Flower on the ash

I woke up from the sound of ringing alarm. I set it yesterday night after returning home so that I can wake up at time or else I'll get late for work. I quickly got up and washed myself up. I walked to my closet and wore my black pants. I tried to find my white shirt but then I remembered I didn't brought it back from Alex's house. I sighed to myself. My other two white top was in laundary. I took out my red frilled shirt and pulled up my hair into a ponytail. I grabbed my handbag and put my phone inside it. I walked down and made my way to the dining table. I sat, my parents were also sitting there. They were talking to each other. I served myself and pour a glass of juice.

" What did she say? When Sophia will come back?" I heard my father asking her wife.

" She said she will stay there for one more month." my step-mom said and sighed, "God knows what she is doing." Then they started talking about her marriage. I finished my food and stood up from my place. I left for the office taking a cab.

I came to my cabin and sat on my chair. I reviewed Alex's schedule for today. I didn't have much work to do so I started searching for a car to buy online. I was scrolling down the website when suddenly my telephone rang startling me. I first calmed myself down and then picked up the call.

" Hello." I said on the phone.

" Come to my office now." Alex said and ended the call. I looked at the clock to see the time. It was 9:35 in the morning. Alex had came early today. I walked to his office. He was standing, leaning on his chair and talking to someone on his phone. He looked at me when I came into his cabin and I waited for him to end his conversation on phone. He was looking frustrated

" Ok. I'll be there." Alex said to the person on phone and hung up.

" We have to leave for Country Z now. There's a bomb blast in our branch there." he said and my eye went wide. Suddenly a bomb blast? "We will have a meeting there with directors of board." he said and walked up to me. "Let's go." he said and I nodded my head. We went down to the parking area where two cars were parked for us. One for me and Alex and one for Kelvin. We sat in our respective cars and were on our way to the site.

" Yeah I know....I'll be there in a few hours...Tell them to wait...Ok,bye." Alex said to the person on the phone. He ended the call and put it back in his pocket. I can see he is all stressed out by looking at his face.

" Don't worry. Everything will be fine." I said to him and he nodded. Messages kept coming on Alex's phone non-stop that he had to put his phone in silent mode. He didn't talk and kept his hand on his head throughout the ride. Me, Alex and Kelvin arrived at a hotel in Country Z. We reached a hall where the meeting was going to be held. We all entered there. All the men were present there but there was also an old lady. Alex went and sat on one of the chair and I stood behind him. Kelvin sat next to Alex.

" What are we going to do now? Our gain will decrease by 5% because of what happened." said one of the man in black.

" We could think of a way to restore it." another men said.

" How?" said the old lady.

Alex took a deep breath and started to say, "You all are free to give your ideas about how we can increase the declined profit. You all can hand it over to Annabell, my assistant." he pointed at me and continued, "we will take actions as soon as possible."

" What about the loss the employers faced. There were total 23 people who died on the spot, 17 in critical condition and 47 injured." said the man sitting across Kelvin.

" We will compensate them and their family for loss. Kelvin would be the incharge for this." Alex said and leaned back on his chair.

" Ok then. Shall we go to see the condition of the company." an old man asked Alex and he nodded.

" Ok. Meeting dismissed." Alex finally announced and walked out of the hall, we following him including the old man. We all walked to the reception when Alex said, " You all wait here for me. Anna, come with me." he said and took a left turn. There were many rooms. I was following behind him when he opened a door with a key and entered with me.

" What happened?" I asked him as he closed the door behind him.

" You are not going there. Stay here." he said handling me the hotel's room key.

" But why? Why can't I go with you?" I asked him.