Mister Danger

G R E G O R Y

At last, for so many times of promises and plans, I actually made it to visit my best friend Jason in his home country. We were inseparable in university until we graduated. Then, we only met a few times abroad, ran at each other at the conferences, but we never actually had time to enjoy each other company after graduation since we both have our own responsibilities in our family businesses. This time, we are not only meeting for our long-awaited reunion but of course, I see the optimum opportunity of a merger. Goldberg Incorporated is quietly growing internationally in the past few years. Their reputation is highly regarded among the investments, finance and technology sectors. The company might not be well-known publicly but its influence is growing evermore.

Our company, Lee-Warren, is a long-standing institution but I am afraid it is coming to an end unless we acquire a company or at least a merger to keep up with the changes in the field which Goldberg has done so over the years. And I am here to realize that mission before I take over.

Jason did not change a bit at all when he met me at the airport. He has still its athletic built and very down-to-earth. It is almost ten years since we graduated. We missed each other like hell that we acted like we're long-lost brothers.

We were at the hotel, everything was settled down to the last detail. We sat down at the hotel café.

"So, Greg…uhm, I really hate it to break this to you but you really have to rest this whole morning and afternoon…" Jason said as he brought his cup of coffee down.

"Oh, yeah? No problem. I'll be fine. I understand that you're busy and…." I said truly concerned. I know how it is to run such a big company.

"No, not that, Greg. Just so you know, I cleared my schedule for the whole month for this."

"Wow, you really missed me that much, huh?" I chuckled.

"And you don't? But what I was trying to say is that, Hera Goldberg, being an extravagant and welcoming mum she is, prepared a yacht party for you this evening."

I was dumbfounded. Madame H is no joke.

"No, joke, Jaze? Wow, Madame H reputation precedes her." We both have the same kind of mom; luxurious, career-driven, and an ultimate show-off. It has been a long-time running inside joke for the both of us.

"Hera Goldberg is an impossible woman. So, you better rest up and be there. I'll pick you up at seven. Don't worry, suits are ready. Courtesy of Madame H." Calling our mums in the full name and public name is part of the joke. We never call our mom's 'mom' in our conversations.

"Wow! So all I got to do is…."

"Get your ass up there…" We both chimed in, enunciating the 's' sound in 'ass' a little more clearly, a typical Hera Goldberg. I've met her a lot of times in university days every time she visited Jason which the latter clearly despised.

"I got it Jaze. I'll be ready by then. Anything for Hera," laughing it off.

"I would like to apologize in advance, Greg. That's the only downside of living here. Hera is a major pain in the ass." Just saying her name stresses Jason out.

"I can handle her," assuring him.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." We talked for a few things until she mentioned her sister.

"Artemis? You're sister? She's working for you? Really? I thought she hated that idea," I stated in disbelief. I knew Artemis as the genius, tomboy and the other Goldberg kid. Jason loved her younger sister to death.

"Yeah, unbelievable, right? Well, after she graduated at eighteen, she started her own company as a rebellion to Hera. Hera wanted to train her to take over her modeling agency in the future but it is an apocalypse in the making so she ran away."

"A brave Goldberg…" I commented happily. I always liked Artemis in Jason's stories. She's like a main character in her own way.

"She founded a few tech start-up companies, and in four years, it boomed in the market. It was so brilliant that it slowly dominated the market. Believe it or not, they all got humble beginnings yet genius marketing strats made the difference. Digital banking, technological innovations, marketing breakthroughs, cloud services, she got it all. She's the one who saved the Goldberg Industries when it's on the brink of collapse. She selflessly gave up the ownership and sold the companies to Goldberg. That's why we are expanding on that field. She even split up her shares among her few employees. Those kids went home with few millions and still working in the company."

"Wow, why did she give it up?"

"She wanted to retire…"

"At twenty?" I almost spilled my espresso. Artemis never failed to amaze me.

"She said she worked hard her ass off real hard for four years, she didn't want more. She said I can make the companies better under my leadership, so she entrusted me with it. Not until, Hera told her to work for her instead, then she immediately withdrew her retirement from the company…"

We were both laughing so hard that the other guest turned their heads to us.

"She still models?" I've might seen her a few times in some magazines but I'm not sure since she looks a totally different person in Jason's photos.

"Yeah, she had to or else Hera is not going to give her inheritance at twenty-five. She had one more year of agony," Jason tries to laugh but he couldn't.

"Hera is a real pain in the ass. A major villain. A real scenario from the Greek mythology."

"Haha. Yeah, Artemis always complains to me saying she is being abused and manipulated by our mother. She said that she is being taken against her will to model or walk in the runway."

"Doesn't she throw a fit in those situations?"

"No, she's too embarrassed to let people know. They don't really get along well. They abhor each other. Sometimes, I had to remind Hera that she's her daughter. Dad thought his stupid will will fix it but I don't see it coming. That's why, every time Artemis makes troubles for Hera, and I let her since it's the only way to keep her sane."

"That's why I can't wait to meet her."

I don't know why but I know an opportunity when I see one.