Juan’s forehead was going to become flat. For the last twelve minutes, he had laid his head against the smooth, cool, rich mahogany desk instead of reading over another employee’s two weeks notice.
The faint knock on his door forced a deep sigh from him, as he sat up and called, “come in,”. Finding it only to be his assistant, Stephanie, he resumed his earlier position as she gently closed the door behind her. “Please don’t tell me Beatrice walked out. She said she’d stay until she was done training the three new hires.” He closed his eyes, rolling his head on the desk. Stephanie “tsk’ed” at him before standing in front of his desk. “Glad to see you’re working hard. And no, Beatrice hasn’t left. Buuuuut,” Juan looked up as she slid a heavy envelope. Nice, quality paper. He glanced at her before opening and reading the letter.
“I’ll be back in two days, three max. If you need anything call ASAP, okay Steph?” Juan was aware that it was probably sad that currently, his closest friend was an employee.
“Don’t worry, Juan. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone,” Stephanie replied, her voice a mix of reassurance and concern. “But seriously, are you sure you want to go through with this? It just sounds so… bizarre.”
Juan sighed as he navigated the crowded terminal, dodging families and travelers. “Bizarre is one way to put it. But I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to it. Thomas has been avoiding me for weeks now. Ignoring my calls, emails—everything. Sometimes the occasional Nick responses, but that’s just talking in circles. He sends out this cryptic letter and expects me to just dive into whatever game he’s concocted? It’s frustrating.”
Stephanie chuckled softly. “Well, maybe it’s just his way of getting you involved in family drama. You know how some rich people get when inheritances are at stake. It’s like an episode of a reality show.”
“Exactly,” Juan said, shaking his head. He glanced at his watch. “I don’t have time for drama—More drama. I have a business to run and, frankly, I’m not interested in his family squabbles. But I can’t just ignore him. He’s a client, after all.”
“True. Have you thought about what you’ll do if it turns out to be a waste of time?”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” Juan replied, adjusting his bag on his shoulder as he approached the gate. “All I know is that I’ll check in on the company while I’m there, and if anything comes up, I’ll hop on my laptop as soon as possible.” He tried to keep the mood light, but the truth was that he did feel a sense of unease.
Stephanie’s voice softened. “Just make sure you’re doing this for you, not just out of obligation. And if you get sucked into whatever circus Thomas is running, remember you have a life and responsibilities back here. I’m just a call away if you need me.”
“I appreciate that,” Juan said while moving into line for boarding. “You’ve made this job less horrible, you know? I’m lucky to have you around.”
“Don’t get mushy on me now,” she teased. “You know I only keep you around for my pay check.”
“Ha! Only the best for my assistant,” he grinned, still feeling a tinge of guilt that their friendship was built around work. “But seriously, I’ll keep in touch. Two days, three max, okay?” As he approached his gate, he took a deep breath, trying to shake off the rising tension. “I’ll keep my phone close. Just keep an eye on everything there. I trust you.”
“Always,” Stephanie affirmed, the warmth of her support wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. “But Juan, don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. You can get so caught up in work that you forget to breathe. Remember to eat—”
“—and sleep, I know, I know,” he interrupted with a chuckle. “I’ll be fine. Honestly, I can do this, and I’ll be back before you know it.”
The sprawling grounds were beautifully manicured, a sharp contrast to the chaos of his busy life back in New York. He spotted Nick, a tall man with a welcoming smile, standing at the entrance of the property, greeting guests as they arrived.
~
“Thank you, Nick. I appreciate it,”Juan said as Nick greeted him, glad to have someone manage the logistics. As he waited, his gaze wandered across the crowd of guests, many of whom were mingling with each other. That’s when he noticed a redheaded boy standing slightly apart, a frown creasing his brow. Something about him seemed familiar, but Juan couldn’t quite place it.[/center]
He decided it would be best to introduce himself and make a good impression. “Hey there,” Juan said, flashing a friendly smile as he approached. “I’m Juan Palmer. Are you here for the challenge?” he introduced himself welcoming smile still intact, extending a hand. “I don’t think we’ve met, but you seem like someone I should know. What’s your name?”
@Kbail | Theo | Got a little carried away in the “earlier” eheh.