Chapter V

Our boss strides like he was going on a war with that deadly look in his eyes and a scowl on his face. The people behind him was death-pale. Their skin is almost translucent, like a corpse who was soaked in vinegar for ages.

Boss stop from where we are and said, "In the conference room," before started walking again.

The surrounding air became tense and you could feel an impending doom as our boss passed to where we are.

The people who was behind our boss went to the conference room just located beside our boss's office without a word. Fearing for their dear life and salary getting stripped off of them.

"Boss, wait!" I said before our boss could open the door of his office. I immediately walk towards him and stop a few feet away from him. I stared straight from his eyes and I could see na parang ilang sandali na lang mawawalan na siya ng paensya. "Mr. Leventis told me to tell you to call him ASAP when I see you. I think it's urgent given the tone of his voice."

Thank God my voice is firm given how nerve-wracking I'm feeling at this moment.

"F*ck!" He silently curse before she brushed his hair with his hand making it dishevelled and out of its place, some fringes even fell just right under his eye. He looks at me afterwards, "Prepare for the meeting." After saying that, he went inside.

I heaved a deep sigh and walk towards Agnes who was still looking at me, "Welcome to hell!" I silently whispered to her nang nasa harap na niya ako but she just shrugged her shoulders before getting up from where she was seated and started fondling on the folders above her desk.

I was also going to walk towards the conference room when the door from our boss's office opened and close in a bang that made me jump from where I am seated. Even Agnes close her eyes from the impact. I really feared that the hinges of his door would collapse from the way he slammed it.

"Do you still want me to tell you to go to the conference room, twice?" Our boss voice boomed and his eyes looked at us intently, ready to spat another mouthful of venom-like words.

Ms. Mildred who was behind him even eyed us coldly kaya pareho kaming napayuko ni Agnes.

I really didn't think I would get reprimanded like this after three years of being a perfect secretary. I don't know if it just because I was on edge recently that I keep on making mistakes and lose my cool or I'm just tired.

"No, boss," Agnes and I said in unison before scurrying towards the conference room with our boss and Ms. Mildred behind us.

The U-shape conference table was surrounded by 30 chairs. Agnes and I both seated at our designated seat, the chairs on the left and right side at the center chair, where our boss will going to seat in a minute.

As I scan the people around us, I could feel that they are on tenterhooks, not wanting to be the centre of our boss's wrath. Their ragged breathing and side glances at the door indicated how bad the situation was.

Although, almost all the Heads of every department are much older than our boss, they are still afraid of him. The only exemption is Ms. Ariadne Green, a 28-year-old Chief Administrative Officer. She's the only one who can rival Ms. Mildred's temperament and a genius. Among all the staff in the company, she was regarded as our boss trusted aid aside from Grand Queen Dowager.

As I took a secret peek on her, I could see how compose she is amidst this crisis. She was like a blank canvass, devoid of any emotion. You can't even read what's inside her head.

I could still remember the gossip circulating about Ms. Green when she first work here. They said she was only here in our company because she wants to be closer to the person that she loves, and I think, it was our boss because of the way she acts every time our boss is around. She would smile involuntarily and look like a love-struck teenager whenever she looks at the direction of our boss. Sometimes, she even had this look of yearning, like she wanted to run to him and hug him. The complete opposite whenever she's in the company of other people because she's merciless and cold.

The notion that she might be an obstacle on my mission bring a high level of wariness from me. Although, it's not confirmed yet, I can't let anyone hinder me, even if I have to use underhanded tactics.

"I thought it was just the hacking incident, I didn't think the actual situation is much worse," Agnes said in a hushed tone that only the both of us can hear. I immediately look at her who didn't found out that I was looking at Ms. Green.

In order to stop myself from looking at Ms. Green's direction I replied to Agnes, "From the way our mysterious boss called, I deduced it was worse than we could think." And I took a quick glance at the door before looking back at Agnes again.

The heavy atmosphere and deadly silence added to my already haywire mind. Honestly, this is the first time in a long time that I was this tense. Maybe being too sensitive caused a toll on my body that I can't function and think properly.

When the door pulled open I stiffened. No one would even have the audacity to breath noisily and even a pin drop could be heard.

Every stride our boss made is like a stamp in my heart. The sound of his solid steps that was engulfing the silence inside the conference room is promising a bloody war ahead. A kind of war that he intends to win whatever the methods are.

When our boss was seated on his chair, I could feel the coldness surrounding him. "Start with your bullsh*t excuse now," he coldly said without even a hint of emotion from his voice, the kind of tone that he only uses when someone's head is going to be detached from their heads. Then, he looks at the heads of every department, one by one. Like a predator who was ready to slaughter its prey.

While the other Chief Executives, Mr. Leventis and Mr. Dela Merced, isn't here, the wrath of our boss is just enough to cause a bloodbath.

The Operation Director, Mr. Rivera, was the first to stand. The wobbly motion of his legs as he walks to the center and the slight crumpling of the papers in his hands indicates how nervous he was, and I could sympathise with him. Being in a watchful gaze of King Yama could make anyone felt like there's an invisible knife on their throat and any mistakes they would make will be the trigger that could take away their precious life.

After arriving at the center, he immediately reported the current condition of the company and when he's done another Department Head take his place and the rest of the Company Heads report one after another.

After hearing everything, our boss's coldness intensified.

The gravity of the situation is much worse than I expected. If I were in my boss's shoes, i wouldn't know what steps to make.

"So, you're all saying that the information leaked on its own?" Our boss said with a hint of sarcasm from his voice. "If you can't find the culprit by tomorrow morning..." then he looks at every department heads with a chilling gaze, "I expected your voluntary resignation!" Then he stands and walks towards the door and close it with a bang.