61Michael's heart skipped a beat as his sleepy haze quickly transformed into panic. He sat up in bed, fully awake now, his mind racing. "Samantha, please, don't do anything rash," he pleaded, his voice filled with concern.Samantha's voice trembled on the other end of the line. "I can't take it anymore, Michael. I'm standing on the bridge."Fear gripped Michael's heart as he immediately swung his legs out of bed, desperate to help her. "Tell me where you are. I'm coming to you right now."There was a moment of hesitation before Samantha managed to choke out the name of the bridge and the general direction. "Please be quick, Michael, and come alone without the police," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "I don't know how much longer I can hold on."With adrenaline surging through his veins, Michael sprang into action. He quickly dressed himself, his thoughts consumed by Samantha's desperate plea for help. He knew he couldn't waste any time. He dashed out the door, his min

63The next morning, Michael's phone rang and he saw Samantha's name on the caller ID. Excited, he fumbled and dropped his phone."Damn!" Hurriedly picking it up, his heart pounding, he answered with feigned calmness, "Hello?"Samantha's delicate and smooth voice greeted him, "Hi Mike."She used to call him like that when they were dating, and hearing him call him that brought back old happy memories of them. Michael, trying to keep his excitement in check, asked, "Hey Samantha, how are you feeling today?"Samantha sighed, "Honestly, I've been feeling really lonely since I broke up with Ryan. I have nothing to do and my days are so boring."Thinking quickly, Michael asked, "Well, what would you like to do to stop being bored?"Samantha's voice perked up, "Surprise me!"Feigning busyness, Michael replied, "I actually have a busy schedule, but I can free up some time today just for you."With joy, Samantha exclaimed, "That's amazing! I love you, Mike!"Smiling mischievously, Michael b

65"You think I can handle this responsibility, Dad?" Michael asked, trying to keep his voice steady.Edward nodded, a hint of pride glimmering in his eyes. "I have complete faith in you, Michael. You've already proven yourself capable, and I believe this opportunity will be the perfect platform for you to showcase your talents."As they spoke, the atmosphere around them became charged with anticipation. It was as if the restaurant itself had caught wind of their conversation and held its breath in suspense. Just as the weight of the moment threatened to suffocate them, the waiter approached with their order, momentarily breaking the tension.The waiter placed their plates in front of them with a polite smile and excused himself, leaving father and son alone once again. Michael's mind was still reeling from his father's proposition, but he knew he had to gather his thoughts. He picked up his fork, ready to indulge in a distraction."But, Dad," Michael began hesitantly, trying to find

67Wallas's gaze was filled with contempt as he locked eyes with Michael. "You've come back to see the CEO, haven't you?" he spat out in a disdainful tone.Caught off guard by Wallas's sharp attitude, Michael hesitated for a moment before nodding hesitantly. "Yes, I have. Is there something wrong?"A sly smile crept onto Wallas's face as he crossed his arms. "Well, lucky for you, I've also been trying to reach the CEO for the past two days, to no avail. I guess today is my chance to finally have a word with him."Michael felt embarrassment wash over him, realizing he would now have an unexpected companion on his trip to the CEO's office. Nervously, he managed to mutter, "I don't think you can come with me."Wallas let out a boisterous laugh, clearly enjoying Michael's discomfort. "Oh, don't worry," he said, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "I'll be right behind you, every step of the way."Panic gripped Michael as he contemplated how to handle this unforeseen situation. Reluctantly, he

69Michael took a deep breath, attempting to tame his frustration. He approached the manager with a calm demeanor and explained, "I've been sent here for an online marketing campaign. My feet are killing me from standing, so may I please have a seat?"The manager simply nodded in response, his expression curious. "And which company are you representing?" he asked.Michael replied confidently, "Goldrex Corporation."The manager's eyes widened, a hint of disbelief evident on his face. "You're the one that such a great company sent to explain the terms of a digital campaign?" he asked in astonishment.Rolling his eyes, Michael retorted, "Is that causing a problem for you?"Shaking his head, the manager sighed and casually crossed and uncrossed his feet, still propped up on the table. He leaned back in his chair and inquired, "So, what is the duration and terms of this campaign?"Without much thought, Michael responded with a smirk, "One week."The manager burst into laughter, unable to c