Anastasia laughs and pokes me. I giggle, swat her away, and act like I’m trying to focus.
Ahead, a distinguished gentleman with silver hair and a perfect suit starts a speech. He then moves on to saying wonderful things about Grumpy.
The man starts talking about Harry’s substantial work in movies. He then discusses his achievements in global media, entertainment and advertising.
He has, however, forgotten to say that Grumpy can kiss like no one else. Grumpy can be a grumpy son of a bitch. Grumpy can screw like no one else, and he can fuck like no other man on the planet.
Finally, the old man says Grumpy’s real name, and Harrison gets up, looking humble.
He is not humble at all; that is some ploy. He is commanding; he told me to do some very naughty things. Actually, wicked things, some were just sinful.
Harrison stands at the mic and looks around the room. He uses several silent seconds of time theatrically, creating drama. I am not surprised. This is typical of A-level social engineers, aka entertainers. He should be able to hold an audience.
He createsglobal media, and he can oversee global platforms. Platforms that keep hundreds of millions per night on the edge of their seats.
Even if his day-to-day social skills are average, he can really turn them on.
“Thank you for coming tonight and donating what you can. It’s been another good year in the nation’s media industry. Also, the advertising industry, as you all know. Some of us are trying to expand, and some of us are trying to help the nation and our future businesses.”
People cheer and hoot.
“We gave away another fifty million to protect habitats. Habitats, where big cats and other species can remain free. As many of you know, I’ve made it my life mission to save as many big cats as possible. To remove them from small enclosures in Asia, and to do this… Set them free. To save them from being caught and farmed. And to also stop them being skinned.”
Harry inhales, and my heart hurts for him.
“At the top of media, entertainment, finance, and advertising, it’s a little like hunting. Hunting for new movie franchises, creating new media brands, and hunting for big clients. Trying to do huge creative projects that often shoot, or need to be shot or managed globally, is a challenge. In saying that, we don’t hurt the wild, and we do not do this… We do Not Touch The Free!”
Harry lets that sink in, and the place is silent.
“But we can and must help protect who and what we can. It is our duty to protect whatever that may be. More big cats, including lions, tigers, pumas are now being killed, and we must continue the campaign.”
I feel proud as I watch Harry speak with passion. I walk forwards slowly as if drawn to him.
Harry talks on, his eyes sweeping the crowd.
Finally, our eyes meet, and they hold. I smile, and he pausesfor a split second. Harry breaks his rhythm for a beat, and then he talks on, slightly distracted.
I clearly messed up his flow, and I look quickly down, ashamed and embarrassed.
“Anyway, it’s been a great year for other things,” he says.
“See,” someone whispers near me.
I turn back, and Anastasia smiles. She then raises a brow. I shake my head at her and look back to the stage. Harry continues, and I gulp as I watch him. Ana must have been wrong, surely?
As Harry goes to close, he finds his rhythm and focus again. “And so, we’ve decided to increase the donation amount to the great cats of the world! We are rising to the challenge, and we are standing up to the threat.”
“And you personally for a hundred million,” someone yells.
“Ahhh thanks, Sandra, that was actually anonymous.”
People laugh, and a few clap and cheer.
“You know why he’s so fanatical, don’t you?” Ana asks, whispering near my ear.
“No?” I ask, turning my head a little.
“His tiger, Tusk. He saw his mother hunted down and slain.”
