Morning Presentation

By Lucille Femine

Jason was a brilliant computer programmer. He designed a program no one had seen or could even conceive of. It could make him famous. But sabotage was on the horizon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lucille Femine
• Release date: Aug 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370114955

Book preview

Morning Presentation - 31 -

Morning Presentation

At five in the morning, Jason checked the email again from Mr. Christensen and entered the address in his GPS. In a few hours, he would present the possible investor with his year-long work called Mindself. This program will revolutionize the computer industry and make us a fortune, he foresaw, swiveling back and forth at his desk.

His reverie went back to three nights before when he sat there in the dim light. Billy, his best friend and business partner, stood behind him as Jason unveiled his program. His creation. His life’s work.

Oh man, this is gonna be good! Billy burst out. He rubbed his hands together as he watched the wall facing the desk, then lit a cigarette and waited eagerly.

Hey, hey, I told you, no cigarettes, Jason chided, waving the smoke away.

Oh, yeah. Billy frowned at the cigarette and searched around for an ashtray but there was none in the tiny, spotless home office.

Jason glanced at him and gently reprimanded, You know I gave it up when I started working on this program.

Yeah, you perfectionists are all like, he muttered, only half joking.

No, just don’t want to fog up my mind. He turned and nodded at the cigarette and back to the wall. Dump it in the toilet.

Cheez. He shook his head and disappeared. All the way in the bathroom! he called out from the narrow hallway as he waved his arm, mocking up great effort.

Jason laughed. I know that one room dump you live in has all the modern conveniences, like an ashtray every three feet.

Right, Billy said as he flushed the toilet, I know how to live.

Sure, Jason thought, sad for his friend. Hey, we make enough now. When are you going to move out of that crappy neighborhood in the Bronx?

Ah, got debts, he mumbled, as he lingered a moment in the bathroom. He returned, took his place behind Jason again and folded his thin arms. His short ponytail was gathered at the neck. Sure is hard to celebrate this without a cigarette, he muttered and restlessly shifted his hands to his pockets. I know, I know, Jason said as he turned on the pen computer