The next morning, Simon and Sarah found the concierge waiting near the entrance to the hotel's breakfast terrace. He greeted them with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Mr. and Miss. I trust you slept well." said Mr. Collins.
While sqeezing Sarah's little hand Simon replied:
"Exceptionally well. I don't think I had such a perfect sleep in a long while. Just a little longer might have been better. But the night was splendid nonetheless".
At the end Sarah had to interupt Simon with a little punch to the side, as her ears got red from embarrassment. Her crazy boyfriend might as well explain all the details of what happened yesterday evening.
After a reminder from Sarah the young millionaire began coughing and changed the topic:
"Mr. Collins, any recommendations how to start the day?"
"I'd begin with breakfast on the terrace while it's still cool. Afterwards, spend the morning on the beach. The private section reserved for our guests is usually quiet before noon." said Mr. Collins.
The next few days passed at a pace that felt almost impossible to recreate in the future. Mr. Collins created a nice and calming atmosphere in the hotel and continously provided them with amazing suggestions on how to relax as much as possible.
Simon and Sarah allowed themselves to disappear into the rhythm of Miami Beach. They woke naturally to the sound of waves rolling toward the shore and sunlight spilling across the enormous windows of their Fontainebleau suite. The city below slowly came alive: beachgoers walking along the sand, classic American cars moving along Collins Avenue, and hotel guests gathering around the pool beneath the palms.
They walked barefoot along the shoreline, swam in the warm ocean, and rested beneath umbrellas while the sounds of conversation, waves, and distant music blended together. The atmosphere of early-1970s Miami felt glamorous but relaxed.
Unfortunately some ideas of Simon were denied by his bodyguards. One time in the evening Dennis Miller literally dragged him away from a club, because it was quite famous for it's contact with certain drug cartels. The influence of cocain could be felt everywhere in the party scene of Miami. But the grandparents of Simon clearly forbid any closeness to drugs. Old Parker even threatened Dennis with his beloved Remington during one of their visits earlier in February. If Dennis ever left Simon in contact with drugs, let alone direct contact with members of the drug cartels, he better never return to New York in this life. Dennis might never forgot how close this fully loaded Remington was to his guts and rather made Simon angry than provoke this old school american grandpa who happened to be a lawyer as well.
Another day took them away from the ocean and into the Everglades. They traveled through a landscape that seemed untouched by time, gliding across the wetlands and observing birds, wildlife, and endless stretches of grass and water. For Sarah, it was a reminder that the world still contained places where technology had barely made an impression.
Evenings became their favorite time.
They danced beneath warm lights while orchestras played. They watched the sunset from their balcony as Miami changed from gold to pink to deep blue. From the height of their suite, the city appeared peaceful, far removed from the crowded metropolis it would become decades later.
Late at night, they often sat outside with the balcony lights turned low. The Atlantic stretched endlessly before them, and the sound of the waves filled the silence. They could see ships in the distance and the lights of Miami shimmering along the coastline.
Simon's mentality quickly recovered during those peaceful days and on April 3rd 1971 the couple was finally ready to return to the cold New York and get back to work.
Sarah needed to return to her studies while Simon wanted to sort out the company and take some changes towards the course of Atari. After sitting on the balcony and just relaxing in the sun with some cocktails he realised that he might have wanted to rush things with initiating the NBA Jam project this year. It was simply unnecessary to develop a game of the 1990's at the start of the 70's. Most of the company executives should have realised that the hardware needs must have been way out of their league or turned this whole project unprofitable, but nobody wanted to say anything to him and damper his enthusiasm.
After returning to Atari he first needed to correct that course of action. While being on the plane he replanned the development of Atari in the next few years, which also included to push the development of NBA Jam towards the early 1980's. First he needed to establish his teams in the NBA.
The jet touched down at John F. Kennedy International Airport, still known simply as JFK to most travelers. The wheels met the runway with a soft vibration, and passengers began gathering their belongings as the aircraft slowly taxied toward the terminal.
Simon looked out the window as the aircraft approached the gate.
The airport was a world before modern security procedures transformed air travel. The difference was almost shocking for him who came for the 21st century.
In 1971, the experience was far simpler.
A passenger would typically arrive at the airport, check in with the airline, hand over luggage, receive a boarding pass, and proceed toward the gate. Family members could often accompany travelers much farther into the terminal than they would decades later.
After leaving the JFK airport they quickly made their way towards the prepared cars. After living in the sunny Miami for a week the cold air of New York was certainly no pleasant experience.
Simon decided to drop of his girlfriend at their families estate in Long Island before finally returning to his Manhattan apartment alone. He needed the Saturday evening and whole Sunday to gather his thoughts and prepare for the welcome of John Chambers, Howard Schultz and Sergio Marchionne.
He already informed Tanja Crawford, Dennis Watson and Gunpei Yokoi that an important meeting would take place on Monday to readjust the companies strategy in the next few years. I guess all of them are currently on edge and awaiting Monday with mixed feelings.
At the end of the Saturday evening Simon sat alone in the living room, one arm resting on the deep leather chair, his gaze fixed through the large windows overlooking Manhattan. The apartment was high enough that the streets below had become a river of moving lights rather than individual cars and people.
He held a crystal tumbler in his hand.
Inside was a measure of The Macallan, a refined single malt Scotch whisky that matched the quiet elegance of the evening.
While taking a final sip he was eagerly awaiting Monday and the start of the career for three of the greatest management minds of the 20st century.