Pulse 2 (Pulse Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

face in confusion. I was cautiously optimistic mainly because of the smile on Rafael ’s face.
    “ We’re all going on a business trip,” he said.
    “ Business trip?” Wesley asked. “Where? Uptown? In the city?”
    “ No, somewhere a little farther. Hawaii.”
    I thought I misheard him. I looked at him more confused then turned to Wesley, who was just as perplexed.
    “Wait,” Wesley said. “Hawaii? Like the Hawaii.”
    “ There’s a business conference scheduled to take place in Maui starting this Thursday,” Rafael explained. “This is very important. Representatives from companies all over the world will be there.”
    “ Wait a second,” I said. “Is… This is a joke, right?”
    “ A lot of important people are going be there,” Rafael said. “They thought it was only appropriate that they picked a spot that everybody would be comfortable in. Do any of you object?”
    The announcement was unlike anything I was expecting. I was still having trouble accepting the ridiculousness of it. I wanted to laugh. I looked over at Wesley an d saw the beaming smile on his face. When I looked at Travis, even he was having trouble trying to contain himself. But still, Rafael seemed more excited than any one of us.
    “ I’m sorry to spring this on you with such short notice but I had to get clearance with the board,” Rafael said. “I’m having reports sent to all of you. Over the next few days, I want you to learn more about the businesses we’re dealing with. You’re going to meet a lot of people with a lot of money on the table. This could be the key to expanding our international sector. Is that clear to all of you?”
    We all nodded in unison at Rafael.
    “All right,” he said. “Again, I’m sorry about the short notice. You can leave early tonight to pick-up some things to wear. The weather over there is a little different in the city this time of year. Do you have any other questions?”
    The rest of us remained silent and he excused us. Wesley and Travis quickly made their way out of the conference room while I gathered my things. I looked up at Rafael as he wa ited for me to leave the room. Just as soon as I began to open my mouth, he held his finger up to me.
    “ Not in here,” he said. “I’ll speak to you in your office when I get the chance.”
    He gave me a polite smile and I nodded to him before exiting the room. A s I made my way to my office, I was still in disbelief. This was work. This was company business. I couldn’t treat this like a vacation. But despite that, every bone in my body was excited at the prospects of getting a chance to work outside of the building. And Rafael would be right there with me. At least, I hoped that he would. With a trip to Hawaii on the horizon, I suddenly found myself struggling to focus on the work in front of me.
     
    * * *
     
    The morning hours passed and I felt like I didn’t get any work done. There was a knock at the door to break the monotony.
    “ Come in,” I said, expecting the lunch I usually had delivered.
    I didn ’t look up and continued to mark the papers on the desk in front of me.
    “ Are you busy?”
    I looked up and saw Rafa el closing the door behind him.
    “ I’m always busy,” I smiled.
    “ Well, do you have time for me?”
    “ Of course. How can I help you, Mr. Barnett?”
    He chuckled at me then took a seat in front of my desk. I put my pen down and waited for him to tell me what I was e xpecting us to talk about.
    “ I just spoke with Wesley and Travis,” Rafael said. “Each of them seems to be okay with this trip.”
    “ Why wouldn’t they be? How often do you get to go to Hawaii?”
    “ Well, it is kind of sudden. Whatever plans you might have this weekend will have to be canceled. I just want to make sure that it’s not an inconvenience for you.”
    I looked at him confused. I had to stop myself from laughing at the thought. He knew that my weekends we re usually planned around his schedule. But it was