UNEXPECTED TIES

2| WE SHARED A MOMENT

HASSAN'S POV

A feeling of familiarity immediately struck me as I sank into the plush leather chair at the head of the glass-topped conference table. The light in the room was soft and subdued, and my senior executives were gathered around, flipping through an assortment of PowerPoint slides, excited to share their ambitious plan. You could feel the restless, fidgety energy in them, and I always found it funny how these seasoned professionals become nervous schoolchildren in the boardroom.

The meeting revolved around a prospective project, and as the presenter droned on about market projections, growth strategies, and corporate jargon, I mentally cringed. It was all painfully familiar—the kind of presentation I'd seen a thousand times before. Pie charts, graphs, and slides passed before my eyes like uninspired brushstrokes on a bland canvas.

I couldn't help but tap a mechanical pencil with rhythmic precision against the glass tabletop. It was a subtle but unmistakable sign of my discontent. The presenter's voice droned on, blissfully unaware of the iciness radiating from my end of the table.

As the presentation finally came to an end, I leaned forward, my voice carrying a razor-sharp edge, and I couldn't resist my penchant for sarcasm. "Well, that was certainly... informative."

The presenter, a bright-eyed, eager executive, stammered, "Thank you, Mr. Wood. We believe this project has great potential."

I arched an eyebrow and let a hint of amusement dance in my eyes. "Great potential, indeed," I began, my tone dripping with irony. "But let me tell you, gentlemen, that potential alone will not get us where we need to be. This presentation lacks the flair of creativity, the audacity of innovation, and the spark that sets us apart from the competition. While I appreciate your efforts, I expect more from this team."

I took a moment to let my words sink in, my gaze fixed on the presenter, who seemed oblivious to my sarcasm. "For instance," I continued, "this project plan is riddled with clichés. It's as though we're following a recipe, not crafting a masterpiece. Instead of the usual boilerplate ideas, why not explore uncharted territories? Surprise me with unconventional strategies, and let's not forget the attention to detail that's missing here. It's the little things that often make the biggest difference."

I leaned back in my chair, my expression unchanging. "So, gentlemen, I don't have a problem with the project plan itself, but I do have a problem with our complacency. Let's not settle for mediocrity when we can reach for excellence. It's time to elevate our game, and I want to know if I can trust you to do just that."

A symphony of uneasy glances passed between the executives, well aware that I had a reputation for setting the bar exceptionally high. After what felt like forever, they all nodded their heads. I was glad they understood what I meant. I continued to dissect the presentation, offering critiques that were as pointed as a surgeon's scalpel. Trust me, I know how sharp and pointed it is.

Finally, I wrapped up my searing feedback, leaving them with a final challenge: "Gentlemen, this project is the key to our future. If you want my company to work on this project, then you need to give me something solid, something that makes our hearts race with excitement. Think outside the box, take risks, and come back when you've got something that sets the world on fire."

With that, I watched the executives file out, leaving the boardroom with a mixture of determination and trepidation. It wasn't just a matter of tradition or reputation; it was a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence that had propelled my company to the forefront of the industry.

As I leaned back in my chair, I couldn't help but feel the weight of expectations that I had for my team and myself. My critique had been sharp, but it was a reflection of my unyielding commitment to success. I knew they could do better, and I was willing to push them until they did.

The boardroom might be a place of high tension and lofty expectations, but it was also the crucible where great ideas were forged and innovative solutions were born. And in that relentless pursuit of excellence, I found the fire that fueled my ambition and my unshakable determination to be the best.

I could sense the tension slowly dissipating as I sat alone in the quiet boardroom. The weight of my expectations still hung heavily in the air, but I also knew that the team would rise to the challenge. The prospect of this collaboration was an opportunity most couldn't resist, and they were well aware that I demanded nothing short of brilliance.

As I contemplated the meeting, my gaze drifted to the panoramic window that framed a view of the city's skyline. The sprawling metropolis was a testament to ambition and success, and it was a constant reminder of why I pushed myself and my team so hard.

The soft knock on the door brought me back to the present, and I knew it was Marcus, my best friend, who was waiting just outside. He was the only one who dared to interrupt me during moments like this.

"Come in," I called, and the door swung open to reveal Marcus, who, true to his casual Friday spirit, wore jeans and a leather jacket, a stark contrast to my impeccable suit.

With a grin that could melt glaciers, Marcus entered and took a seat across from me. "Well, Hassan, I can see you had another delightful meeting."

I couldn't help but chuckle, despite the lingering tension from the presentation. "Delightful is one word for it, Marcus. I do wish these presentations would occasionally surprise me with brilliance."

Marcus leaned back in his chair, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Surprise is overrated, my friend. You're known for your predictability."

"Predictable? I prefer the term 'consistently high standards,'" I retorted with a wry smile.

"You can call it what you want, Hassan, but I'll call it a meeting that left everyone scrambling for cover."

He was right, as always. My high expectations and sharp critique had a way of sending ripples through the corporate world, but that was precisely what had propelled our company to the forefront. We made our way to my office.

"Listen, Marcus, you know I expect nothing less than excellence," I said, my tone more serious. "We can't afford to settle for mediocrity when our competitors are pushing boundaries. I want our projects to be groundbreaking, and it's up to us to ensure that happens."

Marcus nodded as he opened the office door, his usual sarcasm replaced with a rare moment of sincerity. "I get it, Hassan. Your pursuit of excellence is what's made you who you are. We'll get there, just like we always do."

As we sat in the quiet of my office, I was grateful for a friend who understood the relentless pursuit of perfection that drove me. We may have our banter and our sarcastic exchanges, but beneath it all, there was an unwavering support and camaraderie that had seen us through countless trials in the corporate world.

The boardroom might be a battleground of expectations and high tension, but with Marcus by my side, I knew that no challenge was insurmountable. My friend could be the most playful guy you could ever meet but like me, he was dubbed a devil in the corporate world. Honestly, I was glad that he worked for me because if he had his own company, he would be a very tough competition.

As the conversation with Marcus flowed on, my thoughts inevitably drifted to a place that I seldom let anyone see. It was a hidden chamber, locked behind a meticulously maintained façade. I'd always been content with my work, thriving on the challenges and successes that came with it. But as Marcus and I bantered, a nagging truth lingered just beneath the surface, one that I rarely acknowledged.

"Marcus, you know," I began, my tone more contemplative, "even though I'm content with my work, my mother and my heart would vehemently disagree."

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Your mother, I understand, but your heart? You make it sound like there's someone in your life."

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to reveal the well-guarded truth that even my closest friend seldom saw. "There is something in my life, something I've never admitted openly. It's just my heart and my mother who acknowledge it. She calls it a void that can only be fixed by someone."

I had been in love before, but it was a love that felt like an unfinished symphony. The object of my affection was someone I couldn't have, someone who didn't even remember me. And that was the crux of the matter. Loving someone who didn't love you or even remember you was a unique kind of torture.

Marcus leaned forward, a look of understanding in his eyes. "Hassan, this is the first time I've heard you talk about this. Who is this girl?"

I couldn't help but offer a weary smile. "I wouldn't exactly call her a girl because I think she's more than that. She's a woman I met about five years ago, under circumstances that would qualify as serendipity. We shared a moment—a connection that felt undeniable.

"It was a one-night stand and before you lecture me, I know the rules. It's just that she's different. When I saw her the next day, she didn't even remember me and if she did, she never acknowledged it. I thought I was going to see her again but then life took us in different directions, and when I tried to find her again, it was as if she had vanished from the world."

Marcus nodded in silence, the weight of my confession hanging in the air. Apart from my mother, he was the only one who knew the real Hassan Rahim Wood, and he didn't need to say anything more. We sat in companionable silence, the unsolved mystery of my past love hovering between us.

It was a story that I had never shared, a secret that I kept hidden beneath layers of ambition and success. Yet, it was a love that had never truly left me, a haunting memory of a connection that I couldn't forget. I don't know how my mother figured it out but even though I've never told her, she knew something was bothering me.

She had a remarkable talent for reading my feelings and had repeatedly remarked on the void in my life, which, according to her, could not be filled by any boardroom triumph. She saw the unsaid yearning in my eyes, the need for anything, or better, someone, behind the smooth exterior of my life.

The memory of her haunted my thoughts, a ghostly presence that lingered in the corners of my mind. She was supposed to be just a woman I had met briefly, a woman who didn't recognize me the morning after that fateful night, but no, my heart had other plans. It was a bitter irony – to remember someone so vividly while knowing that she carried no recollection of our shared moments.

Yet, even in my moments of denial, my heart persisted, reminding me of the void she had left behind. It whispered of stolen glances and the warmth of her laughter, memories etched into my soul like a love letter written in invisible ink. It was a love unreturned and unacknowledged, and yet, it was the most profound emotion I had ever experienced.

I glanced at the framed photograph on my desk—a picture taken during a rare family vacation. My mother's eyes, filled with a mix of love and concern, met mine. She had always seen through the polished exterior, the carefully crafted mask of confidence. With a sigh, I admitted the emptiness, not to myself but to her silent gaze. I didn't even notice when Marcus left, which meant that for the first time in five years, I had thought of her for more than twenty minutes.

The day had ended, the office was now quiet, and the city outside my window glittered with the promise of another bustling night. I took a deep breath, acknowledging the complexity of my emotions. I realised that love was not always reciprocated, nor was it always convenient. It was messy and painful, and yet, it held a power that transcended logic.

In that moment of vulnerability, I understood that my heart and my mother were right—I needed someone. Someone who could see past the façade, someone who could break down the walls I had built around my heart, someone who could love the man behind the title of founder and CEO of Hassan Rahim Wood Enterprises.

But as I stared into the city lights, I also knew that finding that someone—someone who could love me for who I was, not just for what I had achieved—was a challenge I wasn't ready to face. Love was a turbulent sea, and I, the captain of my destiny, wasn't yet prepared to set sail into its unpredictable waters.

And so, I chose to bury the truth beneath layers of ambition, to focus on the empire I had built and the victories that awaited me in the corporate battleground.