COLLUDE WITH MY BOSS

Vroom, the helicopter roared, slicing through the humid air as it descended over the lush Brazilian rainforest. Susan gripped her seat, her stomach churning with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The verdant canopy below created an expansive, emerald-green umbrella, hiding the mysteries of the forest floor. Normally, she would have marveled at this wild beauty, but today her thoughts were consumed by the looming meeting and the enigmatic man she was about to face—John. Brilliant, dangerous, and wealthy beyond measure, he was a walking computer, a financial genius.

Yet, his reputation as an emotionless loner made Susan uneasy, especially given her aversion to technology. As the helicopter revealed the snaking river and the deep gorge beneath them, Susan sought answers from the pilot about why someone of John's stature chose to live so remotely. The pilot explained that John craved privacy amidst a world that relentlessly pursued him, describing him as anything but soft and cuddly, drawing women with his power and money. Susan clarified her presence by revealing her scheduled business meeting with John, stemming from his company's initial investment in her venture. The term "business angel" amused the pilot, who painted a less angelic picture of John, emphasizing his formidable persona. Refusing to be intimidated, Susan proclaimed her skepticism of media portrayals and her belief in her business proposal's merit. Yet, deep down, she felt a nagging unease, amplified as the helicopter descended, heightening her anxiety. The pilot cryptically alluded to the perilous meeting ahead with the metaphor of meeting the wolf in his lair. Despite her efforts to maintain composure, Susan's nerves fluttered, her doubts swirling like the leaves beneath them. The unexpected revelation of John's nickname, "the wolf," added to her unease as the helicopter descended into the jungle, landing precariously on a small, concealed landing pad, like a giant insect alighting in the wilderness. ‘Not crashing, then.’ Susan managed a wobbly smile, her pent-up breath escaping in relief. ‘I had a mental image of carnage.’ ‘If you’re meeting with then there’s going to be carnage.’ The pilot flicked a switch, his laughter subsiding. ‘I’ve seen grown men in tears after five minutes with him. Take my advice and fight your corner. If there’s one thing the boss hates, it’s wimps. Welcome to the Atlantic rainforest, Miss Grey. One of the most endangered little ecosystems on our planet.’ ‘You’re leaving me? Here? In the middle of nowhere?’ Susan turned her head, spotting the lodge—a masterpiece of glass domes and smooth, weathered wood that seemed to blend seamlessly with the forest. ‘Oh.’ She admired the suspended walkways above the forest floor. ‘It’s stunning. Amazing.’ The pilot lairled to himself. ‘John —angel.’ Still chortling, he wiped a hand over his forehead, ridding himself of beads of sweat. ‘Out you get and keep your head down until you’re clear of the blades. I’m flying back to Rio to pick up a package and then back to São Paulo.’ Susan hesitated, reluctant to sever her last link to civilization. ‘You’re not waiting? He said I could only have ten minutes ...’ The absurdity of traveling all this way for merely ten minutes gnawed at her, yet she couldn't entertain the notion of giving up. Perhaps John would grant her more time, recognizing that ten minutes wouldn't suffice to escape the hole she'd found herself in. ‘If there’s anything left of you when he’s finished, I’ll come back and pick up the pieces. Take the walkway over there to the left and, whatever you do, don’t stray off the path. This is the jungle, not a theme park. Watch out for the wildlife.’ ‘Wildlife?’ The whirlwind of the meeting had eclipsed thoughts of the jungle's inhabitants. She glanced dubiously into the dense forest surrounding them, parts in shade and others lit by the penetrating sun. It seemed as if the forest floor was in motion. ‘You mean insects?’ He grinned wickedly. ‘Over two thousand different species at the last estimation. And they’re just the ones we know about.’ Trying not to envision a horde of legs approaching her, Susan smoothed her skirt and wished she’d opted for trousers. ‘And snakes?’ ‘Oh, yes, there are snakes—’ his grin widened as he glanced towards her shoes ‘—and then there are the giant anteaters, jaguars, and the—’ ‘OK, I think I’ve heard enough,’ she said breathlessly, interrupting him with a shaky smile. Any moment now she’d be clinging to his arm and begging him to fly her home. ‘I’m sure Mr wouldn’t live here if it were that dangerous.’ The pilot threw back his head and laughed. ‘You obviously don’t know the first thing about him. He lives here because it’s that dangerous, baby doll. He has a low boredom threshold. Likes to live life on the edge, so to speak.’ Baby doll? The careless way he’d diminished her irritated Susan, sparking a surge of determination. All her life she’d been patronized and underestimated. People had doubted and dismissed her, but she had proved them wrong time and again. She wouldn’t let this chance slip through her fingers. This was probably the most important fight of her life, and she was going to win. She had to. The livelihoods of her team depended on it. If she failed, they would lose their jobs. If John called in his loan, it would be all over. The oppressive heat clung to her like a suffocating cloak. She pushed a damp strand of hair away from her face, her eyes following the towering trees. It was like being in an exotic paradise, making it hard to remember that bustling cities like London and Rio de Janeiro even existed. ‘Isn’t he afraid, living out here?’ ‘?’ The pilot chewed on a piece of gum and gave a grim smile. ‘He isn’t afraid of anything.’ Knowing that hearing more about John would only unnerve her, Susan stumbled out of the helicopter, her legs trembling. At this moment, she couldn’t decide if she was more frightened of the jungle or John. In a world captivated by celebrity and image, John rejected both with contempt, refusing every invitation to reveal himself. The media was brimming with stories from curvaceous blondes who’d spilled their secrets for the right price. Consequently, the world knew of his relentless pursuit of billions, his prowess as a lover, and his determined refusal to indulge in ‘happy ever after'. Once, he had tried it, and the news of his glamorous wife’s departure, after less than three months of marriage, had filled the newspapers, lasting longer than the union itself. He had been impossible to live with, ending their relationship through an email. He was solely interested in making money. And more money.