You Are My Youth

A sapphire blue car was speeding on the airport highway. With Bluetooth earphones plugged in, the driver was talking over the phone with a serious expression.

"I know." Maggie Ethel looked ahead and held the steering wheel with one hand, "Mr. Townsend is a good friend of our boss and has cooperated with us at the most favorable price all these years. He claimed a transfer of position, but I believe that he has jumped ship given my conversation with him just now."

"Huh? In this case..."

"In this case, the possibility of continuing the partnership is slim." Maggie picked up the conversation, "Otherwise, he wouldn't have canceled it because he knew that no others would offer us such a price. If he is still there, we may still have a chance; if not... ask around, figure out the new leader, send me the information, and...."

Before she could finish her speech, there came a bang. "Shit!" She grunted, "Collect the information. I rear-ended a car. Talk to you later." Maggie frowned and hung up the phone.

It was a three-car rear-end collision that started with the first car stopping suddenly.

"I've hit the brake. Didn't you see it? Still, you bumped into my car. I could have avoided this." As soon as Maggie got off, the driver of the white car in the front yelled at her.

Maggie checked her car first. The damage was medium. When she was going to speak, the driver of the first black car strode up and shouted, "I've stopped my car. What is wrong with you two?" He frowned at the smashed rear of his car and grumbled, "Why didn't you change the lane?"

"Are you supposed to stop your car on a highway?" Maggie retorted.

"You followed my car too closely. Safe distance, don't you know?"

"She... she rear-ended me! I was forced to rear-end you. I planned to change the lane...." The driver of the white car explained.

"Yeah, this is on you! Your car is the last one. If you hadn't rushed up, everyone should be fine."

The other two started to blame Maggie.

"Let the traffic police be the judge." Maggie pulled a long face, folded her arms on her chest, and sulked.

"Isn't this obvious? You rear-ended us." The driver of the black car said immediately.

"I slammed on the brakes anyway. You didn't observe the traffic and bumped into my car. As a result, I rear-ended his car. This is your fault." The driver of the white car passed the buck.

"This is why female drivers shouldn't get on the road. Your skills are poor, and you cause trouble for others." The driver of the black car taunted her.

The anger she just suppressed spewed up again, and she shot back, "Don't blame female drivers for everything. What, without female drivers on the road, you won't have any accidents? Do you watch the news? Do you read newspapers? What's the ratio of men and women in traffic accidents each year? Got any ideas?"

"Tsk, girl, you look young, but you have a short temper. You..." Before the white car driver could finish his speech, another voice came over, "Enough, set up the warning triangles and go to the side of the road. You'll get yourselves killed by arguing in the middle of the road." The tone was bland yet unchallengeable.

Maggie looked over, saw the face of the speaker, froze for a few seconds, and suddenly remembered something, "It's you!"

(To be continued)

Maggie stepped forward and asked, "You're back?"

"Who are you?" The other party looked at Maggie with confusion in his eyes, "Do we know each other?"

"I'm Maggie! Charlie Wilson? We were in Class 4 at Pottstown First High School for the senior year. You... forgot?" Maggie said in bewilderment.

After a moment of silence, Charlie slowly nodded, "Mm, long time no see." It looked like he remembered her but remained calm. Seemingly, the reunition wasn't quite important in his heart.

The joy in her heart was dampened instantly, "Heh heh, p... perhaps, you left for too long and forgot about your... your classmates. I... I didn't expect to meet you again under such circumstances." She smiled awkwardly and turned sideways. Her excited tone became normal again.

Charlie didn't say anything. When Maggie turned her head, he turned to her and took a glance. A flicker of emotion flashed across his eyes.

"Sir, you know each other?" Just then, the driver of the white car asked, "I... did... didn't know...."

"It's okay. Just follow normal procedures." Charlie said blandly, "We went to the same school but lost contact for years, so relax."

The expression on his face changed instantly.

It looked like Maggie had flattered herself.

She recognized a classmate, but the latter gave her the cold shoulder.

It was reasonable since they graduated long ago, and Charlie left without saying goodbye. She was overconfident to believe that he would be delighted to see her. In fact, there was something between them...

It seemed that time healed everything because he didn't say terrible things to her. Maggie sighed inwardly, lowered her head, and looked at the ground in frustration. She was a bit rash just now.

Her cell phone suddenly rang.

She checked the caller ID, walked to the side, and answered it, "What's wrong?"

"I've got the intel. The new general manager appointed by Jorme Group will arrive in Pottstown today. According to the source, he studied overseas. In terms of appearance, education background, and capabilities, he is first-class. The chairman of Jorme, Mr. Lane, thinks highly of him while his...."

"Get to the point." Maggie interrupted his speech.

"His name is Charlie Wilson. He was born here in Pottstown...."

His speech dropped a bomb in her head. Holding the phone, she mechanically turned her head and looked at the silhouette, "What, what's his name?"

"Charlie Wilson, do you know him?" The other party repeated.

"More than that...." Maggie sighed lightly, "I see, the traffic police are here. I'll deal with this first and then go back to the office." She put away her phone and walked to the traffic policeman.

...

After the issue was solved, Maggie called out, "Well... may I ask if you're the new general manager appointed by Jorme Group?"

Charlie halted his steps and glanced at her silently, "Why? You have something to talk about?" The driver picked up the conversation.

"I..." Upon noticing the expression in Charlie's eyes, Maggie swallowed back the words at the tip of her tongue, "No, nothing." She then turned away.

"Probably, she wants to build a connection." The driver smacked his lips.

"Let's go." Instead of echoing, Charlie said indifferently.

She went back and immediately reported her work in her boss's office. Around 20 minutes later, she came out, crestfallen, "How about it? What's the situation?" Reese Nunes, her assistant, came up and asked.

"Our boss wants us to talk with the new GM and seek cooperation with him even at the cost of adjusting the commission. After all, Jorme is a big company and our long-time partner. More than half of our revenue comes from their project. If such an important client is lost, we'll have to eat dust bunnies."

"Talk then. Didn't you say that you knew Mr. Wilson? You can take the chance to catch up on old times with him."

"Old times, my arse." Maggie rolled her eyes and went back to her cubicle.

"Compile a document of his experience abroad, preferably with information about the projects he headed. I'll study his preferences."

"Sure, I'll give it to you later."

Ding! It was a message alert of her salary coming into the account.

Maggie checked the balance, deftly transferred it to another account, and texted the other party, "Collect the money!"

A call came in the next second.

"Dinner together tonight?" The man at the other end said cheerfully, "It happens that I closed a ticket today."

"You close tickets every day."

"That's why I can treat you to dinner every day. I'll text you the restaurant later, see you." He hung up the phone without giving her a chance to decline.

...

"Mr. Wilson, this is your staff apartment. Tell me if you need anything. I'll get it for you."

"Everything is good, thank you." Charlie looked around and continued, "I'll take office tomorrow and should rest early today."

"Well, see you then."

After the driver left, Charlie strode to the floor-to-ceiling windows and went out to the balcony. A gust of wind came over, alleviating much of his fatigue from the long trip.

But his face was filled with worries.

As night fell, the lights were lit. In a popular barbecue restaurant, Leighton Ballard waved his hand, "Leave it to me. I prefer to serve beautiful ladies myself."

"Okay, enjoy your meal."

Maggie was helpless but used to it. She had a sip of her tea and ate the tapas, "By the way, how many IOUs do I still have?"

"Let me think, excluding the one today, around three." Leighton said, "I can't remember it clearly. In fact, I'm not short of money, so you don't have to repay me on your payday each month. At least let it warm up in your pocket for a few days. It feels like we're falling out."

"Not that serious. Even if it warms up, it will go into your pocket anyway." Maggie disapproved, "I don't crave for short-lived pleasure. Three to go, and I'll be free. By then, you'll know whether we fall out, ha-ha." She laughed.

Leighton put the kebab into her bowl, "It's done, take a bite."

"Nice." Maggie nodded, picked up the meat, dipped it in the sauce, and swallowed it, "Ow... hot..."

"You should wrap it in lettuce..."

"No, isn't having meat with nothing better? Doesn't it taste more delicious?" Maggie shook her head and reasoned unhurriedly, "By the way, when will you go home and inherit your family business? Your mother texted me again and asked me to advise."

"Ignore her." Leighton said, "I'm doing great with my job. I have a team and I'm the backbone. I can provide for myself, so there is no need for me to inherit anything. Besides, why does my mother always contact you? You're not her daughter-in-law..." He took a sly look at her.

"According to her, I'm her god-daughter." Maggie grinned.

"Ugh, what a mother," Leighton muttered.

"Today, I..." On second thought, Maggie swallowed back the words at the tip of her tongue and changed the subject, "I rear-ended a car and predicate a rise in my car insurance."

(To be continued)