40-something man Stories

The Minister of Mining's office was spacious but not ostentatious. Maps of the Andean lithium triangle covered one wall, and a shelf behind the desk held mineral samples glinting under recessed light. Minister Rivera had greeted Hannah warmly, his English precise but accented, and now sat behind his desk, a printed copy of Hannah's email proposal in front of him. "The first thing we have to be clear on," he said, tapping...

It was Wednesday, the day after Hannah’s suspension from her position at Layton Moreby. She had decided that she couldn’t just sit around thinking about what had happened, or wondering what to do next, but had to use her time in some useful and productive way. To that end, she went online and began to study various investment matters, case studies, market analyses, hostile takeovers, sector volatility, emerging markets, a...

Rossi opened the door to his hotel suite almost immediately. He was wearing a silk robe and held a glass of whisky. He didn't seem surprised to see Hannah. In fact he appeared to have been waiting for her arrival. "I knew you'd come," he said, stepping aside to let her in. The suite was opulent, with panoramic views of Milan's skyline. "You're smarter than Maria gives you credit for." Hannah hesitated, unsure how to respo...