Thirty minutes after the brainstorming session was concluded, Nathaniel left the conference room for the CEO's executive office, carrying his laptop and some files–a job meant for his personal assistant.
He moved with purpose, unbothered by the silent stares that trailed him.
No one dared to cough out their observation of the way his personal assistant casually left the meeting to take a call or why she didn't return.
The last person who dare to question the CEO's personal assistant work ethics got herself not only fired, but blacklisted for future employment.
Nathaniel got into the private elevator, swiping his access card with a sharp, impatient motion. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and he stepped in alone while speaking with someone over the phone.
"Yes. I'll be in attendance at the Annual RAD Gala and Awards night. In the meantime, set up a meeting for Monday next week with the company's shareholders and board of directors. I want the patriarch of the company in attendance too."
"Yes, sir." A sharp male voice answered from the other end.
"Also, have the real estate agent send me his final price for the property in the next three minutes and the owner's account details." Nathaniel ended the call as the elevator chimed at the top floor.
The door slid open to reveal a long, silent hallway bathed in natural light, the polished obsidian tiles reflecting his silhouette as he strode forward.
No staff of the company, not even the security guards, were allowed into this sanctuary except the acting CEO and his trusted personal assistant.
At the far end of the hallway stood a towering set of matte-black double doors, flanked by chrome handles and an embedded biometric scanner.
As Nathaniel reached the door, he pressed his fingerprint to the scanner and lowered his head for his right eye to be captured.
A soft beep, followed by an automated feminine voice said, [Welcome, Nathaniel.], before the door parted open.
Taking a deep breath, Nathaniel stepped into the office, wondering who had dared to disturb his boss during the meeting.
The sleek and luxurious elegance of the CEO's executive office never failed to wow Nathaniel every single time he walked in.
From the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, to the grand mahogany desk, and furniture so precise in design it seemed sculpted, not built, every single thing in the Office screamed of wealth you could only dream of.
Every design, artwork and sculpture in the office was intentional, procured at staggering fees at auction events.
Every surface gleamed like it had never known chaos.
But all of these riches were meaningless to the red-head goddess seated behind the desk like a woman king on her throne.
She seemed busy with fingers flying across the laptop keyboard at a relentless pace.
Her eyes didn't blink. They just scanned, calculated and executed the instructions of her fingers.
"Boss..." Nathaniel cautiously approached the desk. "We have deliberated on the..."
"I trust your decision, Nath," Hiraya said in a relatively calm but firm tone without looking up.
"Thank you, boss." Nathaniel adjusted the tie around his neck, unable to decipher Hiraya's mood at the moment.
"What's the status of the property in LampStone?"
"The owner of the property is willing to sell for..." Nathaniel quickly unlocked his iPad to check the price when Hiraya suddenly stood up, shutting the lid of her laptop.
"Just pay him any amount he wants and have the place ready before the weekend according to Griffin's taste. I do not want any mistakes or setbacks." Hiraya said, picking up her branded, customised handbag.
"Yes, boss." Nathaniel gave a curt bow.
"In the meantime, hurry up here and join me in the car. I need to bake cookies for my son." A faint smile tugged at the corner of Hiraya lips, her heart already warming at the thought of seeing Griffins angelic face.
'Oh! So Griffin was the one behind the call.' Nathaniel nodded his head beaming.
"Do not keep me waiting, Nath." Hiraya paused briefly at the door, looking over her shoulder, her emerald green eyes flashing a lethal stare.
"I wouldn't dream of it, boss." Nathaniel hurriedly went about his routine duty while Hiraya left the office taking the private elevator down to the underground parking lot meant only for her.
*****
It has been over five years, ever since Carmelita left him with nothing but a recorded voice message filled with heartbreak and misery.
But not for once did Kendrick give up searching for her. He refused to let go of her—driven by nothing but his memory and the fierce ache of his heart.
He hired the services of the best investigators in the country and equipped them with all the resources they needed to track her down.
Sadly, every route always led to a dead end, and for a moment it felt as if Carmelita had been nothing but a figment in his imagination.
Broken by one cold trail after another, Kendrick refused to give up hope. He believed that someday he would find her and get the rare chance to profess his undying love to her.
-
-
It was another busy Friday morning in LampStone City.
The air at the Silva Group's manufacturing company was electric, charged with urgency, precision, and pressure.
From the factory floor to the executive suites, every inch of the building pulsed with the drive to close the week strong.
Inside a well-furnished and luxurious executive office, Kendrick Silva sat behind the imposing desk like a general in command, his expression silent, sharp, and consumed with precision.
Morning light filtered through the tall glass windows behind him, casting a soft glow over the sleek, dark wood of his workspace.
Stacks of documents lay neatly arranged before him, all awaiting his signature.
With his silver pen gliding across the pages, he moved from file to file, his focus absolute, and brows furrowed in measured intensity.
Just then, his phone buzzed sharply, vibrating across the polished surface of the desk.
A single glance at the flashing screen was enough to break the rhythm in his expression.
"Mom." Ken sighed.
Against his better judgment, he swiped the receive button and brought the phone to his ear.
"Sweetheart, I've found the most wonderful girl for you and this time I promise you are going to love this one." Zara Silva cooed, her soft, melodic voice impossible to ignore.
"Mom..."
"Hear me out first, sweetheart."
Kendrick's grip on his phone tightened as his mother cut him off like she always does.
"This girl is not like the other one. She is well-behaved, smart, beautiful and elegant. She just finished med school and she came out top of her class. She plays the violin and wait for it..."
Kendrick's jaw tightened subtly, eyes narrowing in irritation as he exhaled through his nose.
"She is a red-haired beauty."
Kendrick felt his heart skip a beat. The only people who knew about Carmelita's vague identity were Andrew and Erick; his elder brothers. Could they have sold him out to his mother?
"Your silence means you are impressed. Right?" Zara's thrilled voice cut through Ken's thoughts.
"What!...No... I mean, I'm v...very busy. I don't think I'll have time for any blind date today." Kendrick managed to mask the anger in his tone.
"I am aware you are a busy bee. That is why I fixed dinner for 7:30 PM tonight at the family estate. Your grandfather is expecting you and your brothers will be there. Dress smart and don't be late." Zara chimed and ended the call before Ken could protest, leaving the latter seething in fury.