RED FLAG - by Posi

Chapter Two A Tale of Two Cities (Part Two) Hundreds of kilometres away... The warm Perth sun reflected beautifully against the glass exterior of one of Australia's most influential companies. Giff Group Headquarters. The forty-storey skyscraper stood proudly in the heart of South Perth's business district. Its modern glass façade overlooked the Swan River, while the polished marble lobby reflected the morning light pouring in through the towering windows. Employees moved with purpose, yet the atmosphere shifted the moment a sleek black Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance. The doorman immediately opened the rear door. "Good morning, Mr. Giff." Mr. Giff stepped out, followed by Lase. Every employee who crossed their path greeted them respectfully. "Good morning, sir." "Good morning, Mr. Giff." Some also nodded politely toward Lase. "Good morning, Mr. Lase." Lase acknowledged them with a simple nod before following his father into the private executive elevator. Neither spoke during the ride. The silence wasn't awkward. It was normal. When the elevator doors opened, they stepped onto the executive floor. Mr. Giff looked toward his son. "Your office is ready." "Yes, Dad." Without another word, they walked in different directions. --- A young woman stood outside a spacious office. She wore a fitted cream suit, her dark hair neatly tied back, and carried a digital tablet in one hand. The moment she saw Lase, she smiled professionally. "Good morning, Mr. Lase." "I'm Fin." "I'll be your executive assistant." Lase offered a polite nod. "Nice to meet you." Fin opened the office door. "Please." Lase stepped inside. Although officially named the Assistant President's Office, it looked nothing like an assistant's workspace. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Swan River and Perth's skyline. A sleek walnut desk occupied the centre of the room, while one wall displayed carefully arranged books on business, architecture, and fine arts. A private lounge sat beside the windows for informal meetings, and a conference table occupied the opposite corner. Everything had been prepared perfectly. Fin placed a folder on the desk. "This contains today's schedule." "At ten, you'll attend the executive strategy meeting with Mr. Giff." "After that, you'll review several investment proposals before lunch." Lase skimmed through the schedule. "Thank you." "If you need anything, my office is just outside." She gave a small bow before quietly leaving. Lase sat in his chair. His holiday had officially begun... At work. --- Back at the Giff penthouse... Lade remained exactly where everyone expected him to be. In front of his gaming console. "Yes!" "I got him!" The sound of explosions echoed through his room as he celebrated another victory. A knock sounded on the half-open door. "Nass." "I'm heading out." Without taking his eyes off the television, Lade lifted one hand. "Bye." Nass folded her arms. "That's it?" "Mhm." She laughed. "I should've known." "Don't forget to eat." "I won't." Satisfied, she picked up her bag and left the penthouse. Only after the front door closed did Lade finally pause his game. "...Maybe I'll eat later." He resumed playing. --- Across South Perth... Another luxury vehicle stopped outside a magnificent boutique. Elegant gold lettering stretched across the entrance. Ivory Fashion Maison The boutique resembled an art gallery more than a fashion store. Cream marble flooring reflected warm lighting from crystal chandeliers overhead. Soft instrumental music filled the spacious showroom while carefully arranged designer collections stood on polished displays. The moment Ivory entered... Every staff member straightened. "Good morning, Mrs. Giff." "Good morning, ma'am." "Welcome." Tiff smiled brightly at the warm reception. Ivory glanced sideways. "You look like you've never been here before." Tiff laughed. "I have." "But today feels different." "I'm not here as your daughter..." "I'm here to work." Ivory smiled proudly. "I like that." She led Tiff toward the main office where several young interns were already waiting. Three of them stood as Ivory entered. "Good morning, ma'am." "Good morning." Ivory turned toward Tiff. "This is Tiff." "She'll be joining the internship programme alongside the rest of you." The interns welcomed her warmly. Tiff couldn't hide her excitement. She had recently been accepted into ITS University's Fashion Design programme, earning one of the highest entrance scores in Australia. Fashion wasn't simply an interest. It was her dream. Ivory noticed the sparkle in her eyes. "You'll start by learning how the business operates." "No special treatment." Tiff smiled confidently. "I wasn't expecting any." Ivory laughed softly. "Good answer." --- Not far away... A community park buzzed with laughter. Children ran across the grass while colourful balloons danced in the breeze. Small tents displayed books, toys, art supplies and refreshments. Nass adjusted one of the donation boxes before stepping back to admire everything. "We actually did it." One of her friends smiled. "We couldn't have done it without everyone's parents." Another added, "Especially yours." Nass shook her head. "This wasn't about who donated the most." "It was about giving these kids a good day." Nearby, volunteers distributed food while children lined up for face painting and games. Watching their smiles made every late-night planning session worth it. Nass smiled to herself. Sometimes... The smallest acts of kindness created the biggest memories. --- Back at Giff Group Headquarters... Lase stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. Perth stretched endlessly beneath him. His eyes drifted toward the river below. For a brief moment... He forgot about meetings. Deadlines. Responsibilities. He simply admired the view. Then a knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in." Fin entered carrying another file. "The executive meeting will begin in five minutes." Lase closed the folder in his hands. "Let's go." Together, they walked toward the boardroom. Outside... Employees quietly stepped aside as the future heir of Giff Group passed through the corridor. Some greeted him respectfully. Others simply watched. The pressure resting on his shoulders wasn't something everyone could understand. Lase understood it better than anyone. He straightened his suit. Took a quiet breath. Then walked into the boardroom beside his father. His real holiday... Had only just begun. End of Chapter Two.

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