Chapter 5 Their Feelings & Nightmares

Boardroom is a place where only selected members of the board are present to discuss and plan. The primary function of a boardroom is to house meetings of a company’s board of directors, a group of individuals elected to represent shareholders’ interests.

Boardrooms contain a big enough table and an adequate number of chairs to seat all those present and be located in a setting that promotes privacy.

As its name implies, the boardroom is best known as a room used by a company’s board of directors, a group of individuals elected by shareholders to represent them and protect their interests.

Board members use the boardroom to discuss and decide how to handle the company’s most pressing issues

******

It’s 1:00 pm Thursday, in Albania at J&H Summit Holdings, Inc. boardroom.

Zamir is in the boardroom conducting a meeting with the board members of J & H Summit Holdings, Inc.

His grandfather Jacob is on a business trip to the next city that’s why Zamir conducts the meeting as a representative of his grandfather.

The first agenda of the meeting is about the quarterly financial reports and the paying of dividends. Second is about the new business that his grandfather Jacob wants to open.

A manufacturing company whose products are chocolates. Zamir started his discussion about the business proposal.

And now he is discussing the raw materials needed in manufacturing chocolates.

“Chocolate is a food preparation in the form of a paste or solid block made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically sweetened.” This is what Zamir is discussing when his phone vibrates in his pocket. He wants to pull it out and read the message but he can’t because he is in front of the board members discussing it.

Zamir knew that the message was from Jessica for it is 8:00 pm now, in Asian country time zone. He’s used to the time when Jessica sends a message. Zamir knows that Jessica is waiting for his reply but he can’t reply because he is so busy right now doing his job. He has no time to reply.

“…. And about the supplier of the raw materials I already found a good company to supply our needs.” Zamir continued his discussion. His phone vibrated in his pocket again.

’Ah, what is her problem?’ Zamir thinks that maybe Jessica has a problem again this time and needs someone to talk with about it.

“Our target customers for example are …” Zamir continued his discussion, presenting the target market of the new project. For the third time around, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Once again he wants to read the message and reply but he cannot.

Now he is finished discussing the whole project proposal but he is busy answering the questions of the board members. They hit Zamir with too many questions not because they don’t agree with the new project but because they are interested in it. The new project was approved by the board because they were convinced with the presentation of Zamir. In the next board meeting they will discuss the implementation of the new project.

After an hour the meeting was adjourned. Then the board members leave the boardroom one by one after talking to Zamir with some clarification and congratulate him for being in charge of the new project. They believe that if Zamir handles the business it will become successful. And for sure they will gain more profit than what they expected.For Zamir is a smart guy, he can handle and manage every business assigned to him by his grandfather, Jacob successfully.

When all the people leave the meeting room, Zamir immediately pulls his phone from his pocket. He was correct. He got a message from Jessica.

“Hi. “Jessica’s first message.

“How are you? “Jessica’s next message.

“Can I ask a favor?“ The last message of Jessica.

“Yes, tell me what it is.” Zamir is typing his reply when his secretary enters the boardroom.

“Excuse me Sir Zamir. Your grandfather arrived and he wants you to come to his office.”

“Okay. Tell him I’II be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Yes Sir. “The secretary leaves the boardroom.

Zamir gathered all his folders and documents he used in the meeting. He prepared to go to the office of his grandfather. But he spent another five minutes in the boardroom waiting for Jessica’s reply. He knew that once he entered the office of his grandfather he couldn’t reply again to Jessica.

The three minutes passed. He got no reply from Jessica. He takes a deep breath and walks outside the boardroom.

He is heading toward the elevator to go up to the 15TH floor where his grandfather’s office is located. While walking he is staring at the screen of his phone because Jessica sent a reply to him. Because he is not looking where he is going he accidentally bumps on the beautiful lady standing in front of the elevator and about to press the button when Zamir bumps on her.

“Ooops! I’m sorry.” Zamir apologized to the lady.

“It’s okay but next time you should watch the way where you are going.“ The lady accepted Zamir’s apology with a smile.

Zamir can’t deny the fact that he is mesmerized by the beauty of the lady when she smiles. He didn’t notice that he stared at the face of the lady for a few seconds. The lady noticed it.

“Why are you staring at me?” She asked Zamir.

“Oh Sorry. By the way, I’m Zamir.“ Zamir said. He introduced himself to the beautiful lady.

“Yeah, I knew you. You’re so popular here. You will be the next chief executive of J & H Summit. “The lady said.

Zamir couldn’t say anything. He just smiles and presses the button of the elevator to open.When the elevator opens they both enter.

“Anyway I’m Lena.” She introduces herself to Zamir.

“So where are you going Lena?” Zamir asked Lena.

“In your grandfather’s office. I will bring these documents to him..How about you Atif? Where are you going?” Lena said while he showed the documents to Zamir.

“To my grandfather’s office.” Zamir answered.

The elevator reached the 15th floor.

They both enter the chief executive office.

Jacob gladly welcomed them.

Lena is a daughter of the manager in one of the Subsidiaries Company in J & H Summit Holdings, Inc.

Zamir tells Jacob the result of the board meeting while Lena gives the documents that Jacob requested from Lena’s father.

At the end of the office hours, Jacob suggested to Zamir that he drive Lena home because her car got a problem when she went in here at J&H Summit Holdings, Inc.

Without hesitation Zamir agrees with his grandfather for he can’t deny that he wants to know Lena better and he notices that Lena feels the same way too.

She wants to know more about Lena.

Even though she already knew who he was, this is the first time they talked in person.

She is interested in Zamir

Because they are both interested in getting to know each other they agreed to have dinner first before Zamir drives Lena home.

6:00 pm, Thursday Albania

Zamir and Lena have their dinner in the restaurant owned by Zamir’s friend.

******

On the other hand, Jessica is waiting for Zamir’s reply.But she got no reply from Zamir. So since it’s past midnight, she decided to go to sleep.And then again when Jessica fell asleep she had a dream.

AGAIN and again her dream is about the poor boy and the girl named Zamir and the girl named Xhesika. In her dream Jessica saw these scenes:

Xhesika is standing in front of the fast food place where she used to wait for Sara’s son. It’s about an hour of waiting but Zamir didn’t arrive. But Xhesika waited for him patiently. For she knew that Zamir would arrive no matter what happened.But this time it’s too late than the usual time but Zamir didn’t show up. Xhesika is worried now because it’s nearly evening and she is still out. Her Aunt Alma will get angry when she arrives home late in the evening. But she can take it. As long as she knows that her friend Zamir is safe.

Xhesika is worried about what happened at Zamir. She can take all the sermon that her Aunt Alma will give but she can’t take if something bad happens to Zamir.

Because Xhesika promised to Sara that she will take care of Zamir. Xhesika won’t let Zamir down. She would do her best to take care of Zamir no matter what happened.

Xhesika decided to look first for Zamir before she went home. She looked for Zamir in the nearby places. She couldn’t find Zamir.

She decided to go up to the nearby footbridge. There is the footbridge where Zamir used to sleep in the cold nights. There she found Zamir lying on the footbridge. He is sick. He got a flu because of the cold weather that he must endure every night and day while he is wandering out of the street for he is homeless.

“Zamir!“ Xhesika called him.

When Zamir heard Xhesika’s voice he forced himself to sit down. He smiles but in his eyes there is a deep sadness.

“I don’t want to leave you Xhesika but I can’t bear it any more. I felt like I’m dying…”

“Stop that!” Xhesika shouted to Zamir.” Xhesika got angry because she didn’t want the feeling of being abandoned. But her anger vanished when he saw Zamir was holding back his tears with all his might.

“I’m sorry Xhesika.” Zamir said.

“It’s okay but please stop that drama. You will go with me.” Xhesika answered.

“ Where are we going Xhesika?“ Zamir asked.

At first Xhesika didn’t know what to do.Until she decided to bring Zamir to where he might belong.

“Don’t you worry, I’ll bring you to your father’s best friend, Sir Jacob. I know where to find him.” Xhesika answered.”

“Who is Sir Jacob?“ Zamir asked in confusion.

“ One of the managers in J&H Summit Holdings, Inc. before but now he is the Chief Executive Officer there. He is my grandfather’s former employer , that’s why I knew him. “ Xhesika explained to Zamir.

“Why are you going to bring me to him?“ Zamir asked again.

“You are the son of Sir Haris, The former CEO and founder of J&H Summit Holdings.” Xhesika revealed.

Zamir lost in deep thought. He can’t believe what Xhesika said. He grew up without knowing who his real father was. He can’t speak. It means his father is a wealthy man. He wondered why her mother didn’t tell him the truth about his father.

“So let’s go Zamir.“ Xhesika said that made Zamir wake in deep thoughts.

Xhesika walks to the bus station while Zamir follows behind her. They ride on a bus going to the place where Jacob resides.

Xhesika brings the son of Sara to Jacob.

With all the proof that Xhesika had without hesitation, Jacob accepted Zamir to his house. Jacob can’t deny the fact that Zamir is the son of his best friend Haris. The documents that Jessica presented to him is evidence that Zamir is the son of Haris. Jacob is very happy, for he can now fulfill what he promised to his best friend Haris when Haris was in his dying hour.

“Are you going to visit me here often, Xhesika?” Ask Zamir.

“NO.I will never visit you here.” Xhesika answered.

“But why?” Zamir pondered. “When will I see you again Xhesika?”

“When we grow up, go back to the place where we first met. On the same day at the same time. Maybe you can find me there.” Xhesika said.

“Are you kidding?“ Zamir asked. Then she smiles at Xhesika.

“Of course not. Goodbye, Zamir.“ Xhesika said goodbye to Zamir. Then she turned her back even though she heard Zamir calling her name.

“Xhesika! Wait! Don’t say goodbye to me, please?!“ Zamir begs her but Xhesika never returns instead he runs away.

Xhesika doesn’t want to hear or see him cry, that’s why she never turns around.

“Xhesika, please don’t go! Don’t leave me here!” Zamir cried. Jacob takes Zamir’s hand and they enter the house.

Xhesika is riding on the bus now. Going home. But still she heard the words that Zamir said. And the sound of his voice calling her name keeps ringing on her head.

“Xhesika! Xhesika! Xhesika!

******

“ Jessica! Jessica! Jessica! Please open the door. I’m here now.“ Clara called outside the door.

Jessica wakes up from her sleep because of the sound of the knock on the door and the voice of Clara calling her name. Jessica got up from bed and opened the door.

Clara entered the room and closed the window which Jessica forgot to close when she went to sleep.

Jessica catches her breath and thinks that she really heard the sound of the boy’s voice in her dream. But no it’s her Aunt Clara calling her name.Clara just arrived from their hometown. Clara visits some of their relatives there.

******

In Albania…

Zamir is enjoying the company of Lena. They eat dinner together. Talking about their business and plan in life.

Zamir is so impressed with Lena for she is not just beautiful but a very smart girl also. And because he enjoys the company of Lena he forgot to reply to Jessica’s message.