Businesswoman Chapter 160

Light perspiration formed at “Entrepreneur Paul” Atkinson’s temples. The graduates sat before him as he and the rest of the panelists on the dais surveyed the thousands in the crowd. There existed the irony that Atkinson would deliver the commencement speech to the high school in which he dropped out not too long ago. He had memorized his speech. He had spent enough time at the school to know the hangout spots and the rituals that some of the upperclassmen participated in during this time.

He looked out with great esteem and held his head erect. His eyes squinched. They had bestowed upon him his honorary high school diploma with great admiration and sincere affect. The joy that came from being able to return to the school he never graduated from as a billionaire sat well with Atkinson. The sun continued to beam down upon all the occupants of the football field. He had made this all so. With a few strings pulled, he ensured that the graduates would glide across that stage at their own high school, not the stadium at the nearby college.

Just then, a graduate in line to receive her diploma dropped to her knees and held her chest. Atkinson ran across the stage and found her inhaler. With instructions to inhale, Atkinson held her head up, too. She regained power and returned to her feet. In everything going on, Atkinson prepared himself by slowing his thoughts and speeding up his ability to save the ailing graduate. Tears-streaked her face as the crowd stood to its feet and cheered. The same crowd had just made a collective gasp and clutched their loved ones, their valuables.

Atkinson raised the young lady to her feet. The crowd applauded with an esprit and relief that nearly deified the tycoon.