Thanks for the reviews.
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APL Financial, elevator, 7:30am
Bob: *opens folder* How many people are coming?
Scott: About 25. I haven't seen the new conference room but there's probably enough space.
Bob: My first big meeting with global corporate heads. Think I'm ready?
Scott: Just breathe and try not to make any jokes.
Bob: Damn, I had some planned.
Elevator doors open
Bob: *walks into room*
Scott: *steps off elevator, stops*
Bob: *places folder onto table* Should we invite them to a luncheon after to grease the wheels or would that be too much?
Scott: *staring blankly*
Bob: *looks back* Scotty?
Scott: *backs into wall*
Bob: Uh...what's going on? Are you okay?
Scott: Wh-Wh...there are no walls in this room.
Bob: Right. It was first designed to be an observation deck but the plans changed so we turned it into a conference room. I thought they had consulted you.
Scott: *presses elevator button*
Bob: Where are you going?
Scott: I need to leave.
Bob: *walks over* Wait, hold on a second. I need you here. You're supposed to be my moral support.
Scott: *slides down wall, covers eyes*
Bob: Let me get this straight, you're fine in elevators but you don't like wide open spaces now. Alright, I can fix this. *claps*
Blinds drop down
Scott: *uncovers eyes*
Bob: See? No more windows.
Scott: *pushing button* No no no.
Bob: *kneels* Hey, calm down.
Scott: Do you smell that?
Bob: ...Smell what?
Scott: *grabs Bob by the collar* I need to leave. Now.
Bob: First of all, you're not going anywhere. Secondly, you need to start breathing.
Scott: I-I can't-
Bob: You can. *claps*
Blinds rise
Bob: Remember where you are, Scott. You're safe here.
Scott: No.
Bob: You come here every week. If you're fine upstairs, you're fine in here too. Just keep breathing, it'll get better.
Scott: *sigh*
10 minutes later
Bob: You okay?
Scott: No.
Bob: Yeah, you're actually...shaking. Did you bring your meds?
Scott: Didn't think I'd need them.
Bob: The meeting's in 20 minutes, I can't have you freaking out on me with 25 snooty corporate guys.
Scott: Then I'll be downstairs.
Bob: Scott, I still need you. They want to ask you some questions about the standards you've helped implement. I don't have those answers, buddy.
Scott: *wipes forehead*
Bob: I just need for you to be relatively calm during the meeting, then you can freak out and work through this. There's a drug store a few blocks from here, maybe they have something.
Scott: You'll never make it back in time.
Bob: Oh! *snaps fingers* Remember Andrew Pastelli, the guy who thought all of Manhattan was tipped sideways by half an inch and thew his back out trying to move APL?
Scott: Not helping.
Bob: Well he left his pain meds here when Roger fired him for scaring the tourists.
Scott: ...And your point is...
Bob: Just take one.
Scott: *frowns* You wanted me competant, remember?
Bob: Unless you can calm down in the next 20 minutes, I'm not really seeing another option.
Scott: Alright. But this stays between us and you get rid of the pills after.
Bob: Sure.
Table, 20 minutes later
Bob: *runs over, sits* The guys are setting up. How do you feel?
Scott: *smiles* There is something to be said for the word 'groovy'.
Bob: That's...interesting. Okay, *opens folder* these are the points they're going to go over with you first before they get to me.
Scott: *lifts paper* It's so soft.
Bob: And important. Remember when we talked about how I need you to make me look good?
Scott: Oh Robert you're not going to have
any problem with that. You look fantastic today.
Bob: Maybe this was a bad idea.
Scott: *spins in chair* Come one, come all! Bob is the fairest CEO of them all! *laughs* I rhymed 'all' with 'all'.
Bob: *covers eyes*
10 minutes later
Bob: Mister Achlad, you had a question for Scott?
Achlad: Yes. Your corporate finance department manages various mergers and acquisitions throughout the United States. How do you plan on developing your deals with firms in the Middle Eastern market?
Scott: *blinks* ...Can I buy a vowel?
Achlad: *lifts brow*
Bob: Um...Mister Finch has an odd sense of humor. You know how it is, the geniuses are the most abstract.
Achlad: ...
Scott: Wait, you're from the Middle East?
Achlad: Yes.
Bob: *grabs Scott's arm, mumbles* For the love of God drop your baggage for the next 15 minutes.
Scott: *smiles* You people are so eclectic.
Achlad: *nods slowly*
Scott: I look forward to working with you in the future.
Achlad: We feel the same.
Elevator, 1 hour later
Bob: That was...relatively painless.
Scott: *looks up at screen* Wow, we have televisions in here?
Bob: I'm going to accompany you back to Miami. What do you want me to tell Lori?
Scott: Oh I think the truth will do nicely. *looks at Bob* It's such a lovely day, isn't it?
Bob: Yeah it is when you're walking on sunshine.
Scott: That's an excellent way to put it.
Bob: You know, this reminds me how you were when Lori showed back up. When I got you that job with DelFi.
Scott: *smiles* She was so beautiful. And angry. *sigh*
Bob: ...You liked it when she was angry?
Scott: Oh yeah, definitely. Her eyes would get all intense and dark and her lips would purse a little and the way she cursed at me...*smiling* it was heaven, Bob.
Bob: ...Uh huh.
Scott: *leans against wall* She's different now. She's so...happy.
Bob: That's a bad thing?
Scott: She irons my shirts, Bob. She wears perfume.
Bob: *scratches head* Wow, you poor bastard.
Scott: She's polite. *starts to cry*
Bob: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *crying* I want my wife back. *drops head on Bob's shoulder*
Bob: Uh...*pats Scott on the back* there there.
Gables Estates, house, 1pm
Lori: *opens door*
Bob: Hey Lori.
Lori: Bob.
Bob: *looks back* Scotty!
Scott: *walks over* We have a fantastic mailbox.
Lori: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *smiles* My beautiful Lori. *wraps arms around Lori, lifts her*
Lori: ACK!
Scott: *kisses Lori*
Lori: *blinks*
Bob: I should mention, Scotty had a bit of an issue at work today. Um...so we had to improvise.
Lori: Scott, let me down.
Scott: *drops Lori*
Lori: *falls over, frowns*
Bob: I'm not sure exactly what I gave him but-
Lori: You gave him something? *stands*
Bob: Yeah, it was either that or watch him run around the room in circles. Sorry. I'm going to take off.
Lori: *nods*
Bob: *walks away, shuts door*
Lori: Remember when we agreed that you'd keep your head on straight?
Scott: Does that apply to when I'm not in Miami?
Lori: *frowns*
Scott: *smiles, places hands on Lori's cheeks* I'm okay.
Lori: *stares at Scott*
Scott: What?
Lori: Have you been crying recently? *wipes Scott's cheek*
Scott: Maybe.
Lori: *sigh*
TBC..................................