Destiny…

"For those whom God to ruin has designed,

He fits for fate, and first destroys their mind."

- The Hind and the Panther

She was cold. She was freezing. The temperature, she thought, in her semi-conscious mode, must be sub-zero. She couldn't feel her fingers, her feet too felt numb and her nose felt raw to the touch. She grabbed the remote and switched off the air-conditioner. How ironic, she thought, is the fact that I love the cold and yet hate the air-conditioners? She yawned, stretched and jumped off the bed. She suddenly felt wide awake, all thoughts of sleep and air-conditioners forgotten. She showered and took her time deciding on an outfit. You see, it was the rule of her life: Look good, therefore, feel good. She didn't want to be late for work, so she went downstairs. She was an organized, punctual girl who loved life. She was also a journalist. True, she had just started but she was so damn good. She went downstairs and hugged her mom, Moghedien. (True, the name sounds evil, but always remember, never judge a book by its cover).

'Ma, I smell pancakes.'

'That's right, my girl. Now eat up fast, you don't want Mr.Bryne to fire you, now do you?'

Mr.Bryne was her boss. He was a dear old man with as many white hairs as Dumbledore. However, he had a single drawback: he lost his temper quite easily. She decided she better get going. She reached her office in record time. Just as she was getting started on the report for the Alaskartica treaty, her phone rang. It was Rose, her secretary. (Typical name!)

'Mr.Bryne wants to see you in his office.', said Rose in clipped tones.

'Are you sure?' (Huh??)

'Excuse mee?' (In that tone)

'I mean…'

'Yes I know what you mean, and yes I am quite sure he wants to see you.'

'Right Rose, be right there.'

She sighed as she put the phone down. She was worried; because she was quite quite sure she had made it before curfew. Oh, heck. Let's just get it over it, she thought.

She knocked on Mr.Bryne's door.

'Enter…' said a deep male voice.

She went and sat in the chair opposite him, when he asked her to.

She wondered what this was all about.

'My dear, I have something to tell you, which I am afraid, you wont like…'

Her hands started sweating.

'You see, I have been thinking on this for a long time, and I know you… and I know all about you, but… your mom, I am sure, will hate me for it… after all, you are her daughter… but it really is very important…'

Her armpits were damp with perspiration. She hoped it wasn't noticeable. If he was firing her then…

'I… what should I say? I …'

'Look, if you want to fire me, its ok. I fully understand. If I am not capable…then…'

At this point, her voice broke. So she decided to shut up.

'Fire you, my dear? No, no you've got it all wrong. I want to give you a new assignment. A new project. There is a man, A certain Mr.'al Thor, who, I am sure you must have heard of. He is the latest business sensation and I must say, what a man! He has an attitude, and refuses to entertain the media. He declines all interviews and press conferences. He has made it absolutely clear that anyone prying into his private affairs will be sued immediately. The big news, though, is that he has accepted our offer of a biography.'

'However did you manage it, Mr.Bryne?'

'Contacts, my dear. You see, he is my best friend's eldest son.'

'And I am to write a biography on him? Interview him? Spend time with him?'

After a short, considering pause Mr.Bryne said, 'Yes'.

'I won't do it; he sounds like he has got a toothache with a major ego…'

'That's what you are going to do my dear, crack that ego.'

'But…'

'Oh, and a promotion will, of course, be in place when you have returned.'

She considered it for a moment, then, 'O.K, I will interview the MCP.'

'MCP?'

She shook her head and said, women terms. She felt as though she was missing something. After a slight hesitation she said…

'So what's the catch?'

'Ahh….the catch'

'Yess?????'

'He lives in Cleveland…'

'Whaaattttttttt??!!!!!!!!!!In…In… CLEVELAND?'

'I am so not going there. Not there. Not ever. Never… oh no, never!'

'The time has come for you to face your fears. You must return. You cannot fear something you have never known. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.'

'Well, at least… I don't have to see him…'

'Ahh… you see, there's the catch… Mr.'al Thor lives with his dad. His father, my best friend, is Mr. Tam 'al Thor. His fathers and my other best friend, is Mr.Thom Merrilin. Your dad. Who lives with him. Who you have to stay with. Who you will stay with.'

'I won't and I…I…definitely…I resign.'

'You will and you can't.'

'Why would I do it?'

'For me.'

'And if I refuse…'

'You cant; you just owe me too damn much.'

She glared at him and went stomping out of the room. She just so bloody did not care. Blood and bloody ashes! She was on the verge of tears. Elayne had never felt so wretched in her whole life. Life, she agreed, was very, very cruel.