PSYCH PART 2 - WORK SMART NOT HARD

The blue sky was a natural dome of protection, embellished with a large golden gem and a few brilliant white pearls that illuminated the land with its greatest force that time. Yes! It was midday. Adele sat by the beach, facing the impeding winds of the west and the mighty sea. The wind like an invisible force blew faster and faster, directing hollow sounds, as it whipped Adele’s golden brown hair onto her tear stained face. Adele sat by the sea shore, recalling the dialogues spoken by Davis Tagger. She’d felt something.

Maria, who’d followed her to the beach to convince her, better stood at a distance apart. It was the day, when Adele could visualise the same agony that she felt a few years ago. The wound in her memory had etched a scar, which was merely difficult to forget, and the pain had been fresh again. Adele used to be in love with someone, but her destiny never turned out to be in her favour.

***

While Adele was at the beach, her phone buzzed.

Adele picked up the call.

A deep southern voice said, “Ms’ D’sa?”

“Yes! Who’s this?”

“I apologize for that statement, but I was joking. Don’t take it seriously” he giggled.

“I have…Don’t you think Mr Tagger that joking isn’t your cup of tea.” Adele replied, as she attempted a sardonic smile.

“Okay, I’ll come there in an hours’ time, and apologise personally!” he then disconnected the line, before Adele could utter out a jibe.

By any means she couldn’t think to laugh nor express her anger, but repent over the memory that she revisited that day. Meanwhile, Jennifer stepped in to confront her.

“Adele,” called out Jennifer, “He’s a good guy, don’t worry about anything. It’s the right time. Grab the opportunity. He was joking. I think you do know how poor we are!”

“I’ll need some time! Let me mull over it!”

“We are waiting for your reply!”

After sometime…

***

“I’ll definitely join The Tagger Constructions Inc, but I do expect that Mr Tagger doesn’t dare to forget his limits” Adele replied boldly.

“Yeah sure! I’ll take care of it dear, don’t worry about that! He’ll not mess with you.”

“I assure you that Ms Adele. Apologies for my imperfect behaviour towards you, but you know: like it’s a feeling. I rather thought to joke with you to lighten up your mood.”

The very next day, Adele had been called to Tagger’s registered office. She was dressed in an elegantly simple white satin shirt with a raven coat. She indeed looked prettier than ever before. She’d been called upon to be handed over the share certificate and responsibilities as the managing director for Tagger constructions. The share certificate identified her as a 10% owner of the Tagger constructions.

It’d been two weeks that Adele had assumed her position, and it was time for her to have proved her wit with the Tagger Constructions. She’d been engrossed in researching and plotting out plans to avail government tenders. As she was leafing through the Auradon fly high, which is a specialist newspaper entirely dedicated to business, an advertorial caught her eye. It read:

As soon as she finished reading the advertorial, her eyes had a new gleam altogether, with a broad smile, she rushed towards the neighbouring cabin which belonged to Davis.

“Sir, I’ve got something cooking up in mind” she said.

“Oh! Cool. First thing, stop calling me sir, you could call me Davis.”

“Yeah! Davis! The Public Works department have floated a tender about the re-construction of the iconic Auradon Bridge. I feel, that we should bid for it”

“I don’t think so this is a good idea!” he said.

“Trust me sir, I’ve got a plan.”

“Okay go on! Do you require anything from me?”

“No Davis, but I do need you to connect me with Arnold Speke.”

“ Don’t worry about that! I’ll get you connected to him”

***

The meeting had been scheduled for the next day. Adele knocked the door and entered in. As Arnold stood up and lent his hand forward for a hand shake. Arnold indeed seemed bold. His 15ft by 15ft ramshackle cabin was coloured in dull, and some sunlight that entered through the dilapidated windows of the room.

“Nice meeting you, Ms Adele. These days you’re quite in headlines”

“Yeah! Thank you sir” she sighed.

“So, as you know that our company has been facing major losses, we’ve been desperate enough to have won at least one tender, to keep us running. These days the Auradon Bridge is also desperate to have repairs…”

“Uh! So what shall I do?

“You very well know it sir!” she said. “What are others being offering sir? Let’s do one thing, if you could join us over a meeting at our office. We’ve got a much secure place sir”

“Yeah sure! In the evening, once am free to step out of this”

“Our car will be waiting outside to pick you up sir”

As, the yellow ball of life was about to set, Arnold set step outside his office as a White Limousine pulled forward to pick him up. The chauffeur opened the door for him. Apart from the chauffeur, it was Adele’s secretary who was present. As he got into the car, the secretary grinned “welcome sir! Ms Adele has sent me to guide you to our office”. The Limousine started off. It took about an hour to get to the office.

The building was a fifty eight floor sky scraper. Adele was waiting at the entrance.

“Hello Sir,” greeted Adele, as they shook hands and she guided Arnold to the fortieth floor of the compound. The floor appeared to be no less than a maze equipped with modern gadgets. It was a technocratic wonderland! They were greeted by an automated announcement system and then guided forward through it. The floor was completely secluded, no one else could enter the floor without her permission. It was monitored entirely by modernised equipment. They were guided towards the “Zodiac Chambers”. These were the specially designed conference rooms with utmost security to maintain the highest level of secrecy. As both of them walked into one of the rooms, Arnold stood mesmerised. It was quite beyond what he’d expected in reality about the meet. It was a much larger room, surrounded by darkness in its corners and a brilliant white spotlight to focus onto the round conference table. They were seated on opposite ends.

Although the room was air conditioned, sweat tickled down Arnold's face. The atmosphere seemed serious enough, when Adele started out the discussion.

“So sir, let’s directly talk about the tender. How many dollars have others bid for?”

“For the construction of the new Auradon Bridge, the Gerald Mega structures PLC have bid for 400million dollars. And there is another firm in race too, The WAK group, who’ve bid for a whopping 700million dollars. Both the quotations also do include the out of pocket expenses. I assume that you very well understand, what I mean from Out of pocket expense. The WAK group have kept a much larger budget for these expenses. Now, it’s entirely upon you to know the way to please us. If I am pleased, I’ll finalise the tender in favour of Tagger constructions as early as I can”

“How much of Out of pocket expenses does WAK group been incurring”

“100million”

“Don’t you think that they’ve incurred less of these expenses? Okay then, we bid for 1Billion Dollars. Out of which I think, we should incur around 250million dollars as expenses.”

“That sounds cool!”

“But before you actually sign the Deed of contract, I do have a request from you sir, that you do mention a clause in it which allows us to sub-contract the work.”

“Don’t worry about that Madame, I’ll draft the contract as per your need. And now I feel that we shall finalise the tender.”

“Okay, Thank you sir, I’ll be eagerly waiting to receive the Deed of Contract for the re-construction of the Auradon Bridge.

Adele’s happiness left no limits. She’d cracked her first deal.

The bidding process had been rigged and the Tender was passed on to the Tagger Constructions. It took around a week for the deed to be drafted and agreed upon. But now, something was yet to be done. All of a sudden she asked her secretary to get her connected with the Chief Executive Officer of the Gerald Mega structures PLC.

“Hello sir! This is Adele D’sa from the Tagger Constructions.”

“Yeah! Ms Adele. Jeff Gerald this side. How may I help you?”

“Uh! We’ve heard that you’ve bid for the reconstruction of the Auradon Bridge.”

“Yes! We have.”

“You’ve bid for 400million right”

“How do you know that?”

“Don’t worry about it! But are you interested in acquiring the tender.”

“Yes! We are.”

“So, call upon your legal team to finalise a contract with us. The task remains with you for 400million dollars.”

“Yeah! Sure. Thank you very much Madame.”

The deal had been finalised with a profit of 350million dollars without having worked over the Bridge. The Tender was sub-contracted to Gerald Mega Structures Ltd and Arnold was bribed for 250million dollars. Adele worked out how to act smart rather than work hard Tagger constructions enjoyed the taste of a porridge after a very long time. Adele’s face was flooded with a smile as she it to Davis. He was delighted. He called on for a meeting with some of his subordinates to formally announce the deal. Everyone were gathered around Davis’s desk, Adele stood at a corner sipping coffee.

“I am gratified to inform all of you that Tagger constructions has received the contract to rebuild the Auradon Bridge,” Davis said as he addressed his subordinates.

There was a new gleam on each one’s face, as the applauded. Their jobs were probably not at stake then.

“This couldn’t have been possible without Ms Adele D’sa who’d been, working arduously to get this contract in our favour. May we please have a round of applause for Ms. D’sa?” Davis screeched.

“Ms. D’sa, could we have you here please?”

Adele, who stood at a corner, was diffident. She moved towards Davis, with her hands shaking. Davis held her hand and looked in her eyes. “Thank you so much, Adele. Without you, we would never get this deal,” he mumbled.

“It’s time for a celebration everyone, tonight at 8 pm. You are all invited,” screamed Davis.

Before Adele could say something, Davis looked at her and said that, she would have to be there and that he would not take no for an answer. Davis lived in the richest vicinity of Auradon. The mansion sat on top of the hill resembling a crown, surrounded by a lush green robe of densely grown trees. His residence was carved out in white marble, and approximately had an area of four acres, that showed no relief in flaunting its green spaces, oversized rooms, a banquet hall and a grand living room. It was evening and they’d all gathered at the banquet hall. Adele sat there at the corner, when Davis called her upon. Adele didn’t have the slightest portent about the chain of dramatic events that was about to occur. She smiled.

“Ms Adele, you seem to be quite nervous up here.”

“Not as such” she replied

“Come on, would you have some drinks? My bar tender does serve too good cocktails.”

“Yeah sure!”

Davis had some plans ready, as he went to the bar and asked the bar Tender to mix up something. It was ecstasy.

She sipped it and felt better. And asked for another.

The next morning, she found herself besides Davis. And the last thing that she could remember was that Davis held her in his hands and the lights went off.

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT PART.

TILL THEN STAY TUNED!

ADITYARAJ VOJHALA