Power and Influence!

Aubrianne Ivanov

Picking up the conversation between Aubrianne and Daniel.

"To an extent on certain matters," Daniel replied nonchalantly, as if it was the most common thing in the world to hold THAT much power and influence.

He said to an extent? Are you kidding me?

"Oh," I responded, seemingly speechless or unsure what to say to that...

And I met this man woaw, though he seemed like an average businessman.

*Flashback*

I recalled the day I met Mr. Thornton a little over a year ago.

It started like any other typical day, beautiful weather graced the atmosphere, and the sun in the blue sky blazed brilliantly—no dark clouds to dim its lights. If anything, the fluffy white clouds add to the sky's majestic glow.

The wind blew, lifting dry leaves subtly off the floor bed and discarded wrappers, and the campus gardener was running-- armed with his garden rake, trying to keep up with the wind and his targets.

Students huddle about in their little clicks, on the lawn, on benches, in the hallway, yes, an average day!

Only it was not a typical day.

It was the day Mr. Thornton was the keynote speaker at career day, the college I attended held for the next batch of senior-year students. It was the day I would hear from someone prominent in the accounting and business fields.

And where were the senior students? They were buzzing around the auditorium. It was indeed an exciting day.

I thought the man was and still is remarkable. His experience and knowledge are incomprehensible, and this career day led to why I am here.

All I knew at the time was that he was a very successful businessman who ran the most flourishing accounting firm in the world.

What better individual to swing by and motivate a bunch of young adults?

If it was not fate, he was lecturing in the accounting field. In the same field, I was majoring in, plus HE came to OUR school for career day! I don't know what is. Because this has to be fate.

I simply had to meet him. I had to...

I desired to make my way toward the front where he was. At the time, I did not know how I would, because I remember finding it very challenging as hundreds of students were flocking around him, asking questions and demanding his attention after his VERY motivational speech, giving us tips, methods, and techniques.

It was precisely all-around fantastic advice. Mr. Thornton was just brilliant, and I took all the notes I could have.

I remember grabbing my notebook from my backpack and getting busy making notes. My hand effortlessly flew across the pages cursively, even getting Mr. Thornton's advice on the next steps.

Nevertheless, I was unwilling to give up on my endeavor to meet him. I purposed to be unwavering. This was fate, I told myself, and then there was that peculiar feeling.

Like some unknown force pulling me to him, I dismissed it as my eagerness to pick such a great mind overtook every coherent thought.

Any wisdom he had to dish out, I wanted.

Consequently, I hauled on my big girl panties and pushed my way through the crowd. Almost out of breath, I made it to the front, and instantly his eyes met mine, and I went entirely limp.

I merely stood there staring, and for a fleeting moment, I saw recognition. Wait, did Mr. Thornton's nose just flared? I remember wondering.

Then slight confusion, I was not sure, his eyebrows creased and eyes narrowed almost to slits, when all too quickly, all emotions disappeared and were replaced with an unaffected mask.

In my limp state, I continued my observation as he leaned to his side, dressed in expensive clothing by the looks of it—and spoke to the gentleman sitting next to him, who I later found out was his right hand, Mr. Ivan Grey.

Mr. Grey—blonde hair, round face, blue eyes, wide jawline, beard, about six feet, dressed to impress as well in his suit that looks tailored to perfection—looked dead at me, then got up and came walking toward me.

For a second, I almost turned to walk away.

Almost.

But I was still limp. How pathetic.

Instead, I stayed rooted to my spot, waiting in a pool of emotions as Mr. Grey approached cautiously, as if not to scare me away.

Maybe I had a fight-or-flight look on my face. Who knows? I mean, I was a nervous wreck, and to top it off, determination and anticipation were killing me.

This is what you wanted, Aubri, a chance to have a word with Mr. Thornton, so put on your crown and get this done, I scold myself.

Extending his hand, he said, "Good day, young lady. My name is Mr. Ivan Grey, and I am Mr. Theodore Claude Thornton's Right Hand."

I reached out and shook his hand—firmly— introducing myself. "Hi...Good Day to you, Mr. Grey. I...I am Aubrianne Ivanov.”

"Ah, Ms. Ivanov, what a lovely name, Mr. Thornton would like to have a word with you while he takes a short break from meeting various students." Mr. Grey relays the message with a welcoming smile, and with a sweep of his hand, he gestures toward Mr. Thornton.

"Would you mind?"

Pssh, would I mind??? WOULD I MIND???

"Yes, I mean No, No, I don't mind," Shamefully stumbling over my words.

Flustered, I cleared my throat and began again as he watched me intently. "Yes, yes, sure, of course," I answered. If an intelligent man like that wants to speak with me, I will not waver to hear him out.

This was way better than I anticipated.

My mind raced with the possibilities, and my heart rate rapidly increased with exhilaration. Imagine all the wisdom he could pass to me, all the little pointers he could give me. I can delve deeper into his business ideals, this was priceless, and I was not about to pass up such an opportunity.

I still stood there like I was suddenly a cripple, simply not believing my luck, no, not luck, how blessed I was. I was more than ready to meet him and absorb all the mastery he chose to impart to me, and I planned to soak it all in.

"Come this way and have a seat till I call you," he directed me to some chairs off to the side where Mr. Thornton was sitting at the head of a table on the podium.

I watched as Mr. Grey went over to Mr. Thornton. They both glanced at me while Mr. Grey whispered to Mr. Thornton, then Mr. Thornton nodded to Mr. Grey, got up, and entered an empty classroom.

After a few moments, Mr. Grey returned and said, "Ms. Ivanov, come this way. He will see you now."

I happily rose to my feet and headed straight to the classroom, where I got to have a one-on-one with the Legend himself. On entering the classroom, I instantly noticed the changes made for Mr. Thornton.

It was turned into a lovely office/ lounge for him. I deduced they were all his stuff as they looked pretty darn expensive, and I knew the school did not have those types of furniture lying around anywhere.

I extended my hands, introducing myself excitedly yet nervous as ever with a huge grin, "Mr. Thornton, it is such an honor to meet you. I am Aubrianne Ivanov...I...Oh my God...sorry, this is just a dream come through for me."

He sat relaxed in his chair but stood and took my hand in both of his while he eyed me curiously. There is a glint of, I don't know, something in his eyes.

"You can relax," he offers, then gently moves his fingers in a circular motion on the back of my palm in a comforting way, as Jada does to me.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. Here, have a seat and tell me about it. Your dreams, anything..."

We both sat. Mr. Thornton leaned back in his chair, making himself comfortable, and watched me.

OK, Aubri, this is it. Tell him your plans and your interest. Do it, do it. You may never get a chance like this again.

I took a deep breath and smiled, "OK, Mr. Thornton, Accounting is my passion. I am majoring in the accounting field, all things accounting, and I live for numbers."

"Accountants are the backbone of the business world, and we are the professionals who work with everyone, from individuals and small companies to large corporations, government agencies, and non-profits, keeping their finances in check."

"That is correct, Ms. Ivanov." Mr. Thornton approves...