Chapter 3: Speechless

When I reached home yesterday, my mom wasn't happy at all. I tried to explain things to her but she told me never to mess with her again. She was really angry, more than she had ever been with me.

Well, today was just another day, I prepared myself and drove to work as early as possible. I was supposed to go by 9 am but I had a lot to do today. Rebecca's work, plus the bunch of articles that needed to be edited before tomorrow...

When I arrived at work, I parked my car in the parking lot and headed to my office. I was on the 10th floor together with my team and Lena, just two floors below the CEO's floor.

Talking about the CEO, a new guy was coming to take over the company today. I just hoped he wasn't a bad guy, I disliked bad guys. He should be as cool and good as the former CEO, Mr. Rogers.

I was about to log into my computer when Lena arrived, she was wearing a low-cut suit today which revealed her cleavage. "Hey, morning!" she said smiling broadly.

"Morning, you looking good today" I scrutinized her outfit.

"You can say that again" she winked, majestically walking over to my workspace. "I know people will love it"

"How odd!" I commented and continued, "Is it because the big boss is coming today?" I sarcastically asked.

"Big boss? You mean the new CEO?" she wrinkled a brow.

"Yeah, him!" I chuckled. "Is that why you are dressing like this today?" I asked again.

"What? No! I'm just trying to look nice, you know" She rolled her eyes.

"Okay I get it but, do you think he's cute?" I teased.

"Ask him when he comes!" she hissed and headed to her workspace.

"Sorry!" I screamed trying to control my laughter.

"F*ck you, Stella!" she cursed and never replied to me again.

After two hours or so, the entire floor was already filled. Our writers were busy doing their work in their workspaces, and Lena and I focused on our tasks as well. She was the assistant chief editor and the one in charge of our floor.

Others would report to me and I would report to her, she in turn would report to the deputy chief editor on the next floor and the deputy chief editor would report to the chief editor, and the chief editor would then report to the CEO in the last floor above all other floors. Confusing, right? Well, you would get to know everything soon!

When it was 11 am dot, Lena walked to my desk and told me the new CEO had arrived and that I should tell the rest of the staff on our floor to gather in the conference room immediately. She then walked away like she was been chased, straight to the elevator.

I chuckled imagining how eager she was to meet the big boss, I was sure that outfit was for him. When she was with her ex, Lucas... she would dress that way whenever he was coming to see her.

I turned ON the intercom system and did what she asked me to do. I informed the rest of the staff on the floor about the coming of the new CEO and told them to leave whatever they were doing and go to the conference room immediately.

I was the last to leave the floor, I closed my computer programs and saved the things worth saving before leaving. It was the standard protocol, you know? I even took my flash drive with me in case of any breach.

The conference room was a large room located on the 15th floor, it was dedicated primarily for gatherings and so on. As soon as I arrived there, I realized the CEO hadn't arrived yet. I mean, to the room.

I scuttered to one of the free seaters and sat down gently. We were about 150 to 160 in the room, Lena and the rest of the high-rank staff occupied the chairs on the high table. The only available chair there was the one in the middle, which was the CEO.

Lena couldn't stop adjusting her cleavage, perhaps trying to make herself more presentable before the big boss arrive. I giggled hoping she saw me not, albeit we were far from each other and I could say...chances of her seeing me were thin and crispy.

Minutes later, the new CEO walked in with some guys around him. To say I was shocked was an understatement. Do you know who he was? Have you any idea? You don't, right? Well, he was the umbrella guy I met yesterday, the one that gave me his umbrella!

I stared at him as he walked over to the high table. Lena and the rest of the high-rank staff members stood to their feet and welcomed him. He was wearing an Armani suit today which suits him perfectly just like yesterday. However, today's was grey while yesterday's was black. Nevertheless, he looked so handsome and... I couldn't finalize my thought when our eyes meet.

He ignored the people talking to him at the high table and focused his gaze on me. He was speechless and so was I, yeah... I was speechless too. Lena traced his gaze to me and frowned, she must be angry already.

I lowered my gaze thinking that would make me feel better but deep inside me, I knew it wasn't enough. I felt like burying myself beneath us. I never knew he was our new CEO or rather the Replacement CEO. If I knew who he was, I would have been more polite yesterday. I gulped.

Suddenly, I heard some people clapping their hands. Then the managing director cleared his throat in the mic and announced that he had stepped down from his temporary position as the acting CEO and had now officially handed over the company to Nicholas Brian, the heir and only son of late Mr. Rogers – the founder of the company.

The whole room became mute, and everyone with their jaw dropped. The only people that weren't surprised were the ones in the high table, which include Lena. But the rest of us were surprised, we never knew Mr. Rogers had a son. The only thing we knew was that he had a wife before and they got divorced long ago. He disliked talking about his personal life. Even the almighty Wikipedia knew nothing much about him.