Devin
'Roses are dead, and violets are cruel...' the lyrics crooned softly from the speakers. The sunshine blazed my windshield.
The weather forecast read humid; it busted the tension through my veins.
I pulled onto the my company's driveway. A modern multifaceted glass tower; The Sapphire Industry in LA's business district. I plugged in my EarPods, the classical music continued to play.
I loved the life here, all work and no play.
Tom stood with an umbrella over his head at his usual spot waiting to drive my car to the parking lot.
I leaned into the chilled leather of my Sapphire's driver seat , inhaling the conditioned air.
I took my tablet from the passenger seat. I skimmed through document Karen sent for my speech for deal today, it was aggravating. I'm the brains behind all the electronics and cars America owned.
My mother was behind this; I heard her voice in the words.
She wanted everything done her way; I was her left hand.
Failure wasn't in my vocabulary. I was a working psychopath of ideas.
Cheers to her, i had an overdose of ambition for power and success.
I took in deep breaths; punching Delete, wiping the document clean.
" Good morning, sir," Tom said, opening my door; the muggy air brushed my nostrils. His umbrella hovered over me. He served in the army always on high alert.
" Good morning, Tom. Don't crash my car." I threw the key as he tried to catch it.
I don't like people driving my cars, but I trust him well enough to handle it.
I strutted into my company building, my bodyguards lurking after me.
" You're late, Mr. Moore," Karen said in a dry tone, taking my briefcase as she punched the elevator doors open.
Karen dressed like a special agent in a black cooperate jumpsuit. She had been my personal assistant for six years. Finished college together; she saw opportunities in every challenge, and I hired her.
She's the only one in my workspace, that speaks to me.
" Don't forget who is in charge." I said, taking a step back as the elevator doors opened, letting her march ahead of me, rattling off the day's schedule.
" You have a board meeting with Mr. Wilson. Robotics founder at 11:05, which is on at the moment. You are to join a scheduled conference call at 2:30 and George Whites at 4:15. I presume you aren't making any mistakes by arriving at 12."
" I never make mistakes," I said, waving off a worker in a tan suit who looked like she's seen a ghost.
The color disgusted me; too flat.
Karen gave me a plain look." I'll take your word for it. Mr. Wilson would frown at your call time." She stared down at me, waiting. "Did you memorize the speech?"
" Yes, I did." I lied.
"Loosen up on your staff; you're mean to everyone; they can't even stand you." She complained.
" I'm not mean, I'm efficient. Pleasantries are a waste of time and energy."
" I don't agree with you."
"Fine, I'd send everyone cupcakes for lunch. Satisfied?"
I'd dent my ego by doing that.
She huffed, " I have no words."
We passed by the cubicles of busy employees; answering phone calls, saying whatever I paid them to do. I can't even remember hiring most of them. The starting salary at the Sapphire call center unit was $60,000 per annum. I was considerate; the inferior position looked like a waste of resource and money to put in it.
I hate people, yet I kept hiring employees. They were annoying.
We headed down the lobby into the boardroom; Karen came to a pause.
" Whatever you are planning, don't do it." Karen said with a raised eyebrow.
" Can we go in?" I asked with irritation; gesturing with my hands open at the closed doors.
I should have worked from home.
Karen flung the tall wooden doors open, across us the wall of windows revealing a massive view of busy streets below us.
Their faces sprung up; i strolled to the far end of the conference table and sat down, taking off my ear pods.
Change of plans.
"I appreciate everyone being here today," I said, letting the silence hang.
"Karen." I called.
" Sir?" she walked over to me.
" Tell the team members to leave; our investors need a little space." I whispered, patting her shoulder.
" And Karen? Get our guests some espresso, the good stuff." She gave a slight nod.
I could see anxiety steaming from her black ponytail.
My team filed out with concern on their faces; Karen returned with a tray of cups, setting it down in front of them.
She sent me dagger glances before slipping out of the room.
Let the party begin.
" Ladies and gentlemen,' Electric cars'." I stood at the edge of the desk, hands in pockets.
The words hung in the air like a launched missile; I watched their faces saddle with curiosity. Mr. Wilson and his advisor looked unperturbed.
" We've got all the electronics in the world powered by one plug." I walked across the room, my shoes sinking into the marble tiles. "Why not our cars?"
" All you have is a vision with no real invention." A lady dressed in white with a name tag; Selene said with mock astonishment, dressed in a white.
" We've created the blueprint; I factor your thinking a genuine cause of a missed opportunity." I said maintaining eye contact while speaking.
"Mr. Moore, we love our current petroleum models." Her voice flat, letting her team mumble.
"Pertroleum cars are fast becoming obsolete. The best part; for the Electric cars, nobody is going to give a shit about the cost but the efficiency," I let the words sink in. " The future."
" In a year's time, you could be bankrupt. " She spoke back.
"That's not all; with your collaboration, no-one needs to lay their hands on the wheel." I kept my distance, looking into her eyes. "I'm talking, self-driven cars."
A cherry on top.
" We would call for sympathy." She said, shifting in her seat.
" Call? You won't be able to reach me on the phone." I smuggly retorted.
" 15 billion dollars, that's all we can offer." Selene said after a brief silence.
" No, 45 billion dollars. "
She exchanged glances with Mr. Wilson.
" If I walk out that door today, I'm going to swim in numbers for a lifetime without your help," I placed my hands on the desk. " 50 percent profit share."
" If you are going to ask Mr. Wilson to invest in pursuit of this concept, what do you have that we don't?" Her eyes glared.
" I have a vision." My lips curved into a grin.
" You have less than five minutes before the train leaves the station; if you want to own the market, climb on board. " Looking straight in her eyes.
Mr. Wilson rose from his chair, "Consider the deal done." He said, extending his hand across the table.
A man who recognized a winner when he saw one.
" Take a sip." I gestured at the espresso, shaking his hand." It's the good stuff."
*****************
Being the best, was all I craved, and no one dared to match up to me.
My phone buzzed; my screen lit up; it was Tony. I put the call on speaker.
His voice echoed with a "Congrats, Boss!" as he showed up outside my glass door.
"Try to be less theatrical, okay?" I jested.
I and Tony's friendship was a do-or-die affair; we battled as enemies in the industry. Tony is a spoiled British genius; he built his empire from scratch. I, in contrast, inherited it.
A timeless friend. I envied his resilience.
We joined to achieve a mutual aim.
He strolled into my office in a brown coat, gray vest and pants, sinking into the seat. He looked like he woke up from a yacht vacation on wet hair, cleaned shaved, and sunglasses.
" There he is, the number one global CEO of all time," he whistled, clapping his hands.
I moved my head from side to side. "Tony, get me on the cover of US magazine."
" Nope, I'm dressed better than you." He picked the Newsweek article from my desk, swiping through the pages. " Can you imagine that today you'd be earning more than me?" Tony burst into laughter.
In competition, we had pure energy.
" I definitely needed a laugh since I've been feeling boxed up lately."
" I'd suggest you take a week off, let your team handle it.
"We should celebrate at the Johnson Casino today." I relaxed into my seat, twirling in circles.
His face lifted from the papers.
"Devin, stop falling back into your bad habits." Tony said with a cynical stare.
" If not you, Lisa would." I blurted, crossing my hands.
He threw the papers across the desk with a loud smack.
" Come on, man, I don't like her." He insisted, "You need to settle down, and it can't be with a prozzie.
Sometimes bad habits are hard to stop, but she was a pure transaction. Not entirely true.
Her deliveries were quite skillful.
" That's my call to make."
" She's bad news," he said, squaring his shoulders.
" You're jealous, cause you've got no woman in your life?" I asked.
" Fuck off, Devin." He stood up, walking out, leaving the door ajar.
Lisa was my longtime mistress, even though I knew her promises of settling down were a lie. She was a virus, and I couldn't help myself.
I picked up the phone and dialed Karen's extension.
" Send in George Whites; I have an appointment by 6pm." I demanded.
" It's quite early for-"
" Now, I said." I warned, cutting off the line.
I need to feel myself again. Alone.