Le Soleil Hotel

White and fashionable grey steps raised to the glass silver handled self sliding door opening to one of the two entrances, one for guests another much wider for the luggage’s, at the top white poster well written in black, accueiler (welcome), was stuck right above the doors, at the very entrance dressed in classical trousers and matching suits for the men whereas women in black skirts and matching tops, stood well groomed hair combed and with glowing faces they would say, “Welcome to Le Soleil (the sun) Hotel monsieur and Madame.” Filling all guests with the first impression punch that this was the best if not the very best. Further from the entrance some feet was the reception at the more so left of the entrance, computers well stationed at specific points of the reception desk, a ceramic cut mosaic plastered the more outer part while a more shady glass was on the inside portraying an eye catching appeal to guests. “How may I be of service?” receptionists would ask with smiley faces with their eyes glued on their guests. Further to the right, plush couches arranged dynamically and horizontal from the glass table with silver coated legs giving a ninety degree view of those who entered, accompanied by some comfy armchairs with additional high headrests, here guests will stall as their services such as hotel bookings are kept in order, the spacious environment gave toddlers room to leap about while adults would glue themselves on the provided press magazines or savor the tasty snacks of ginger biscuits or some dairy chocolate catered for by the catering crew and best was this was free, what a nice hotel guests would sigh in amusement.

From the reception, further down was the guest hall and to the right were the elevators that led to all the 12 or so floors of the hotel. Ceramic tiles in natural stone covered the floor matching stylistically that of the hotel walls, Ascenseur, it read a glowing neon sign that meant elevator or lift, as the silver doors slid open one after the other they would enter till automatically the elevator would shut it’s doors with a ding and up it went. The inside walls were shiny black giving a more gladdened reflection of those inside, small light bulbs encased in small fashionable gypsum cases lit just enough while an accompanied small radio at the top had its speaker facing downwards, “Aujourd’hui nouvelle (today’s news)” spoke the French news presenter over the radio.

Shade of grey and black covered the walls to the conference room, a medium sized orange sign pointed to the left a path that led straight to a door, a black bronze plated handle door on the top written, “Salle de conférence (conference room)” where board meetings, press conferences and all other meetings were hosted. A rectangular desk, more of mahogany texture and of varied wooden colorations, tucked in by ten armchairs each spaced enough from each other for an individual to move freely without bugging the one close, on the table was a HP projector, white and one of the latest and digitalized in the market with it’s HDMI cable connected to a Lenovo laptop, an i7 core laptop an equally expensive, and digitalized laptop in the market.

Four seats from the entrance, on the left sat the first, in a black single breasted suit and in a white collar long sleeve sat the financial advisor of the Mason’s he wasn’t part of the crew Tony chose but he was there since the beginning and advised many head managers on what contract to accept and which not to. A seat after him, in a classic fit two button navy suit, with an accompanied slim notch lapel, sat the head manager Tony, he was there on behalf of the company and the family at large. Opposite these two men sat the hosts, one was in a double breasted mid grey suit and a powder blue shirt, while the other was in a light hue tan suit and a white shirt, each was eager to start of the meeting but unfortunately they could not. The meeting was scheduled to have started ten minutes ago but still they were late, but she wasn’t there yet, how could the meeting start without the ambassador of the company the two there were the highly esteemed co workers but their boss was yet to arrive. So they just stared at the clock, gazed on the blue screen by the projector, gave slight breaths to indicate their impatience and cursing slightly under their breaths where as they wore slight smiling faces to cover their disappointment.

Just outside she gathered herself, yes she was emotional, yes she caught her boyfriend kissing another woman, but now isn’t the time to jump to conclusions, so deal with your personal issues after the meeting okay. She psyched herself up as she rubbed of her tears and made her final deep breaths to get it all out, it was time for business she said. Dressed in smarty black pants, selvia poly viscose regular fit shirt, blue Ronin formal stylish blazer and shining black heels, she gathered her confidence and as if nothing happened she walked into the conference room.

“Sorry for being late.” She apologized as she greeted the gentlemen on both sides of the table who felt at ease when she walked in as they gave out heavy pleased sighs.

“Shall we get started, we are already late aren’t we?” she uttered as she took her seat pulling back her hair and eventually resting her arms on top of the table as she waited for her secretary to take the lead.

“Thank you ladies and gentlemen, now let’s go straight to the main reason we have arranged this meeting.” Tony’s financial advisor, Lucky, uttered as he rose from his seat, reached for the already set laptop and clicked some buttons the blue screen changed to a white presentation. Setting the resolution to a more eye friendly one, Lucky scrolled down till he zoomed in on two graphs each with their own heading one, the Mason’s company, the other, the Kang's company. On the x axis was the year, whereas the y axis was the sales rate. The years focused were from 2011 to 2018, each bar had its own color and despite the trend having increased but varied lengths on each graph, their was a similar sky rocketed sales rate in their 2016.

“Yes as we all can see here…” he pauses to move to the side as he continues, “All of us here both companies the Masons- he brushes his hand over the Mason’s graph- and the Kang’s – he does likewise- have been prosperous in the previous years.” He pauses as he bends down his laptop and zooms in on the Masons graph.

“The Mason’s as we all here know, are professionals in production of software and hardware computer systems. They have prospered to emerge as the best in their venture and listed in the 50 most prosperous companies in the world.” He speaks proudly as he zooms out and zooms in on the Kang’s graph.

“The Kang’s are also a very prosperous industry considering their huge milestones within a short duration since their emergence. Also experts in microprocessors production, which without even the Mason’s have no business to thrive, they are listed in the top 50 most developed companies globally.” He speaks with equal pride as he zooms out and leaves the presentation as it was before.

“Now both companies sit here on the same table, in the same room, imagine the impact when these two forces merge as one even more powerful force.” He utters in a thrilling tone as he zooms in the 2016 graph of both companies. Meanwhile slight murmurs were cooking but it quiets down as Lucky clears his throat to continue.

“Here as you can see, the year 2016 was the year both companies made their greatest sales rate ever. The Mason’s hit the sky roof with their sales off the chart, while the Kang’s made their breakthrough and invested so much that in that very year they broke internationally.” He pauses giving a slight room for any questions as he adjusts the graphs slightly.

“So you suggest an alliance, a business collaboration is that it?” she asks in a more concerned tone as she glues her eyes on Lucky. Lucky was pleased as he smirked and moving forward he nodded as he opened up to speak.

“Yes we bring to the table an alliance between we the Mason’s and you the Kang’s.” Tony retorted suddenly startling Mercy slightly as they all expected Lucky to be the one to answer. On Lucky he was pleased that his boss had done the talking and besides it was his call now.

“What are the conditions, share splits and more so the precautions?” She asked as she turned to address Tony, her tone indicated she was interested and this made both Tony and Lucky more glad. Pulling out a clipboard with clipped documents from his lap, he slides them towards her fingertips as he gives them seconds to process his action, then, he continues.

“All the answers are in those documents, the share splits are in 60-40. Mainly because we are the more investors as we invest on you in exchange we get a share cut in the sales of microprocessors and a discount in wholesale purchases.” He concludes confidently as he sighs out observing their reaction to his statement. The two gentlemen were discussing inaudibly as Mercy scanned page by page the documents clipped while listening to Brian’s statements.

Silence writhed, they were thinking, what were the odds they would not go down the drain, if things did go south how much was at stake, if things did work out what was the harvest. She thought again and again, silently as she slowly moved her tongue down her gum with her mouth close, fingers galloping slightly on the table. If this thing was to blow up, they would loose half their investment not to mention their verge to brokenness and the near end to their company, but if it did work out they would earn millions more than what they earned. This wasn’t something she was to agree suddenly, she had to consult the family it was the family business after all, so perusing the documents slightly she raised her eyes to give her decision.

Those pearl eyes, the red coated lips, her well braided hair, Tony gazed at her, he knew her from somewhere, he pondered it wasn’t normal for him to remember women he met mostly because all of them ended up in his bedroom and afterwards he forgot them. But he thought, screw me, he shouted within himself, I know this woman but from where, this daunted him every second he was in that room.

“We as the Kang's family have to sit down and discuss because as you know this is a family business. We will respond in a week’s time.” She concluded as she slid back the clipboard and prepared herself to leave. Greeting the guests, that’s when she noticed, that beard, those jaws, that heavy voice, while she was in there her mind was still thinking about Ricky, but now that the meeting was over that’s when she noticed. She thought again, I have seen this man but where, a gaze, eyes met and temporarily glued on each other, each struggled to remember the other.

“Do I know you by any chance?” Tony asked, minutes later after everyone had left to head for the tea room, they were the last to leave. That’s when they broke the tension between the two of them, they do know each other but from where. Amidst this rain of remembrance and traffic of flashbacks a vibration from her pocket broke the two from their telepathic communication. It was Ricky, she looked at that number, she remembered that kiss, everything, was she going to allow herself to listen to her. Ego drove her to get to know Tony and remember who he was, but love pulled her to pick up the call, listen to what he had to say, perhaps it was something reasonable. Torn within her she let go of her hand gripped within Tony’s rough tight clutches, it was either love or ego, which will it be Mercy.

“I am sorry, I have to take this.” She exclaimed as she placed the phone on he rear, smiling as she left the room, “Hello…” was the echo that rendered the walls as she walked away leaving Tony alone, thinking.

“The Café!” he exclaimed suddenly, he remembered her she was the one who despised him, left him hanging, she was the one Ricky was hanging out with that night. She’s the woman from the café he exclaimed again as he eventually took his leave, locking the door behind him. He chuckled as his steps echoed, his heavy breathing lingered and his laughter filled the empty tiled corridors.