#robert fischer ceo

[viesantewrites]

𝐈𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

Robert Fischer (Inception) x Reader

summary: This story explores Robert's personality and describes how he met his wife (the reader) who helps him through his emotional struggles.

English isn't my first language so I apologise in advance for any mistakes

word count: 3500+

masterlist

Only the quiet ticking of the clock on the side table and the soft scratching of a pen on paper filled the room. Robert exhaled slowly and looked at his hands in silence.

"You went through a lot in your childhood, Mr. Fischer." The lady sitting opposite him in a dark blue armchair looked at him compassionately over the rim of her glasses.

"Yes, that’s true, madam."

He had told her everything. Everything that had happened in his childhood. It was a strange feeling to open up like that to a stranger, but that was why he was here.

"And you really feel that you were never enough for your father?" his therapist asked.

"I've never done right in his eyes. My grades were never good enough, he called me lazy, and he always accused me of living off his money." Robert sniffled softly. It was very hard for him to talk about all this.

The lady looked carefully at the clipboard in front of her. "But if I read this correctly, you're anything but lazy, Mr. Fischer. You have a master's degree in business administration and engineering and have completed further training in energy management. You're a department head at the energy company Fischer Morrow, and even the deputy CEO."

Robert bit his lower lip. "I know," he said quietly. "But it’s still not enough for my father."

"If I understand correctly, your father is the CEO of the company, is that right?" she asked.

He nodded. "Well, he still is. He's almost 67 years old, and his health is very poor."

The lady looked at him thoughtfully. "Oh, are you going to take over the company completely?"

"I don't know if I'm up to such a big job."

"Of course you are, Mr. Fischer. You underestimate yourself far too much." The therapist leafed through her files. "Let's move on to another subject. What about other people who are close to you? You're married, aren't you?"

A small smile appeared on his face as she mentioned his wife. "That's right. About a year now. We got married last August."

"Do you have any children together?"

"No," he replied immediately. "But I have a daughter with my ex-wife."

She looked at Robert with interest and put the clipboard on her lap. "So this is your second marriage."

He nodded slightly. "My ex-wife and I were married for nearly eight years. Suddenly it was over so quickly. She... she left me for another man."

The woman wrote something on the clipboard. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Fischer. Something like that can also affect you mentally."

"But my current wife is different... She's just wonderful." The therapist noticed how his eyes immediately lit up when he talked about her. "She is an incredibly warm and loving person. I've never felt so accepted and loved in my whole life as I do with her. And she's absolutely beautiful."

She smiled a little. "That’s wonderful, I'm really happy for you."

Robert looked thoughtfully out of the window. "But sometimes I can't believe why she's with me. There are so many other men around who are better than me."

"Maybe because you're a really nice, intelligent and attractive man and she loves you."

Robert's cheeks turned slightly pink after she said that. "I don't know why anyone would love me."

The therapist exhaled slightly and adjusted her glasses. "I can see you've got a lot to work through. You have quite low self-esteem. I'm afraid we're going to need a few more sessions. Mr. Fischer, do you think your wife would mind if we had a talk? I'd like to hear her point of view."

Robert shrugged a little. "No. I think that can be arranged. I'll ask her when I get home."

"This would be wonderful. Just let me know when she's free, you have my phone number." She smiled kindly at him.

And Robert got up from his chair. "I'll do that. See you then."

"Goodbye, Mr. Fischer."

***

She looked curiously at the young woman sitting in front of her. She was a couple of years younger than Mr. Fischer, had long hair and was wearing a beige blazer.

"How nice of you to come, Mrs Fischer." She smiled politely at her. "Your husband told me a lot about you."

YN laughed a little and crossed her legs. "Well, hopefully only good things."

"Don’t worry, he's raving about you."

YN ran her fingers through her hair. "You know... I've never talked to anyone like you before, I have to admit I'm a bit nervous."

"Oh, you don’t have to be. You can tell me anything. And if there's something you don't want your husband to know, then that stays between us."

"I have nothing to hide from him." She laughed a little and played with her necklace. A gift from Robert for their anniversary. A little 24-karat gold heart pendant.

The therapist also laughed and pinned a new blank page to her clipboard. "That's a very good sign." She cleared her throat and leaned back a little in her chair. "Right, let's get started. Your name is YN Fischer. You were born in Bristol, UK, and moved to Australia when you were six years old."

YN nodded.

"You married Mr Robert Michael Fischer in August last year and live together with him in Sydney. You know that he has some problems with himself as a result of his childhood and his, shall we say, troubled relationship with his father. Unfortunately, I can't talk to his father because he's in the hospital and very ill. That's why I wanted to talk to someone else in his life. The person who is probably closest to him—you, Mrs Fischer. My question to you now is: how do you perceive your husband? What do you think of him? Please be honest, you are not being judged for anything."

YN let out a short breath and sat up a little in her chair. She looked thoughtfully at her red-painted fingernails.

"Well, I think I can say that Robert is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

The therapist immediately began making notes on her clipboard.

"He's wonderful, intelligent, funny... And he’s always there for me. I can't believe a man like him married me."

With an interested look, the therapist lowered her pen and rubbed her chin. "That's exactly what your husband said about you, Mrs Fischer. Very interesting..."

She looked at her with a smile. "Really? He said that?"

"Yes, he did. But go on."

"Well... Robert has always been someone I looked up to. He always seemed so unattainable to me. He's incredibly intelligent and educated. I met him when I worked in his and his father's company. Almost every woman was secretly in love with him, but at the time he was still married to his ex-wife. I know it all sounds strange because he was sort of my boss. But I only had a romantic relationship with him after he got divorced and after I stopped working at Fischer Morrow."

"That sounds very interesting. Please tell me more about how you met him," the therapist told her.

YN closed her eyes and was silent for a moment. In her mind's eye, she saw the long corridors of Fischer Morrow. It all seemed so real again.

***

"Here's a list of all the tasks you have to do today," YN's new colleague handed her a piece of paper. She glanced at it, her eyebrows rising in surprise as she noticed every inch of the paper covered with tasks. "Wow, Ariane, that’s a lot. It‘s only my fourth day."

"Oh no, I’m pretty sure that you can do this," Ariane said. "The first person to arrive is MrRichard Lambert at 9:30 am. He has a job interview with Mr Fineman from Human Resources. You meet him at reception and take him to room 015, where Mr Fineman is waiting. Be friendly, smile a lot, it's very important. At 10:30 am, room 461 in the headquarters is free. An important meeting is taking place there between Maurice Fischer, his son Robert Fischer, and some representatives of the Ministry of the Environment. If I've understood correctly, it's about adjusting the emission limits for pollutants."

YN looked tiredly at the page in front of her and shrugged. "That doesn’t sound very interesting."

"You don't have to join the conversation, YN. You just have to prepare the conference room. I've already ordered the catering; it'll be delivered around 10:40 am. You put the drinks and sandwiches on the small side table. Put the coffee pot in the middle of the table. Then wait for the Fischers to arrive. It's best to offer the coffee to them personally. And remember to always be friendly; this is the CEO and his deputy, okay?"

YN looked at her colleague, a little overwhelmed. "My head is spinning, to be honest. I've already forgotten half of what you just told me."

"That's why I wrote it all down for you. You can do this, YN. And if something goes wrong, it's not the end of the world. You just have to be careful with Fischer Senior. He's a bit... strict." She gave her a meaningful look.

"This could be fun," YN sighed ironically and folded her arms across her chest.

"If there's anything, you can always call me. You know my extension." Ariane finally changed the subject. "What kind of training do you have, if I may ask?"

"Me?" YN laughed. "I'm a hairdresser. I don't really have anything to do with all that office stuff. I just wanted to try something new. Maybe I'll like it."

"So, a career changer, how interesting. But you'll manage, I'm quite confident."

At that moment, one of the glass doors opened, and a man in a formal black suit entered the corridor. He was slim, with perfectly styled dark brown hair, high cheekbones, sharp features, and bright blue eyes. His long coat hung loosely over his shoulders, and he typed absently on his phone. He was very attractive. If they hadn't been in the corridors of Fischer Morrow, YN would have mistaken him for a high-fashion model from Yves Saint Laurent or another well-known luxury brand.

"Who's that?" she whispered to Ariane, who was a little startled and looked at YN with wide eyes when she saw the man. "That's Robert Fischer! Don’t forget to greet him!"

"Good morning, Mr Fischer." Ariane gave him her best smile as he passed them, and YN did the same.

"Good morning, ladies," he greeted them politely, turning his attention back to the phone in his hands.

When he was out of earshot, YN started to giggle. "He looks gorgeous. I pictured a nerd when you told me about him."

"Yes, he’s really handsome." Ariane sighed a little. "He's really nice too, unlike his father."

YN was silent for a moment and then cleared her throat a little. "Is he... you know... single?"

Ariane looked at her colleague as if she had just said something completely stupid. "Are you crazy? A man like him? Of course not. Every woman here secretly fancies him. But he's been married for years."

YN bit her lower lip. "Just asking."

"I think you should go now. You have a busy schedule and the first visitors will arrive soon."

YN finally nodded, folded the piece of paper with the notes, and put it in her handbag before saying goodbye to Ariane and walking on her high heels to the lifts.

YN nervously brushed the sleeve of her blouse across her forehead. Everything had gone well so far. The man who was invited to the interview had arrived on time, and she had taken him to Fineman, the human resources manager, who had been very friendly to her and had thanked her almost five times.

She had then rushed to the car park outside the building, where the catering for the meeting had just arrived, and had taken it to the conference room, which she had fortunately found straight away. Then she had prepared everything as Ariane had explained.

She stood there a little breathlessly, her arms crossed behind her back, with a friendly smile on her face, waiting for the participants to arrive. Finally, the Fischers approached the meeting room.

"Good morning, ma'am, thank you for preparing everything for our meeting," Robert Fischer greeted her with a friendly smile and held out his hand. Trembling, YN took it and looked at him shyly. His fingers felt unbelievably soft, and she lost herself in his bright blue eyes for a second. "What's your name?" His deep voice cut through YN's thoughts, bringing her back to reality.

"YN... Y/LN..." she mumbled, struggling to articulate her own name.

"My name is Robert Fischer. Very nice to meet you."

"There's no need to thank her, Robert. This woman does her job and gets paid for it." Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from behind them, causing Robert to release her hand.

"Dad, please don't say such things." Robert gave her an apologetic look and then walked away to talk to his father. As far as YN had heard, it was about some energy guidelines or something like that.

She stood next to them, a little lost, while she greeted the arriving participants of the meeting. Eventually, her eyes fell on the coffee pot on the table. Wait, hadn't Ariane told her to serve the coffee to the Fischers?

She hurried towards them. "Coffee, gentlemen?" she asked, forcing a smile.

"Yes, ma'am, I would love some," Robert Fischer looked at her gratefully.

"With sugar," his father grumbled next to him, flicking through his papers.

YN quickly grabbed the two cups.

"You have nice legs," Maurice Fischer said suddenly, and YN flinched a little, wishing she had worn a longer skirt this morning.

"Dad!" his son interrupted him immediately, looking at him in shock.

"But Robert, I'm right, aren't I?" The older man grinned.

YN pretended she hadn't heard what he said and forced herself to smile again, even though her hands were slightly shaking and sweaty. She nervously poured the hot coffee into the cup and was about to hand it to Robert Fischer when the cup slipped out of her hand.

At that moment, everything happened in slow motion. YN's hand reaching into the void as she tried to catch the cup, the shocked faces of the two men in front of her, and Maurice Fischer, who quickly tried to get his documents to safety. But it was too late. A huge dark brown stain spread across the table, sparing all the important documents.

"Are you crazy?" The angry voice echoed through the room, and she stared into Maurice Fischer's angry face, which was slowly turning red. She felt the eyes of the others in the room on her.

"I'm so sorry, sir... Are you okay? Did the coffee scald you?" She felt tears well up in her eyes, and her vision blurred a little.

Suddenly, a hand rested protectively on her arm, and she looked up in surprise as she realized it was Robert Fischer's. "We're fine; luckily, the coffee only landed on the table."

"Luckily, Robert? All the documents are ruined!"

"Dad, it's not that bad. The most important thing is that no one is hurt and has to go to the hospital."

"She can't even serve coffee! Why did Fineman even hire her? Just because she's pretty?"

Without another word, YN grabbed a cloth lying next to her, wiped the table, dabbed the documents as best she could, looked back at the two men, and muttered, "I'm so sorry," before turning and leaving the room.

She blinked the tears away quickly. She wouldn't cry now. She wouldn't shed a single tear for this company and especially not for this dumb idiot. Sighing, she leaned against the wall and rubbed her forehead.

Of course, it was her fault, but if that old man hadn't said those stupid things, she wouldn't have been so upset, and none of this would have happened.

Suddenly, she remembered Robert Fischer's hand on her arm, and her heart immediately warmed. He had been so incredibly kind to her. How could such a disgusting man have such a kind and lovely son? "Miss YLN!" a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Confused, she turned and looked straight into two bright blue eyes. "I'm so sorry for the way my father reacted. I keep telling him to stop, but he won't listen."

"It's okay," YN said, smiling a little.

"It's really not that bad what happened. There weren't any original documents on the table, just copies. I think the shock was more than the damage itself." As Robert ran his hand through his hair, a loose strand fell onto his forehead. It looked kind of cute, YN thought. "You don't have to worry about him kicking you out. I'll talk to him later."

YN held her breath for a moment and shook her head. "That's really very kind of you, sir... But I think I'll be leaving. This job isn't for me. I wanted to try something else, and I did, only to find that my old job is what makes me happy after all. But thank you for everything. You've been so kind to me."

He lowered his hand and nodded slowly at her. "I'm sorry, of course, but I won't stand in your way. I wish you all the best in your future."

She closed her eyes for a short moment. "I wish you the same, Mr Fischer. I wish you the same."

***

YN blinked slowly and let out a deep breath. The words had left her mouth as if on their own and her listener seemed totally captivated by the story.

"So you've left Fischer Morrow and returned to your old job as a hairdresser?" the therapist asked.

"Yes," YN said. "I did."

"And how did he become your husband?" she wanted to know.

"Since that day, I've never been able to get him out of my mind. I've always tried to block him out... But it's like he's always been in my heart."

The therapist nodded slowly and tore a sheet of paper full of notes from her clipboard.

"Fate has brought us together. Robert doesn't believe in fate, but I do. Especially since that day." Thoughtfully, she leaned back in her chair.

"About eight months later, I was shopping alone in the mall when I saw Robert standing in front of a fashion store. At first, I thought about just walking on and pretending I hadn't seen him, afraid he'd still be mad at me for quitting Fischer Morrow. But then I decided to talk to him."

The therapist nodded and folded her hands in her lap.

"He was happy to see me and asked me how I was doing in my new job. I noticed immediately that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring anymore, but I tried to ignore it. We chatted for quite a while, and everything seemed so relaxed. Maybe it was because he was no longer my boss. Eventually, I asked him what he was looking for in the mall, and he replied that he wanted to buy some new shirts and suits, but he didn't know what would suit him, since he divorced his wife who helped him choosing his outfits. YN suddenly stopped and started to laugh.

The therapist looked at her questioningly. "And then what happened?"

"Then I told him that I had an eye for stuff like that and that I could help him. And he said yes," YN closed her eyes again. Her heart beat faster at the thought. "We started seeing each other more and became closer, and our relationship developed naturally from there. He needed someone to believe in him, to remind of his worth. And I wanted to be that person for him. When Robert's father found out that we were a couple, he wasn't happy at all. I think he was still angry with me after all this time. He also called me stupid and uneducated because I never went to university."

"And... What did your husband say?"

YN smiled a little. "Of course, it affected me. But Robert told me that a degree says nothing about you as a person. He believed that true intelligence lies in passion and determination".

She paused, listening to the gentle ticking of the clock. "We got married last summer. Robert's father didn't come to the wedding. To be honest, I was glad. We spent our honeymoon in Hawaii, and it was the best time of my life. Robert is an incredibly wonderful person, and I'm lucky to have him in my life. Only this man who still has the nerve to call himself his father has completely destroyed his self-image."

YN slowly rose from her chair and straightened her jacket. "I'm done now."

The therapist smiled at her as she said goodbye and placed the clipboard next to her. "Thank you for your trust, Mrs Fischer."

"You're welcome, madam."

***

thank you for reading🤍

[enchi-elm]

Inception is funny because the final heist is a wildly different experience for everyone involved.

Yusuf drives across town under gunfire and voluntarily drives off the edge of a bridge. He probably has a resting heart rate of 180 for the duration and it’s over in, say, 15 minutes.

Arthur finally gets to snap at his boss, something we get the sense he’s been wanting to do for a solid year now. He vents the rest of his frustrations on unsuspecting goons, then spends the rest of the heist quietly problem solving around his unconscious and therefore uncomplaining teammates. This is probably his preferred way of dealing with people.

Saito gets shot and dies an agonizing death for anywhere from a few minutes to about an hour. Instead of being allowed to peacefully suffer, he volunteers to lead his business rival on a mountain expedition that involves driving pitons into rock, then survives a free fall down the same mountain before holding off enemy fire with his dying breath. His reward for finally kicking the bucket is aging fifty fucking years.

Cobb literally goes through every stage of grief and dies twice. I mean he’s not my favourite but he’s certainly suffering for his art.

Ariadne is on the steepest learning curve of her life: by the end of this learning abroad experience, she’s a certified psychiatrist and also she’s shot someone.

Eames is going through every single one of his employable skills like an intern hoping to be promoted at the end of term. This includes hitting on two billionaires and firing a grenade launcher to impress a coworker. By far having the most fun.

Robert Fischer has been the CEO of a Fortune 500 company for a week. He’s been sedated, kidnapped, conned, betrayed, led mountain-climbing, shot, resuscitated, and resolves an adult life time worth of daddy issues in the time it takes to order coffee. Possibly fires his uncle when he lands for reasons he can’t explain even to himself.

[viesanterieures]

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒆

Robert Fischer (Inception) x female Reader

summary: The reader works as an artist who has never had a breakthrough until she decides to paint Robert.

warnings: this is a kinda cute and funny story so… no warnings :)

word count: 2500+

Masterlist

The air was warm as Robert turned into the familiar driveway. It was late October in Sydney, summer was just around the corner and the driveway was full of flowers and other plants. Today was Sunday, one of the few days he had to himself and his friends. During the week, he worked from early morning until late at night, as befits the future CEO of a multi-million dollar empire. Before he had even rung the bell, the door opened and a woman with shoulder-length brown hair pulled him into her arms. "Robert, how nice of you to come. We haven't seen each other in at least two months."

He laughed a little and patted his best friend on the shoulder. "I've had a lot on my mind, I'm sorry, Rebecca." Robert had known her since they were children. They had gone to kindergarten together and Rebecca was two years younger than him. All the friendships of his childhood, youth and university days had not lasted because many people thought he was arrogant, but Rebecca had always been there for him. As a child, as a teenager, as a student, at his wedding... and also at his divorce three years ago.

"How is your father, Robbie?" she wanted to know. Suddenly the smile on his face faded. "It doesn't look so good. He'll probably have to go back into hospital next month for a surgery." Rebecca looked at him compassionately and nodded silently as she took his jacket. "I'm so sorry."

I'm glad I can at least visit you," he quickly changed the subject.

"I'm glad too, Robbie," she said with a bright smile again.

"YN is also here, I hope you don't mind."

"No Becca, that‘s cool," Robert said, following her into the living room.

YN was Rebecca's younger sister and Robert quite liked her. She was one of those people who believed in destiny, the supernatural, spiritual things and tarot cards, which Robert didn't think much of. But she had always been very warm and kind to him and Robert was sure that there wasn't a single bad bone in this woman's body. She was just the way she was. As far as Robert knew, she worked full time in a perfumery and in her free time as an artist, but she remained rather unsuccessful. Her face immediately lit up when she saw him and gave him a friendly wave. She was wearing a pink dress, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, gold earrings and red lipstick. She was really pretty.

"Robert, how nice to see you! I brought some cupcakes, would you like one? They're homemade." She held out a bowl of pink muffins with strawberries and sprinkles to him. Robert gratefully took one and sat down on the couch next to the two women.

"It‘s really good," Robert praised YN's baking skills after taking a bite.

"Thank you, Robert. I baked them at 3 o'clock in the night because I couldn't sleep... It was another full moon. And my moon calender says that I should concentrate more on housework now, especially cooking and baking“.

He tried to hide his surprised expression and took another bite. Rebecca didn't seem confused by the explanation, she knew her sister well enough. Finally, YN slowly bent down towards them. "And do you know what my horoscope said?" Robert and Rebecca shook their heads.

"That I'm going to have my breakthrough this month," she finally said excitedly.

"You mean with your art?" Rebecca wanted to know.

"Yes! I'm going to have a huge success. But I don't know what motif to choose." YN picked at her dress thoughtfully. "A portrait or a landscape... I'm not sure. I need a subject to practise on first. Just to get back into it. I haven't painted for months.

"You've painted me so many times," Rebecca said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "How about you painting Robert?"

YN's face lit up at the words. "That's a wonderful idea! Robert, you have such a beautiful face... Like an angel!"

Robert almost choked on his cupcake. "Please what?"

"Oh come on Robbie, she just wants to practise," Rebecca interjected.

Sighing, he looked into YN's bright eyes and shrugged. "Yes, why not..."

YN cheered immediately and hugged Robert happily. "But I can't sit still for like eight hours," Robert replied quickly.

"You don't have to do that," YN said. "You can come with me to my studio, I'll draw the outlines and a sketch, then I'll take a photo of you to paint the details later. If you like and have the time, we can start right away. It would mean so much to me, Robert, really!" He smiled and nodded again. He just couldn't look away from YN's eyes.

***

"Nice studio," Robert said, breaking the awkward silence. He looked around curiously. YN's studio was a bright room with large windows letting in the daylight. There were easels full of canvases and tubes of paint everywhere and the smell of fresh paint was in the air.

"Robert, I told you not to move," laughed YN, who sat behind a canvas. The two had left for YN's that afternoon. Now the sun was already setting outside and Robert felt as if he had been sitting on the floor in front of her for ages.

"I'll be done with the outlines in a minute."

"Good, because my butt is already hurting," Robert grumbled.

A short moment later, YN put the brush down, clapped her hands and grabbed a camera lying on a chair next to her. "Well, I'm done for today. Let's take the photo quickly."

Robert moved back into position and looked a little tiredly at the camera. A few seconds after YN had taken the picture, he collapsed. "My God, this is more exhausting than I thought."

YN laughed. "I believe you. I've been a model too."

"Can I have a look?" Robert asked curiously, sitting up with a groan.

"Sure, come here." YN turned the canvas a little.

"Oh, this is definitely... Art." If Robert was honest, he couldn't really make out much on the canvas. It looked more like a wild doodle of a man who, with a lot of imagination, could look like him. And for this he had been sitting in an uncomfortable position on the cold floor for almost two hours?

"I'll start working on the details tomorrow. I'll let you know when it's ready."

Robert forced a friendly smile, YN pulled him into a tight hug to say goodbye and he left the house, a little disappointed.

Days and weeks passed without Robert hearing a word from YN. He didn't know how far she'd got with the painting, or if she'd even thrown it away. But then, one Saturday evening, she finally called him to say that she had finished the painting and that he could come and see it tomorrow. Of course Robert couldn't resist the opportunity, as he was actually quite curious to see how the painting would look now, although he had little hope that it would be any better than the last time.

He finally arrived at YN's door at 10am the next morning. She immediately greeted him friendly and offered him a cup of tea, which Robert gratefully accepted.

"Nice of you to come," she said and excitedly pulled him by the sleeve into her studio. "Close your eyes."

Robert did as she asked, although he was a little confused by her instructions. YN carefully led him to the easel in the middle of the room.

"And open your eyes."

Robert looked curiously at the painting in front of him, but then his jaw dropped and he couldn't get a word out.

"I've thrown away the old painting and made a new one. Isn't it gorgeous?"

He couldn't believe his eyes. The painting was insanely beautiful. It must have taken an eternity to work out all the details. He'd never seen so much care in YN's work, who usually painted in a rather chaotic way. Every single strand of Robert's dark hair was painted perfectly and precisely, and you could almost count every single eyelash. But most striking of all were the eyes, which stood out almost ghostly from the rest of the rather dark picture.

"It's so beautiful," he marvelled, running his finger carefully over the dry canvas. "But why am I wearing a sheer white shirt? I wore a normal black shirt that day. And my eyes look almost inhuman."

"Artistic freedom," YN quickly replied. "I wanted you to look a bit ethereal in the painting."

Robert nodded slowly with a raised eyebrow, then smiled again. "It‘s still so beautiful."

"You can have it if you want," YN offered.

He shook his head immediately. "No, no, keep it. It must have been so time-consuming that I don't want to take it away from you. I'm sure it's better off in your studio than in my house. But... promise me you won't sell it, okay?"

She nodded quickly and looked Robert straight in the eye. "No, I won't. I've made another artwork that I'm going to submit to the art competition."

Robert looked at her, confused. "To what?"

"Oh, I haven't told you yet. The art museum is running a competition this month. If I win, my painting will be on display there, isn't that great? Mrs Buchanan from the museum is coming to see the painting tomorrow. She's a good friend of my aunt's."

"That's great. Then I'll be rooting for you to win!"

Eventhough Robert had recently doubted YN's talent, he'd wished her all the best, especially now that he'd seen the beautiful portrait.

"And here it is," she joyfully pulled a cloth from a easel beside her.

"Oh, um... what is it exactly?" Robert asked, a little embarrassed as he couldn't make out more than a few patches of dark green on a grey background.

"The painting is called 'The Fog Forest'. The theme of the competition is 'Between reality and fiction: a journey into imagination'," explained YN. "The green stands for the trees of the forest and the grey is the fog and shadows, where you can easily get lost and dream.

"Oh, um, very nice." Robert forced a smile. "I'm sure Mrs Buchanan will recognise it immediately, also the deeper meaning, unlike me. You know I don't know much about art."

"I know that, Robert. But it's so kind of you to support me," she said softly, taking his hand and squeezing it gently.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go now, I have another appointment. Busy schedule as a future CEO... you know," he replied quickly, then looked at her pretty face and felt his heart beating in his chest.

***

"Becc, when I tell you! I've never seen such a beautiful painting." It was just after half past seven the next evening and Robert was glad to be off work. He stood in his kitchen, his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear as he chopped vegetables into small cubes.

"Are you sure, Robert? I've known YN long enough and she's never painted anything else than a few dots and lines," Rebecca's voice came over the loudspeaker. Robert thoughtfully placed the pieces of vegetable in a pot.

"I've seen it with my own eyes. Maybe she was possessed by the ghost of Leonardo Davinci that night or something." At this moment Robert's doorbell rang. "I have to hang up, Becc, I'm sorry. I'll call you tomorrow again." Confused, Robert wiped his hands on a towel and hurried to the front door. Who the hell was that? As he opened the front door, he saw a familiar face but also an unfamiliar one. In front of him stood YN, as always in one of her summer dresses and her big earrings, and next to her a tall, slim older lady with a tight bun and a blazer, looking at him curiously.

"Hey YN... what are you doing here? And who are you?" Robert wanted to know, frowning in confusion.

"Oh, it's him! I recognise him," the unknown lady said excitedly as she looked at him more closely.

YN tapped nervously with one foot and took a deep breath. "Robert, this is Mrs Buchanan from the art museum, she wants to have you."

"Wait, what? She wants to have me?" Robert laughed confused.

"Not you. The painting of you." The lady quickly clarified. "It's really gorgeous. What a work of art. It perfectly reflects our theme for this month. Between reality and fiction... Almost like a modern version of the Dorian Gray's portrait," she enthused.

Robert's jaw dropped and he looked at YN, stunned. "But... but you submitted a completely different painting to the competition. The one with the forest."

"Oh, please, sir, you couldn't even see any trees, forest or anything in the picture," she replied sharply, and Robert didn't miss YN's sad face. "I saw this masterpiece in the corner of her studio and asked her if she wanted to submit this instead of that… Fog-Forest... thing."

"This is not possible, I‘m sorry," Robert replied firmly.

"Why not?" Mrs Buchanan asked.

"I am a serious businessman, madam, about to take over a company worth millions. What would my employees and clients think of me if they saw the painting of me as an…an…ethereal creature? I have to maintain a certain respectability." Robert bit his lower lip as soon as he said these words. He realised that this was YN's last chance and that she might have to give up her dream of becoming a painter.

"It's okay, Robert“, YN said quietly. "I understand." Forcing a smile, she turned around together with Mrs Buchanan.

For Robert, the world seemed to stand still at that moment. He didn't want YN's dream to be shattered like his own. He had always aspired to become a professional musician and study music, but his father had always stopped him because he wanted him to take over the company one day. Even though Robert didn't even think he was the right person for this huge job.

"Wait, YN." The echo of his voice sounded down the driveway, the two women, who were about to get back into the car, immediately turned around.

"Let‘s do this, YN."

****

"A glass of champagne, sir?" asked an elegantly dressed lady next to him, balancing a small tray in front of her.

"No, thank you, madam. I don't drink alcohol at the moment," Robert declined her offer in a friendly voice.

"And for our winner? On the house, of course," she asked YN, who was standing next to him. She gratefully accepted a glass. The exhibition was in full swing. Many different artists were exhibiting that day, but no artwork attracted as many glances as YN's. Rebecca joined them and patted her sister on the shoulder. "I looked at it again, it really is amazing. How did you do it?"

"I don't even know it myself. It's as if my hands painted it themselves," YN replied, taking a sip from her glass.

"That supports Robert's Davinci theory," Rebecca chuckled.

YN looked at her, confused. "What?"

"Nothing," Rebecca replied quickly, pointing to the glass in her sister's hand. "Hey, where did you get the champagne?" she wanted to know.

"From that lady over there," YN replied with a grin and immediately Rebecca was gone in the crowd.

"I'm so sorry," Robert said quietly. "For what?" she wanted to know in surprise.

"For underestimating you... You and your art... You‘re such a wonderful, strong and unique woman."

YN bit her lip and Robert felt that she was about to cry. "Thank you, Robert." They remained silent as they watched the visitors pass by the artworks.

"So my horoscope was right after all," YN told Robert. "I really had my breakthrough. Do you believe in them now?" she wanted to know.

"Maybe," Robert replied thoughtfully.

"Do you know what else he said besides success?", she asked him.

Robert shook his head and smiled curiously.

"That I will also find love this month," she said quietly, putting her glass down on a small table beside her. "Maybe it was the love I felt for you when I painted that picture that made it so beautiful. Maybe that was the reason for all the success.“

Robert looked into her eyes and gently stroked her soft hair. Finally, he slowly pulled her into his arms and their lips touched immediately.

- 𝑡𝘩𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

[occhiolissimo]

@inception30daychallenge

Day 03: A post-canon headcanon.

I'm fascinated by the notion of romantic Ariadne/Robert. For all intents and purposes, they can also be considered as limbo survivors - Ariadne coming after him down there like a knight in shining armour, where they had that tiny, but real and precious moment at the Cobbs' shadow porch, and that was how he remembered her.

The potential incoming dynamics would be so interesting to explore, with Robert feeling inexplicably drawn to Ariadne but not knowing exactly why, and Ariadne harbouring immense guilt for her part in his inception. Yes, it could for the better, for who's to say for sure? Ariadne has had a front seat view of what had happened between Cobb and Mal. So she is torn between staying away from Robert, and staying close to him out of duty, to make sure he's not succumbing to any real damage to his person.

I love the idea of Robert successfully breaking up his father's empire and rebuilding it as his own (there's a hint of this in the shot of the newspaper cutting we saw in the Fischers' dossiers), with Ariadne purposely getting hired at one of his organizations, quietly but steadily rising up in ranks to be one of his most trusted employees. But Ariadne knows the truth is a ticking bomb, she can never decide what is the right time to tell him.

So either everything blows up in everyone's faces, or this ends as a HR procedure where Ariadne tenders her resignation so she can marry her CEO like a kdrama

[evita-shelby]

Only in dreams

Super angsty, no happy ending

I have done the impossible, i have killed Eva!!!

Robert Fischer x Eva Smith , au ending for Love's a state of mind

Cw: death, dreaming, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, grief

"I don't know who I am anymore." His voice was barely audible.

Robert’s long forgotten the difference between reality and this dream he cannot wake from.

He threw his wallet somewhere in the dream before this one and never found it again. He hadn’t wished to; everything here was perfect. Or at least it had been before that hollowness began to consume him.

“That’s okay. Let’s find you together.” Eva ---who morphs between the woman who grew old and lived to raise their kids with him and the femme fatale who seduced him that night--- takes his hand and leads him out the safe he once encountered in a dream.

Robert Fischer moves in reverse, his fantasies in this plane of consciousness he built himself playing before his eyes.

His advanced age melts into middle age as he leaves the idyllic home in which he lived his twilight years and goes into the house he saw himself raising his children into adulthood and before he knows it, Robert is as young as he had been when he became addicted to this dream.

None of it is real, not the little boy playing in the garden, nor the proud grandmother holding her namesake nor the woman pulling him away from the illusion he so badly wanted in his reality.

In truth, Eva had died one rainy morning when a drunk driver hit the cab she and Uncle Peter were on. When Cobal realized their money on Don Cobb had been wasted because Maurice Fischer always has an ace up his leave, they knew the only way to truly dissolve his corporation was by killing Eva and Uncle Peter.

The same year he lost his father and was subjected to an inception against his will, he had lost his wife and child.

“You’re not her.” the CEO of Fischer Morrow looks at the woman who is now wearing clothes Eva would never be caught wearing as they stop on the sidewalk of heavy traffic meant to kill them and send them back into the other two dreams.

“I know, I’m sorry. Eva never deserved to die like that.” The mirage says now with a voice he’s only heard once as it pushes him onto the street.

Eames, the Chameleon who impersonated Uncle Peter to force him into undoing his father’s empire for personal gain. Yes, it was him, it had to be him. Eames was the only person alive who could ever replicate Eva.

He had remained an odd fixture in their life after Eva cornered him at the airport that day. A friend of hers from her time abroad who she’d kill for Robert if need be.

Figures he’d be the one who’d be called to wake him up from Rob’s attempted suicide.

“Why don’t you just let me stay here?” Robert asks conjuring the woman who now only lives in his dreams.

“Eva wouldn’t want me to, Fischer.” Eames regains his true form forcing Robert’s trained subconscious to kill them both even in this fourth layer of his mind.

From then on its easier to wake up, his trained subconscious acts on instinct and wastes no time in killing them a thousand times over. Once again, Robert wakes up in a reality he doesn’t want to live.

Rob isn’t in his bed in his apartment that still looks as if his dead wife will return home any minute. Perhaps it was better he wasn’t, too many memories to the point Robert decided the best way to go was dreaming of the life they wanted together.

“How did you know it was me?” Eames asks knowing Robert’s never caught on to his tricks during their first dream share.

“Eva never wore pink.”

[tommyshelby87]

Robert what do you do for work

I am the CEO of a massive Australian energy conglomerate called Fischer Morrow.

[chillian-murphy]

Robert Fischer has a mommy kink because he was treated as a future CEO from the day he was born and his entire life was more or less just him being groomed to be his father's successor and he needs to reclaim the warmth and nurturing that his actual childhood lacked.

Neil Lewis has a mommy kink because he realizes that in order to brush his teeth and each vegetables, he needs someone to remind him and cheer him on like an actual child.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Sara Fischer at Axios:

X and cable news network NewsNation are planning to host live town halls with former President Trump and independent presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., two sources familiar with the plans told Axios.

State of play: The pair have agreed in principle to separate live interviews as part of a new video series, titled "The People's Town Hall," per the sources, though the dates and locations have yet to be set.

The Biden campaign has not agreed to take part.

A spokesperson for the Biden campaign declined to comment. The Trump and RFK Jr. campaigns did not respond to requests for comment.

Why it matters: While every other social network in the country is retreating from politics, X is looking to lean in as part of its wider push into creator video.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said last week that X paid out over $50 million in ad revenue to creators since she became CEO last year.

The live feeds will be available to all X users globally.

X and NewsNation are reportedly teaming up for town halls with Convicted Felon Donald Trump and Diet MAGA crackpot Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

[iraempirecom]

Landmark Capital Reviews

What is Landmark Capital?Landmark Capital Locations, Timings, Email, Phone, Services

Situated in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, Landmark Capital emerges as a prominent player in guiding investors into the realm of precious metals. Their primary focus lies in imparting knowledge to fledgling investors, equipping them with the insights needed to navigate the intricate landscape of precious metal investments judiciously. Central to their ethos is the guiding motto "Educate, Facilitate, Find Value." Upon reaching out to them, their approach entails immersing you in a comprehensive educational experience, orienting you to the fundamental dynamics of the markets. Beyond education, they collaborate with you to craft a customized blueprint that seamlessly aligns with your distinctive investment aspirations. An integral facet of their service involves meticulous scrutiny of your existing investment portfolio. Through this assessment, they ascertain the potential feasibility of initiating a self-directed IRA – a pathway that grants the opportunity to invest in precious metals within the shelter of this account. Should this avenue be viable, Landmark Capital adeptly guides you in selecting the most fitting investments, curated to nurture and amplify the growth of your investment portfolio. The business not only claims to facilitate your entry into the precious metal market but also empowers you with knowledge, personalized strategies, and expert guidance, fostering an environment where your investments can flourish with confidence.

- Address: 5333 N 7th St Ste B110 Phoenix, AZ 85014-2840 - Phone: (602) 287-9200 - Email: info@landmarkgold.com - Website: https://www.landmarkgold.com/

People Behind Landmark Capital: CEO, Owner, Co-Founders & MoreWho owns Landmark Capital? What is the management team behind Landmark Capital?

David Fischer (Cheif Executive Officer & Founder) at Landmark Capital: David Fischer is a precious metals industry expert in Phoenix with over 25 years of experience. He has appeared on national and local radio shows, spoken at financial conferences, and is a regular guest on several nationally syndicated programs. He is the founder of Landmark Capital Precious Metals, where he helps people invest in gold and silver. Here are some specific details from the text that I included in the rewrite: - David Fischer has over 25 years of experience in the precious metals industry. - He has appeared on national and local radio shows, including "Wake Up America" and "Wealth Wednesday". - He has spoken at financial conferences across the nation. - He is the founder of Landmark Capital. - He is a regular guest on several nationally syndicated programs, including "Money Mondays" with Robert Davi, Kevin McCullough, and Steve Noble.

Landmark Capital Products: Bullion Coins, Bars, And Rare CoinsAll products offered by Landmark Capital

Landmark Capital offers a range of meticulously crafted products that cater to the unique preferences and aspirations of investors. The journey commences with a comprehensive consultation, a crucial step that lays the foundation for the investment process. This consultation seamlessly leads to the creation of the Financial Blue Print, a personalized roadmap that guides investors toward optimal investment decisions tailored to their individual circumstances. Within this well-defined framework, investors proceed to acquire the metals recommended within the Financial Blue Print. Notably, the company's primary focus rests on facilitating investments in physical coins, a choice that resonates with those seeking tangible and enduring assets. For those who possess a distinct inclination towards alternative avenues of investing in physical precious metals, the company claims that they always remain responsive to these preferences. By engaging directly with the company, individuals are poised to unearth a plethora of possibilities that extend beyond the conventional spectrum. Moreover, Landmark Capital extends its expertise to cater to the specific requisites of customers intrigued by the idea of incorporating precious metals into their (IRAs). This sector boasts a diverse array of options, encompassing coins, bars, bullion, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), and even stakes in precious metal companies. While the company website doesn't explicitly enumerate IRA-approved coins, reviewers underscore the availability of IRA-approved metals, which includes esteemed choices like American Eagle coins and American Buffalo coins. Landmark Capital serves as a versatile gateway into the world of precious metal investments, not only providing meticulously curated products but also offering personalized insights that cater to a range of investment preferences and financial goals.

How to Invest in Landmark Capital IRA?Step-by-step guide for investing in Landmark Capital IRA

To invest in a precious metals IRA through Landmark Capital are the general steps: Open a Self-Directed IRA Select an IRA company that handles opening precious metals IRA accounts and fill out an application. You can work with Landmark Capital to recommend an IRA company and provide the necessary paperwork. However, I don't recommend doing so. Fund Your IRA Once you have selected an IRA company, you can move your funds into your new IRA account. You can work with the IRA company representative to transfer or rollover funds into the new account. Select a Precious Metals Dealer One of the forms you need to fill out along the way is typically called a Buy Direction Letter. This is where you list the precious metals dealer you have selected, such as Landmark Capital. Decide Which Precious Metals to Purchase You can choose to invest in gold, silver, platinum, or palladium for your IRA. There are some restrictions regarding fineness requirements and allowable coin types, so it's important to get guidance from Landmark Capital in this area. Place Your Order Once the funds are available in your IRA account, you can call them to place your order for the desired precious metals.

However, I don't recommend opening an IRA with them. Why? Because there are plenty of better options available for you. Opening a precious metals IRA is a major decision. That's why I suggest checking out our top gold IRA providers list. You can find the best precious metals dealer in your state and choose accordingly. Also, the list will help you understand what the industry best has to offer and what you might miss out on. You can get a free guide on gold IRAs below. It will help you understand the process.

Landmark Capital Fees and Charges: Do they overcharge?What are their fees? Do they have hidden fees?

A notable drawback of the Landmark Capital website is the absence of any information concerning their fees and charges. While potential clients seeking to engage their services are undoubtedly interested in understanding the costs associated with their offerings, the website falls short in providing this critical information. The lack of transparency regarding fees can lead to uncertainty and hesitation among individuals who are considering working with Landmark Capital. In an era where transparency and clarity are highly valued in financial transactions, the omission of fee details on the website can potentially hinder the establishment of trust and credibility between the company and its potential clients. It is important for financial organizations to provide comprehensive information upfront, allowing clients to make informed decisions and avoid any surprises later in the process.

Companies like Augusta charge ZERO fees for up to 10 years, allowing you to choose your gold & silver. Landmark Capital on the other hand provides fewer options. >>>Get in touch with the #1 rated gold IRA company of 2023 Read the full article

[joeyclaire]

Who is he.

Ben Bernanke

14th Chair of Federal Reserve

Ben Shalom Bernanke (/bərˈnæŋki/ bər-NANG-kee; born December 13, 1953) is an American economist at the Brookings Institution who served two terms as the 14th Chair of the Federal Reserve, from 2006 to 2014. During his tenure as chair, Bernanke oversaw the Federal Reserve's response to the late-2000s financial crisis, for which he was named the 2009 Time Person of the Year. Before becoming Federal Reserve chair, Bernanke was a tenured professor at Princeton University and chaired the department of economics there from 1996 to September 2002, when he went on public service leave.

Quick Facts 14th Chair of the Federal Reserve, President ...

From August 5, 2002, until June 21, 2005, he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, proposed the Bernanke Doctrine, and first discussed "the Great Moderation" — the theory that traditional business cycles have declined in volatility in recent decades through structural changes that have occurred in the international economy, particularly increases in the economic stability of developing nations, diminishing the influence of macroeconomic (monetary and fiscal) policy.

Bernanke then served as chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers before President Bush nominated him to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the United States Federal Reserve. His first term began February 1, 2006. Bernanke was confirmed for a second term as chairman on January 28, 2010, after being renominated by President Barack Obama, who later referred to him as "the epitome of calm." His second term ended January 31, 2014, when he was succeeded by Janet Yellen on February 3, 2014.

Bernanke wrote about his time as chairman of the Federal Reserve in his 2015 book, The Courage to Act, in which he revealed that the world's economy came close to collapse in 2007 and 2008. Bernanke asserts that it was only the novel efforts of the Fed (cooperating with other agencies and agencies of foreign governments) that prevented an economic catastrophe greater than the Great Depression.

Family and childhood

Bernanke was born in Augusta, Georgia, and was raised on East Jefferson Street in Dillon, South Carolina. His father Philip was a pharmacist and part-time theater manager. His mother Edna was an elementary school teacher. Bernanke has two younger siblings. His brother, Seth, is a lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina. His sister, Sharon, is a longtime administrator at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

The Bernankes were one of the few Jewish families in Dillon and attended Ohav Shalom, a local synagogue; Bernanke learned Hebrew as a child from his maternal grandfather, Harold Friedman, a professional hazzan (service leader), shochet, and Hebrew teacher. Bernanke's father and uncle owned and managed a drugstore they purchased from Bernanke's paternal grandfather, Jonas Bernanke.

Jonas Bernanke was born in Boryslav, Austria-Hungary (today part of Ukraine), on January 23, 1891. He immigrated to the United States from Przemyśl, Poland, and arrived at Ellis Island, aged 30, on June 30, 1921, with his wife Pauline, aged 25. On the ship's manifest, Jonas's occupation is listed as "clerk" and Pauline's as "doctor med".

The family moved to Dillon from New York in the 1940s. Bernanke's mother gave up her job as a schoolteacher when her son was born and worked at the family drugstore. Ben Bernanke also worked there sometimes.

Young adult

As a teenager, Bernanke worked construction on a hospital and waited tables at a restaurant at nearby South of the Border, a roadside attraction, amusement park and fireworks retailer, in his hometown of Dillon, before leaving for college. To support himself throughout college, he continued to work during the summers at South of the Border.

Religion

As a teenager in the 1960s, Bernanke would help roll the Torah scrolls in his local synagogue. Although he keeps his beliefs private, his friend Mark Gertler, chairman of New York University's economics department, says they are "embedded in who he (Bernanke) is." Once Bernanke was at Harvard for his freshman year, Fellow Dillon native Kenneth Manning took him to Brookline for Rosh Hashanah services.

Education

Bernanke was educated at East Elementary, J.V. Martin Junior High, and Dillon High School, where he was class valedictorian and played saxophone in the marching band. Since Dillon High School did not offer calculus at the time, Bernanke taught it to himself. Bernanke scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT and was a National Merit Scholar. He also was a contestant in the 1965 National Spelling Bee.

Bernanke attended Harvard College in 1971, where he lived in Winthrop House, as did the future CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. degree, and later with an A.M. in economics summa cum laude in 1975. He received a Ph.D. degree in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979 after completing and defending his dissertation, Long-Term Commitments, Dynamic Optimization, and the Business Cycle. Bernanke's thesis adviser was the future governor of the Bank of Israel, Stanley Fischer, and his readers included Irwin S. Bernstein, Rüdiger Dornbusch, Robert Solow, and Peter Diamond of MIT and Dale Jorgenson of Harvard.

Personal life

Ben and Anna Bernanke

Bernanke met his wife, Anna, a schoolteacher, on a blind date. She was a student at Wellesley College, and he was in graduate school at MIT.[citation needed] The Bernankes have two children, Joel and Alyssa. He is an ardent fan of the Washington Nationals baseball team, and frequently attends games at Nationals Park.

When Bernanke left Stanford to accept a position at Princeton, he and his family moved to Montgomery Township, New Jersey, in 1985, where Bernanke's children attended the local public schools. Bernanke served for six years as a member of the board of education of the Montgomery Township School District.

In 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bernanke was a victim of identity theft, a spreading crime the Federal Reserve has for years issued warnings about.

Academic and government career (1979–2006)

Bernanke meeting with United States President Barack Obama.

Bernanke taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business from 1979 until 1985, was a visiting professor at New York University and went on to become a tenured professor at Princeton University in the Department of Economics. He chaired that department from 1996 until September 2002, when he went on public service leave. He resigned his position at Princeton July 1, 2005.

Bernanke served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2002 to 2005. In one of his first speeches as a Governor, entitled "Deflation: Making Sure It Doesn't Happen Here", he outlined what has been referred to as the Bernanke Doctrine.

As a member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System on February 20, 2004, Bernanke gave a speech in which he postulated that we are in a new era called the Great Moderation, where modern macroeconomic policy has decreased the volatility of the business cycle to the point that it should no longer be a central issue in economics.

In June 2005, Bernanke was named chairman of President George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, and resigned as Fed Governor. The appointment was largely viewed as a test run to ascertain if Bernanke could be Bush's pick to succeed Greenspan as Fed chairman the next year. He held the post until January 2006.

Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve

Bernanke testifying before the House Financial Services Committee responding to a question on February 10, 2009.

On February 1, 2006, Bernanke began a fourteen-year term as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and a four-year term as chairman (after having been nominated by President Bush in late 2005). By virtue of the chairmanship, he sat on the Financial Stability Oversight Board that oversees the Troubled Asset Relief Program. He also served as chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee, the System's principal monetary policy making body.

His first months as chairman of the Federal Reserve System were marked by difficulties communicating with the media. An advocate of more transparent Fed policy and clearer statements than Greenspan had made, he had to back away from his initial idea of stating clearer inflation goals as such statements tended to affect the stock market. Maria Bartiromo disclosed on CNBC comments from their private conversation at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. She reported that Bernanke said investors had misinterpreted his comments as indicating that he was "dovish" on inflation. He was sharply criticized for making public statements about Fed direction, which he said was a "lapse in judgment."

Financial crisis of 2007–2008

Bernanke (left) in September 2008 as President Bush speaks about the economy

Further information: Financial crisis of 2007–08

As the Great Recession deepened, Bernanke oversaw some unorthodox measures. Under his guidance, the Fed lowered its funds interest rate from 5.25% to 0.0% within less than a year. When this was considered insufficient to abate the liquidity crisis, the Fed initiated quantitative easing, creating $1.3 trillion from November 2008 to June 2010 and using the created money to buy financial assets from banks and from the government.

Second term

Bernanke answers questions in 2013 at FOMC press conference

On August 25, 2009, President Obama announced he would nominate Bernanke to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve. In a short statement on Martha's Vineyard, with Bernanke standing at his side, Obama said Bernanke's background, temperament, courage and creativity helped to prevent another Great Depression in 2008.

[viesantewrites]

𝒮𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈

(Older) Robert Fischer - Inception

summary: For the second time in his life, Robert Fischer is faced with a major decision: whether or not to take over his father's company. After his father's death, Fischer Morrow was split up and Peter Browning bought part of it but Robert remained an employee rather than a CEO. Over the past ten years, Browning has been approaching retirement and Robert is now 40. He is struggling emotionally with his divorce and the mockery of his ex-wife. The situation intensifies when he falls in love with a beautiful woman at the company and begins to see her in his dreams.

angst, divorced parents, age gap, but not that big, both characters are adults (8 years) Robert is 40, OC is 32.

if i should continue this please let me know

thought about quitting writing but i‘m just having way too much fun :D

Masterlist

The room was filled with the shrill ringing of the alarm. Robert rolled over grumbling and buried his head sleepily under his pillow. Finally the noise stopped and he sighed with relief, closing his eyes and trying to fall back asleep. He lay there for half an hour before suddenly jumping out of bed and grabbing the clock on his bedside table in a panic.

Damn it, he had overslept again!

He climbed out of bed, rushed to the bathroom and began to shower in record time. When was he going to learn to get up at the first alarm? Since she had left, this had happened to him almost every week. He quickly got out of the shower, dried himself off, brushed his teeth and tried to get dressed at the same time. The white shirt smelled of detergent as he put it on. Lost in thought, he spat the toothpaste foam into the sink and began to knot his tie. He was lucky to have mastered this almost instinctively, as Robert, the son of a once powerful energy CEO, had worn formal attire since childhood.

It was far too warm for a suit and tie today, but the company he worked for had a strict dress code for men. He quickly zipped up his black pants, fastened his belt, combed through his hair and finally stormed out of the bathroom.

"Daddy?" he suddenly heard a quiet voice from the hallway, and Robert turned around.

He saw two large blue eyes staring up at him, and then it hit him like a ton of bricks. He had almost forgotten that his daughter was staying here for the weekend.

"Chloe, sweetheart, I... Damn, school starts in fifteen minutes!" He slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand.

Chloe pulled her stuffed animal, which she was holding in her arms, a little closer and shook her head in confusion. "No, I have summer vacation. You were supposed to take me back to Mommy."

Robert closed his eyes briefly and exhaled. If he had to take his daughter to his ex-wife now, he would definitely be late for work. On the other hand, he couldn’t leave Chloe here alone all day. "Can’t your mother pick you up?"

Yeah, she could, but she won’t, Robert thought. He could almost hear her voice echoing in his head, even when she wasn’t even present: "It‘s your own fault if you can’t get up on time."

"What about Mr Norton?" Chloe asked.

"You know he's sick right now," he sighed.

Norton had been Robert’s personal chauffeur since he was 17. As a teenager, Robert never really appreciated the luxury, as wealth seemed completely normal to him. But as he grew older, he realized how lucky he had been. Especially now that Norton had suffered a herniated disc and Robert has been left to fend for himself.

Sighing, Robert ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. "I guess we have no choice. Quick, get changed," he said, pointing to Chloe's pink pajamas.

***

The morning sun shone brightly in the sky with not a cloud in sight. It was already clear that it would be a beautiful summer day. Robert slowly drove his black Bentley into the slightly too small driveway of his ex-wife's house. It was always a big change for Chloe to move from her father's mansion with a swimming pool, a big garden and a garage for four expensive cars to her mother's small rented apartment.

Nicole had obviously noticed his arrival and was standing at the front door with her arms crossed, scrutinising her ex-husband who was holding their daughter's hand and carrying her purple backpack in the other. She approached in a mocking tone: "It's always amusing to see you trying to park that thing. If you own such a fancy car, you should at least be able to drive it."

Robert sighed. "You know I usually have a chauffeur."

At his words, she simply rolled her eyes. "Isn’t Mr Businessman a bit late for work?" Nicole asked.

“Chloe comes first,” Robert replied firmly.

“Oh really? Suddenly now?” she hissed angrily, so quietly that only he could hear it.

Without another word, he handed Chloe’s backpack to his ex-wife, knelt down, and hugged his daughter. “Goodbye, Chloe. See you next weekend.”

“No, Daddy, please don’t go,” Chloe began to cry, burying her face in Robert’s white shirt, and it almost broke his heart.

Nicole stood beside them, observing the scene with her arms crossed and lips pressed tightly together. She knew exactly that Chloe loved him more than her, and no matter how much she tried to make her not like him anymore, he remained her favorite.

Robert gave her a farewell kiss on the forehead, released her from the hug, and waved one last time at little Chloe. "Take care!'"

“Bye, Dad!” she sniffled a bit but forced a smile.

Nicole placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder and then guided her toward the front door.

Robert ran back to his car, glanced at the clock, and felt the sweat on his forehead.

***

Breathless, he hurried down the hall of Browning Morrow (formerly Fischer Morrow), trying to ignore the amused glances from his colleagues and greeted them politely.

He finally arrived at his office, slightly sweaty, threw his briefcase onto the desk, opened the window, and, defying the dress code, took off his suit jacket.

Robert sank into his chair, switched on his PC and flicked through his planner. Damn it, he had that stupid annual security training at half past nine. He still had to scan some important documents and email them to a client who was already waiting impatiently for them. "If I don't do it now, I'll be in trouble," Robert thought.

With a sigh, he tucked the stack of papers under his arm and headed for the scanner in the hallway. God, he had a thousand other things to do, and scanning was just a waste of time.

Suddenly, Robert held his breath and turned his head slightly. There she was again, one of the few bright spots in his dreary daily routine.

His eyes were fixed on her as she walked down the corridor in her high heels. Her long, dark blonde hair was down today and fell over her shoulders, the elegant white skirt and beige sleeveless top looked stunning on her figure, complemented by matching gold jewellery. When she saw Robert standing in the hallway, she smiled and started to walk towards him.

Her name was Victoria Nathan and she was a new secretary at Browning Morrow. Robert had noticed her on the first day, and he was pretty sure he wasn't the only man who had taken an interest in her.

"Can I help you with something, Mr…What was your name again? Fischer?" she asked, looking at him curiously with her emerald green eyes.

Robert’s heart started pounding wildly, and he could feel his cheeks turning slightly pink.

“Oh God, of course, you’re the son of the former CEO. I’m so embarrassed, I’m sorry. I always have a bit of trouble remembering names and faces.”

Robert laughed nervously again. What was wrong with him? He had never been shy, especially not with women, but for some reason, she completely threw him off balance.

“Wait, are you the Associate CEO, aside from Browning?” she asked.

“It’s fine, I forget names quite often too. No, I‘m not, I'm a senior consultant. I advise the company on solving problems, developing strategies and optimising processes," he replied, sounding a little more confident and professional.

“Sounds great, Mr Fischer.” Ms Nathan gave him a charming smile and then pointed to the stack under his arm. “What’s this?”

“Oh, these are just documents I need to scan. I'm under a bit of time pressure because I've got a few other things to do, and at 9:30..."

"Is the safety training, I know. I'll be there later as well. Should I scan the documents for you? I have some time right now," she offered.

"You would be a great help, Ms Nathan," Robert said, smiling as his heart began to race again.

She carefully took the stack from him.

"I‘m glad to help you, Sir."

"Oh, and could you email the documents to Mr Kingsley on my behalf? His contact details are on the front page."

“Of course, Mr Fischer", she said with a smile and a nod.

“Thank you, you’re a gem!” Robert blurted out, and his cheeks immediately turned red again.

Ms Nathan giggled a little, waved goodbye, and turned to leave.

For a brief moment, Robert stood alone in the middle of the hallway, unable to gather his thoughts.

***

Just before 9:30, Robert entered the meeting room and took a seat in one of the empty chairs. The room was already quite full, with more employees streaming in. Among them were James Clearwood and Matthew Harrington, with whom he had attended college. They were the only people in the company who actually called Robert by his first name and with whom he had a sort of friendship.

“Robert, buddy! Haven’t seen you in ages!” James said, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"It's actually been about three weeks, James," Matthew added with a laugh as he sat down in the empty chair next to him.

"Matthew said there'd be free cake, otherwise I wouldn't have come," James remarked.

“Every employee has to do the training once a year,” Robert said. “It’s mandatory. Still, I don’t see why, I sit at my desk all day analyzing data. How could I possibly have an accident?”

"The way you sit in that chair, it could happen at any time," James grinned, mimicking Robert's characteristic, somewhat awkward sitting position.

Matthew joined in the laughter.

“So, Robert…wanted to ask you this for weeks now…", James finally said.

Confused, Robert looked at him. “What do you mean?”

He grinned and gave him another friendly pat on the shoulder. “Well, I heard Browning will retire next year. How old is he, 63? 64? And you‘d be the perfect replacement."

Robert sighed and bit his lower lip. He had suspected this conversation would come up sooner or later. "I don't know, I'm torn. I think it's too much responsibility for me. I'm happy with my current position, to be honest. It's important and one of the best paid jobs, but it doesn't involve full leadership."

James raised an eyebrow. “Robert, you were born into the family business. Who knows the company better than you?”

"Why didn’t you take over the company when your father passed away?” Matthew asked.

"I was too young and inexperienced. It was over ten years ago, and I had just finished my studies three years earlier..." Robert's explanation trailed off.

"Well, you have enough work experience now. If I were you, I'd really think about it," James said, his tone now a bit more serious.

But Robert wasn't really listening anymore. He had spotted Victoria Nathan in the crowd again. With her usual friendly smile, she poured coffee into cups and handed them out. She had tucked her blonde hair behind her ear, but one strand had come loose and was hanging in her face.

"Robert?" James nudged him in the side but then noticed where he was looking. "Oh, no, no, no. Forget it," he said, leaning back in his chair. "She's young and extremely pretty. Don't get your hopes up."

Robert glared at him. "Do you have to be so blunt?"

Matthew immediately jumped into the conversation. "You act like Robert's some ugly dude. Come on, he looks better than both of us combined. He's got the best chances out of the three of us, even though he's the oldest."

"You're married, if I may remind you," Robert said, staring at him in disbelief.

"Aren‘t you too?" Matthew retorted immediately.

"I've been divorced for two years."

Matthew sighed briefly. "Sorry, I keep forgetting that."

"Robert doesn't seem to have forgotten it the way he's staring at that girl," James laughed.

Robert sighed and buried his face in his hands. "Seriously, how old do you think she is?"

James was thinking for a moment. "26. No, wait, 27", he finally answered.

"She's 32," Matthew suddenly said, and the other two looked at him in astonishment.

"How do you know that?" James eventually asked.

"My sister knows her best friend."

"And then you ask her how old she is? You're married!" Robert said, slapping his forehead as James burst out laughing.

"I swear to God, Matthew always seems so calm and composed, but he's the most unhinged person I know."

Matthew crossed his arms over his chest. "It was a perfectly normal question, just out of curiosity. We somehow started talking about her, and I just mentioned that she seems pretty young to have that much professional experience."

James only laughed harder at these words.

But Robert was lost in thought again. "She's 8 years younger than me. That's not so much..."

"Go ahead and try if you want. But you’ve got some serious competition. Almost every guy in the company is interested in her", James said more seriously now. "I don’t know if you’re her type, Robert. She seems to go for the younger guys here. Apparently, she’s interested in that new blond guy who graduated recently. I think he’s only 24 or something."

Robert scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder why she wants such a young man. He's got nothing to offer her."

"Not all women are after money, Robert."

Robert sighed and rubbed his temples. "I think we should stop now. We're acting like high school boys."

"I thought it was funny," James remarked. "Hey, there's cake over there!" He immediately stood up and disappeared into the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?" A loud voice suddenly boomed from the speakers. Robert leaned back in his chair, knowing he had several long hours ahead of him.

***

When Robert finally finished work, the sun was still high in the sky, giving the impression that it wasn't going to set at all today. It was scorching hot as Robert walked through the nearby park. He almost wanted to take off his terribly itchy suit and jump into the pond. Tired, he turned on his phone and immediately noticed that he had two missed calls from Nicole. Sighing, he called her back.

"Chloe left her stuffed animal at your house. You know she can't sleep without that silly thing," she said.

"You mean the little bunny? I can’t come over again, Nicole," Robert grumbled, kicking a pebble in front of him.

"Fine, I'll try to distract her and come by tomorrow to pick it up," she replied, hanging up without another word.

Shaking his head, Robert put his phone back in his pocket when he suddenly heard quiet laughter among the trees. Curious, he turned in the direction it came from. Instantly, he bit his lip and wished he hadn't. It was Victoria Nathan and the blond college graduate. They were sitting on a bench under a weeping willow, engaged in a lively conversation. The young man eventually leaned in, cupped her face in his hands, gently stroked her chin, and kissed her.

Robert immediately turned on his heel and hurried away. Thoughts raced through his mind, and his heart began to feel oddly heavy, but he tried to ignore it and kept running until he finally reached the parking lot. He got into his Bentley, stepped on the accelerator and drove off.

On the way home, he continued to fight his emotions, but they wouldn’t leave him alone. He was acting like a schoolboy, yet he was an influential and successful grown man, possibly about to take over an entire company. How could he let such silly feelings like jealousy or heartbreak overcome him, especially over a woman who likely didn’t care about him at all and didn’t even remember his name? Robert pressed harder on the gas pedal and nearly ran a red light.

Suddenly, Nicole's voice reappeared in his mind. At first, it was very faint, but it grew louder and louder until he couldn’t ignore it anymore:

"What do you expect from her? You know you're incapable of maintaining a relationship. What do you want to do, huh? Marry her, promise to give her everything she wants? Make a child with her, only to neglect them and prioritize your job over your family, just like you did before?"

Robert breathed quickly, trying to silence the voice in his head. With shaking hands, he finally drove into his garage, pushed open the door and gasped for air. The lock clicked quietly as he turned the key to his front door. Of course, it was doubly secured and equipped with a security camera.

"Chloe, Daddy's home!" he called, but then he remembered that he had taken her back to her mother's that morning. His luxurious mansion offered nothing but emptiness. All the money in the world couldn’t change the fact that he felt unbearably lonely.

In the bathroom, he let cold water run over his face and hands. Robert stared thoughtfully at his reflection. He had changed so much over the past ten years since his father had died. His slim figure, big blue eyes, small nose, and freckles had always given him a youthful appearance. Robert had long been mistaken for being much younger than he was, even at nearly 30, he could pass as a college student. That had changed now. He didn't look old at all, just more mature, more sophisticated, more masculine. His features had become sharper, and when Robert laughed, he had slight wrinkles around his eyes. His dark hair was beginning to turn slightly gray at the temples, which he tried to hide with hair dye.

As the son of a successful businessman, he had to wear formal attire from a young age. It always looked like a child wearing his father's clothes, even when he was in his 20s, but now it just looked... right. Like he actually owned those clothes. He was constantly receiving compliments on how attractive and handsome he was, but he never really believed them, especially not today after seeing Victoria with her young lover.

Robert quickly dried his face and left the bathroom. Tonight he would go to bed early for a change. His fingers carefully traced the numerous picture frames on his dresser or hanging on the wall. Most of them were photos of Chloe smiling into the camera, like from her first day at school last year. The pictures of Nicole he had burned.

His eyes wandered to an older photo that was quite faded. It showed his uncle Peter at his wedding, holding a little two-year-old Robert in his arms. The next picture was taken about 25 years later. He bit his lower lip as he looked at it. He looked young and happy in it, wearing a graduation gown. Standing next to him were Uncle Peter and Robert‘s father Maurice, who was already looking rather ill. He quickly turned and left the living room. As he finally lay down in his warm bed, his eyes closed within seconds. The day had been incredibly exhausting for him, and he immediately drifted off into his deepest subconscious.

It was bright in front of him, the sun was shining, but everything looked just vague and blurry. Suddenly, the contours sharpened, and Robert could see the small park where he had walked that afternoon. The little white bench under the weeping willow appeared suddenly, and with it, Victoria. It was the same scene he had witnessed earlier, but with one significant difference: the man Victoria was kissing so passionately wasn’t the blond college graduate but Robert himself. Her hands ran gently down Robert's white shirt, up to his neck, and then disappeared into his dark hair. Robert's heart felt incredibly warm and he wished that whatever he was seeing would never end. The scene held for a moment, but then it abruptly broke and shifted.

Suddenly Robert opened his eyes and it was pitch black around him. The air was incredibly humid and warm, and he began to cough. He was alone in his room, with no sign of Victoria. Disappointed, he rubbed his eyes and got up quickly to open the window and let in some cool night air.

Thoughtfully, he stared into the dark night. He had only known this woman for a month, and now he was already dreaming of her. of But perhaps, deep down, it was his desire. Someone who loved him with all his heart where he felt completely comfortable and accepted. One of the few things he never had and which money could not buy. Deep inside, his heart felt incredibly lonely, even though he would never admit it. He quickly wiped away the single tear that rolled down his cheek with a quick hand.

…………………………………………………………………………..

yes i know thats lenny miller on the pics but i think he looks like older Robert :D

thank you for reading! currently working on timeless love part 3! :)

[feelingbluepolitics]

"New documents from a former Cambridge Analytica insider reveal what an election watchdog group claims was illegal coordination between [t]rump’s 2016 presidential campaign and a billionaire-funded pro-[t]rump super PAC.

"The legal complaint touches on some of the same people involved in today’s hotly contested presidential race and provides a detailed account alleging that [t]rump’s last campaign worked around election rules to coordinate behind the scenes with the political action committee.

..."The complaint also alleges that Cambridge Analytica — which improperly acquired and used 87 million Facebook users’ profiles to predict their behavior — had a shared project calendar for both entities, among other evidence.

"'The idea that this spending was at all independent is farcical and these emails underscore that,' said Brendan Fischer, an attorney for the government oversight group, whose new filing supplements a lawsuit filed four years ago. 'Cambridge Analytica not only misused people’s personal data, but it was a conduit for the wealthy family that owned it to unlawfully support the [t]rump campaign in 2016.'

"The super PAC created a plethora of 'crooked Hillary' memes that circulated widely on social media, and was financed largely by conservative billionaire Robert Mercer, who also founded, owned and managed Cambridge Analytica. Kellyanne Conway led an earlier incarnation of the PAC when it supported Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz before she resigned to advise [t]rump’s 2016 campaign.

..."One September 2016 email it cites is from a Cambridge senior vice president, announcing some of the PAC’s ads against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton that the Cambridge official says were produced by 'our production partner' Glittering Steel, which then-CEO of the [t]rump campaign Steve Bannon had a financial stake in.

"The White House referred questions to the campaign. Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for [t]rump’s reelection campaign, did not respond to repeated email and text messages seeking comment.

..."Cambridge dissolved after facing investigations for playing a key role in the 2014 breach of Facebook users’ personal data. The company denied it used the data in [t]rump’s 2016 campaign, an assertion which ex-employees have disputed, although Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said the data could have been used in Russian propaganda efforts.

..."In all, Cambridge ran over 4,000 ad campaigns for the [t]rump campaign that generated more than '1.4 billion impressions,' with 'persuasion ads' leading to a 3 percent increase in 'average favorability' and get-out-the-vote ads yielding a 2 percent increase in people voting absentee, according to a post-election presentation.

"The same presentation identified some voters as ripe for 'deterrence.'"

[viesanterieures]

Locked In Mind

Robert Fischer (Inception) x female Reader

note: Welcome to my third Cillian Character fanfic, hope you like it :) I love plots like Shutter Island and tried to do something similar here & it‘s also a story about parasocial relationships and unrequited love.

summary: The reader is hopelessly in love with her boss Robert Fischer, but he doesn't seem to be interested in her. By an unexpected coincidence, they meet in the city and his sudden intense affection for her confuses her. The reader begins to suspect that something is wrong, and when she finally uncovers the truth about her encounters with Fischer the heartbreaking reality is revealed to her.

word count: 5000+

Masterlist

warnings: mental illness, depression

you don‘t have to watch the movie to understand the story.

It was just half past seven when she heard the familiar footsteps in the corridor approaching the office next door. A key was inserted into the lock and a moment later the door opened.

Glancing around to make sure her workspace wasn't too messy, she threw an old paper cup into the bin before her boss poked his head through the door.

"Good morning, Miss YN, so busy already?" he asked with a tired smile. "It doesn't reflect well on me as a boss to have my assistant here before me. I'm sorry, Monday mornings are always a bit stressful for me."

"No problem, Mr Fischer. I've already sorted the mail for you, it's on your desk," she said kindly, watching him as he took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack, a little damp from the rain.

"Thank you, I can count on you."

He was a very elegant, handsome man, about ten years her senior, with dark hair, blue eyes, high cheekbones and an elegant black suit. She must have stared at him a little too long, because he turned to her with a questioning smile.

Immediately her cheeks flushed and she turned back to her computer screen, but by then Mr Fischer had already approached her and placed some documents on her desk. "Please scan them all and email them to Mr Parker, he's been waiting for them for days," he said to her. It would be best if we sat down together later and quickly discuss my tasks for today, there is a lot to do. If I'm not mistaken, I have a client meeting at three today.

"At two, sir," she corrected him, handing him a planner with today's date thickly underlined.

He started to grin. "You see, this is exactly why I have an assistant."

Fischer disappeared into his office.

She sighed slightly and went to work scanning the documents. She had been working for Fischer Morrow, one of the world's largest energy companies, for barely a month. Their headquarters had moved from Sydney to London after the death of their CEO, Maurice Fischer. Her current boss, Robert Fischer, was a direct descendant.

She liked Fischer Jr a lot. He was friendly, supportive and didn't get angry when things didn't go to plan. But in some ways he always seemed so unapproachable. For example, he never talked about his private life and YN had no idea who he was outside of work. Then again, he was her boss and his private life was none of her business. But deep down she admitted that she was very interested in him.

The days flew by and she finally felt as if she had been employed by Fischer Morrow for an eternity. But who Robert Fischer really was remained a mystery.

One evening, as she was about to leave, she quietly opened the door to Fischer's office. He was sitting in front of his computer, his chin resting on his hands. "Have a nice evening, Mr Fischer." He jumped slightly, obviously not having heard her come in, but then he smiled. "Thank you, you too."

YN looked at her watch. "It's almost half past seven, don't you want to finish your work soon? Don't you have a wife waiting for you?"

Mr Fischer shrugged. "I've been divorced for a few years now, and I only see my daughter at weekends. The only thing waiting for me is an empty, dark apartment."

YN held her breath. It was the first time he had told her anything about his private life. But in the same second, he seemed to regret his words.

"No one waits for me either," she said. "Except for my cat."

Fischer raised an eyebrow with a smile. "At least that's something."

Finally she said goodbye and left the office. But all the way home, she kept thinking about her conversation with Fischer.

Was he perhaps as lonely as she was?

Tired, YN lay in bed. She didn't even have the strength to change her clothes and remove her make up. Although she wanted nothing more than to get out of that itchy, uncomfortable dress and tights. A soft meow sounded beside her and she felt something soft brush against her arm. Smiling, she pulled the cat closer and buried her face in its white fur.

Since leaving her small home village for London, she had no one to talk to. Her old friends had all left her and moved on with their own lives. Robert Fischer was the only one she spoke to regularly, though it was far from a friendship. With the cat in her arms, she turned to the other side. But what if she had feelings for him?

Maybe she should tell him. But wasn't that too much? He was still her boss, after all, and there were probably plenty of women who were interested in him.

She quickly pushed the thought aside and closed her eyes.

Robert Fischer turned curiously when he heard the quick clicking of heels in the corridor. Panting, his assistant opened the door and dropped her bag on the desk.

"Miss YN, are you okay?"

Her hair was messy, her coat hung loosely over her shoulders as if she hadn't had time to put it on properly, and her lipstick was a little smudged.

"I… overslept," she said, panting. "I'm sorry."

Fischer looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "It's okay. But it shouldn't happen again."

"Of course not, sir," she replied immediately.

He quickly disappeared into his office and returned with a thick stack of papers and a folder.

"Would you be so kind as to sort these documents alphabetically for me? They've been on my desk for days. I know it's not an exciting task."

She nodded and took the heavy pile from his hand. Fischer thanked her and hurried back to his office.

Sighing, she set to work. But with each page, she found her concentration fading and her mind wandering. Her head ached, her eyes burned and she felt incredibly tired. But she tried not to show it, kept working as hard as she could and finally put the sorted file back on Mr Fischer's desk.

Exhausted, she walked back to her office, sat down in her chair and buried her face in her hands. She was shivering and her ears were ringing. Was it because she had forgotten to take her medicine today?

"Miss YN?" she heard her boss' voice.

She turned immediately and forced a smile. "Yes, Mr Fischer?"

"I have an job interview scheduled for ten, would you be so kind as to prepare the conference room for it?"

"Of course, sir."

He stopped halfway and looked at Victoria questioningly. "Are you okay? You look so pale." She nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Everything's fine, Mr Fischer." Fischer looked at her, raised his eyebrows, then handed her the key to the meeting room and disappeared back into his office.

A strange feeling of dizziness spread through her head as she walked down the long corridor leading to the conference rooms.

What was wrong with her today?

When it started to get dark outside, YN finally turned off her computer and grabbed her bag. The strange dizziness had improved during the day, leading her to conclude that she simply needed a break from work. Fortunately, it was Friday. She knocked gently on Fischer's door, as she always did before leaving, to wish him a pleasant evening. He was sitting there as usual, his chin resting on his hand, deep in thought. He glanced up briefly and nodded politely, noticing her in the doorway. He looked stunningly handsome today, even after this long and exhausting day.

"I didn't ask you how the job interviews went this morning," she asked curiously. Fischer shook his head. "Terribly," he said. "None of these people I'd want in my company." His voice was cold and dismissive, and for a moment she thought he was referring to her, even though she knew he meant someone else. She smiled awkwardly and shrugged slightly. "Well, maybe the next one will be better."

Fischer remained silent.

"Have a good weekend, Mr Fischer."

"You too, Miss YN." He gave her a friendly smile.

"Do you have any plans for the weekend? I know a good restaurant, would you like to join me?" The moment she realised what she had just said, she bit her lip, her face turning red. Had she completely lost her mind? She desperately hoped he hadn't heard what she'd asked, but it was too late. She could see Fischer raise his eyebrows in confusion and stare at her.

"No, Miss YN. I'm not interested. I keep my work and personal life strictly separate." She immediately looked down, embarrassed. Thoughts raced through her mind like a rollercoaster and her cheeks felt as if they were on fire. "I'm sorry, Mr Fischer, I shouldn't have asked you that." She finally grabbed her bag and left the office without another word, feeling Fischer's gaze on her back.

It was drizzling lightly as she walked through the busy streets of London. The cold air did her good and she felt her head clear a little.

Why had she done this? It had been clear from the start that a man like him would reject her. But the words had come out of her mouth as if she had completely lost control. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and quickly wiped it away. She didn't want to have a mental breakdown in public, even though it felt like Fischer had torn her heart into a thousand pieces. Suddenly the strange dizziness returned and her vision blurred slightly. The sounds of London became muffled, as if she were incredibly far away.

Miss YN, wait!" she suddenly heard a voice behind her that seemed to be getting closer.

She turned around. The dizziness had disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Startled, her eyes widened as she saw the person in front of her - it was Mr Fischer. What was he doing here? Had he followed her? She tried to speak, but all she could manage was a hoarse stutter.

"I wanted to apologize, Miss YN. It wasn't very nice of me to brush you off like that," he said with a gentle laugh. His voice sounded strangely different, softer than usual. Wordless and spellbound, she stared into the pair of light blue eyes before her, apologetic and gentle in their expression. She knew Mr Fischer had blue eyes, but she'd never noticed how incredibly bright they were.

"It's okay, don't worry," she managed to say, her knees shaking with excitement.

"No, no, Miss YN. I'll think about the dinner offer, okay? Just because we work together doesn't mean we can't have dinner together, does it?" Fischer suggested, and she nodded slowly, then smiled.

Why this sudden change of mind?

"Well, see you soon." He waved goodbye and YN, still completely confused, raised her hand in response. But before she could form another thought, he had disappeared into the crowd.

Carefully, YN pressed the shutter on her old camera, focusing the lens on the small lake in front of her. Satisfied, she lowered it. She was confident that this snapshot would turn out well. This park was a place she often visited to clear her head and pursue her passion, photography, as it offered many beautiful subjects. Especially now, in autumn, when the trees were covered with colourful leaves and the silence was slowly descending, with only the occasional pedestrian passing by.

Her dizziness had eased a little, but not completely. Fortunately, it was Saturday and she had the whole day to herself. YN sat down on a bench under a tree that looked to be at least a hundred years old.

She sat there for a while, lost in thought. Eventually she got up and made her way to the West End. The streets of London were noisy and busy as she walked, looking for a warm place in a café and something to eat. Crowds of people rushed past her, music played from somewhere and loud voices filled the air. Exhausted, she rubbed her temples. Maybe she should have stayed home and rested.

Suddenly she held her breath as she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Dark hair, high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes. Fischer. But before she could think, he had already noticed her and started to smile at her.

"Miss YN, how nice to see you! What a coincidence!"

It was the first time she had seen him in his casual clothes rather than one of his business suits. But this was no less elegant and stylish. He was wearing a well-fitting black coat, a grey knitted jumper underneath, black trousers and leather shoes. It was so strange to see him outside his office at Fischer Morrow Company. Suddenly he didn't seem so unapproachable and distant anymore.

"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

He paused for a moment. He seemed to be considering whether or not to tell her.

"I brought my little girl to her friend's house for a sleepover. She's been asking me for weeks because her mum won't let her."

"So you're a cool dad," YN replied.

Fischer rolled his eyes. "I'm the one who lets her get away with everything. We had to turn back twice because she realised she had forgotten her favourite stuffed animal and her toothbrush."

She laughed softly. In a strange way, she enjoyed him talking so openly about his life.

"Oh wow, that looks amazing. It's quite old, isn't it?" Mr Fischer pointed to the camera around her neck. "From the 1960s. But it takes incredibly good pictures for that time," she explained. Fischer seemed genuinely impressed. "Do you have more like it?"

"I have quite a few. From the 50s to the 80s, actually, and of course some modern digital cameras. Photography has been my passion since I was a child," she explained. Fischer looked at her with an interested smile. "So there's actually film in there that needs to be developed?" she nodded in confirmation. "Some photo shops still offer that service, yes."

Mr Fischer seemed genuinely interested in her hobby, asking her questions about it as they walked side by side through the streets of London. She felt incredibly comfortable in his presence and hoped he wouldn't leave so soon. Finally he pointed to the camera again. "Would you take a picture of me, please? I'd like a 60's style photo of myself." YN's heart began to race in her chest. What had he just said?

"Of course, Mr Fischer," she replied nervously. "Robert. My name is Robert," he replied. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, completely surprised. No one at Fischer Morrow Ltd called him by his first name, and outside the company she had only heard his uncle, Peter Browning, call him Robert.

"Let's find a nice spot for the photo," he said, letting his gaze wander until it settled on a beautiful fountain.

Carefully, she picked up the camera, took a few steps back and held it directly in front of Robert's face. "Smile, please," she instructed him, finally pressing the shutter.

A pedestrian who had just passed them looked at YN with a confused expression and shook his head. Frowning, she looked after him before carefully tucking the camera into her handbag.

Are you hungry?" asked Robert. "We could go to a restaurant."

Surprised, she looked at him. "I don't know…" she said hesitantly, chewing her lower lip. In fact, she had never expected to be asked such a question.

He looked at her with raised eyebrows and she could see the disappointment in his eyes. Finally, she worked up the courage to say what was on her mind.

"It's just… To be honest, you told me yesterday that you were someone who kept your work and personal life strictly separate. Maybe it would be better if we did. After all, I'm your employee."

As much as she wanted to spend time with him, she was afraid of developing any more feelings for him. Robert nodded slowly and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

"I really like you. I just never wanted to show it, that's why I was so reserved with you and told you I wasn't interested in you".

She closed her eyes and let out a sigh as a ton of thoughts went through her head. Robert finally nodded at her with a slightly disappointed look on his face and turned on his heel.

"Wait!" she called after him.

He stopped immediately and looked at her hopefully.

"Let's give it a try, shall we?"

YN… is that a French name?"

Robert's voice sounded slightly tipsy as he grinned curiously at her, twirling his wine glass casually in his hands. The plate in front of him was empty and he had now carefully placed the cutlery on it, waiting for a waitress to take it away.

He had taken her to a rather fancy and expensive place, the walls were dark wood panelling, the chairs were covered in red velvet and soft jazz music was playing on one of the radios. Robert looked hauntingly beautiful that night. His skin seemed incredibly soft and flawless, his jawline even more prominent, and his blue eyes shone almost ghostly in the dim light, almost like he wasn’t real…

She smiled, nodded and took a sip from her glass. "My father is French. I grew up in France but moved to England when I was 15."

He nodded with interest, rubbing his chin with his forefinger.

"And you? I heard you're Australian," she asked curiously.

Robert laughed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Well, my accent makes it obvious."

YN blushed and looked down at her plate. What a stupid question.

But Robert didn't seem to mind too much, because he started talking about his life in Sydney, how he had finally moved to London after his father's death, and she listened with interest.

But suddenly he stopped and looked at her thoughtfully. "But I'm probably just boring you."

YN immediately shook her head. "No, you're not," she told him. "I find it really interesting to find out all this about you."

At that moment a waitress came to their table with a smile and asked YN in a friendly tone if she had enjoyed her meal. But the waitress paid no attention to Robert, YN noticed with surprise. Perhaps she was just being extra polite to the lady.

YN's date pulled out a black leather purse and rummaged through it. Quickly, YN pulled a few notes out of the bag and handed them to the waitress. "Keep the change," she said.

The waitress looked at her with wide eyes, "Thank you, ma'am," she said gratefully, "have a nice evening.

Then she turned and left the table.

"You didn't have to do that," Robert said. "As a gentleman, it's actually my job to pay."

She shook her head in amusement. "I bet that's never happened to you before, has it?"

Robert shook his head and took the last drink from his glass. There was a moment of silence between them.

"All right. So what's the plan for the rest of the evening?"

She looked at him in surprise. As soon as he said the words, she felt a tingle in her stomach.

The church clock struck twelve as she crossed the street hand in hand with Robert. It was freezing, and she had pulled her scarf so far up her face that only her eyes and nose were visible. Her date looked at her with amusement. "Are you going to rob a bank?" he asked, laughing out loud.

"Shh!" she snapped at him, putting her fingers to his lips. "You'll wake up the whole neighbourhood."

Although it was quite dark and she could only make out Robert, she knew that his typical mischievous grin was back on his face. She pulled him firmly behind her until they reached the small white building.

"Is this where you live?" Robert asked.

She put her finger to his lips for a second time until Robert stopped talking and looked silently into her eyes. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she finally stood on her toes, put her arms around his neck and placed her lips on his. Robert returned the kiss without hesitation and gently pulled her into his arms. YN could hardly believe what was happening. It was everything she had secretly wanted for months. They remained like this for a moment before she finally let go of him and reached for her key.

She felt for Robert's upper arm and finally pulled him into her apartment, closing the door behind him. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and began to kiss him again. His lips were a little cold and tasted of wine. Together they stumbled backwards into her bedroom, taking off his coat, which she tossed carelessly to the floor.

Robert's fingers stroked carefully along her hip and fumbled a little with her belt while she was busy planting little kisses on his neck. With slightly trembling hands she pulled his jumper over his head and Robert took her hand.

"Are you nervous?" he wanted to know. She remained silent.

"Don't be," he whispered softly into her ear, taking her in his arms again and pulling her onto the bed. Breathing softly, she clung to his chest, leaned back and finally closed her eyes as she felt his warm skin against hers.

The sun shone through the half-open curtains, creating a narrow, bright streak across the floor. Blinking, she opened her eyes and stretched. But immediately a sharp pain shot through her head again and she held her forehead tiredly. Confused, she sat up and tried to remember what had happened yesterday.

But when she heard soft breathing next to her, she turned quickly and all the events of last night came back to her. Smiling, she looked over at Robert, snuggled up next to her in her beige blanket, sleeping peacefully. Tenderly stroking his messy hair, she lay down beside him again and then began to caress his chest. Perhaps what they had done was wrong. After all, they were two people who should never have fallen in love. But it had happened, and it felt so right. They remained in this position for some time, Robert asleep and YN lost in thought.

Her eyes swept through the bedroom until they settled on a small white box on her dresser. Quickly sitting up, she reached for it and put a small pill into her mouth. Eventually, Robert began to move a little beside her, opening his eyes tiredly. Smiling broadly, she gave him a small kiss on the tip of his nose.

"Good morning," she whispered.

"Good morning," Robert murmured in a raspy morning voice.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Yes, wonderfully." He yawned loudly and took her into his arms as she laid her head lovingly on his shoulder.

"Wait, what time is it?" he suddenly wanted to know.

"Quarter past ten, why do you ask?" she replied.

"Shit," Robert muttered as he let go of the hug, jumped out of the bed and started to pick up his clothes, which were strewn all over the floor.

"Wait, wait, where are you going?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.

"I should've picked up my daughter by now," he replied, hurrying to get dressed.

Sighing, she pulled the blanket around her a little tighter. "Can't it wait? Can't you stay for breakfast?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm sure she's already waiting for me.“ Robert dodged her questions, grabbing his coat on the floor and sighing when he saw her disappointed look.

He walked slowly towards her, stroking her chin with his finger, and finally whispered: "We can catch up later." Then he put a soft kiss on her lips before turning around and disappearing through the door. She sank back into the pillows and pulled the blanket over her head.

The rest of Sunday flew by. Mostly because her mind was on Robert and she could hardly wait to see him again tomorrow at work. She had probably never looked forward to a Monday in her life as much as she did that day.

The next morning, YN carefully applied her lipstick and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She noticed that the collar of her white blouse was a little crooked and quickly adjusted it. She wanted to look her best for Robert today, so he wouldn't change his mind and lose interest in her.

Humming softly, she put on her black high heels and grabbed her handbag. She quickly put another pill into her mouth and put the box in her bag. Her headache was completely gone and her head finally felt clear and light again. In a good mood, she breathed in the fresh morning air and made her way to work.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked down the familiar corridor of Fischer Morrow. The lights were on in Robert's office. She ran a final hand through her hair, smoothed her blouse and opened the door to her own office.

The air was stuffy and hot. Coughing, she ran to the window and opened it.

"Good morning, Miss YN, I hope you had a nice weekend," a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

Startled, she turned to see Robert's face as he stuck his head through the door, as he always did.

Why didn't he call her by her first name? Confused, she stared at him, trying to form a clear sentence. "But… But… we spent it together…" her voice finally broke. Her head suddenly hurt again.

He seemed so different again. Not the Robert she had spent the weekend with, not the one who had apologised for being too rude to her, not the one who had made her laugh and told her about his life. He seemed more like the one she had worked with for months, the one who never revealed anything about himself.

"Miss YN? I haven't seen you since Friday, when you left my office after… asking me that question."

Her heart almost stopped. Suddenly her knees gave way and she sank to the floor.

"Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?" Concerned, he bent down to her. "Do you want to go home and rest?"

She nodded slightly and wiped a tear from her eye, which had turned her fingers black from the carefully applied mascara. Then she got up and left the office.

At home, she lay motionless on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't think straight and her throat felt incredibly dry. The door to her room, which was only ajar, opened gently and something small and white slipped through. Sniffling, she stretched out her arms and lifted her cat onto the bed.

Everything that had happened that weekend had been fake. She had made it all up. And all of this happened because she had forgotten to take the pills she was taking for her delusions. Robert hadn't really followed her on Friday evening; it was all a figment of her imagination. While his real self was still sitting in the office, probably not thinking about her at all. Everything suddenly made sense: why Robert looked a bit different, why his voice sounded different, the waitress who ignored him on Saturday because she couldn’t actually see him, the pedestrian who gave her a confused look because she was talking to herself while taking the photo.

The photo.

She immediately got up, put on her shoes and walked to the photo shop where she had left the film to be developed. Her heart raced as the staff handed her the envelope with the photos. Trembling, she finally grabbed the Saturday night photo, without looking at it herself, and held it up to the staff's face. "What do you see?" she asked.

The young man looked at her in confusion, but remained polite. "The fountain at Piccadilly Circus. Great picture, it turned out really nice."

"Anything else?" she asked.

"No, ma'am," he replied, and it felt like a slap in her face. Fischer had never been there with her. Only her lonely and sad mind had led her to believe that he was interested in her and loved her. Tears welled in her eyes and she left the shop without another word. When she got home, she immediately took the white box of pills from her handbag, rushed into the kitchen, opened the box and poured the pills into the bin.

Crying and with burning eyes, she finally lay down on her bed and buried her head in the pillow as her cat purred softly beside her. She must have stayed like that for hours, as the sun began to set again outside her window. When she finally lifted her head and wiped the tears from her face, she saw a dark-haired man sitting beside her bed, looking at her lovingly with his pale blue eyes. A smile suddenly appeared on her face and she began to laugh, pulling the man into a tight embrace.

some explanations because i know that story is kinda mind-fucking:

• Is Robert Fischer all a creation of the readers mind?

- No he actually exists, he’s her boss and she‘s in love with him, so she imagines dating him.

• When is he real, when is he fake?

- The version Robert Fischer in the office is real, he turns her down when she asks him out, leaving YN heartbroken. The moment she leaves the office, she starts to imagine what it would be like if he apologised to her, so the man who follows her is just her imagination. The real Robert Fischer is still in his office at Fischer-Morrow.

When she visits the city on Saturday and meets "Robert" and goes on a date with him, it's also just her imagination. That's why other people react to her with confusion, because she's basically talking to herself all the time. On Sunday morning, when she wakes up next to him, he's still fake. When she takes her pills, he quickly "disappears" (he says he has to pick up his daughter...) because they stop her delusions.

On Monday morning, when she gets back to her office, the real Robert Fischer is there again, who hadn't seen her since he had rejected her on Friday evening.

When she gets home, she throws away her pills and her delusions begin again. The man who sat next to her on the bed and comforted her is again the imaginary version of Robert.

[architcct]

hii bbys now that i finally have time under the read more you’ll find a brief description of my new muses/muses that i want more threads for !! as always just give this a like or im me and i’d lov to plot with you <3 

amoya roberts - herizen guardiola - lesbian - dumb and fun, has a moderately successful youtube channel but none of the ambition to make it big, thrives off being around people august hewlett - dacre montgomery - straight - actor who made it big all of a sudden but owes a lot of that to nepotism. deceptively gentle, hugely sensitive and knows how to attack your weakest spots  sophie debrandt - margot robbie - lesbian - ceo of a hugely successful activewear company. is never not having a panic attack, keeps vodka in her coffee flask. extremely efficient and controlling samantha fischer - adeline rudolph - bisexual - old money singer-songwriter/actress/podcaster who can’t really pick a lane. knows she’s cool and mysterious and tries very hard to maintain that image. a lot of fun after a few gin and tonics charles coûteaux - cillian murphy - bisexual - member of the french milieu - if you’ve written with lana, he’s her uncle that produces drugs. good cop to philip’s bad cop. gentlemanly to a fault, absolutely no conscience to speak of philip coûteaux - cillian murphy - heterosexual - charles’ twin brother and the more... how you say... unhinged of the two. has a massive guilt complex, self-medicates with whiskey jordan thompson - anya taylor-joy - bisexual - archivist and professional tea-drinker. manipulation is second nature to her, doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. if you fuck w the magnus archives, she has a verse where she works in the archives but is an avatar of the web  eamonn farren - tom holland - bisexual - botany student. small plant son. golden retriever in a man if the golden retriever was stoned all the time. least ambitious of his family, literally just wants to grow his garden and fall in love  dorothy miller - logan browning - lesbian - tv actress trying hard to make it on the big screen. ambitious, flighty, too shy for the kind of work she does. has a habit of picking emotionally exhausting roles. low-key based off ‘dorothea’ by taylor swift amber jones - florence pugh - bisexual - poet who really buys into the ‘starving artist’ stereotype even though her family’s rich. been engaged three times and each one falling apart has devastated her more than the last. bit of a pain in the ass but her heart’s in the right place

[spaceorphan18]

ckerouac replied to your post

“what is your favorite episode from your least favorite season of glee?...”

Ok I love this question, but 1, this is cooper Anderson erasure and 2, I think S8 is way less trash than you do lol

I know - I did think about Cooper - and Big Brother is definitely a highlight, but as whole episodes, I like the other two more :( 

Okay - let’s break down season 8 and see how bad (or alright) it really is! I’d love to hear your opinions on it, RB! (Clearly this is my life now) 

The List - Robert splits the staff in half on some random list that he made.  I think it’s a pretty decent episode, which reintroduces the characters pretty well.  Plus, we get some great Pam stuff, so I’m okay with that. 

The Incentive - Andy has to motivate the office.  Another episode which isn’t that bad, despite being a plot line already done by Michael Scott.  

Lotto - The warehouse wins the lotto, and Darryl has to rethink his life choices.  There’s some good Darryl development in here, and Andy isn’t that bad as a manager - but he’s not great, and it does feel like they keep trying to give Andy plots originally for Michael Scott, which doesn’t help. 

Garden Party - This is the first episode that starts to bug me.  Andy’s obsessive need to impress Robert as well as his parents is incredibly irritating.  However, this episode does get a few points for having a fun Dwight/Jim subplot. 

Spooked - This one is... interesting? Robert asks everyone about their fears and laces it all together for a bizarre scary story.  It’s strange, but definitely watchable. 

Doomsday - Dwight creates a doomsday device! I really wish they had gone more with the tension of not screwing things up, but it’s more about getting Dwight to turn it off.  Not a bad episode despite not being what I initially thought it’d be.  And better on rewatch. 

Pam’s Replacement - Pam’s pregnant and worried about Jim being interested in her replacement.  Shenanigans ensue -- favorite one! 

Gettysburg - I think this episode is boring more than anything.  Andy gets half the group to go to Gettysburg for a motivational trip.  Not only is a questionable Michael Scott plotline, they already kind of did this during The Incentive.  There’s a fun side plot involving Schrute Farms, however it’s not balanced out by the stupid side plot of Robert thinking Kevin is the next big genius.   (Also Pam leaves because Jenna Fischer went on maternity leave, and that might be a reason I think these episodes get worse for a while.) 

Mrs. California - This episode is where I think the season starts to turn really not good.  Robert’s wife comes into the office -- he wants Andy to hire here but not hire her.  It’s so dumb - especially when his wife seems totally normal.  The mind games seem stupid, and make Robert seem insane instead of mysteriously clever - which seemed to be what they originally going for.  Meanwhile, Dwight has the dumbest side plot about starting a gym -- which makes it clear the writers seemed to be running out of ideas. 

Christmas Wishes - The Christmas episodes aren’t usually that bad, and this one isn’t.  There’s a little too much drunk Erin getting weird about Andy and his girlfriend, but it’s watchable.  And there’s some fun Dwight/Jim stuff going on throughout. 

Trivia - This is an episode I’m disappointed isn’t more interesting than it sounds.  The gang goes to Oscar’s gay bar for trivia night.  It’s another watchable one - but there’s so much more they could have done with it.  

Pool Party - This episode is fuckin’ weird.  Everyone goes to Robert’s weird house for a pool party and everyone is just... weird during it.  Except Jim, who just wants to leave.  I don’t really like it cause it focuses way too hard on Dwight, Erin, and Robert, and it’s not necessarily weird in a good way since half of them don’t feel in character.  

Jury Duty - This one is, fine, I suppose.  Jim tries to make it up to the office for being gone for a week, and Dwight deals with Angela having her baby.  I’m kinda annoyed at this point that the writers no longer take Jim very seriously, and he’s consistently written as a dumbass, and the Angela/Senator thing would be better if it didn’t drag on and on and on, but at least this one doesn’t focus too much on Robert/Andy/Erin shit. 

Special Project - This one kicks off the Florida arc, which is...idk, maybe a step up from the rest of the season? This episode is pretty good as it sorts out who is going and who is staying, and Pam’s back! 

Tallahassee - The first episode actually in Florida.  I’m meh about it.  Dwight gets really sick, and there’s some gross stuff going on there.  And we get the intro to Nelly, whom I find frustrating during her tenure in season 8 (she’s fine in season 9), and Todd Packer’s around again, which always annoys me.  The Scranton stuff is fine - as Andy is receptionist for a day. 

After Hours - This one is mostly fine.  I love the plot line where Jim has to keep away from Cathy and uses Dwight to help him out.  The rest of it is meh as a lot of it is Nelly and Todd Packer being weird together, Ryan hitting on Erin, and a lot of Darryl and Val drama that isn’t as interesting as it could be. 

Test the Store - The Florida story is pretty good where the store down there opens, and there’s some interesting things going on.  But I hate the subplot about Andy and Pam being bullied by 12yo girls.  HATE IT

Last Day in Florida - This one is, idk, another meh-ish one? Jim is trying to stop Dwight getting fired, and while I love the dynamic, maybe not one of their better story lines.  Meanwhile Toby and Darryl are selling girl scout cookies, and it’s incredibly boring.  Also, Erin decides to stay in Florida to help an elderly woman - and this kicks off the WORST run in the show.  I’d rather watch Scott’s Tots again than the next three episodes... 

Get the Girl - I HATE THIS EPISODE. Andy goes back to get Erin -- and ends up staying with the elderly woman Erin’s with to woo her back.  It’s so cringy, and both Andy and Erin seem like dumber and more annoying than they usually are.  Meanwhile - while Andy’s gone, Nellie just comes and takes over Andy’s job.  And as much as I hate Andy and Erin at the moment, I hate that his job is just given to Nellie because she decides to sit in the manager’s office.  It’s so dumb.  Every part of this episode is dumb and it probably is the worst episode in the series.  

Welcome Party - Continuing the terrible plot lines of season 8, now that Andy and Erin are back together - they have to go dumb Andy’s not at all developed girlfriend while she’s at a family gathering.  It’s so, so terrible and awful.  And makes Andy and Erin seem like the worst people.  This seems far worse than anything Michael Scott ever did.  Meanwhile, Dwight and Jim are forced to throw a party for Nellie - which is at least watchable, but Nellie is still fairly annoying at this point, too.  

Angry Andy - The Andy and Nellie plot lines come to a head, which you know just by the description isn’t going to go well.  Andy gets angry and terrible, Nellie is still insufferable, and Robert is no longer making any sense at all.  The climax of these stupid episodes is just as bad as the rest of it.  The only redeeming factor of this episode is the subplot involving Kelly choosing between Ryan and an actual decent guy, and everyone helping Kelly try to move on from Ryan. 

Fundraiser - While this episode is at least better than the past three, I find it mostly boring.  The office goes to a silent auction - yay(?) No, it’s boring. Andy spends the whole time plotting revenge against Robert for firing him.  Dwight seems uncharacteristically stupid about the auction.  And Darryl teaches Nellie how to eat a taco (yes that is a plot line) and Angela’s husband hits on Oscar.  

Turf War - This episode is probably the first fully good episode since Special Project? Robert’s going crazy, and closing down branches, so Dwight and Jim go against other branches to steal clients.  It’s nice to see Dwight and Jim work together.  Pam gets to know Nellie - and Nellie’s at least tolerable in the episode? 

Free Family Portrait Studio - Considering that most of the season is rough, this one isn’t bad, though probably one of the weakest season finales.  Dwight schemes to figure out if he’s the father of Angela’s baby - and we’re left on that cliffhanger.  Meanwhile, David Wallace is back as CEO, and gives Andy his job back, and while it’s nice that Robert is leaving (and Sabre is going away), the writing for the show is on the wall.  

So, looking at this list and thinking about it.  The biggest issue is that there’s so much Andy and so much Erin and so much of their terrible romance that it grows tiresome really fast.  Meanwhile, Robert California is a bizarre addition that doesn’t quite fit.  Nor does Nellie, whom it’s obvious the writers like, but aren’t sure how to use her well.  Meanwhile, Dwight, Jim, and Pam don’t feel very present nor do any of them have many memorable plot lines, and it doesn’t help that the writers seem to be stuck in dummy-Jim mode, as well as Pam just not being there for half the season.  

And... there we go, too much time spent on season 8. 

[tommyshelby87]

Robert what would you do if Fischer morrow went bankrupt or collapsed meaning you won't be the CEO of that company any more what is fall back job what will you do afterwards.

I have a few foundations that I could run, while I sort things out.