Thread: A maid for Ms. Devilla Roche (Devilla Roche and IntoThe Mystic)

It wasn't often that David Markell flew first class on his business trips, but then again this was not just another ordinary trip for him. Though he sat with eyes closed with his travel companion of classical music softly playing in his earbuds, as usual David's mind was in motion. Today though, his thoughts were more contemplative than strategic as he reflected back on the journey that brought him to where he was today. David had grown up in the suburbs of Indianapolis where he and his parents lived a rather unassuming life. His father worked as an actuary at a national insurance company, his mother a stay-at-home mom until David started high school when she then began to fill her time volunteering at the local library and hospital. Though far from an affluent lifestyle David's upbringing was comfortable, ordinary, which seemed to suit him well. Perhaps it was in part due to his physical stature but David always seemed more comfortable being in the background than in the spotlight. Like his grandfather before him, David's growth chart seemed to have reached its peak when he was a freshman in high school, and even then he was on the small end of the scale. So, even now at the age of 28 he maintained the same slight 5'5, 128 pound frame he'd had since he first roamed the halls of his high school. Though he was certainly not disliked as he made his way through high school and college it would be safe to say David was often overlooked, disregarded. After all, though he may have had a brilliant mind that was not the key to popularity at that stage of life, nor to dates on Friday and Saturday nights. Instead, more often than not David sought his comfort zone. The library. Books. In particular, science books. David also had patience, and an awareness that one day his slight physical stature would eventually take a back seat to what he could accomplish with his mind. While in college he began to supplement his science courses with business classes as he became enamored with entrepreneurship. By the end of his sophomore year he had a plan chiseled in his mind. Rather than going to work for one of the mega corporations David was going to strike out on his own. His own company with his own vision. A company that was not going to be overlooked or disregarded. A place where he could make a difference, yet do so in a low profile way behind the veil of corporate anonymity. Perfect. Upon graduation David traveled west to California to set up Helios Technology Group, longing to become yet another of the many flourishing start-up ventures in silicon valley. It took very little time for him to realize his decision had been wise, after all silicon valley was the place where geeks and nerds such as himself who may have been nobody's in high school now ruled the land. Relying on his conservative midwest upbringing David was intent on growing the business slowly, maintaining a low-profile, building a long-standing business the old fashioned way. He did not want to be yet another of those failed ventures that exploded like a rocket but then nearly as quickly crashed back to the ground. What he hadn't counted on though was that although he did indeed build his team and organization slowly, their success and results began to become apparent far quicker than anticipated. The minds he brought in to the business were both brilliant and hungry and the projects they developed quickly met with great success and acclaim. Within two years Helios Technology and David Markell were creating a buzz in the energy industry. David though still felt more comfortable behind the scenes, hiring a PR person to deal with media and marketing so that he could focus on his pet project, only being the face of the company when absolutely necessary. With the company running smoothly and efficiently far sooner than anticipated David was able to focus much of his time on his passion - a desire to design solar panels that were truly affordable and effective for the masses. At first even he was not convinced it was possible, but the more hours he poured in to it the more he began to put the pieces together. He put together a team of four of his most brilliant, trusted employees and for the last three years the five of them had focused virtually all of their energy to this task. Now, amazingly, they had virtually done it! Though the product was not quite ready to go to market, all of the significant scientific challenges and hurdles were behind them. Even to David the accomplishment was hard to believe. This wasn't the sort of product that would simply change his company, this was a product that would change the world. Admittedly, he had been so wrapped up and singularly focused on the technological aspect of the project David continually procrastinated on the business and legal side. Finally though he'd reached the point that their development was far enough along that it needed to be protected. So, though it was far from his favorite activity he'd set up an appointment with a leading patent attorney who would legally protect their design. It meant flying to New York City during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but it was indeed one of those corporate necessities that had to be done. After returning to his room at the Waldorf Astoria David contemplated simply staying in his room for the rest of the evening. Though he was perfectly comfortable in a lab setting, David still felt out of his comfort zone in many social settings, especially in a hotel bar setting. Something about that environment, even after so much success in the business world often left David feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Maybe it was the fear that even at 28 his boyish looks would still cause him the embarrassment of being carded if he ordered a drink. Maybe it was the sense of intimidation he felt around confident, assertive women, perhaps a lingering effect of his high school days where just the thought of asking a girl out would have him a nervous wreck. In any event, the prospect of spending a quiet night alone in his room keeping an eye on the small prototype solar panel in his leather messenger bag seemed far less stressful than heading down to the bustle of the business and holiday crowd that no doubt would fill the bar. Still, this was a big day for David. Tomorrow would signal the beginning of a new day for his company. If both he and Helios Technology were about to make a quantum leap to the next level in the business world he was going to have to get over his anxiety over social situations. And, if he was ever going to have a social life of his own, he was going to have to get over his almost paralyzing awkwardness and intimidation he sometimes felt around women. Sure, he had spent time at the bar yesterday, but that was when he'd met up with an old classmate from college, not nearly as daunting a proposition to David as going alone. But, David told himself he'd go down for one drink, then allow himself to come back to the quiet tranquility of his room. It seemed silly for a grown adult successful business man to feel so awkward in such an ordinary situation, whether he liked it or not he was going to have to work to get over this. So, David slipped on a blue blazer, crisp white button down oxford, and dress khakis, combed his fingers through his jet black hair then headed down to the bar to confront his anxiety head on. He'd barely stepped inside when he felt his nerves begin to elevate. As expected, the bar was unusually busy, holiday shoppers with their bags, business people laughing and engaged in stories. And, as he feared, the maddening disorganization of customers gathered around the bar in search of a drink. Why couldn't bars be like any other establishment? With well defined lines to which people could conform and organize themselves? To David, the mere act of maneuvering his way through the crowd and up to the bar so that he could simply order a drink was a battle in itself. The closer he made his way to the bar the more awkward he felt. David sensed the sideways looks he sometimes got because of his small stature, as if people had to do a double take to make sure he wasn't a young, well dressed boy who'd mistakenly wandered in by accident. As he did his best to convey an appearance far more relaxed than he felt his eyes casually scanned the crowd. Three men standing with bottles of beer in their hands, all seemingly having the time of their life. A group of five women at a table surrounded by wine glasses on their table and shopping bags at his feet. Everywhere he looked he saw groups of people, all enjoying themselves while he simply felt more and more alone. His gaze had nearly circled the room when to his surprise he caught a glimpse of someone else who appeared to be alone. A woman. In a booth. David took a second glance and then could not avert his gaze quickly enough. In fact, unconsciously he even turned slightly away from her, invoking the childlike demeanor of 'if I can't see you, you can't see me.' Though he'd only taken in her looks for a moment it was enough for David to realize she was unlike any woman he'd ever seen before. She exuded wealth, confidence and power in a way that brought every sense of intimidation he'd ever felt around women rushing to the surface. And if that wasn't enough, her looks were devastating. God forbid how devastating they might be if he'd have dared gaze at her longer than a brief moment. David nearly gave up on his mission at that point and fled back to the safety of his room. Instead, he gathered himself, drew in a deep breath and reminded himself of his own personal mandate. One drink. Then, and only then would he allow himself to extricate himself from this social hell he'd immersed himself in to. So, taking a deep breath he continued his quest to somehow make his way through this pack of people and up to the bar where hopefully he wouldn't be carded and hopefully he could order the drink that he would quickly consume so he could achieve his goal, then mercifully make his getaway.