Presentation Day 3

The room fell into a momentary silence, and you could hear the noise of a fly as everyone processed the unexpected turn of events. Heads turned in each direction. The impact of her words lingered in the air, challenging the conventional approach to business deals. Everyone seemed lost but present...

 The host, sensing the weight of the proposal, stood at the corner side of the stage, glancing at her without saying anything.

 Mara stood there, looking at them, waiting to hear a positive reaction. Awkwardly, she was about to walk off the stage when the Chief Director stood up and started clapping. "This is what I am talking about! This is what we all need to make the world a better place!" he shouted. Others joined in, standing up and applauding with nods of approval.

Mr. Green Wave stood there with a facial expression of complete astonishment and bewilderment as if wondering what on earth they were talking about. Mara stood there, a bit shocked but with a smile on her face.

Max had entered the hall when the chief director was giving his final speech. "This meeting wasn't actually about our business; we wanted to see who would come up with something that would help where the powerhouse of our company is…. And Delalify business in Technology has proven beyond and above that they care for our people."

"We would like to collaborate with them for this coming project," he added. Mr. Warren III looked shocked as people started clapping for him. He looked down at Mara, who was beaming with joy, and slowly led his way to the stage.

Mr. Green Wave walked past him, saying, "This is not over," and stormed out.

"Congratulations, Mr. Warren," the chief director said.

"We did it, Sir!" Mara exclaimed and wrapped her arms tightly around him in a hug.

Mr. Warren III, taken aback by her actions, opened his eyes wider and cleared his throat. Mara promptly retreated and fixed his shirt for him. "I'm sorry, Sir," she said, her smile fading away. "I was carried away," she added and walked awkwardly away from the stage….

Walking out of the hall with smiles of victory, Ann stood outside her face lowered down with shame.

"I'm really sorry," she said, "I never intended to present your hard work." She looked at Mr. Warren. "I am really sorry, Mara," she said. "Thankfully, you had a better alternative in mind. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if we won that offer today. You're the future," she said and slightly smiled.

"You don't have to explain anything," Mara said.

"Beware of him; he is more dangerous than he says," Ann warned.

"I will, thanks," Mara said and pulled her into a hug.

We would be around a few more days for the project to commence before we go back home, Max said without looking at Mara...

Sure, she simply.

Thank you, for today Max said and walked away without looking at her.

Mara smiled as she watch him leave, you're welcome she slowly muttered.

She sat in her hotel room, lying down and a knock came from the door.. I was asked to give you this the delivery man said...

Mara opened it and saw a ticket for a concert of a VIP of her favorite artists coming up this weekend, the last concert, since it was a week program, she smiled while looking at it and giggled more when she saw a T-shirt with the artist face on it just like she wore the last time…..There was a camera inside too….

Oh, she said and jumped around happily…..

….......…..

Thank you, Sir," Mara said at the celebration dinner with the board members. Max kept his eyes far away from her as if he didn't hear a thing she had said. They continued with their little celebration as the chief director and he discussed more about the project and how it should go about.

"I will drop you," Max offered when the dinner celebration was over.

"You don't have to," Mara said.

Max stared at her without saying anything.

"I'm planning to go and view Burj Khalifa to take a few pictures over there, else my friend would be so disappointed in me," she said nervously smiling.

"I will drive you there," he offered.

Mara gaped at him, utterly astonished.

Mara furrowed her brow in frustration while struggling to push Max's car. "I am not all that strong!" she shouted from the back and sighed heavily before sitting on the ground.

Max got down from the car, and Mara looked up at him with a sweaty face. "I shouldn't have taken your offer, some people have really bad luck," she said.

"Huh," Max said.

"Why me?" she said and looked up at the sky with exhaustion. "I'm in the middle of nowhere with my worst enemy, and my battery is even dead," she added while hard-pressing her switched-off phone to see if it would turn on.

"Is your phone on?" she asked Max, and he checked his pocket. "Oh, I might have left it somewhere," he said, and Mara rolled her eyes.

"How do we get there now?" she said while scratching her head. "This was my only chance," she said with a low voice.

"Oh, Taxi!" she shouted when she spotted a taxi coming their way.

"Hurry up," she said while running, glancing over her shoulder to find Max lingering behind. She rushed back and pulled him by his hands.

"I will charge 50 dollars," the taxi driver said.

"What, are we going to South Africa? We don't have that amount here. I only have 9 dollars here," she said while showing him inside her purse.

"That is too small," the taxi driver said as he was about to drive away. He spotted Mr. Max Warren III standing at her back. "Wait a minute," he said and got down.

"Is this the one and only Warren III, the business tycoon?" he exclaimed with joy as his eyes lifted.

He quickly removed his phone from his pocket and asked, "Sir, may I take a photo with you?"