chapter 31

I opened the diary again. It was really her diary. Her name scribbled in the corner. She must have mistakenly left it behind while packing her belongings. I immediately got up deciding to return this diary. I looked at the diary again and sat down. I wanted to read it. It was her personal diary but I still wanted to.  

I opened the first page.  

*Dear diary,

It's been a month after Mom and Dad have passed away. Dad says I can write to him whenever I wanted to while he and mom are away. He says that you can send my messages to him so do tell him this that I am doing fine and being strong as he said. I may not have brushed my teeth in the night for one or two days and I am sorry for that. Oh yes and I am also at this place where there are many kids whose parents have gone to same place where Mom and Dad are gone. First it was weird but now it's fine I guess.

Miss Mary is my new teacher and she teaches me all this stuff which my other teachers used to to teach me back at the old school. She is pretty cool and actually better. I have made some new friends too. It's kinda funny I live in my own school. How are you mom and dad?*  

It was dated twelve years back. This first entry roused my curiosity. It was when her parents had passed away in that unfortunate car accident. I could imagine an eleven year old Tessa write in an corner. Shifting back at the bed I stuffed some pillows under my head to make it comfortable. Dimming the lights I let the lamp beside the bed glow.  

An hand poked me over and above very again which was getting annoying.  

"Sir sir."  I ignored and kept on sleeping.  

"Sir? sir please wake up sir."  

"Ugh what is it?"  

"Sir it's Mr Roberts on the call he wants to speak to you."

She gave me my phone and I said, "What do you want Jason?"  

"You are sleeping! Whoa Boy what good did I do today?"  

"Shut up and get to the bloody point."  

"Well mister you set up a meeting with Knight today if you forgot. Why are sleeping so late? You always wake up early."  

"None of your business."  

"Well it is you. Nevermind just get ready."  

"You do that."  

"Hey I got time you are the one who arrives an hour early all the time."  

"Then why is the you are calling me up and nagging me?"  

"Was I? I am really sorry then. Or maybe not."  

"You're going- ."  

"See you too."  

The call disconnected before I could complete. I massaged my head.

"Martha do make me a strong coffee enough to keep my eyes popping open through the day."  

"Rough night sir?"  

"No rather an-"  It was an interesting night. I had kept on reading the diary that I couldn't remember when I dozed off.  "A sleepless one. I was working." 

"Right sir."  

In half an hour I was ready. I was at the dining table reading through a report which I was supposed to finish reading last night.  

"Sir your coffee."  Martha came in with the strong smelling coffee. I took the mug from her and blew over it before sipping. "How is it, Sir?"  

"Perfect. Thank you Martha."  

"You're welcome Sir."  

I was at the door about to leave when I turned back. I hurried back to the room and there it was the diary lying on the bed. I picked it up putting it in my suit's inner pocket. It was safe as long as it was with me.  

"Sir Mr Roberts wants to come in." My secretary spoke in from the telecom.  

"Ugh.. okay let him in Mason." I closed the diary returning it to my pocket and I resumed with the report.  

"So you finished the report?"  

"No."

"So what's up with you?"  

"What is it Jason?"  

"Nothing." He sat down on the opposite chair and started to play with one of the paperweights tossing it from one hand to other. "You still have the ring of you-"  

"Have you come here to preach me again?" I said sternly without looking up to him. He had stop playing with the weight.  

"You are mad at me."  

"Glad you noticed it."  

"Okay fine I am sorry." I kept silent and flipped another page reading through the report very carefully. "Can I ask you a question?"  

"What?"  

"Do you miss her?" I stopped reading for a second after hearing that question. But I resumed again.  

"Who?"  

"Tessa."  

"You just apologized."  

"Sure I'll do it again. But still do you?" I took my pen signing at the end of the report. Bunching up the papers I place the back in the file.  

"Give this to Father on the way." Jason sat there still and let out a short laugh. He took the report from me.  

"I won't be irritating you about it anymore from now on. See you later." He left the room silently leaving me in peace. I fished put the diary again from my pocket.  

Knight arrived four hours later. I entered the meeting room to see Knight seated surrounded by his office associates. They had crowded the room almost. It seemed he came with an army of intellects prepared for this meeting. I pushed open the glass doors announcing my presence.  

"It's good to see you Dylan." Spencer Knight stood up to shame hands with me.

"You too Knight. Refreshments?"  

"No your people already served me."  

"Hmm." I have him small smile as I sat down.

 For the next two hours both the parties argued with each other. It was a deadlock. Neither of them wanted to step down and the meeting had hit a rough patch.  The break was declared and we retreated back to our rooms.  

"Son of a bitch will not listen!"  Jason cursed loudly.  

"What he's doing is not legible."

All started to lay opinions and formulas to tackle the situation. Nobody was happy with Knight. In an another world everybody would have lived to break his neck.  

"And not him. His right hand. He is so annoying."  

"Is he new? I think so he is new."  

"Yeah never seen him with Knight." In all the fuss I sat staring into space.  

"I have never seen you lost, son." Dad came and sat beside me.  

"Nothing just thinking about the deal." I sat up straight inclined a behind a little bit. My dad stared at me for a while. As if he was trying to decipher something.  "What are you thinking?" He smiled at me and looked away.

"Nothing. What are you gonna do?"  

"I know what to do."  

"Okay."  

The meeting resumed again. Everyone settled down in their seats looking ready.  

"Excuse me everyone could you Mr Knight and I some privacy." Everybody was surprised and blanked.  

"You heard him." Jason announced giving me a confused look. Almost everybody left the room except for Knight, I and his assistant.  

"You didn't quite hear me did you?"  

"I am his-"  

"Ah seems like you didn't." I looked towards Knight and he looked down.  

"You too leave."  

"What But-"  

"Now. It's between him and me." The assistant aggravated left the room. Pouring some water in my glass I drank half if it while walking towards Knight. I leant against the table and looked in other direction.  

"What do you want Dylan?"  

"That assistant of yours is something. New?"  

"Yes."  

"You want water?"  

"No thank you. Why don't you sit comfortably."  

"No this won't take much time."  

"So you like my assistant?"  

"No I am just wondering why do you need one. You are not too old to run a company."  

"I need to keep tabs. Keep things running."  

"Then don't know why are you wasting your money on him. Clearly you have not so much to spare to keep your things running." I kept the glass down on the table  

"Dylan-"

 "I beg your pardon I am in no position to advise you since it's his job. But screw that. Listen carefully to what I am going to say it might save you some bucks."  

_______________  

"Again as usual, what the heck did you say back there to him?!" Jason came barging in my office.  

"Good evening." I rose up from my desk collecting my phone into my pocket.  

"Man that was awesome. You should have seen that assistant's face. Damn he was so whoosh gone." In excitement he gave me hug and I stared at him.  "Sorry don't get angry." He dusted off my coat. "But we need to celebrate this. We landed this big fish."  

"We'll do that later I am really tired alright."  

"This weekend."  

"Yes. Good night Jason."  

"You bet it is. Yeah good night you too."