1. Fancy place.

We arrive at the main conference room of the hotel at around 11:45 AM, a good fifteen minutes before the start of the Introduction session. We sat on the row of seats that had been relegated to our company. and take the introduction brochures that are tucked into the back of the seats in front of us.

“Wow, this is fancy,” Coraline murmurs next to me, taking in the cool exterior of the conference room that looks as if it could be part of some French chateau than a hotel. The ivory white and gold are the theme. here as well, but it is a lot cooler than the outside. The conference room can at least sit a thousand people at once. It seems like the forum hosts had gone all out.

Soon, the conference hall brims with corporate personnel from all across the continent, and the organizers of the forum take the stage to relay their welcome speech, followed by a brief summary of the history of the Annual North American Business Forum. They introduce all the people of importance, as well as do a small introductory session for their own company.

I have to admit, it is kind of boring. After the initial excitement of the event wears off, it’s just like any other corporate event. Some people take the stage and start to drone on about modern business and such. Those in the seats start to mutter amongst themselves. Coraline and I try to give them all of our attention because this is our first time, and we don’t have the luxury of being ignorant. Coraline even takes notes on her iPad about the people we see taking the stage.

“Who knows,” she tells me, “We might have to work with these people one day. Better be prepared.”

“What kind of notes are you taking?” I ask, peaking at the iPad. But Coraline snatches it away with a smirk.

“Just observations,” she remarks, “you don’t have to worry about it, boss.”

I narrow my eyes at her but decide to drop it.

The introduction panel ends, and everyone is herded to the reception hall in order to be fed.

And that is where the real music begins.

Gerald states that we should mingle with the other companies in

our time. here,” he says, “you don’t have to do much. Just introduce yourself and make conversation. Make friends. Same

I nod.

stepped out of a GQ magazine, with his perfectly tailored designer suit and his salt and pepper hair. Reminds me of my father a bit, the way he carries himself. He also

of contracts from Hollywood,” he boasts. “All the bigshot studios there have

does all the talking while I nod along and prod him here and there. Coraline tells me later that she thought the man. likes to hear his own voice. But I learn a lot of things from the conversation and find out that Zelt Tech products might have a place

conversation, Gerald bears and tells me that he anticipates a new contract from

Enterprises pretty

me on the back, “you’re a natural

oddly bashful at the compliment, so I duck my

part, everything is cool and dandy. But then the judgment starts.

wait,” a man no older than forty exclaims, staring at me as if I’d grown another head, “you’re Joseph Greyson’s son?

“Um, yeah?”

man narrows his eyes, “Joseph doesn’t have any kids last I checked, and I’ve known the man for years. You’ve gotta be pulling my leg,

close by, but

to be as polite as possible, “the relationship between my father and I was a bit complicated for

man gives

at that and feel sudden anger. Yes, she was his mistress, but it didn’t mean he had to put it like that. So…crudely. Behind me, I can feel Coraline

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