Chapter 32 : TRISTAN

                                    

                                          
"As per the lower bound of the counted sales, it can be inferred by keeping in mind the current situation of the stock market, that sooner or later we would be back to the top position." The assistant fixed her posture as she pressed on the remote. 
Conference rooms never had a reputation for being a friendly place but Tristan could sense the anxiety in the speaker's voice. Last minute preparation may escape others but not him. 
The next slide displayed targets for the upcoming year. She began reading out the exact words on board. He kept his face as normal as he could to not let the poor junior get more terrified than she already had been. Instead, the CEO scribbled his comments on his iPad. 
From the corner of eye, Tristan saw the concerned managing director - Mr. Rogers busy on his phone, texting someone. It was he who actually removed the ban on using smartphones two days into office.  Unexpected to see the generation that always emphasizes on professionalism being quite the opposite.
Just two months. He let out the pool of anger rising inside himself. From what was apparent, the director, in the rush of his Miami vacation had forgotten about the presentation. Extension applications were only accepted till twenty-four hours before the workshop. Henceforth, as a measure of haste in order to save face in front of the board, he asked, though from the position of power, that does not seem the word, his assistant, Rhea, to prepare one. While the latter did try her best, the work was far-off from what one could expect. 
Tristan wanted to yell at the man sitting at the corner, grinning into whatever on his phone. How could someone be nonchalant about a presentation concerning their own department? He found the muscles on his face tense. It was not the first time he found someone do this in a meeting. Then why did today anything being an inch away from normal irk up every bit of sense in him. 
He wanted to run back into the house, even without a car and just ask her what happened. Last night, after the drinking, it was a huge blur. That and waking up with a damp cloth over his forehead that emitted a sweet citrus like fragrance. And also.... He shook his head lightly to resume writing the points. To fight the hangover, he spent a whole of two hours in the gym today - half an hour more than usual. Showering and having a solid breakfast did their work too until he returned to looking at a computer screen again. A soft flare began rising from the back of head when fortunately the alarm for the meeting rang. 
"Therefore, with the changing economy and inflation of fuel prices, it is a matter of time before people would shift to renewable sources of energy. Your recommended plan for transportation has dropped our carbon footprint to the lowest as compared to any other global automobile industries."
His suggestion was just to introduce electric methods of transportation in the accessible spots. In the present scenario, it is impossible to stop dependency on fossil fuels but in slow steps, one day we would be able to go for a complete replacement. 
Tristan nodded at the ending note of the presenter. Barely five seconds passed and the entire room illuminated around him. 
"Thank you for you work." He spoke in a mumble as she took her leave. 
Rogers was still on his phone. 
"Mr. Rogers, what are your plans in relation to the transportation issues we face? The presentation skimmed it, maybe due to issues of time or space."
"Yes, Mr. Parker...." he was caught off-guard. "I'm sorry. Can you pardon the question?"
Will repeated it using lesser words than his employer. 
"Okay, yeah, about that. As the presentation may have showed, we actually have in mind to....." he stopped and began clicking furiously on the laptop to get the actual slide. "Yes, like here it says, we would actually increase the number of vehicles or centers to make sure it goes more smoothly."