The Begetter of Change

Dahlia, Bella and Jackson were sitting over the thought that Oliver just happened to announce. Dahlia commented, "It shouldn't be a bad thing, right? Plus, they are hobbies that we are passionate about, and I think we will be able to manage them somehow."

Jackson replied, "Yes, right, being passionate is one thing, but if you don't plan right - chances are you might miss on achieving the target; you gotta plan better - considering all the factors you need to multiply all while achieving these crazy targets!" Bella replied, "Well, we better get started - we only have one week to prepare it before we kickstart these three months of a passionate journey!"

Bella and Jackson left for their desk and started thinking about it. Meanwhile, Dahlia was still sitting inside the meeting room and lost in her deep thoughts. She was suddenly startled by Oliver when he said, "Ah, Dahlia - what are you still doing here - don't you wanna get started on your passion project?"

Dahlia reacted to Oliver by saying, "As a matter of fact, I already am - I am trying to map a business plan that can help me generate revenue - all while I am, travelling 20 odd countries at the same time! You see. I don't believe in wasting my precious time, not even a millisecond. You know, the early bird always catches the worm!"

Oliver emphasized, "Same old Dahlia, fast as ever you could be. Anyways, which countries are you going to travel to?"

Dahlia was bewildered, "Honestly, I dunno Oliver; First I need a plan, then comes which countries? But mostly, I am thinking to, start with American countries - charity begins at home! - why squander time when; several countries - can be covered starting, right here only?"

"Oliver, I have realized in the past few days that I think I have spent a lot of time here at this firm now; it is time to twist some things and shake that rust off me! So tell me, how good are you at playing the dart game? Can you beat me at that?" Dahlia further asked Oliver.

"Oh, I see a challenge there - I like it. You better start worrying about where I put my dart on!" Oliver replied with a wicked grin, fixating his eyes on Dahlia.

Dahlia turned her face around with a hint of superiority and said, "We'll see!" and left the meeting room.

Dahlia, then went street shopping for the creative art stuff - she needed to get the dart game going. Glitters, darts, coloured printouts, bullet pins, paint brushes and everything she thought. Dahlia invited Cleopatra to her place for the dart game to make it more interesting.

Oliver knocked on the front door; once he had finished his Office work for the day. Cleopatra opened the door instead of Dahlia. Oliver exclaimed, "Cleopatra you??? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be headed to your home by now?"

Cleo replied to him, "Why not Mr Oliver?? Don't you think; that I could better play a dart game than you?" Flabbergasted by remarks of Cleo, Oliver said to her, "Oh, not you! Don't get me - triggered on this. You might regret this."

Dahlia called out from the room, " Are you guys staying up there all along, challenging each other over n over again, without even playing it?? Don't you wanna play??" Oliver asked Cleopatra to excuse him and watch him win the game.

Oliver and Cleopatra entered the room where Dahlia was waiting for them, and they both were; welcomed with raspberry pie and hot cocoa. Before Oliver sipped hot cocoa, suddenly his attention was caught by the world map hanging in front of him - so large that he asked, "Dahlia, what is this? It is nothing like I have seen before at your place!"

Dahlia said, "Oliver, I think you need to step up your game - what; you are staring at - is the dartboard we're gonna play on!"

"Are you serious?? It seems crazy - who plays a dartboard game on a world map?" replied Oliver.

"We play. Don't you?" Dalia and Cleopatra spoke simultaneously.

"Such a poor thing. Are you worried that you might lose?" asked Cleopatra with a sluggish face.

Dahlia enunciated, " You guys, stop it! Yes, the World Map is our dartboard! Oliver, would you like to team up with either of us if you don't feel comfortable - or are you ready to take up a challenge yourself?"

Oliver sniffed a little and replied, "You ladies, I am not afraid of you - let's begin the battle of darts on the world!"

"That's the Oliver I know, never afraid of challenging the status quo, even if - it means standing alone," Cleopatra replied.

Oliver interrupted Cleo and said, "Before that - a question to Dahlia." She asked profoundly, " - And, What is that?" Oliver asked, "Why - but a world map? It could have been a simple target too."

Dahlia was not surprised and said, "Smart Oliver as, always, I knew you would come up with that!" She continued, "You already know about the partner's thing and passion project. And here I am figuring out those top 20 countries; I should go to - only adding fun to it with the best people I know."

Oliver said, "Oh, so what's the fuss all about - and that brings me to the second thing. Whoever wins shall go with you - Dahlia - to all the places where the darts land on the world map. Let's see who it can be. Me or Cleo."

Cleo replied, " Well, that gets interesting!! Let the best shall win the game of travel!"

Dahlia was perplexed, "Wait, that was not what I said," Oliver remarked, " You wanted fun; now that's how I add fun to the things I do. Are you getting worried; that I might win?"

Dahlia boosted her energy and told Cleopatra, "Cleo, set your gears and get the engine started - we need to win. Oh, and yes - if our team wins, I get to choose whether someone can come along or not!"

Oliver replied, "Sounds good to me. Let's get started - Cleo! Check it out - maybe your engine is OFF!"

Dahlia said, "We will play two rounds of darts - aiming for the land." Dahlia further explained the rule for scoring, "If it hit the oceans, it would be zero! If it's on the land-water border, it would be 5. Lastly, if it is on the land - it will score 10.

First goes Cleo, trying to aim at America, but the dart hit Mexico Border - scoring 5, second hits on the pacific ocean and third on the Antarctic - which was out of scope of the bet - scoring a total of five. Now, it was his turn for Oliver to showcase his skills; with three darts in a row - he managed to secure a score of 25 with the first landing in Egypt, second in France and third on the Spain border. The third attempt was Dahlia's chance with the first hit on the Latvia border, second on Russia and third on China borders - leading her to a total score of 20.

Dahlia missed her chance by 5, and Oliver was elated that he won. Oliver said, "Cleo, did you even start your engine?" Cleo was pissed off, as she did not like losing, so she left in anger. Dahlia tried convincing her to stay back, but she denied it as she wanted to spend the rest of the evening with her other college friends. Meanwhile, Oliver took some more pies and hot cocoa, enjoying his dart win on the world map. Oliver told Dahlia, "are you still up for Round 2? or you already accept me as the winner?"

Dahlia said, "easy to win at first; let us see if you win again - but I doubt if it would happen this time - Over to your Oliver, here are your darts!"

Oliver took his first dart and tried to aim towardS Southeast Asia. However, on the other side - Dahlia tried distracting him by swirling her hand over his right-hand elbow. Oliver said, "Dahlia, that's not allowed - you cannot tickle me!" Dahlia persisted in her efforts to distract him - resulting in a score of 15, where his darts landed in the Indian Ocean, Oman and Turkey border.

That was the last chance for Dahlia - otherwise, she would lose the bet, and Oliver would come along in her journey to sail across the worldly waters. Dahlia shot her darts at Russia and Italy Border- already equal to Oliver.

Before she was about to throw the third dart, Oliver came right in front of him and stared into her eyes, melting her cheek with a sweet kiss.

Dahlia said, "hey! That's not allowed - you can't do that!" Oliver replied, "Oh yes, and swirling your hand around mine works!" Dahlia replied, "Alright, anyways; move aside and let me aim my third dart." Oliver asked her, " And, what if I don't? Would you still take me along with you on your sailing trip? You know I can work a thing or two?"

Dahlia blushed, and she said, "Yeah, Oliver. I would love it - if you came along with me on the trip. Only in your dreams!!!" Dahlia had her fun week, and likewise, the weekdays went by. Dahlia decided it was easier to explore the European continent as she could cover more countries in a less - set time frame. She was still working to create a business plan - to maximize her network and give a return on her $50,000 investment.

Dahlia said, "easy to win at first; let us see if you win again - but I doubt if it would happen this time - Over to your Oliver, here are your darts!" Friday was nearing when Bella, Jackson and Dahlia will be, giving their final presentations before the board about their business related to their passion project.

Bella had been working on finding those 400 wonder books she could read in 3 months that could have a business model too. Jackson was finding the perfect person he could learn from - to bake and enjoy the pie journey with him. Oliver had to review the first and the second step before giving off the final pitch. Oliver called a meeting with Bella, Jackson and Dahlia to check their progress on their business plan - before they took off their 3-month journey starting on Monday.