As is the custom of a Caesar returning from war, there was a great celebration of my return by the entire company, ninety percent of whom I swear hate me, and the rest were recently hired . I feel like someone is going to suddenly pull out his gun and the Kennedy scene will be repeated and my brain fragments will fly out onto the table with the aborted cancer fetus in the middle for the killer to see and know that haste makes regret, but none of them have that courage yet.
Oh, those blatant, hypocritical smiles and silly jokes followed by exaggerated laughter, just because I exist! Oh, if you only knew the truth ! The truth that the lion has become wounded and the opportunity has come for the wolves. The towering monument has crept into its foundations, a crack that grows day after day until it finally collapses . You will strip yourself naked, you will place the flag of schadenfreude over it and dance around its ruins, but I will never tell you what happened to me, and if I must go out, let it be as proudly as the first day I entered glory, a terrifying fighter, even hungry lions experience a shiver upon seeing him, the doors open for them and they retreat and stay in their place, Adam Wagih will not accept pity or gloating, only over his cancerous corpse.
The celebration was over. I expressed my false gratitude as usual, as if it wasn't their duty. After everything was over, I decided to hold an emergency board meeting to keep up with the developments, especially after the accident. I entered the large hall, the cool air of the cooler caressing me. Everyone was waiting for me. Their eyes were fixed on me as if they were extended by a thread to my hand. I sat at the top of the table, and everyone sat down.
Now, let me introduce you to the members:
The Board of Directors consists of : Dr. Ahmed Abdel Badie, Import File Officer. Despite his obesity and shiny baldness, he is married to three women, and always leaves room for a fourth wife so he can change, and " this womanizer is the best in his field, I don't know how he finds time to even get dressed, but I love him . Dr. Ragai Atallah, the head of purchasing and local materials, if I were to produce a movie, I would give him the role of the Jew; have you ever met the stingiest man on earth? Well, you haven't met Ragai, Ragai is economical in inhaling and exhaling, but he is honest and does his job well. Dr. Alaa Abdel Azim, General Manager of the October Factory . Dr. Sayed Sayed Hefny, General Manager of the Shorouk Factory. And believe it or not, these two married the same woman one day . Don't get me wrong, when things didn't work out between Ghada Assem, the famous plastic surgeon, and Dr. Alaa, she divorced him. Then, one day, at a conference Medical, my friend, guess who bought her flowers to place outside her hotel room door? It was Abu El Sayed, Dr. Sayed Hefny . Rest assured, all parties accepted the situation with more than a sporting spirit, because everything is destiny.
Sitting to my right, with the graying hair and wide glasses, was Dr. Hesham Sami Marzouk, Director of the Scientific Office and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is one of those people about whom I have no comment; he is polite, firm, and reliable. Sitting to my left was Dr. Adel Fanous, Director of Public Relations. This scoundrel is a real snake, " like me , " so you have to watch out for him. Remind me to tell you a story about this young man.
Finally, Dr. Irene Siddiq, the HR Officer, a devotee, who praises every decision I make with pure loyalty to me, and this is the type you should be terrified of, for like Brutus in the final scene of Caesar's death, she is the one I always predict will be the one to stab you, or at least, she will be one of those sitting in the assembly deciding your fate and riding the coming wave on the remains of your sinking ship.
I motioned for them to start, and each of them began to review the latest developments in his field. Adel took the initiative to stand up when it was his turn, but I ordered him to sit down again, and I said to him:
" Sit down, Adel. I like to save the best news for last."
The rest of them started explaining one by one, and while I was immersed in talking to them, Adel was sending some worried looks and started sweating. His throat became dry until he finished the bottle of water in front of him, as he knew that something was wrong, as many mistakes mean a lot of anxiety.
When everyone finished, I shouted:
- "Now, Dr. Adel, say what you have to say, but briefly, please."
He breathed a sigh of relief, since I had said briefly that the meeting was about to end, there was nothing to worry about . He had this rough voice that, when raised in excitement, turned into a sharp, womanly tone.
He reviewed everything related to the upcoming conferences inside and outside Egypt. Every time I asked him about his plans for the next general conference, he became more reassured, because he took my question about his future plans as a positive sign. He knows that he failed, but he does not know that I know yet.
After he finished, everyone applauded, and he returned to his seat.
Here I said, "I didn't know I was going to be such an advertising star . Okay, see you in fifteen days."
I took a while pretending to remember. Adel interrupted me:
- "Berlin".
I looked at him angrily, then he suddenly fell silent, so I said to him:
- "Why did you interrupt me?"
He said in his tense feminine tone:
" I'm sorry; I was trying to remember you . "
I shouted angrily:
- "You remember me? What? Have I lost my memory now and need someone to remind me?"
Everyone looked at each other in surprise, everyone knew, including me, that there was no reason for this sudden anger.
And Adil was like a fool; he looked around at everyone for help, but there was no one to save him. After a long stutter that I enjoyed, he answered:
- "I was just helping."
- " Help who? Help me? Do I look like I need help?"
Dr. Hesham intervened, trying to lighten the mood:
" Dr. Adel forgot that we get the calendar from Dr. Adam. If Dr. Adam tells us that winter has arrived, I will buy some quilts on my way home . "
Hesham laughed, and everyone laughed, but I didn't flinch. Adel pretended to laugh, looking around as if he was shouting: Is there no one to help me from this madman?
As for me, I continued, ignoring everyone:
" Anyway, you were wrong, Dr. Adel. The Berlin meeting is a month away . "
He shouted:
" No, no, sir, I am sure of that. Today is Tuesday, and the conference is the following Wednesday."
I screamed:
- "You are wrong and you persist in your mistake ! Or do you mean that I am the one who is wrong? What do I look like to you? A senile old man who fell on his head and was damaged and must be gotten rid of? Speak."
Silence reigned again, the tension had reached its peak, I could almost see the cursing in their eyes as they looked at their feet, having just discovered that they had feet and shoes!
I sighed in anger:
" Tell me now: who among us is wrong? And think carefully about those words that will come out of your mouth because your professional future depends on them. Am I wrong or right?"
Adel lowered his head to the ground, then said in a hissing voice:
" You are right, sir. Sorry , I am wrong ."
- " What? I didn't hear well . "
There was no escape from submission, so he spoke again in a voice that tried to avoid crying:
" I'm sorry sir, you're right."
I was silent for a moment, then I pointed to Irene who was standing behind me. She trembled and leaned over quickly:
- "Dr. Irene, please confirm what Dr. Adel says."
Her eyes widened, but she shook her head and resumed searching her phone. It took her a long time, and she didn't speak. She shouted:
- "Tell us today, not tomorrow, please."
She looked at me and said in a low voice:
" It is the last Wednesday of this month, fifteen days from now."
I lowered my head and asked:
- "where?".
She replied:
- "In Berlin."
I turned to Adel and said to him:
- "So, you're lying . Well, you're fired. Please go to accounts and settle all your dues."
****
In my office I played with a bunch of pens and thought. What if the scene of the fall happened again? How long would I be able to keep the secret? I suddenly felt a chill as I imagined myself carrying the box of disappointment out of my company with the gloating applause following me. By the way, I never understood why the box always had to be square and contain the same things? Why the shelf? Because if they heard what I was up to they would vote me out, meaning I would have no power over my company.
I don't feel well. I feel so nauseous. I run to the bathroom to empty my stomach, I try to get back into my seat with a ringing in my head, the floor slips out from under my shoes, and when I can't keep up with it, I fall with a clatter. Someone runs to me, it turns out it's Irene, she gets me up and brings me a glass of water, I take a sip, before I say breathlessly:
" What you saw now, no one will know about it."
She nodded. I knew that the council members, headed by Adel, would find out sooner or later. The enemies' accusations were hurtful, but the testimony of the disciples was sacred, and then no one would have mercy on me.
I asked her to leave this office before I called Ramez. Now, there was no escape or escape except to him. And this call was one of the doors of fate that would take me to the other world, the world where cancer would be the least of my fears.