7 Shouldn't Have

Wayne Corp was a multi trillion dollar company with many branches around the world, and specialization in different fields. They handled medicine, distributed food, worked in fashion, technology, transportation, security and did much more. They even invested in education and entertainment.

The main headquarters was based in New York City, New York. And only the best in their fields could be lucky enough to be transferred or hired by the headquarters. And anyone who betrayed the corporation.... things never ended well for them. It was for this specific purpose, it was nicknamed the Lion's Den.

The main headquarters was made up of two hundred floors above ground and four garage floors underground. Security guards were placed at each of its two entrance and exit gates. There were checkpoints at each gate and even before parking one's car in the garages, a routine check would be carried out.

Currently,

on one of the large floors in the corporation, several prominent members were seated around a grand table. The AC was on, which made the room a bit cold but the man seated at the head of the grand table, had a temperature far colder than the AC and it made some people a bit uncomfortable at the table.

The seat specifically reserved for the man, was the presidential seat. He sat like a king overlooking his subjects, with a very dangerous and imposing aura. This man, was Gabriel Wayne.

Each and every seat was filled by the directors of the different fields in the company. Many of the were men while the others were women and everyone had been told to dress in black. The men and a few of the women were dressed in black tailored suits while the other women were wearing black dresses.

To Gabriel's left hand side, was the seat where his personal assistant, Janet Cain, sat. She was currently seated obediently at the table with her eyes lowered as though she was sleeping or in deep concentration. While, to Gabriel's right hand side, was the seat were his CFO, Mark Page, sat. Currently, the seat was empty and there was no sign of Mark in the whole room.

'The fact that the CFO isn't here, is sign enough that you don't deserve the position of CEO' Jerry thought while glancing at Gabriel. He was also present in the room as he was one of the directors, 'I was your father's right hand man and I once sat in that CFO seat. But when you entered power, I was demoted to the director of finance. Arrogant brat, I'll make you fall out of power' he thought before saying "The CFO is taking his precious time and making everyone including you, to wait"

"Silence" Gabriel said in a cold tone "Janet, what's the time?"

Janet suddenly sat upright and stared at Jerry directly in the eyes "It's only one fifty eight" she said "Mr Page said the meeting would begin at two o'clock. So please be patient"

"You people put too much trust in...."

"Sorry I'm late" Mark said as he bursted in through the door with a large grin on his face and a woman tailing behind him with a folder and a straight face. As soon as Mark sat down, the woman dropped the folder, bowed and left the meeting room

"You really took your sweet time" Gabriel grumbled

"I had some stuff to do with the new nanny. Don't be angry with me, please" Mark said calmly before handing the folder over to Gabriel "I was also looking into this matter for you" he then stared directly at Jerry and the woman sitting next to him, smiled and gave them a wink "Just to show the reason why this place isn't called the rabbit hole, but the lion's den" he rested his head on one of his hands and stopped smiling "We're not pushovers"

The woman sitting next to Jerry subconsciously gulped and took a glimpse at Jerry's reaction. Even if Jerry was trying his best to hide his emotions, his hands were fidgeting and he had to move them under the table.

'Why am I so afraid of this arrogant brat?' Jerry wondered as he removed his gaze from Mark

Suddenly, Gabriel tossed the folder in his hands on the table with a bang.

"Traitors in this room, are you going to confess to your sins before things escalate?" Gabriel asked and there were several murmurs in the room

"Who's the traitor?" the directors began to murmur among themselves

"The traitors better come clean" a man said and the others agreed, but nobody said anything

"That was your last chance" Mark said with a sigh as he stood up and everyone kept quiet "There is no longer any need to push this meeting any further..." he took the folder from the table and said straightforwardly "Jerry Atkins and Regina Vasco, your services are no longer needed in this corporation. You are to clear out your desks and don't even think of finding work in any Wayne branch. Meet with the lawyers on your way out and hand over all the money you've taken"

"You can't do this to me" Jerry shouted as he stood up and banged his hands on the table "I have contributed a lot to this company. Can't you tell that I'm being framed? Plus, what do I have to do with the director of fashion?"

Mark simply ignored his comment and stared at the woman sitting next to him, "Miss Vasco, did I investigate wrongly?" he asked and the woman bowed her head in shame

"He told me it would be easy money" Regina said "That I could finally get revenge on the Wayne family for the sake of my distant relatives, the Cain family" she crooked up and started to cry "I didn't plan this. He involved me in this and left too many tracks"

"Woman, I won't let you tarnish my good name" Jerry shouted "Don't try to drag me down with you"

Gabriel clapped his hands "Wonderful performance, Atkins" he said as he stood up and snatched the folder in Mark's hand before rolling it up and throwing it at Jerry "Take it and read. Do I look like I'm wearing diapers? I'm almost thirty you idiot" he shouted before calming down

"Regina will be going to prison for this. But you, I suggest you keep your eyes out whenever you walk out on the streets..." he said and smirked "...because you never know who's coming for your miserable life" he looked at everyone in the room "Meeting adjourned" after that, he was just about to leave when Jerry opened his mouth again

"Do you think I'm afraid of you, Gabriel Wayne?" Jerry shouted "I've known you since you were just a boy. I was one of your father's favorite workers"

"My father's favorite worker?" Gabriel repeated as he paused at the door "Did you know, I've dealt with every one of his FAVORITE workers? You coming out to tell me that, was a rather stupid decision"

"You monster" Jerry said under his breath

Gabriel looked at Jerry "My father turned his children into monsters. And honestly speaking, I'm the biggest monster out of them all. So, thanks for the complement" he said before leaving the meeting room with Mark and Janet

Soon after, the other directors left the meeting room; leaving only Regina and Jerry. Just as the last director was about to leave, he stopped at the door and looked at Regina and Jerry before shaking his head

"You should have never tried this" the man said "Mr Page isn't your everyday CFO. Ever since he started working here, haven't you noticed that nobody tries to directly attack the Wayne family?" he said "Master Wayne can easily kill you but Mister Page, corners and destroys you until you have nothing and nowhere left to run. Mister Page will make you wish for death while Master Gabriel will bring forth your death. They are a dangerous combination and you two are rather foolish to go against them" he said before walking out the door gloating "Enjoy your last moments of freedom"

After the man left, Jerry stared at the folder Gabriel had thrown at him. He picked it up before ripping it to shreds.

'Mark Page, I will pay you back times ten, for this'

******

On the two hundredth floor,

Gabriel was walking around his office with a more relaxed expression while Mark laid on the sofa with his eyes closed.

"How did you know?" Gabriel asked

"Has me working for your company, made you forget who I really am?" Mark questioned back

"But you weren't even here" Gabriel argued and Mark sighed

"I....still haven't removed the people I have in your company" hearing this, Gabriel paused in front of the large floor to ceiling windows

"How many are they?"

"Can't tell you....but, they don't pass ten"

"That's....manageable" Gabriel said as his face turned stone cold and the office went deathly silent

"Something on you mind?" Mark asked as Gabriel overlooked the city from the floor to ceiling windows of the office

"Have you investigated IT further?" Gabriel asked and Mark sat up

"I've looked into it....but there are still no results" Mark said nonchalantly "Ever since the incident three years ago, that involved your sister's family and on of the most wanted leader of a pain in the ass, gang, everything has been relatively covered up.....there's no trace of them every being in New York"

Hearing this, Gabriel clenched his fists "How come?"

"Even when the guy's running his business, our only way to find out about his is from witness sightings. But the man's too cruel and I'm almost about ready to stop hunting this guy down and let him come to me" Mark said with a sigh "During my one year investigation, I've lost numerous agents. It seems like the whole of Asia is his base and when my people step in there to investigate, they come back in a body bag" he stared at the back of Gabriel's head "I can't keep losing my agents. As such, I'd already cut off direct investigations two years ago. We don't have enough data from ranged investigations"

The place went silent again while Gabriel didn't turn around once...

"Thanks, Mark" Gabriel said and thought for a while before saying "Crystal...will be returning on the first Saturday of next month with my brother"

Surprised, Mark couldn't help but ask "How is she?"

"She's good but....everything's messed up" Gabriel said "She still refuses to communicate and she's getting older without interacting with anyone" he clenched his fists tightly "If not for what happened three years ago, she would have grown up to be a lovely woman with her parents by her side" he gritted his teeth "I swear....I will get revenge on everyone who had a hand in what happened three years ago"

"The person involved is also a wanted criminal on death roll. I'll help you with some people, once he makes a mistake" Mark said as he went back to lying on the sofa "Until then, try to relax more"

Gabriel took a deep breath and relaxed before sitting on his seat and about to start work when he remembered something

"Anyways, how are things on your side?" Gabriel asked

"What?"

"I'm talking about your children" Gabriel said

"I left them with the nanny, Maria"

"Aren't you going to check up on them?" Gabriel said "You were always staring at your phone whenever you left those kids with a nanny"

"Well, today is different" Mark said "I trust her to be safe and careful of the kids after the last incident.....she'll call when she faces any problem" as soon as he said that, his phone buzzed in his pocket and the ringtone played 'Intentions'

"Let me guess, it's the nanny"

"Oh shut up" Mark said and he brought his phone out from his pocket and picked the call before putting it on speaker "Is there a problem?"

"When are you planning on sending the twins to school? And which grade?" Maria's soft voice spoke through the phone.

Gabriel sat up a bit when he heard her voice; it was such a tender and sweet voice, he wonder what the owner looked like.

"It depends on their social skills. And I'm only looking forward to put them in the elemen...." Mark's voice faded as he remembered something before asking "Are you...tutoring them?" he asked unsure

"Yeah" Maria said "I just wanted to know at what level I should stop. We've already finished all the third grade subjects and are moving onto the fourth grade"

Mark's mind went blank "They're not complaining or causing trouble?"

"Of course they aren't. The kids are angels"

"Maria, j-just do whatever you want" Mark said before hanging up

"I've got to meet this woman" Gabriel said

"Why?"

"I think she needs to visit a therapist" Gabriel said "Do you have a photo of her?"

"If that's your reason, then just stay away from her" Mark said with a wry smile "I'm not giving you any information on Maria other than she's my kids nanny and her name is Maria"

Gabriel frowned and brought out some documents from his desk before calmly opening it "Leave. I have important things to tend to and don't have time for your nonsense" he said but when he looked up, Mark was already at the door

"See ya later buddy" Mark said before walking out and slamming the door shut

"It's no wonder his children are like devils.... the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree" Gabriel murmured before going back to his work