Reporting back to work

"Sir," called out Aviana as soon as she was inside the CEO's office. "Have a sit," said Ethan as he gestured for her to sit down. Aviana followed his gesture and drew the chair opposite him and sat on it. "I'm reporting back to work," she continued. Ethan, immediately withdrew his eyes from the document he had been reading before she showed up and glanced at her. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Are you over the incidence? You don't need to report to work, if you have not fully recovered," he continued, his eyes filled with nothing but concern....concerned for her. Aviana, however, wasn't so much moved by his concern. She probably thought, it was his responsibility to show concern for his employees. Probably, because their employees' wellbeing played an important role in the company. So, if one fell sick, then it would affect the company's progress.

"I've fully recovered, sir," she responded. "Besides, staying at home would only make me think about the incidence. I need something that I can be doing to keep my mind busy and free from thinking about it. And working is the best option for me, right now," she concluded. In response, Ethan nodded his head in agreement. She was right, after all. She needed something that would keep her busy. Busy, from thinking about the incidence. And working was the best alternative for her

"You're right. You can join the rest of the employees. But if you have any concern, don't hesitate to ask," he added. "Thank you, sir," she said as she stood up from the sit and walked out of the door. Ethan continued to indulge himself in his work.

A moment later, Devin walked in. "Sir," he called out. "What is it?" asked Ethan drily. "Chloe has traveled out of the city," he responded. "Where has she gone to," asked Ethan as he continued to work, not bothering to look at him. "Japan, sir," he responded. "Okay, that's good. Atleast, I don't have to worry about her kidnapping Aviana, again," said Ethan, his face still expressionless.

"What about the task I asked you to deal with? How did it go?" he asked. "It didn't....." he hesitated. "It didn't go well, sir," he responded, finally assembling all of his courage. He lowered his head, like a submissive servant, waiting to be reprimanded. Ethan's hand which had been holding the pen, writing, suddenly stopped. He raised his head and glared at him in disbelief.

"You failed, again!" Ethan's angry voice echoed in the room. "I can't believe, you couldn't handle such an easy task," he roared. "What happened? Why couldn't you accomplish the task?" he asked, still baffled as to what could have actually gone wrong. Finally lifting his head up, he responded, "Sir, when I got there, Mr Davis refused to award the contract to our company. He said that it was too late, he had already given the contract to someone else."

"Is that all?" asked Ethan, still in disbelief.

He couldn't believe, he failed because he couldn't get the contract back from the person it had been given to? He didn't even bother to pursuade him? What had he taught them over the years? Did he teach them to always leave it at that, when the couldn't handle it? They were in the business world, where you had to do what was required to get what you wanted. Did he forget that so soon? That nothing is too late for them? They had everything :money, power, influence. They had all it took, to get what they wanted? "Go back! And do what's necessary! Offer him money! Whatever it is that you can think of, do it! Get the contract back!" he roared, stressing each word, not as a request but a command.

Devin, however, hesitated to leave. It seemed he had something that bothered him, but he didn't know how to present it to his boss. Finally gathering all the strength and courage that he could assemble, he uttered, "There is a problem, sir," Ethan, however, didn't get what the problem could be? That he couldn't handle? But choosing not to argue anymore, he asked, his voice still cold, "What is it?" Devin, however, hesitated. "Have you suddenly gone dumb?" asked Ethan, irritated. "Kelvin Urkel, is the person who managed to get the contract before we did," he finally responded. Ethan wasn't at all surprised at the mention of his brother. He must have known how important the contract is to him, that's why he went ahead of him and acquired the contract. But it didn't matter, to him, who took it. He would get it back, he vowed. And this time, he would handle it himself. "You can go back to your duty post," said Ethan as he gestured for him to leave. "Focus on the other tasks I've given you. I'll handle this one, myself," he added.

Jayden sat on the sofa, his legs crossed on the table, holding a blue file in his hands, perusing it, while at the same time, speaking on the phone. "Keep a close watch on her," he spoke, instructing the person on the other side of the phone. "Keep a track of all her phonecalls. And if you notice anything unusual, don't hesitate to call me," he added.

"Yes, boss," said the bodyguard, on the other side of the call. He didn't wear uniform, rather, he wore like every other civilian. For him to be send to Japan to keep a close watch on Chloe, it meant a lot. First of all, he was one of the most trusted employees, bodyguard to be precise. Second, jayden didn't trust Chloe a bit. He had difficulties trusting her, even though he had send far away. After all, she had done so many unforgivable, evil things, that he still couldn't believe she were truly his sister.

Meanwhile, Kelvin walked into the mansion, holding the contract in his hands as he waved it to his mother. "Mother , we have it," he said, melodeously. "We finally have him on our palms," he added. Susan, unable to understand what her son was actually talking about, walked towards him and asked in puzzlement,

"What are you talking about, son?" Seeing the look of puzzlement on his mother's face, he chuckled, as he gestured her to sit down. "Mother, have a sit first. I have good news for you. But first, we need to celebrate with a glass of champaigne," As he pushed out these words, he ran to the counter, where all manner of beers and wines were kept, took a bottle of their favorite wine, and two glasses and emptied the wine into the two empty glasses and gave one to his mother. "Cheers to victory, mother, " he said as he held his glass high into the air. The sound of the glasses echoed in the room,as they cheered.

"Can you spill out the beans? I'm curious to know? What are we celebrating, son?" asked Susan, unable to hold her curiosity anymore. Kelvin took a sip of the wine and placed it on the table, as he sat on the sofa beside his mother. "I finally got the contract that he so much wanted. We will use it against him to compel him to meet our demands," he said, as he continued to handover the document to his mother to witness for herself. Unable to hold the joy inside her, Susan held him into a warm embrace, as he congratulated him. "That's my son. I'm proud of you, son. You did well, my son," After a prolonged embrace, she finally released him. "But son, how did you manage to get the contract?"she asked the question that had been running through her mind. However, Kelvin chuckled. "That's a secret," he responded, a wide smile playing on his lips.