Chapter Two: Where Is My Gun?

Third Person's POV

“I do not know why they will turn their backs when we did not even do anything wrong!” Diego said and flew his hands in the air. “Or maybe you said or did something that discouraged them from considering the project!”

"I also don’t know-“ the manager tried to explain further.

“What kind of a manager are you? You only have one job and that is knowing the whole information!”

“I am so sorry, sir-“

“You are so stu-“

“Mr. Montero!”

It was the cue to cut what he was saying to the manager.

Marissa has encountered a lot of insults from the CEO over the years. She does not want the others to take it, for she knows how it feels after being reprimanded. Both of them looked at Marissa who was approaching them. She meaningfully gazed at Diego who was squinting his eyes as if observing her. In the end, she avoided her gaze from her boss and regarded the manager whose eyes were already watering with tears.

Oh… it was like the first time in her job when she was accepted as a secretary three years ago. Emotional and sensitive. She would cry every day when she goes home and she gets to be comforted by her grandmother because of her boss.

“Hello, ma’am,” Marissa greeted the manager while smiling angelically. “I will be the one to explain the further details to our CEO. I was informed by the company’s reasons. You do not have to worry.”

Despite the manager close to crying, she managed to smile with her mouth closed. She was relieved that the CEO’s secretary was able to save her.

“Why would you when she is responsible for this mess?!” she heard Diego saying behind her.

Marissa almost shut her eyes, but she stopped herself to handle the situation wisely.

If anyone knows how to diffuse the CEO’s anger, it would be her. That is why the employees always rely on her when their departments undergo problems because she is the only one the CEO listens to and calms him at the end of the day. Over the years, it has been a massive effort to learn the ways of the CEO and Marissa tried to cope with it. Until she became calloused and unbothered by his attitude at work. She also started to satisfy him with her being flexible and a good, obedient secretary. And as time passed by, she got the CEO’s trust.

With a tight, polite smile, she turned to Diego Montero, glaring blazingly at her. She knows that look, and he won’t stop that if she does not give answers.

“I talked to the executive director of the company, sir. It was a personal meeting,” Marissa informed calmly. “He stated that the project was too risky, and after a long evaluation, they decided they will take a step back and look forward to another foreseen successful project but this…”

Diego furrowed his eyebrows. “That is impossible. The project is planned by the whole board of directors and there are many investors on this one! The executive director is being insensible!” he said.

“I understand, sir, but for now, the executive director has no aspiration to have a partnership with our company, no matter how good the project is. The manager did a good job in creating and sending the message. I read it, and it was a good persuasion.”

“If it was that good, how come they were not persuaded?”

“All I can say is that this is not the right time to expose this excellent project, sir.”

Diego Montero put his hands on his hips and turned his back on them. Marissa looked over her shoulder and signed the manager to take the exit of the conversation, motioning her head. The manager wiped her tears, bowed her head, and silently walked towards the door. When Marissa gazed at Diego again, his back still against her, and did not even pay attention to the manager who had just gone outside of the hell they were in.

Thank goodness that Marissa practiced being an ironclad in the past three years and refused to get burned by the fire of Diego Montero. If she could not control her emotions, she would have quit her job and find another one. What she likes about herself is that she never gives up until she is in the game.

“I also have something to add up,” Marissa said.

Diego faced her again with confusion across her face. “What is that?”

“The executive director had another reason, sir,” Marissa revealed, took a glimpse at the closing door of the office, and when she realized that there were no people anymore, she took a step forward and almost whispered. “He found out that his wife is cheating with the chairman. Your father, unfortunately. That is why he does not want to do anything to you and your company.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Marissa knows that he is madly irritated when he cusses. That is why she picked the rightful and acceptable words she would say.

“The chairman is cheating on your mother, sir,” she concluded and briefly looked at the floor because of sensitive news. “I have pictures that I got yesterday when I planned to investigate.”

Diego thinned his lips and glared at Marissa who was fumbling inside her bag. He waited for her to get the pictures, and when she got them, he aggressively took them out of her hands. Marissa watched her boss flip the developed photos. His eyebrows would furrow, his eyes glinting with fury, and when he took a last look at the last picture, he heaved a deep sigh and closed his eyes tightly.

“Ms. Dela Cruz?” he called her.

“Yes, sir?” she answered.

“Where is my gun?”

Oh no, she thought. The storm is coming…

“Do you mean to go to the shooting range, sir?” Marissa asked.

“Is it not obvious?” Diego said and ripped the picture before throwing the pieces to the floor. “I want to shoot something before I shoot someone.”

“I am afraid they might be full now, sir. It is closed to weekends.”

“I do not care. You are good at anything. Then do something with that stupid range, Secretary Dela Cruz!”

Diego Montero turned his back while loosening up his necktie to go to the restroom in his office. Marissa only took a sigh before calling the number of the shooting range they would go.

When it comes to his issues and needs outside the business, the CEO also relies on Marissa. Due to his busy schedule, he would need an upper hand to take care of his family gatherings, celebrations with his relatives, and other related matters. He is distant from his family, except his mother who he cherished the most.

That is why when Marissa found out that the chairman whom everyone looks up to was cheating on the CEO’s mother, she knew it would have a huge impact on Diego.

“I want to kill him,” Diego mumbled while he was driving his Aston Martin on the long highway.

Marissa felt a lump in her throat as she held on to the seatbelt while she was sitting on the passenger’s seat. He suddenly sped up his car which almost stopped her heart. She gulped and gazed at Diego whose nostrils flared up angrily with his eyes glaring at the road.

“S-Sir!” she exclaimed with a nervous smile. “You do not have to speed up. We might bump into other cars.”

“My dad had always been a jerk to me and my mom. And now, he decided to break her heart and destroy our family?!” Diego echoed and laughed his heart out even deep inside, he was in wrath. “How could he do this to us…”

A car made a long screech when he turned to the other side of the road without sounding the horns of his car. It made the other cars use brakes to make a way for him.

“Will I die early?” she mumbled to herself and tightly held on her dear life using the seatbelt.