The low murmurs suddenly began to increase in volume, just as he noticed the admiration in the peopke’s face was no longer present, and in its place, was ridicule and disgust. 

Richardson could feel his confidence wobble on noticing a few people trying to muffle their laughers.

When one of the really important people currently present abruptly stood up and existed the conference room with his assistant, Richardson knew something was definitely wrong.

Richardson doesn’t know what he expect to meet when he glanced behind himself, but he sure as hell wasn’t expecting to meet something else entirely, in place of the project he had been working on for months. 

His mouth fell open in shock after a fleeting moment as his widened eyes took in the video playing on the wide expanse of wall behind him.

It was a video of a man. 

A video recording of a man clad in tight leather pants, while pole dancing. 

The man was no other person than himself, and Richardson felt dizzy in the next moment.

How the particular video had managed to make its way to replace his very important project was completely beyond him, and the fact that this particular video was still in existence, made him feel dizzier. 

Richardson felt frozen in that particular spot, the microphone had long slipped from his fingers in his shocked state, and he had unconsciously tuned out everything else around him except the video which was still playing.

In the blink of an eye, Richardson watched all what he had worked towards for over six months crumble before him in a fleeting moment. 

Richardson could do nothing but remain frozen in place as a dream which he had been looking forward to for months, got swept away by the winds without hesitations. 

He could barely formulate an actual thought, nor could he get a grasp on all what was currently happening around him.

 When he finally came back to the present, the conference room which was completely filled up some moments ago, is now completely empty. 

Richardson felt a familiar wave of helplessness overcame him instantly, with so much intensity this time. He glanced over the empty chairs with a very heavy heart.

Some minutes ago, he had been prepared to have his whole life completely transformed in the blink of an eye, but unfortunately for him, here he was, back to square one.

 He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment on feeling tears start to well up, he was determined to not break down here, no matter what.

He glanced behind him after a moment and realized that the video wasn’t playing any longer, which was when he recollected seeing the manager shut down the monitor forcefully before he had existed the conference room along with all the present important people.

 Richardson felt a wave of deep mortification wash over him as he reminisced the last few seconds of the presentation, when everything had been going well before suddenly going downhill.

He couldn’t believe that everyone present here at the meeting had seen that video, making that feeling of mortification to only deepen inside of him. 

Richardson wasn’t sure if he was ever going to be taken seriously by the company ever again, and that made a stab of fear flow through his veins. 

Richardson ran his fingers through his hair and silently wondered why the universe was once again completely against him, because he was yet to fully wrap his head around what had taken place some minutes ago.

He leaned down and placed his elbows on the lectern, and then he was cradling his pounding hand in his hands, suddenly feeling paralyzed with helplessness.

All his imaginations about the paparazzis being eager to interview and have a moment with him, was now flushed down the drain.

All his plans to make his girlfriend extremely proud of him after this presentation, was completely out of the window.

All his promises to get a better life for his mother after this presentation, was definitely and obviously not happening anytime soon. 

As those thoughts swam through Richardson’s head, he really felt like breaking down now. An intense feeling of woeful stagnancy slowly began to pull him under, until he could almost taste his pitiful misery on his tongue.

Light footsteps began to echo on the floor, and Richardson silently wondered if it was someone who had come to throw him out of the conference room. 

That thought instantly dissolved on hearing the familiar voice of his best friend, Michael. 

“Are you alright, man?” Michael’s voice didn’t hold any teasing edge this time as he laid a palm on Richardson’s shoulder.

Richardson shook his head which he was still cradling, of course he wasn’t alright. Who could be alright after all what had happened? 

“I’m so sorry.” Michael murmured and Richardson stood up to his full 6’5 height and nodded his head tensely as he spoke.

“It wasn’t your fault, Michael.” Richardson pointed out. 

“I know, but I still feel bad.” Michael argued and attempted to pull Richardson into a hug, but Richardson took a hasty step backwards.

Michael understood where Richardson’s mind had instantly went to, because they’ve been best friends for years. 

“I’m not pitying you right now, Richie.” Michael murmured and Richardson remained unmoving for long seconds before finally accepting the hug. 

Richardson just couldn’t help it, one thing he hated in his life was being shown pity. It always made him feel inferior, like being poor as fuck wasn’t reason enough. 

He was always pitied in whatever he does, since he was a little child, and as he grew older, the thought of being pitied always made his skin crawl. 

After a few minutes spent with Michael reassuring him that everything was going to be alright, even though they both knew there was no way everything would be alright after all what had happened. 

Regardless, Richardson still desperately clung to those reassuring words from Michael, drawing invincible strength and emotional support from his best friend.

Once his best friend had left him to himself, Richardson knew he couldn’t stay in here forever. It was best he left on his own before he’d get chased out. 

He packed up his documents and closed his laptop, gathering everything into his briefcase while struggling not to think of the horrified expression on people’s face while they had all watched that video of his. 

He finally emerged from the conference room, and on his way back to his spot after riding the elevator, he could feel everyone’s eyes on him. 

He was used to being the center of attention for bad reasons, either to be ridiculed or made fun of, ever since he was a child, and this wasn’t any different. 

A few muffled words and bouts of laughter could be heard from each hallway and adjoining part ways he walked past. He didn’t need anyone to tell him he was the reason behind their amusement.

Although situations like this doesn’t bother him any longer, he couldn’t help but feel dejected and really mortified right now, because he had thought he’d get looks of admiration and praise from these people today after the presentation, and not this. 

On finally getting to his table, he was frozen at first, on realizing that everyone was currently staring at him. He was tempted to flee all the way to the restroom in other to try getting himself together, but thought against it almost immediately.

Something squeezed painfully in his chest on noticing a few of them struggling to hold in their laughter and the obvious questions on their tongues, while some literally laughed in his face. 

He decided to tune everything around him out after a few moments and dug out his phone from his pocket, and slowly, his eyes widened as his mouth fell open in horror at what was staring back at him on his cracked Samsung phone’s screen.