Heart of the Conference

 The next conference meeting would determine who would be chosen for the collaboration with Dubai over the coming two years…

Now, another presentation was to be made that same day, for each person to showcase their long-term goals and how their collaboration would benefit Dubai as a whole.

Mr. Warren III drew closer to Mara when Mr. Green Wave's team presented their offer. "Get ready," he said to her. "Uhhh," Mara inquired, "you didn't tell me anything for me to prepare beforehand."

"You're going to use your head," he said. "Why do you think I brought you here? For you to take pictures," he said smiled and shook his head. "No, no. We will be next in a few minute. Make sure you don't fail me," he added and sat relaxed in his chair as he observed his competitors make their offers.

Mara looked at him with a smirk on her face. "What am I going to do now?" she murmured as she sat uncomfortably and quickly glanced through the files. Max looked at her shortly and smiled...…

"Wow, that was an incredible presentation over there," someone commented in the conference room, and it looked like everyone was in support of it as they clapped for her. Mara sat there, looking frustrated because she could agree; the presentation was nothing short of magnificent. She stood up awkwardly from her seat, firmly holding her presentation file.

The tension in the room made her dizzy, and she felt like she could faint at any moment with the sound of any loud noise.

She walked from her seat and gave Mr. Warren III a deadly look. As she took a step to the stage, each stride toward the stage brought an anxious sensation bubbling within her stomach. She slightly looked up, whispering, "Please divide the earth into two and swallow me." She stood there for a while, eyes closely shut, as if her wish was about to take place. The noise from the applause brought her back to reality.

 She looked around and on the floor, hoping her wish had come true, but she was disappointed. "Oww," she said as she placed her head on her shoulders in disappointment, dragging herself to the stage. With nervous smiles all over her face…

She held the mic firmly, a drop of sweat dripped from her forehead as she began to speak, but she stammered over her own words... "Sorry," she said and started all over again, but she trembled over her words once more... Everyone in the hall started glancing at each other.

"Who is this that you have brought before us today, a low-confidence woman, Mr. Max Warren III?" one man said... Everyone started to laugh hard at his joke.

Mr. Warren III gazed at her and stood up with his hands in his pocket, storming out angrily. He couldn't take it anymore…

Mara mustered some courage, looked at the files one more time, and mumbled to herself, "I can do this, I can do this." She sighed heavily and glanced at the teasing crowd. Mara began her presentation, which flowed flawlessly, grabbing the attention of the people. They looked shocked at her presentation, attentively listening to her. Trying to grab every details she was talking about…

 Mr. Warren III gazed at her and stood up with his hands in his pocket, storming out angrily. He couldn't take it any-more...

Mara mastered some courage, looked at the files one more time, and mumbled to herself, "I can do this, I can do this." She sighed heavily and glanced at the teasing crowd. Mara began her presentation, which flowed flawlessly, grabbing the attention of the people. They looked shocked at her presentation, attentively listening to her, and what she has…

They nodded and agreed with whatever she was saying. The audience started clapping for her. Max entered while on the phone and saw the applause. He looked amazed at Mara, who stood there boldly with a proud smile. Mara wrapped up her presentation and walked gracefully to her seat, giving Max a sassy look.

Why did you have to set me up like that? You should have at least prompted me about it," Mara said, looking angrily at Mr. Warren III. "You placed the company at risk today," she added.

"You don't tell me how to run my business. It's my company, not yours. I knew what I was doing," he said. "Why do you think I brought you here in the first place? To have fun with you or to keep seeing your annoying face?" he asked with a question mark on his face, walking forward towards her. Mara flinched gaplsed her silva

"I brought you here to use this," he said, touching his head and looking deadly at her. "We need to get ready for the next one." He turned on his heel and strode off without another word, leaving Mara.

"Did I just sign my death warrant?" she said, standing there in irritation after confronting Mr. Warren III. "What do I do now?" she muttered to herself, standing there idly without a clear plan.

Wham!

She heard the sound of a slap that had been delivered. Startled, she looked left and right to identify the source of the noise. With a frown on her face, she stood there, attempting to locate where the noise originated.

A woman's cry reached her ears as she took a step forward. Immediately, she realized the source of the noise –oh, the door with the gold handle. She tiptoed slowly to the door and slightly opened it to peep what was going inside there...

You're too slow, Annie!? how could you lose your guide over there?.. What you did wasn't good enough. Even a little child could have done better. It was nothing – total rubbish and senseless. If you don't step up for the next presentation and ensure that I win this offer, I promise you I'm going to finish you and your entire family. He said violently, shouting at the top of his voice. Then he turned away, enraged, and gripped his waist under his coat.

Annie stood there, inhaling and exhaling deeply, keeping her hands firmly clasped against one of her cheeks, while struggling to talk. "I did my best, Sir. Everyone was clapping. They all said I did great. You were there," Her voice trembled with fear as she spoke these words.

"That wasn't great enough! You call that great? Did you see our other competitor?" he said furiously, with his back turned towards her..

"But, sir," Annie murmured, and just as she was ready to speak another word, Mr. Green Wave abruptly raised his hands in the air and exclaimed, "Hey!" as he aimed yet another slap towards her cheek. He felt a grip on his wrist. Trying to pull his hands from the touch, he turned to see who it was.