Who is it this time?…….

Friends are not something you need to look for. They are everywhere they are waiting for you around every corner you just need to walk up to them and say hi. Old friends, New friends , Friends around you they are just there. Why do we get blind and abandon them with our own insecurity? The coffee time in the office made Alya happy she had a great time with her old friend. It also gave her stuffs to think about. Brian is having family issues. Arranged marriage for business. ‘What is lacking in the office now? It seems like it is going fine. Ah I am confused here again.’ She slowly walked to her next destination. Megan was waiting for her in front of the RD. Alya waved to her, “ Sorry for being late. Were you waiting for a long time?” Megan shook her head smiling back, “ No I just arrived a few minutes ago. But the smell that is coming from here is making me drool.” Alya noticed a sweet smell coming from the door. The sweet and baked smell must be from the oven, “ Is that pie smell?” Megan quickly opened the door. They entered the room. It was filled with baked flour smell. Chef Wen was looking at one of the bigger ovens. Megan stood in front of the oven, “ Is that apple pie?” Alya stood a few steps behind her, “ But I am smelling more than just apple in there.” Chef Wen, “Ah both of you arrived at a good time. We are going to make pairs for these dishes” The oven gave a ding sound, one of the chef opened the door. Alya felt a burst of sweet baking smell hit her. She breathed in heavily it made her stomach growl more. They brought out the golden-brown pies some of them had dark brown color. Megan, “ Oh it is making me hungry. What do you think Sarah?” Alya, “ Yes even my stomach is growling, and I had a bunch of snacks before.” The pies were left to cool down a bit on the table Chef Wen brought out some plates and three boxes of classic flavored ice creams. He took a big knife and cut the pies into triangular slices. The fruit were shiny and glossy but darker in color shade. Alya asked about the ingredients and the fruits in them. Chef Wen, “ Please try a piece everyone and start with vanilla ice cream scoop.” “ This table is smelling really good Chef Wen.” Tyler came towards him and shook his hand. “ May I join the feast?” Chef Wen, “ We are trying out new combinations would you like to try some Sir?” They all greeted Tyler and stood back to let him have the first choice. He looked moved around the table talking to Chef Wen. Everyone was eager to choose flavors. One by one they took some pie and ice creams to taste. Alya pulled one of the chair from the table and sat down. She ignored the people around her and looked at her plate there are square bite size pie pieces on her plate and a small bowl of vanilla ice cream. She took one bite of the pie and got lost in the taste. She did not notice that someone sat beside her. Tyler, “ You look like a kid in a dessert kingdom.” Alya, “ Oh sorry Sir, I did not see you there.” She tried to get up, but Tyler moved his hands asking her to relax. Megan came over and sat on her right side, “ That is our Sarah she get lost in dreamland when it is dessert.” Alya smiled and took a bite of the honey apple pie, “ This is the tastiest one this is going to be my favorite.” Tyler, “ I like the Pecan Pie more. It has a strong nutty taste goes really good with the vanilla.” Megan, “ Me too I like the pecan pie more than the others you think this one will be the chosen one?” Alya, “ Maybe if everyone likes it. But I am going with this one it is so soft and sweet.” Tyler laughed at her expression, “ You have a thing for sweet food.” Alya nodded taking another bite she was almost done with her servings. She put the spoon in her mouth and starred at her plate thinking, ‘ Should I get more?’ Megan spoke up without even looking at her, “ Do not even think about it.” Alya grinned, “ I wanted to try with strawberry that is all.” Megan, “ The strawberry box is empty. Besides we need to get back you have to finish that slide.” Alya looked down sadly, “ And I thought I was going to enjoy only eating today.” Megan got up and pulled her from the table. Tyler smiled at them, “ How about I ask Chef to save one for both of you.” Alya replied thanks while being half pulled and half running back to the desk. ‘Back to work she thought sitting in front of her screen. It took around two hours to finish the work. Megan took the softcopy from her to edit. She leaned back looking and turned to look at her to do list in the phone. She heard Tom scream some curses from his corner. It sounded harsh curiosity got her like a few other colleagues. He looked like frustrated. Alya stood in front of Tom, “ What happened?” Tom looked like he is in verge of tears, “ I lost all of it, the data sheet, the product list the prices all gone.” Alya felt a huge rock fall on her head. She heard a scream behind her “ WHAT ?” Aiden rushed in and pulled Tom away with his chair behind him and stood in front of the computer. Aiden looked at Tom with rage he almost scolded him, “ This is outrageous. What were you doing?” He took a breath and calmly asked again. “ Where is the back up?” Tom looked devastated, “ It is gone too. I checked the backup drive nothing is there.” Aiden was shaking in rage in one moment then calmed down the next, “You have the hard copy extras right?” Tom quickly nodded and ran to the locker. Alya, “ Is this about the new project? Can we salvage something?” Aiden, “ If we start now it will be all night. There are too many works I need more hands.” Megan raised her hand, “ I am in let me help.” Alya, “ I will get my copies we might be able to create a new one.” She quickly ran to her desk. ‘This is strange, why would the data sheets disappear like this?’ she dismissed her thoughts. I need to focus on the task at hand right now. They followed Aiden to the conference room and put down the papers and their laptops. Liam came over to give a hand to the group. Tom still shook like a leaf but was typing gritting his teeth. Aiden, “ Listen everyone we will be here very late. But if we work together we might be able to save the presentation for tomorrows deal. Please make it happen.” The whole room went silent with just two to three people talking in between. The papers went from one hand to another. 10:45pm The sky is dark a little bit of the moon can be seen behind the moving clouds. The energy around the meeting room became too less but work still went on. Tom looked exhausted but kept on typing. Megan left to catch the last night bus for home. Alya took the cup and walked out to stretch her legs to get another cup for the next round. Her mind is occupied on the missing two piece. It is not matching with the previous budget. She walked down the hallway the lights were dim it felt eerie with no one around. She heard two voices Liam and Aiden they were arguing about something. Aiden, “ This is not an accident this was intentional the same person must have deleted the files.” Liam, “ I agree with you, this is getting out of line. Was Brian informed about this?” Aiden, “ No he left early for something urgent. I have to explain to him early in the morning. This will be bad if we are not done on time. ” It sounded like they are moving. Alya quickly hid herself behind the long lockers. She looked over to check if they left and walked in to get more coffee. He mind is filled with new thoughts ‘who else is doing this? Wasn’t Iliana caught? Who is it this time?’