FIVE YEARS AGO

"Hi dad" Alex said beaming with smile

" how are you? Son"  Richard Tanner said as he raised his head from the documents he had been glancing through.

It was just past nine and the sun have not even thought about waking up.

Richard stood up to give his son a hug, he released his son and walked up to the windows to view the horizon of pink pearl luster outside from his office the thirtieth floor, the last floor of the building.

" Am good dad'' Alex replied

" you sent for me father'' he added as he sat on one of the sofas in his Father's office.

The room was painted white with a little bit of cream to compliment. The office was arranged as expected as a business tycoon he was, the layout of his enormous table. Oval in shape, portraits of highly respected artist could be seen hanging on the wall. The arrangement of sofas to rest in the enormous room was spectacular to say the least, mare glance at the room and it spoke money, great deal of it.

    Alex well seated on one of the sofas as he awaits his father to join him couldn't help but wonder what he had done this time already to warrant his father's summon. He was far from providing an answer to his thoughts when his father's Secretary walked in.

"Hi Mr Tanner" Rachel said beaming with smile

" Here is the coffee you requested for sir" she continued turning to his father, her boss.

"Thank you Rachel" Richard replied as he moved toward where Rachel had placed the coffee tray.

" You can go, that will be all for now" He indicated with his hands.

Neither of the two men spoke for a minute. Finally Richard broke the decorum " I called you to talk about the company and my health condition

Alex raised his head to face his father.

" what about it ?'' He asked in a concerned tone, to this Richard took his time to explain everything to his son, which Alex listened to with rapt attention, uttering not a word.

" My God!'' Alex exclaimed a few minutes later.

" why didn't you tell me your health status was this bad,  Alex asked furiously

"I didn't want you and your mother to get all worried already'' Richard snapped back at his son.

"But at least you should have said something, something to say the least Alex said laying emphasis on his last word.

"Emphysema Dad? This is serious" he added

"I knew you would go melodramatic about it that was why I had kept it to myself till now''

Melodramatic be damned Alex thought to himself, he had always find himself feeling a great deal of empathy towards his family since he had not be gifted with his mother near telepathic ability of being where you wanted her, the instant you wanted her there. He had always tried to imitate this which he had failed numerous times

     "Okay'' Alex agreed silently "

"I agree with the melodramatic act''  Alex stated on second thought.

" But then you want me to take over the company with immediate effect, I take it that this sudden decision is due to your inevitable health condition''       

  "Exactly'' Richard supplied."

"but then, I know nothing about running the company apart from the little I gathered during your last business transaction''

Alex stood up from where he had been seated on for the past fourty minutes to stretch off the tension he had suddenly developed over the course of his discussion with his father and at that point, it finally drawned to him that his father had been planning his take-over for  quite  a long time, with this revelation his father spoke up at that moment

" that is precisely why I said I want you on deck working  before I hand over, at least you would have learnt anything to be taught ''

   " I understand you father, which is why I won't argue this over '' Alex giving his father's request a deep and thorough thought he finally added " when do you want me to start father " He asked hoarsely.           
                  
"Will you be ready as at next week ? '' Richard offered as he poured another of mug of coffee- his fifth that morning drinking this he strolled to the windows to see the view it displayed.

"Oh yes, I guess I will be'' Alex confirmed. With this he raised his left hand to check his wrist watch " shit!'' He swore. "I've got to go dad, I have an appointment to make.''

 " okay son, see you. '' 

" Tell mom I said Hi'' Alex puts in as he helped himself out.

***

   The elevator was about to close when Diana Blume quickly stepped forward, straightening her arms to hold the doors open. She felt like samson balanced between two marble columns, she would have missed the elevator and be few minute late for her appointment with Boukjay Company. She had gotten there early but had gone to the wrong floor for the interview and had waited endlessly for the interview to start unaware to her that it was on the last floor, she had called her childhood friend Rachel Maitland to confirm the floor on which the interview was to take place after waiting like forever, only then had she known it was on the last floor. So now she had to hurry up to meet up.

   Now having made the elevator she felt a sense of relief that all hope wasn't lost already.

"Hi''

Diana heard someone speak besides her, it was logical since there was only two of them thereof.

"Hi''  she replied reluctantly, basically she wasn't in the best mood to stir up a conversation but as it seems the other occupant wasn't taking the hint. As he went on

" I guess you are in a hurry ?'' He asked starting a conversation.

Of course she was in a hurry. Even a sick old man would see that. She mentally scolded the man beside her. She couldn't say it out.

He had instantly noticed her eye immediately she stepped in, her eyes were a pretty shade of blue that reminded him of the way the sky looked the morning after a bad storm. This had intrigued him  therefore he really just wanted to know her even more.

Basically he himself was surprised as at how a lady eyes could draw him in so suddenly, this was all to new to him. So therefore he took it upon himself to just know more than he already has just by looking into her eyes.                            

  "Yes I am'' Diana responded checking her wrist watch for the upteenth time that morning.

" I'm gonna be late for this interview" she murmured to herself.

Just as she swore under her breath about been late already, everything went pitch black and the elevator jacked to an abrupt full stop.

" Surely am gonna be late now''  Diana confirmed in a defeating voice.

And horrors upon horrors she couldn't breath steadily. Everything had happened just so fast like a train wreck, like an horrible fantasy she couldn't bring herself to think about or even dream about in her wildest dream.

"What happened?'' She asked the man beside her with a worried tone.

"Am not sure but I think there have been a power cut in the elevator server. " He mentioned, in his tone one could depict displeasure.