Rain and Disagreements

Emily hailed a cab and sat inside. She forgot her umbrella and no one could ever predict Murica's weather. It was sunny in the morning and now the sky was overcast with clouds, much like her life.

She looked out of the window. The people were rushing towards nearby shelters to protect themselves from the rain. The traffic was slower than usual. While waiting at a signal, Emily saw something that reminded her of Gerald and her.

A girl, not more than 18 years old, was standing there smiling at the sky. Her boyfriend pulled her towards the bus stop. The boy was holding the girl from rushing towards the road, but the girl kept sticking her hand out to feel the raindrops land on her open palms.

Emily smiled. She remembered one fine rainy evening. Gerald was trying so hard to hold her back from running off and getting wet in the rain, and no matter how much he tried to hold her back, she would always rush forth and enjoy the rain. He would call her out for her childish antics, but she wanted to enjoy her life and maybe these small moments meant a lot for her. He never understood that.

Emily averted her eyes. The girl was trying to break free from her boyfriend, but he held her, caging her in his arms, not letting her leave. What astonished Emily was, the girl's boyfriend stepped into the rain with the girl in his arms and chided her to stop moving. Emily smiled. At least someone knew how to indulge his girlfriend.

"Ma'am, we are here," the cab driver turned his head to look towards Emily.

Emily paid him and stepped out. The rain had not stopped. She ran towards the orange building with a big logo of Sun on top.

Stepping inside, she greeted the receptionist. Everyone was polite here at Sun Designers. It was a new company and they were doing quite well in the recent years, but they were still looking for their breakthrough project.

When she applied, they spoke about their collaboration and contract with Innovation which Mr. Sun had painstakingly achieved.

She was standing in the lobby waiting for the elevator when she heard a loud noise coming from a few people standing at the far corner of the lobby in front of the conference hall downstairs.

"I told you she wasn't fit for the job. We shouldn't have sent her in the first place. She managed to ruin everything we achieved. Honestly President, we don't understand why you were insistent on her." Mrs. Anna Sebastian rolled her eyes and pointed out how he had made a wrong decision.

"Listen to me. Let me finish." Mr. Sun tried to finish what he was saying, but no one was ready to listen to him. He did not know how to explain the entire situation. They had reached their own conjectures regarding the matter, and they would not let him explain.

Mr. Bing shook his head and said, "There is nothing to say. We will send another candidate tomorrow. That's final."

"Will you all let me finish first?" Mr. Sun said, exasperatedly and started walking towards her direction.

A ding announced the arrival of the elevator. Entering the elevator, she punched the button for the fifth floor. Before the doors could close, those people somehow squeezed their way into the elevator.

Emily found herself pushed to the farthest corner of the elevator. Everyone looked at her in dismay. She smiled at them, but they responded in frowns or eye rolls.

She was confused. She looked at the President. He was massaging his temples, but he offered no explanations either.

'Maybe they're having a bad day,' Emily thought.

"Meet me in my office, Miss Taylor. I have something to discuss with you." Mr. Sun stopped massaging his temples and looked at Emily. He was sporting wrinkles, but he looked disappointed, worn out, all at the same time. Emily wondered what had taken a toll on them, but she nodded to show her agreement.

Mr. Sun did not say anything else. He looked at the others and said, "Let me handle this, please. Trust me."

They looked at him, disbelief filling their faces, but soon, it was replaced by reluctance, and finally, approval.

"Just this once, President," Ada said. She glanced at Emily and then continued, "Next time, you have to let us handle these kinda situations."

Mr. Sun nodded. The ding of the elevator announced their arrival to the fifth floor.

"Miss Taylor, this way please."

Emily and Mr. Sun stepped out of the elevator and the doors closed. The surroundings were oddly silent. There was no one around.

"Miss Taylor, would you mind bringing us two cups of coffee?" Mr. Sun followed Emily's gaze and answered the question weighing on her mind, "Julia, Sarah and others are on a holiday today. I wasn't supposed to come either. An emergency made me come. So, would you mind bringing us coffee or..?" He left his sentence unfinished, taking out his cell from his pocket.

"Sure Sir, but I don't know the way to the cafeteria."

"Oh, take a turn to the right from here and you will reach there. Marie should be there. She knows my preference." Mr. Sun left Emily standing there and went towards his cabin.

Emily held her tablet in one hand, and the bag in the other and with the click-clack of her high heels, made way towards the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was empty. Only the girl named Marie was standing near the coffee machine. Flipping her hair, she asked, "What brings you here?"

"President asked me to bring his coffee. So, umm…"

"Okay okay. Stand there." Marie rolled her eyes.

She did not know what made Marie dislike her so much, but this was not the time to dwell on those thoughts. So, she dropped her iPad inside her bag and slung it over her shoulders.

Emily said, "Marie, wait a moment. Would you mind giving me another cup of coffee? Less sugar, more milk please."

Marie rolled her eyes and then brought two cups of coffee and handed it to Emily. "What are you standing here for? Do you want the President to scold you? He likes his coffee burning hot."

Emily muttered a low 'thank you' before rushing towards the direction of Mr. Sun's cabin in her high heels.

She knocked on the door of Mr. Sun's cabin.

"Come in," came the gruff reply of Mr. Sun.

Emily walked in balancing the two cups of coffee and her bag all the while trying to push the door open with her right hand.

Mr. Sun saw her plight and came to her rescue. Holding the door open, he allowed Emily to pass before closing it right behind her.

"So, Miss Taylor, how was your assignment?"

"Sir, I was going to call you regarding this assignment. Could you assign me to some other assignment, please?"

"Why, what happened, Miss Taylor? I thought you were very much interested in working with Innovation."