Chapter 25: Meeting with Mr. Smith.

“So that’s what happened, hahaha, truly amusing.” David says as he gulps a shot of vodka.

I let out a sigh. After David picked up me we found a normal bar nearby and started talking and drinking. I have to stress out that we found a normal bar, because we came across two more not normal bars until we found this one. “I already texted Ana and she will text me back when they are done doing whatever they are doing.” I say while sipping a glass of whiskey.

“But if you think about it, maybe Lilian did that to you so she is alone with Ana.” David says in a carefree tone.

I raise an eyebrow, “What do you mean?” I ask not knowing what David meant. “Are you saying that Lilian is hitting on Ana?”

“No, not that, think about it. If the three of you go out with some more friends, do you think Ana will behave openly or she will stick with you?” David asks me while playing with the remains of the shot of vodka.

I think for a moment, “Knowing her she will definitely stick at my side.”

“You see? Maybe she has no bad intentions.” David says with an 'I told you!' expression.

I finish the glass of whiskey in one gulp, “Man, I truly doesn’t understand her…” I muter with a depressed tone.

“Hoooh...” David stares at me, “I thought you were going out with Ana.” He says still staring at me.

“Hmmm…” I order another glass and just then I reply coolly to David, “I just met her again after three years and this is the third day, although I like her my situation is not as simple.”

“Why not?” David says as he pours some vodka in an orange juice glass, “It’s not like we are still in the era that the parents can oppose who their sons likes.” He says casually.

“Well, maybe not yours, but mine surely can.” I say while sipping slowly the glass of whiskey.

“Hahaha,” David laughs loudly, “Who is your father? The president?” He says between laughs.

“Richard Trevor.” I say without even looking at David.

*Crash.*

David let slip his mix of orange juice with vodka and looks at me with a shocked expression, “Are you kidding, right? Richard Trevor, the owner of the Trevor International Research Group (T.I.R.G.)?!” He looks at me expectantly. T.I.R.G. is the most influential multinational company worldwide, Richard Trevor being the owner, he is the most influential man in the world.

“That Richard Trevor, but I ditched the family,” I say while waving my hand, “I’m just a normal citizen.”

David apologizes to the bartender and asks for another glass. After a while he looks at me and then says, “Your history sure is complicated, but even that doesn’t explain why you cannot go out with Ana.”

After hearing him I just shrug and sip the whiskey.

David does another mix and drinks slowly. “Could it be that you have fallen for the one who helped you when you were in a dire situation?” He says with a teasing smile in his face.

I stop drinking and think for a while. “Leeloo is unique and has a lot of charm, but I can’t read her. Going out with her should be very troublesome.”

“Hahaha, just tap her and if it doesn’t work try again with someone else.” He says coolly.

“I’m not a carefree playboy as you David.” I reply while looking at him.

“Hahaha, cheers, for a relaxed life.” David says and raises his glass.

I accept the toast and touch his glass with mine. ‘For a not so simple life.’ I say in my mind.

Around 1 a.m. I receive a text from Ana saying that they are already going out. I split the bill with David and bid him farewell, then I go towards the gay disco. Leeloo and Ana would normally attract a lot of attention, but in this kind of atmosphere they just blended stealthily.

When I see Ana and Leeloo in the entrance of the disco, against my expectations, I notice faintly familiar faces. I stare at those faces until I could finally recognize them. ‘Aren’t those Leeloo’s classmates?’ I ask myself.

After getting closer Ana sees me and hurriedly walk towards me to hold my arm. While Leeloo was bidding some farewells, I ask some questions to Ana. As Leeloo said, there was an event on the second floor for couples and there was free cocktails, today was some kind of special day for this disco. Leeloo and her friends disguised as gay couples to drink for free.

“I’m pretty sure that none of them did it because it was free, they just did it for the amusement.” I slap my face. Most of them will graduate this year, thus this was only a memory.

After a while we take another cab and return to the apartment. I didn’t even bother to ask why, I just assumed that what David said makes sense.

“Ana.” I ask looking back, I’m again at the front seat.

“Hmmm?” She says silently.

I look back and notice that Leeloo is sleeping. “Want to go to the campus tomorrow?” I ask her again.

“Sure, seems good.” She says happily.

“BME is not far from there, we can get there after lunch.” I say and then I turn to look again at the front.

Ana nods silently and leans her head towards Leeloo, seems they both are tired, good thing I didn’t go to far, or else it would be dangerous for them to return by themselves.

After getting to the apartment complex I help Leeloo to walk, she is not drunk, but she is half asleep. When I open the door to the apartment Leeloo goes straight to her room and Ana to mine. I see one last time my attire before throwing it away in a corner and going to sleep.

On Mondays my first class is at 10:00 a.m., so I usually don’t wake up so early unless I want to go to the workshop which today is not the case. However, I am planning on going early so I can stroll with Ana a bit.

I dress in my uniform while Ana was wearing some casual clothes, a pair of black jeans with a light blue blouse. After having breakfast we depart and go towards the university, I prepared lunch for Leeloo beforehand so she doesn’t make a fuss.

When we get to the campus, Ana receives a visitor token and the guard let her in. It’s 9:10 so I have enough time to show here some parts of Tidem.

Ana is amazed with the scenery. Not much universities has a campus as big as this ones, and even less pay so close attention to the communion of the students with the nature. I didn’t chose Tidem because of this, but for me was definitely a pleasant surprise.

I lead Ana to a waiting area but she insists in waiting near my classroom. I sigh inwardly and just let her do as she wants, is not like she is going to intervene in my studies. She waited patiently until 1:00 p.m. that my classes are over and then we head off to lunch.

While having lunch she talks to me about her university. Although Greenfield National University’s status is as good as Tidem University’s status, she says that the difference between the campuses is just too great, you just can’t compare on to the other.

After lunching we headed directly to BME, it was just 5 minutes in a cab from the gates of the campus.

As we get off of the cab, in front of us there is a building at least 20 stories high, a lot of people going in and out. On the top floors there is the blue moon logo representative of BME. We make our way to an information counter.

“Hello and welcome to BME, how may I help you?” The receptionist greets me with a charming smile.

“I’m here to claim a prize from this weekend’s tournament.” I say while giving her my ID.

“Sure, let me check.” She receives my ID and then makes a call. A while later she talks to me again, “Wait a minute Mr. Marcus, someone wants to meet you.”

I raise an eyebrow and Ana looks at me. I tell her that I have no idea, I thought that I would only pick the check and go.

Moments later, a lady dressed in pink with pink glasses and a pink ribbon tying her hair comes and greet us. In her chest there is a little insignia and you could see her name, Jasmine.

“Excuse me, are you Mr. Marcus?” Jasmine asks me.

“Yes I am,” I reply to her and then I continue with a confused look, “Did you wanted to see me?”

“Oh, no, no, not me, the president wishes to see you.” Jasmin refutes energetically.

Hearing this I get more confused. A president giving personally checks? That’s unprecedented.

Jasmine leads the way and we take an elevator. Ana is quietly looking at the offices, this building is quite luxurious in all senses. We stop at the 14th floor and Jasmine leads the way again. We walk until we are in front of a big office with two wooden doors, she lightly taps the door and then enters. Ana and I wait until Jasmine tells us to enter.

‘Wow, worthy of an office for a president.’ As I enter I feel pleasantly surprised. This office is very similar to the study my father has at home, one central desk made of wood, one extremely big chair behind the desk and smaller chairs in front of it, in the back of the room there is a glass wall, at the right side there is a huge screen, and at the left side innumerable shelves.

In the main chair is sitting an elderly man with a grey suit. As he sees Ana and me, he stands up and speaks in a very warm tone, “Please, come in, come in. Jasmine, please attend our esteemed guests.”

“Would you like something to drink?” Jasmine says politely.

“Water will do, thank you.” I say while I still feel a bit lost.

“Same for me please.” Ana says while leaning towards me.

As Jasmine exits the door, the elderly man extends his hand towards me offering a handshake. I walk towards him and accept the handshake. “Nice to meet you, I’m Sam Smith, President of this branch of Blue Moon Enterprise.” Says Mr. Smith in the same warm tone.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Marcus Trevor and she is my friend Ana Garcia, she helped me greatly during the tourney.” I politely introduce myself and Ana.

“Oh, I see, I see.” Mr. Smith offers Ana a handshake and then signal us to sit. After we sit, Jasmine comes with the water and then he speaks once again, “I couldn’t go the Saturday because I had a family dinner, but you won the amateur tournament, I wasn’t wrong, I wasn’t wrong.” He smiles widely.

After hearing this I frown and try to intervene but I’m interrupted by Mr. Smith, “Today’s youth is impressive, impressive! To think that a natural user would appear so spontaneously and win the tournament.”

“Mr. Smith I…” I say trying to interrupt him but he continues.

“Just when I needed one last person for the second professional gaming team of BME you just appear and…” Mr. Smith is so focused on himself that I don’t see how to interrupt him.

Jasmine, knowing what I am trying to do, takes the lead. “*Cough.*” She coughs loud and catches Mr. Smith attention.

“Yes?” Mr. Smith says looking at Jasmine.

“Mr. Smith, Mr. Marcus classified as 2nd in the amateur category, he didn’t win the tournament.” Jasmine says.

Mr. Smith looks at Jasmine, and then he looks at me, “Oh, I see, I see.”

END OF CHAPTER 25.