was not going to help him get a job unless he made and showed the effort. He always told him, 'I'm the only one that wil love you and show you the absolute truth. It's not a chauvinistic thing but you won't learn more about life as a man other than from yourself and from other men. Do your part.' It took some time but eventual y Jeremy realized that his father was right.
A sports store had recently posted a vacancy in operations and Jeremy decided to visit the store
itself [despite already applying online]. He got out of the car he was driving at the time and was walking in through the front doors when Claire
[who was rushing out with an entire hoard of goodies] bumped into him. She hissed with irritation.
"You real y need to slow down," he said as he bent over to pick up two of the fal en carrier bags.
What he didn't know was that Claire had just won herself an advertising contract with a sports label that was looking to expand into the smal er towns without spending too much on getting its name into the outskirts of the city.
"You have no idea how sorry I'am but I real y need to go…" She looked worried which forced Jeremy to stop and analyze exactly what was going on.
"Hey look I'm just confirming an application. If you're not driving, I can take you to where you need to go…it's much quicker you know." He handed her the bags, hopeful that this pretty lady indeed was not driving.
"Are you sure coz I real y need to get these things somewhere, I'm late!"
"Sure, just take a seat and I'l be right back, it's an in-out kind of thing." He said as he smiled reassuringly.
"Five minutes or you'l find an empty seat."
Her assertiveness, a common characteristic amongst her peers, made the encounter that much more endearing.
"Or someone else sitting there…"
His cheeky tone reeled out a coy expression from Claire but his good looks compensated for the temporary detour she had to endure.
As he said, he was in and out, as though he had planned the whole thing. Destiny was on his side.
He helped her carry the bags as they left the store. Whipping out the car keys made him feel good and even though it wasn't his car, it might as wel have been with the way he always used it.
It was his mother's; She had been working for a company for eight years before she was assigned a creative role. Many people talked about the effect technology had on business but she was a living testimony of that. Because of it, she was assigned a role that al owed her to work from home. The company car was eventual y handed to her as part of the agreement, it was a sweet deal. No pay cuts or delays, just adjustments. Her job had been replaced by a robotic entity but she remained valuable as she had the skil to integrate its functions with a human touch. Of
course, this was top geekery as her job meant she had to constantly be online and receiving live information from the company's records of operations. She used that data to delegate instructions in and out of the company with a slight creative approach that machines had not yet been taught to maneuver. She was practical y the algorithm itself.
Jeremy and Claire drove past the bus stop where she was going to wait if she couldn't book a taxi on the way. There were people there, the same people she could have been sitting with stil .
"Boy am I glad you showed up today. You're my hero." She exhaled exaggeratedly as the car sped up.
"Good thing I bumped into you too. You were this close to missing out on al this goodness." They laughed together as he continued straight past the traffic lights.
"I'm Claire, and you drive quite a neat ride for a guy your age." She said in a teasing manner.
"Oh this thing, wel , thank you. It's hard to focus with you around, knowing my age and al . Name's Jeremy, and I like your name"
“I stil don’t understand how I got into a total
stranger’s car. You must be a wizard.”
“Or a smooth operator.” He said with a coy smile.
She smiled too. Nothing seemed to be going wrong and that was al they needed, to continue their conversation. She gave the directions and he drove like a chauffeur, a high-end one as a matter of fact. She told him a little about herself, explaining how being raised by two parents of different ethnicities was such a blessing.
"Sometimes I can be one race and sometimes I can be another. I love it and being here is the middle ground where I want to stay." She went further to mention how her parents met before being relocated. They traveled around together as they worked for the same company. By the time they were ready to settle, they started to decline offers to travel. When they had Claire they had moved to the tropical Island where they final y settled. The same tropical Island Jeremy and his family were rooted too.
It was a twenty-minute drive from the sports shop to her family's home and though the town was smal , it had vast countryside that was fil ed with farms. Her parents owned a winery that had started to gain a lot of attention in the city and
were looking to move operations there. He drove in through the entrance and was surprised at how she, living in a mansion, was even able to consider taking the bus.
"Today was my first day doing this, I real y shouldn't have, but this is big for me so I didn't real y care." She said, when he asked her why she took the bus. She got out of the car and asked him to come in and taste some of her favorite wine. He was a year under age but she was younger, they didn't care. He entered the three storeyed house to a huge room that had two staircases on both sides. There was a harp at the end of the room right in the middle, under the balcony. Her mother was a passionate harpist that loved orchestral music. The house was empty as everyone was away that day but when it was ful , there were six occupants fil ing up the five bedrooms. Claire had three older brothers, and she loved it. Each had been involved in some heavy industries that were al foreign. One of them had recently started working for an energy company. In the months leading up to Jeremy’s first day at Forge, the company he worked for had been involved in its worst financial year since it went public. Almost fifty percent of its earnings had taken a huge hit and many questions were asked. He was on the verge of returning home as
the company started laying off people and letting go of parts of its operations. He was kept on board thanks to a new product that had been kept hidden for almost fifteen years. Though it stil hadn’t been mass produced, the product was evolutionary and Forge was on the front end of test driving it.
…
"Ms. Accena, how was your little adventure? I see you brought a guest." Said the Butler that walked in behind them. He had been attending to some of the garden responsibilities he had when he heard their voices in the main hal . His name was Prody, but she always cal ed him Prod because she disliked his constant formal approach.
"Hey Prod, meet Jeremy, I think you might find him just as annoying but he's my guest so don't mind him too much."
"Of Course. Wil he be staying for lunch?" He asked with the straightest face Jeremy had ever seen on a kind person.
"I think we'l let him decide. What do you think, Jeremy?" She turned to him, showing that the bags were becoming a little too heavy for
"Oh, but I heard you have some of the finest wines in town, I can taste one or two then be on my way."
"Splendid. I'l whip out Ms. Accena's favorite, La Baronne Rouge. Wil you be having it with cheese in the garden or in the living room?" He asked, stil just as straight faced.
"In the garden," she said as she headed up stairs to drop off her bags. Prody escorted Jeremy out to the garden. The sliding glass door was right next to the harp but you could never tel there was a door there until you opened it. The garden was beautiful. It had a pond at its far end that was close to the size of a smal dam. The fountain in the centre of the garden made sitting in front of it a perfect view of the waterbody. There were paddle boats that were lodged next to the short pier and the view was breathtaking. The vineyard was huge and there was a settlement a kilometre away from the house.
"You know, La Baronne Rouge was named after me. Baronne is my middle name. It was the first red wine that came out of this vineyard and wel , it's lovely." Claire had changed from her baggy ripped jeans and hoodie to a short white dress.
Though Jeremy was stil in his smart white shirt, black pants and loafers, he barely felt out of place. She made him feel like he was welcome.
“No, I did know that but you know what, it’s total y fitting … a lot like that dress you have there.” He stared at her as she walked up to the thatched garden double seater.
“Oh please, I think any name would be fitting in this beaut.” Said Claire, trying hard to hide how easily flattered Jeremy made her feel. She took a seat and had just started to talk about the story behind the dress when Prody opened the door, forcing the glasses to clink as he stepped over the ledge. Jeremy folded up his sleeves as Prody brought in a tray with a bottle of wine, four different cheeses, two glasses and a cork screw that he placed on the outdoor coffee table poised in front of the double seater.
"A few slices of Goat Cheese, Cheddar, Gouda, and pieces of Feta for your pleasure along with a slightly chil ed bottle of La Baronne Rouge to mix it al up." He announced as he placed the condiments on the table.
"Thanks Prod." Said Jeremy in a deep voice.
"That's Prody for you sir," he said as he smiled.
The straight face final y revealing some form of
"Is that al ?" He asked. Claire nodded and with that, he opened the bottle and left them alone.
They talked for the next hour and a half about al kinds of things. High school memories were always a nice place to visit. Jeremy went to an al -boys school for his final four highschool years whilst she had been to only one her entire secondary. It was a private school right near the coast that had some exceptional boat classes too. She loved surfing and he was addicted to strategy and construction games. They both didn't real y enjoy reading but he always wanted to write a book someday.
". . I'l probably only be able to do that after I retire though. I'm a bit of a workaholic." Said Jeremy as he nibbled on some real y wel made Gouda. It was almost eleven when he realized just how time had flown but she invited him to stay a little longer. They spent the next half hour talking about what they would like to be in life. She couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to him. He couldn't believe he had stayed so long in the house of a stranger.
"You're unbelievably intoxicating, you know that right?" He said, wishing it was sunset. It was a
beautiful scene but Jeremy knew the view there was even more captivating in the glowing sunset.
"No but I don't know why you don't want to stay for lunch. Sometimes I get so lonely." She was sitting cross-legged with a plate of the last few slices of cheese resting in the space her spread thighs had left.
"I can be your friend. Honestly I don't have many that are female and of those that are, most love technology too much for me to compete."
"I have a feeling you might end up a bit more than just a friend." They sat quietly for a moment as they looked into each other's eyes. He smiled slightly as al kinds of thoughts swirled through his buzzing brain.
"I'm drunk…or maybe you got to me but this is insane." He said as he failed to believe how overwhelmed he was by emotion and intense thoughts.
"They don't cal it the Baroness for nothing, you know, this one is almost eight years old. I can't blame you for feeling that way."
"Yeah but it's you." He could see her face light up but he was cautious in his attempt to flatter her, he knew far too wel how easy it is to overstep. It
felt right the way it was but if it got better, he wasn't sure what he would do. So he took another sip from the glass that was now almost done.
"I don't know what to say." She said as she too felt something building up between them. She had never been in a serious relationship and as far as she could tel this was the making of something she wanted.
"Then let's just let this moment be what it is and maybe, you can cap it off by throwing in your digits." He tried to humour his way out of the feeling that he could easily lose everything he wanted by simply doing whatever he wanted.
Despite the awkwardness of asking her for her number only moments after meeting her, there was no way he would come al this way and not at least ask.
"You make it hard for me to say no. Besides, you're already here and you can have whatever you like."
"Just the number is okay for now." He restrained from what he real y wanted to say but he said what he had to and he was okay with it. Claire smiled knowing he was in the right kind of uncomfortable zone; the kind that keeps things interesting.
"Your caution is admirable but don't ever let it stop you from getting what you deserve Jeremy."
"Good things come to those who wait,' I was once told, but the best things come to those who build.
You're way too beautiful to take for granted. So I'l have that number now, if it's what I deserve."
"That and more lover boy."
He couldn't shake the feeling that Prody was standing and staring at them from inside the house, which made him even more awkwardly uncomfortable. He pul ed out his phone from his pocket and stretched his hand out. She smiled and took the phone, typed in a number, and saved it with an angry emoji.
"This isn't your number, is it?" He said.
"Cal it when you're ready, you'l understand." She stood up and he fol owed. She walked him into the main hal that, to Jeremy, was practical y a hotel lobby and thanked him for being such a gentleman. He walked to his car, a little tipsy but it was her that made him feel anything at al . He wasn't in love but he was on cloud nine and he loved it. It was the beginning of a new phase in his life. One with promising factors. He was looking forward to where this would lead.
After Carl showed Jeremy the speed dials and main communications, he left the office and Jeremy was alone. It had been a rol ercoaster reaching where he stood but he knew the ride was far from over. Al the time that morning, despite the intrigue of an upper management job and everything he looked forward to, one thing remained trapped on the back of his mind; Shea and the card she gave him. What was real y going on? He walked to the corner window of his deluxe corner office and looked down. It had been exactly a week since she gave him the card and everything about that night was stil playing like a record on repeat. How could he forget it? He didn't know what to expect but clearly it meant something … something he had to find out.
The construction site looked like any other he had seen with materials being placed across the area but it's when he looked closer that he realized this was no ordinary construction site because there were no people. Only machines. They were not manned as they were ful y automated. His mind rushed to his mother's job and for a moment he
felt threatened. Was this a threat? He looked at the signpost and saw what was either the construction company's name or the name of the business being built, it was cal ed Olympus. He searched his mind for what that could mean but nothing budged. How could he have missed this?
So much had been going on but this was Central Street and nothing happened in this avenue that didn't make ‘The Business Hand’ headlines. He was a five-year subscriber and not once did Olympus pop up. He got his tablet out from its pouch and searched for the name; nothing. Not even a social media page. Just a bunch of game citations, Greek mythology references, showbiz and some sci-fi porn site but nothing that carried that symbol was online. His heart raced. What had he got himself into?
That morning when he dressed up and gave Claire a kiss, he remembered to place the card Shea handed him in his pocket. It was a dark grey card with white engravings of the mobile number which seemed very classy at the time but now it seemed more dubious. He struggled to make the cal . How would he? He had no idea what or who was waiting on the other side. He breathed in, took his phone out and dialed. The phone rang for a few seconds before a man with a husky voice answered.
"Jeremy, you got some nerve. I'l give you that.
Nobody ever makes this cal . You even used your own number. You're the one. Surely!"
"I don't know who you are, but-"
"Of course you don't! It's not your job to. Mine however, is the exact opposite. I know al about you boy! So listen, what you see is for your eyes only. We've fol owed you around and you ticked al the right boxes, al but one. I'm making sure when they come for you, you've not only ticked it but you tore through the screen whilst doing so. The world's about to change Jeremy and you just got the sneak peak only a handful get to see. By this time tomorrow that construction site wil be a ful y functioning business. You do as you're told and your world wil be Olympus." The line cut and Jeremy was left staring at a construction site no one was talking about online yet was there for everyone to see. He tried to cal back but the line got disengaged. It made no sense. He started texting Claire about Olympus but his phone glitched and blacked out. He was obviously being watched and he knew it. He stared out of his window and felt a helpless wave of emotion flood his core. This was the dream job. The only problem was, it came with a nightmare.
He logged out of the system having scanned the information he needed to get acquainted with how things at the Forge worked. He sat back in his extremely comfortable office chair and exhaled emphatical y. Day one was over. The city’s night lights reminded him of the first day he moved to the city with Claire. They were so excited. It had been five years of arguments, laughs, romance and most importantly valuable friendship. She was his best friend and he was hers. They had moved into a two bedroom house that they could barely afford but they got by. The spare room was her studio, her shrine and her place of creativity. She loved it. She had gone from
social
media
enthusiast,
to
brand
ambassador to an al round influencer. Gaining over a mil ion fol owers whilst doing so. It wasn't easy though, the nights were long and sometimes their schedules meant barely talking. Jeremy's mother was practical y her mentor, helping her guide the twists and turns of managing a network online and offline. A few months prior to Jeremy's first day at the Forge, Claire hired a social media specialist. He connected her to a group of awesome freelancers and eventual y landed a lucrative score at an agency that was now consulting and hiring people just for her online platform. It was going real y wel . Jeremy and
saw
themselves
together
despite
everything that happened but nothing was stopping them from keeping the flame alive. Her friends always asked her about the details of her love life but she was always withdrawn and never let the relationship become the headline of her buzzing online activity. She got the most interactions on their seven year anniversary when final y, Jeremy featured in an image on her timeline. It was the last time he al owed her to do that. Jeremy's social media on the other hand was practical y a graveyard. He only posted thirty times since he started his job at the sports shop and most were not that entertaining. The first was of his family having a group photo at the cabin the day his father retired and the rest were al very simple hangout pictures with his friends.
Claire's first feature was also when he celebrated their seven year anniversary and with about two thousand fol owers, that was the first time he had close to a thousand reactions. He left the online stuff to her but always snuck in an idea or two to show some support.
***
"Staying up late?" Said a familiar female voice as Jeremy looked up at the dim lit ceiling of his office whilst in a reminiscent state. He was startled and quickly jolted to an upright position."Yeah, I mean no. I'm actual y done. What's up?"
He said as Shea stood in the doorway. Her curvy body casting quite an accentuating silhouette.
"It's lovely isn't it? This company. You know I've been here for three years and it seems like every other day, something interesting happens." She said as she walked to his desk slowly. His heart raced a little. He was one of the younger employees in management but even without asking he could tel that Shea was at least six or seven years older than him.
"Stil learning to love it but I'l get the hang of it.
It's massive, hey. Over sixty countries under its belt. Forge is a beast!"
"You can say that again." She said as she pul ed out one of the two chairs opposite his and crossed her legs one over the other.
"And now you're a part of it. There's big things coming Jeremy. Forge is simply the tip of the iceberg, you wait." She continued.
"Yeah, so what was that card al about anyway?"
He asked, trying to ease himself into a less tense state.
"Didn't you make the cal ?"
"I did." He said, wondering now why she entered his office in the first place.
"Then you already know. Each one of us that makes the cal has a role to play. Each one is different, each one is special. Personal y, I never made the cal when I got invited but eventual y, they got in touch. I don't know what you are in for but it's for a greater cause, I promise you that."
She was so convicted when she spoke that even Jeremy froze for a moment. It was his first time talking to her after the orientation and he was sure she was al in or real y good at sel ing it.
"I don't know, it's stil very vague to me and honestly, I just want to be the best at my job." He started col ecting the things he was taking back home with him.
"Oh and you wil be. You just have to understand that, there's always a catch. I'm sure you've noticed that. It's just the bigger the company, the bigger the net." She stood up slowly as though stal ing for something. He never paid much attention. He started walking towards the door and was about to tel her he was on his way when
she reached for his arm and drew closer to him.
"You're the only one that made the cal Jeremy.
It's hard to say why you did, but I can't stop thinking about you and how bold you are for doing that. I can't stop thinking about what you'l accomplish. You're going places and I'm riding shotgun. You'd best remember that." Her breath was warm as she spoke, causing Jeremy to temporarily freeze and she smelt fantastic. He was overwhelmed but he was also stil pessimistic. It was al coming to him quite quickly.
He moved his hand away from her slowly, trying not to provoke the situation.
"The times are ever changing Shea but this stuff, it's something even I know you can't navigate.
Shotgun is good but I have a life to live, so if you'l excuse me, my office locks itself when I leave…"
He turned and walked towards the door and waited for her to leave. She was breathtakingly attractive but she was not Claire. She smiled and started to walk too.
"You're girlfriend's a lucky lady, I just hope she has her seatbelt on. Coz from where I'm sitting, this is going to be one hel of a ride for you and I and I'm strapped in, I just hope your arms are firmly on the wheel. Goodnight Jeremy, I'l be right behind you." She swayed as she walked away. Her silk like
movement would render any man smitten but Jeremy was too rigid to budge. His resolve, a rock and if she was in it for the long haul, Jeremy knew he eventual y had to set things straight; he could already tel that a lady like Shea, spelt al kinds of trouble.
By the time he got to their house in the suburban part of the city, Claire was about to go live for the first time in almost two months. She was invited to a live session that was taking on new initiatives surrounding office spaces and why influencers should be taken more seriously. In the recent years, many “social mediasts” had gained a foothold in the freelance community, some even having permanent jobs but very few had become the kind that people recognized as company holders. This was probably because of the nature of their apparent jobs.
When he arrived, he found dinner already prepared. Her studio had two other people there with her hyping things up and playing some jumpy music. She didn't realize he was home until he opened the door and said hi to everyone.
"Hi Jeremy," her two girlfriends said as soon as they saw him. They were fun and were a great
"Hi babe. " She said soon after.
"Just about to go in and scold some sceptics huh?
Are you ready?" He said feeling good about what he saw.
"Not real y, it's the meeting I told you about last night. We have a panel of 13…imagine that!" Her make up was very subtle and they had arranged the background of the set with a glassy greenery feel. It seemed modern.
"Wow, I might just join in but first your baby has to feed though." He said as he smiled, turned and walked to the bedroom to drop off his office luggage.
"I'l be waiting for you!" She said as they continued to discuss whatever it was they were discussing when he walked in.
Eventual y, the live session got underway and the room was silent. The panel was occupied mainly by females but there were men too. Most from the city but there were four that had accepted the invitation from out of town. One was halfway across the world, which made it a popular event.
With over two thousand viewers in the first ten minutes, it was living up to its reputation.
"I just feel that an entire gorge was jumped to accept influencers at such recognizable positions but now, they need to land. We've come a long way from being al about the hype to being decision makers but if we're to make headway, office spaces, firms and companies need to be more commonly seen. We see so many companies popping up here and there but very few have influencers’ labels brought down.
Maybe that's the problem; building an office for something that wasn't built from the ground up."
Claire commented. The panel was no debate but many of the topics had mixed opinions despite them al vouching for the same cause. Hers in particular brought a valid point that many agreed with. Eventual y Jeremy did join the live feed and she didn't hesitate to mention him. He almost ran out of the house when she did, he was so sure she wouldn't.
"Hey guys, just want to give Jeremy a shout out. I see you boo." He froze for a moment. He rarely ever joined her live sessions but when he did they had both agreed she'd keep it down. Her shout-out forced him to send a comment.
Great topic you guys are tackling. Go team influencers! #Influencetheworld
"Loving the hashtag boo." She said, as soon as
she read the message. Jeremy left the sitting room and went to his bed, stil in the live feed.
After transferring the social account to the tablet, he put it on ful screen and got busy chatting with his mates. He was weary of what would happen if he got into researching Olympus so he kept his conversations local but not touching the topic of the mysterious situation he was in. Eventual y, the live session ended. Claire said her farewel s to her friends after a successful session and looked at the results of a survey that was created to get more in-depth feedback. Eventual y, she returned to their bedroom pretty exhausted.
"So, how'd it go?" Asked Jeremy as she lay down behind him. He was stil sitting in the bean bag that was next to the table that had the tablet standing on it.
"It was alright. Got an interesting response in the survey from a client that was apparently interested in some international project being linked to our work if we managed to get the office space. The name was something like, Fasceda Fuel. It's a petroleum company that has started a new project on rocket fuel and funny enough my older brother works there. I have no idea how that ties to anything, but I'l discuss it with my team.
How was work?"
"It was great. Had some nice moments today but I can't shake the feeling that I'm real y going to have to push on this job. I mean this company is huge,
but
