1 Chapter One: Zayne National Auction Center

According to the clock on the cream colored wall it is 4:23PM. A good time as any to walk through and check on my employees. I exit my office, the black cherry floor boards making low tapping sounds as I make my way down the hall. The only sound is some light chatter emitting from closed office doors. The blissful silence is abruptly ruined by Martha Brooks slamming into me, scattering papers all over the floor.

"I'm s-sorry Mr. R-Rivers. I was in a h-hurry and I wasn't w-watching where I was g-going. P-Please don't f-fire me." She stutters out quickly, her words nearly mixing in her panic.

"If you don't clean this up and get back to work now, I will fire you!" I bark at her threateningly.

"Yes S-Sir!" She quickly drops to pick up her scattered papers.

I just step around, now mildly irritated. Honestly, if it weren't for how well she organized the company records I would have fired her by now. What a pain. I suppose I should see what my secretary is up to. The door is cracked slightly open. I walk in without knocking. It's my building I'll do whatever I want.

"Very well Mr. Kagari. I'll contact you again tomorrow after I make a few more arrangements. Goodbye." She hangs up the phone and types something into the laptop on her desk before turning to me,closing the laptop. Giving me her full undivided attention. Her bright blue eyes bore into mine and her ebony hair is tied up into a simple, yet elegant, bun. "Good afternoon Mr. Rivers. What can I do for you?"

"You can start by telling me who that was. Then you can tell me what they needed." I order, hoping in some way she'll slip up.

"Yes Sir. That was Mr. Yuu Kagari from Antiques Industries, Japan. His branch had recently came into possession of some old relics from Edo, Japan. He was looking to sell them here by Wednesday morning."

"That sounds awefully sudden. Almost too sudden for said relics to be obtained through legal means."

"I thought so as well Mr. Rivers That is why I took the liberty of informing Mr. Faulkner that you had a set of relics you would need verified by noon tomorrow." Her laptop dings, signifying a new notification. She opens the laptop, eyes briefly scanning the contents of the screen, before turning back to me, smiling gently. "It would seem Mr. Faulkner will be pleased to be working with you again Mr. Rivers "

"Excellent. I want our usuals informed of this auction, along with any new or recent customers."

"Yes Sir. I will see to it that preparations will be completed on time."

"I'll be taking my leave then."

"Have a good day Mr. Rivers."

I hum in acknowledgement, turning and swiftly walking out of the office. A few steps away from the doorway I pause in the midst of the hallway, hand tangled in my bow tousled hair. I'm irritated, but why? Is it because of the irregular and abrupt auction? Is it because Ms. Brooks knocked into me earlier? Or is it because Ms. Walker is seemingly perfect in her work? Never once has she failed to prove her worth in the six months she has been working for me.

Alice Walker, the only secretary so far who has not quit or have been fired within two months. The only secretary in my two years as CEO of the National Auction Center to have no flaw in their work or actions. Everything she has done for this company has helped improve in some way or another. Not only that but she can deal with the rowdiest bidders without incident. There is no possible way for anyone to be so efficient. That is why I watch her closely. So that when she does finally slip up, I'll know. Until then I'll watch, closely, but for now I have a meeting with my predecessor to get to.

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"Good evening Mr. Romkee. How have you been?" I ask, as I sit in one of the chairs of the local cafe, I couldn't be bothered to recall the name of.

"The old heart is still beating isn't it?" He chuckled lightly.

"I suppose, but with your age I don't believe it beats the way it used to." I comment jokingly.

"Nonsense. I'm clearly still a few years shy of forty." He laughs in spite of himself, whereas I just smirk. "Anyhow, I didn't ask you to come here to joke over my age."

"Oh? Then what have you called me here for today? I am a busy man you know."

"Well of course I would know. I used to run the NAC if you don't remember. Speaking of which, that is what I wanted to talk about today."

"What about it? You want it back? I don't know if I'm willing to let go."

"Of course not. I prefer to watch the company records."

"And I assume the contents of one of said records have piqued your interest."

"Yes, about a year ago is when the Local Auction Center grew and became better known as the National Auction Center. I would like to know as to how you managed to grow the old business into something much larger in one year than I could in nearly thirty five years?"

"Let's just say I was presented with two options. One was a steel platform with strong supports. There's no where to go but safety is guaranteed. The other was what appeared to be a ladder that went on endlessly. The ladder is old and falling apart with the wind. Always room to go up the ladder but you would always potentially be one faulty limb from falling. I had a choice, stay in place and never move forward or take a risk of falling for success? Of these choices which would you choose Mr. Romkee?"

"Well," he sits back, rubbing his graying stubble on his chin, "I suppose I would have gone with the sturdy platform. That way I would know I was safe. Besides, you can still build on a platform."

"Then that would be why."

He stares at me confused. "I don't believe I follow."

"It's your choice Mr. Romkee." I explain, "You claimed you would choose security. And yes, you can build on that stable platform, but you only have so much space. You can build on it but not forever. Eventually, you will have nowhere left to go."

"I see, so you chose the rickety old ladder?"

"Yes. I chose to take hold of potential success. I decided with the right ambition the climb would be well worth my time."

"Did you not fear the fall? The underlying soon of failure?"

"I do not fear the fall. I feared succumbing to it. I do not fear failure. I understand and fully recognize that failure will stop me from achieving my goals. Therefore I can not and will not give in to it either. It simply wouldn't work out well in my favor."

"I like that about you. I envy your ability to look a potential disaster in the face and tell it if it won't work for you then it's nothing more than the dirt beneath your shoe. That ability is why I handed the company to you. To say I'm pleased would be an understatement."

"Thank you. I aim to impress."

"Well you have certainly impressed me. Which brings me to the other thing I've noticed in the records that have sparked my interest."

"And what could that be?"

"Don't act like you don't know. In the past six months your productivity and overall sales have gone up a good deal."

"Ah, yes. That would be my secretary's doing." I sigh, "I don't know how she does it."

"Impressive. She has been around six months and hasn't quit yet? Either you've loosened up or she has an incredible amount of patience. Regardless, she must be a remarkable woman."

"She is. In all the time she's worked for me she has never messed up anything once. In fact she has managed to exceed my expectations. Madness."

"Then you better hope she doesn't get fed up with your behavior. There aren't many people who are willing to put up with you." He checks his watch eyes widening in surprise," Look at the time! I've got to go! Enjoy the rest of your night, bye!" He gets up and rushes out the door, clearly late for something. Tsk. Damn old man forgot to push in his chair.