"Damn it, damn it. I have a bad feeling about this. Driver, please can you move faster, I'm in a hurry."
"I'm so sorry miss, we can't move further than this, we are blocked from all sides of the route."
"Why am I so stupid. Riley, you're really doomed for this." She bit on her thumbnail continuously.
At exactly 9:45AM on a Monday morning traffic in S city of United States, Riley Perlman is seated in a taxi dressed in white turtleneck cardigan along with a black pant paired on a white sneaker. She has her hair tied in a messy bun. She has a mini black bag pack behind her as the straps hang on her shoulder.
She continued to check through the wind screen, as she couldn't relax her body.
She tapped her legs together while chewing on her lips, she kept on blinking multiple times. Looking through the side mirrors to see if they could turn back to another road.
"Miss, if you're really in a hurry, you need to run. Monday traffic is not a joke. Else You'll be late for your meeting." The driver said while glancing through the rearview mirror.
Riley heard what the driver said as she quickly checked her wristwatch for the time but it's already too late for her to just sit and watch.
This is about her final project presentation, she really can't be late.
"Driver, I'd like to pay now, thank you." She paid the driver with her phone scanning the QR code the driver handed to her.
In a rush she quickly stepped out of the car, running towards the side of the road. Her average height and slim figures running in between cars.
Vroom, Vrooooom. "Ah, watch where you're going." Riley screamed as she was almost hit by a blue colored motorcycle while crossing between cars to the side of the road.
She quickly turned to leave, while running and checking her wristwatch at the same time.
"Riley? Riley, where are you going?"
"Uhh? Mason?" Riley squinted her eyes while staring at the man calling her name.
"It's me, what's going on?" He opened the visor glass of his helmet.
Riley breathing heavily holding her chest. Before she spoke out, she swallowed her saliva while catching her breath.
"Thank Goodness, Mason, help me. I need to get to the presentation hall as early as possible. I hope I'm not intruding." Riley grumbled.
"What do you mean by intruding? Hop on. I'll take you there." He quickly removed his own helmet and handed it to her.
"Here use this."
"Thank you. What about you?" Riley asked.
"I'm fine, let's go." Riley climbed into the bike and grabbed him by his waist.
Vroooom. Mason sped up at once making his way through cars till they got to a turning lane. He turned right and increased the speed of the motorcycle.
In less than 25minutes, Riley got to the front of the hall assigned for the presentation.
She quickly came down in a rush running towards the entrance.
"Mason, thank you so much. You're the best." She ran towards the entrance of the hall.
"Riley! The helmet?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, thank you."
Riley quickly removed the helmet and gave it to him. She ran at a fast pace even though she was not the sporty type.
"Wish you the best." His words fell on deaf ears even though Mason said loudly while watching her back strode into the hall. Xiao Dan sighed.
Riley entered the meeting hall, in a rush as she quickly apologized to the professors seated.
"Riley? Why are you this late? This is past the time for your presentation. And the last person already left 10minutes ago."
Professor Nathan said as he massaged the space in between his brows while other professors seated raised their eyebrows while glaring which seems to be shooting darts at her.
She quickly bowed her head and almost half length of her body while placing her hands on each other to apologize to them.
"Professor Nathan, please give me a little time to present my project. I promise I won't waste your time." Her eyes scanning through the faces of the other professors for an answer.
"Okay. You have 10minutes to round up your presentation."
"Thank you, Professor. Thank you." She bowed to the professors seated.
Professor Nathan ordered as he dropped his pen on the table while whispering to the other professors. His actions seem to be pleading on her behalf.
As they are all focused on her actions waiting for her to start. Some of them already checked their wrist for the third time now. Still waiting for Riley to begin with her presentation.
Meanwhile, Riley stood in front of the system, inserting the flash drive for what felt like the fifth time now.
Her forehead furrowed as she squeezed her eyes shut and open it again. She bit her lips with her hands shaking as she ejects and inject the flash drive again.
Her actions causing the professors to worry. They exchanged glances at each other whispering if something had gone wrong. Most of them had other things to do. Since they were university professors, they have classes and important meetings scheduled ahead of time. And now it seems someone is wasting that time.
"Riley? What's going on?" Professor Nathan asked. Since he's the one in charge of the project. He's the only one that could ask.
It's past ten minutes now and Riley haven't started the presentation.
And indeed, something happened. The file intended to be saved on the flashed drive which belongs to her project is empty.
The flash drive is empty and her project which she worked on for months has been deleted and nowhere to be found.
"Professor Nathan, I'm so sorry i…. I can't find the file for my project." Riley's hand fidgeting, her body twitching in worry and fear. Her eyes filled with tears immediately.
"Huh? What do you mean? What is going on?" Professor Nathan asked raising his voice as he sat up on his chair glancing at other professors in confusion.
Riley Perlman sniffled." What I m..me…mean is that the file for my project is missing." She stuttered as her fingers continued to twitch.
They all thought they heard her wrong, but her actions confirmed it. Tears was already flowing down her cheeks.
"You..." The professors flared up in anger as they stood up from their seats to leave.
"Did you really intend to waste our time today? I can't believe you. I'm very disappointed." Professor Natan scolded as his eyebrows furrowed in anger. He immediately turned to leave.
Riley quickly packed her bags as she ejects the drive from the system.
"Professor Nathan?" She continued to call his name even though she wasn't out of the hall yet.
Riley finished packing and immediately made her way out of the hall while running only to trip over and fall into someone's arms.