---##---¤¤---##---
Chapter 10. Meeting Destiny
---##---¤¤---##---

    As usual, I wake up with a headache. But it’s worse then before. This was how I used to feel when I had a real bad hang over. I haven’t had a hang over in over six years. The last time I woke up feeling like this, I was at the hospital. My drinking stopped abruptly after that. So I know that alcohol didn’t cause this feeling.

    Cathy suddenly appears over me, like a rain cloud. She gives me a look of concern, mixed with annoyance. “How are you? Are you feeling okay?” she asks. She doesn’t look as perky today either. More like someone who’s been up partying all night.

    “Yes, I’m fine.” Last night wasn’t the best time of my life. The others went out to celebrate that we closed the big Belmont-deal, and I went to my room to teach my hand how to stop shaking. After my major speech yesterday, I was so edgy that I had to take a double dose of Prozac, and that resulted in a very quick trip to dizzy-land. I collapsed on the couch, and couldn’t move at all. Even though Cathy kept pulling my arm, insisting that I should come with them.

    “You look like hell,” she mutters, going through my bag. I have no idea why she’s going through my bag. I’m too tired to care.

    “And you look like fucking Cinderella,” I roll my eyes back. Ouch, don’t roll eyes. After she’s left, I try to get back to my normal condition again. When my headache finally settles, I turn on the TV. They’re talking about the deal on the news. I’m surprised, because this wasn’t that big affair. I’ve been involved in bigger settlements.

    Normally, they don’t mention me at all, mostly because the management ‘forgets’ to announce my presence and achievements. But not this time. I’m even more surprised when I hear them talk about me.

    “The young heir of Miller Corporation closed the deal with Belmont Industries yesterday afternoon. The deal is a very important part in Miller Corporation’s five year plan, which has been discussed about several times since the matter was first brought up. It seems that Miller’s offspring has inherited some of his father’s business skills. The business world is now holding its breath, waiting for his next move.”

    Me? I did all that? Okay, they misinterpreted my name, and thought I was Harold Miller’s son, but still. I did good, right? I have business skills?

    My cell phone goes off in the matter of seconds. I look at the display. It’s my father. I have no idea what he’s going to say. I hope it’s not yelling. “Yeah?” Damn, I did it again.

    “What have I told you about that?” he growls. “Did you watch the news?”

    “Yes...”

    “They didn’t mention the Heistman take-over. Did you forget to mention that?”

    “They haven’t interviewed me,” I mutter. Is ‘thank you’ really too much to ask for?

    “If they do, you know what to say. I’m counting on you. Look, there’s a very important business dinner on Wednesday, I expect you to bring someone to that,” my father explains.

    “Why?” I whimper, knowing that it’s going to be MacCallister. I should’ve destroyed the deal. That way I’d be halfway to Alaska by now. I always get punished for doing wrong, but I’m never rewarded when I succeed. No wonder I’m messed up.

    It’s silent for a few seconds, I hear my Dad talk to someone else in the background. Probably his secretary. He gets a new one every week. At least I don’t scare Gale off by sleeping with her. I think I deserve some kudos for that. “I expect you to be there, it’s because of you we closed the deal, and you have to meet some people that are interested in the take-over. They are going to ask for you, and I won’t stand there and tell them that you refused to come because you couldn’t get a date.”

    Well, at least I got some recognition this time. “You said...”

    “I’ll pull some strings; maybe I can get your wife with the 7.30 flight tonight. Don’t embarrass me now, Fredrik.”

    Then he hangs up. Wow, I’ve never experienced that before. That was the closest thing of gratitude he’s ever shown me. He’s bringing Catalina down here for the big, important dinner, even though he can’t stand the sight of her. I must’ve really done well this time. He actually granted my request.

    There’s no time for me to call my wife and let her know about the plans, because Robert comes bursting in through the door, yelling something about a press conference. I hate those. They only ask irrelevant questions, about my family, my personal opinions about this and that, or they’ve found out some dirt about me that they want me to confirm. Yay for press conferences.

    I’m not acting confused; I just am disoriented most of the time. I let Robert, Cathy MacCallister and the rest of the crew from MC answers all the important questions. Just as expected, they only ask about my family anyway. I can act grumpy and say ‘no comment’, because my father doesn’t like it when I spread information about what’s happening within the family.

    Robert Clairmont is of course pissed when we are finally done. “Why the hell do they even bring you along on these meetings? You didn’t contribute with one answer, and you didn’t help us out when they cornered us about the failures in that other deal, which you single-handed ruined, just with your presence...”

    “I was the one who saved your ass!” I mutter. “I closed the deal, and you’re just angry because you didn’t get the chance to impress the management.”

    “I deserve to be promoted. You, on the other hand, don’t deserve shit of what you got. Your Dad got you your fucking job, for Christ’s sake!”

    Cathy is walking next to us, keeping her mouth shut for a change. “Yeah, and I’ll probably be general director too, which bothers you even more! Because then you’ll be unsure if I’ll fire you or not, and that’s why you keep ruining my path to success! But you know what? It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t want my father’s job. Take it, do whatever you want with it.”

    “Only a spoiled brat would talk like that,” Robert growls. “You have everything you could wish for, and even now you’re miserable? It’s your fucking adolescence that does it, I’m sure. You shouldn’t be married, nor have kids. You should be in college, dealing with real life.”

    Come on, what a load of crap! Isn’t my life already real? I have to go back to college to ‘live’? “Okay, so I might be young and stupid, but you should thank me for saving your job yesterday,” I continue. “And, yes, I might be married...”

    “She’ll eventually turn into someone you rather escape from then run to,” Robert interrupts me. “Believe me; they all end up as someone you hate.”

    “Fine, my wife’s a bitch,” I shout. “But I rather go home to some evil bitch then to someone I don’t respect...” I have to end it there, because Cathy is smirking at me. “What’s up your ass?”

    “So, I’m a bitch now?”

    I turn around to see my wife stand in the door, her arms folded, but she looks rather amused. Cathy is showing the same expression, probably thinking that Catalina is going to kill me for what I just said. Luckily, I know she won’t, because she’s just too damn nice. Plus, she does have a sense of humor, unlike some other people.

    “Catalina!” I exclaim, shoving Clairmont out of the way to get to her. She bounces with excitement, leaping into my arms when I get up to her. Robert snorts some sort of insult over by the corner, but what do I care?

    “Hey, they talked about you on the TV,” Catalina whispers, leaning her head against my chin. “You did well, Fred. I’m so happy for you.”

    “I’ve missed you,” I mumble, trying hard not to give her that passionate kiss I’ve been dying for since I left. I don’t think our new business partners would be very impressed if I start making out with her right here in front of everyone.

    Catalina lets go of me and gives Cathy a curious look. “Aren’t you gonna introduce me?”

    “Sure,” I say, both angry and happy at the same time. Robert managed to bring my mood down to below zero, and Catalina gave me a boost back up. “This is my wife, Catalina. Catalina, this is Cathy MacCallister. You know her Dad. And of course, you’ve met Robert. My favorite co-worker.”

    Robert just glares at me, his eyes not very nice. But he keeps his front up towards Catalina, kissing her hand as if to seduce her too. I have to remember to scrub her hand with an iron brush when we get to our room. “It’s nice to meet you again, Catalina. Your husband and I were just having a few disagreements, nothing to worry about.”

    “That’s okay. I never worry about pointless shit. So, when’s dinner?” Catalina replies, making Robert raise his eyebrows. The high society ladies don’t say words like ‘shit’ in public. Nor do they actually eat.

    “We already ate,” Cathy explains with that cocky voice. Is she really trying to bully my wife around? Good luck. “Maybe there are some crackers for you on the table?”

    “Nah, I need real food. You know, I can eat anything I want, and I never gain weight!” Catalina cheers. Yep, she knows how to drive them crazy. That’s just as bad as throwing some pointless insult at Cathy. It doesn’t bounce right off, because Cathy’s eyes have a very icy stare going on.

    My dad must’ve really thought I did something not so bad this time, because he’s arranged for Catalina to get one of the suits upstairs. She goes to unpack, and I do the opposite. Cathy is still following me around. “She seems nice. A bit too... I don’t know. I thought you’d choose someone a bit classier.”

    “What’s the fun in that?” I mutter. “I love her, that’s enough for me.”

    Cathy tries several other tactics to get me to stay in the room, but I don’t see why. Doesn’t she understand why I’m refusing? Thick girl. I’m really not in a very good mood, because of her constant whining.

    In the middle of everything, my dad calls again. Give me a break, will you.