Steak Dinner

Ordering the bone-in ribeye was, on net, a good decision. The marbled beef had been seared to perfection. When the dish was placed in front of Jay, he was immediately assailed by the savory smell of the gravy and the buttered mashed potatoes.

As soon as he saw it, all his wife’s stern warnings faded out of his head. After all, he wasn’t with her at the moment. When you get invited to a private business meeting at the Gilded Steer, you had to play the part of a successful man. Even as he chewed each fatty bite, knowing what his doctor would say, he knew that sometimes business meant making temporary sacrifices for greater victory down the road.

He looked out the restaurant’s panoramic window at the flashes of autonomous vehicles passing by at high speeds on Atlanta’s large highways. It was a city of predictability, a world Jay helped power. Tonight’s deal, a geothermal project for Atlanta’s new grid plan, would cement his legacy as someone who helped build this modern metropolis.

“A final toast then,” Evan raised his glass. He was the youngest one at the table, but his reputation as a sharp financial analyst preceded him. “To the Atlanta Grid project. The paperwork will be signed and greenlit tomorrow.”

Brian, the city’s environmental liaison, raised his own glass with a cordial smile.

“And to Jay,” Brian added. “The only man stubborn enough to convince the board the granite bedrock was an opportunity for a novel thermal anchor.”

Jay felt his face grow flush. He turned his neck slightly to quietly adjust his shirt collar digging into him. He was finishing the last bite of rich, buttery steak and reaching for his own glass to close out the deal when there was a sudden insistent vibration buzzing on his wrist.

He recognized that vibration very well. It wasn’t his wife sending him a message. This was a jarring tremor designed to wake him from a deep slumber. Without drawing the others’ attention, he discreetly angled his wrist under the table.

The screen displayed large, white block letters against a maroon background. The words were clear enough for anyone to read, clinical and stern: “CARDIAC EVENT IMMINENT”.

Beneath that was a timer that was already starting to count down.

“T-MINUS: 00:00:59”

The countdown was dropping with a ominous precision.

“00:00:58”

“Brian, you should call an ambulance.”

“00:00:51”

“An ambulance? What for?”

“00:00:44”

“Just do it. I don’t have time to explain.”

“00:00:37”

“But why? If I do, what do I say?”

“00:00:30”

“They’ll know when they get here. It’s just important they arrive as soon as possible.”

“00:00:20”

“But, Jay...”

“There’s no time! Just do it.”

“00:00:10”

“Okay, but...”

Jay then felt his chest pound heavily. He closed his eyes and felt his entire body grow stiff.