A knock on the door put a brake on my non-stop rejecting and selecting the designs from the heap of catalogues. I needed to deliver the final samples to the head designers for the new collection of OC Textiles.
Liza’s blonde head appeared through the door.
“Sorry to disturb you, but the meeting is just about to begin. And your presence is required there.”
My brows furrowed. “But I’m just an employee. What would I do in a board meeting?”
His shoulders lifted. “No idea. The boss’s orders.”
Why did Caleb need me in a board meeting?
Sighing, I nodded. “All right. I’ll be there in a few.”
“Great. See you there.” With that, she closed the door behind her and left.
I didn’t even have any idea what the meeting was about. Nor did I know what to say or do. Whatever happens, I just hoped he wouldn’t be there. After yesterday’s confrontation, I tried my best to avoid him. But his being the freaking owner of this company didn’t make it easy.
Since Tobias’s revelation about it, I still couldn’t get over the shock. The irony! I had to work in his company under his orders. And here I was trying to escape him at any cost. Now I had a doubt that whatever happened to my job and transfer, he had something to do with it.
I let out a huff.
I just couldn’t make out what was brewing in his head. It was all so inarticulate.
When I entered the conference room, all entities in three-piece suits’ eyes trained on me. The head chair was still vacant and there was no trace of Caleb yet. Flashing a professional smile towards those mostly unfamiliar faces, I found an empty chair right next to the head of the table.
All the other seats were occupied other than the one I took and the one at the other end of the table. And the big bald man seated beside it with a creepy face didn’t encourage me to go there.
Once I took my place, my gaze kept flickering to the door, waiting for the boss to arrive. The curious glances I received from around the long table made me fidget and uncomfortable.
Though their reactions were legit as it wasn’t a regular thing for someone who was not a board member to join board meetings.
When the door opened, only then everyone took their interest off me and stood as—
Achilles Valencian walked in, followed by Caleb and Liza.
I sucked in my breath when his gaze landed on me. Those powerful, dominating stormy irises. The whole room went silent: an effect of the commanding aura he carried with him.
Averting my eyes, just as I expected Caleb to come and sit at the head of the table, he changed direction and went to the chair beside that creepy big man. And thus, the head of the table was occupied by the devil himself.
Of course. He was the king of this kingdom. What was I thinking? Now I was regretting not sitting beside that bald man.
Caleb sent his regular sunny smile from across the table, which I couldn’t return. I’d just ask him later why he called me here.
At the king’s curt nod, everyone took their seats.
“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to someone who will be joining in every board meeting from now on,” spoke his deep voice, when I played with the emeralds of my bracelet. A way to ignore him and the irrational fast beats of my heart due to his presence. “Meet Ms. Emerald Hutton, a very special friend of mine.”
My gaze snapped up to him. What the hell? I’d be joining board meetings with them? I was just a newcomer employee!
“Welcome aboard, Ms. Hutton! It’ll be a pleasure to work with you.” I turned to the woman next to me, who greeted me with a kind smile.
I could barely show her my enthusiasm in return. I was too perplexed for that. What the hell was really going into his head?
While some of the members welcomed me with professionalism, most of them remained quiet. They seemed to share the exact bewilderment as me.
When they didn’t respond well and expressions of displeasure etched onto their faces, great Achilles Valencian barked out, “Any objections?”
The shake of everyone’s heads was immediate.
“N-no objections, Mr. Valencian. I’m sure there must be some reason behind the decision you took, and we respect it. We’re just… a little surprised, that’s it,” the bald man beside Caleb said.
Ace nodded. “Good. The sooner you get over your surprise, the better. Now, you all may proceed with the meeting.”
I kept shooting daggers at him with my glare as he leaned back in his chair, listening to whatever the members were saying one by one. And when his hand slowly slid to where mine was placed on the table, I jerked my hands down.
The slight crease between his brows told me about his dissatisfaction.
He was trying to touch my hand in front of everyone? The nerve of him.
My features formed into a scowl of disbelief.
Sensing my glare, his fleeting pools met me for a second. And the twitch at the corner of his lips made my fists into balls.
My attention wasn’t on the meeting, as I was too busy showing my displeasure. But a certain topic caught my ears.
“This is a matter of concern about how they seemed to have better plans than us in every presentation we’re making in our recent deals. It seems like they know exactly what will be our deficiency and they will work right on there,” the bald man beside Caleb stated, a frown set between his joined brows.
They were talking about a rival company of Valencian Corp. Some AR industries that competed in every deal this company approached.
Ace cocked his head. “What do you have in your mind about this?”
That man shifted in his chair, clearing his throat. “Umm, I think—”
“That we have someone among us leaking information.” Ace finished for him. It was more like a statement than a question. His jaw ticked as the bald man nodded. “Have you tried to find out who it is yet?”
The man visibly gulped. “We thought to discuss it with you first. And we were not sure how to find out the culprit.”
His lips curled in distaste. “You weren’t sure? Is that how you all are planning to run this company?”
The board members avoided his furious eyes, keeping mum.
I cleared my throat. “If you all don’t mind, I’d like to suggest something.”
Nervous flutters erupted in my stomach when everyone’s gaze fell on me once again. I had given interviews and presented presentations before the teachers and students back in the college, but talking here before these experienced businessmen professionally, was another thing.
His sharp glare softened as he gave me his sole attention.
“You don’t need to ask permission to speak up, Em. Say whatever you want to say,” Caleb encouraged me from the other side of the table.
Wetting my lower lip, I started. “To find out who’s behind this, can we do a discreet research on the backgrounds and recent activities of the people who are working directly with these projects? Because irrelevant staff won’t know much about the presentations to disclose.” When no one interrupted, I continued. “That way, if we find someone suspicious, we could easily replace them with someone more reliable and take legal actions against them once we get solid proof regarding their offense.”
An older man laughed out loud. “Good idea there, Ms. Hutton. But we can’t just go and start looking at everyone’s full history and recent activities. It’ll be too time-consuming. And whoever is doing it isn’t a fool. Once they find out about the investigation, they’ll get more careful with their moves.”
“That’s why I said the word ‘discreet.’ Yes, it might be time-consuming, but it’ll be for the well-being of the company. Otherwise, I don’t think there’s any other way to find the culprit.”
“Of course there’s a way,” he argued. “We could just change the whole team instead and appoint only the trustable ones.”
I shook my head. “Finding them out is an utmost need for us right now. Because if we let it go and don’t do anything about it, it won’t be difficult for the rival company to buy someone else again. An example of what happens to a traitor needs to be set before the others.”
The man snorted. “We know how to deal with this situation. You don’t need to point out anything. You’re just a newcomer here—”
“Didn’t you hear what she said, Mr. Brooks?” Ace snapped. “I’d like you to start working on this as soon as possible without wasting any more time!”
“But Mr. Valencian—”
“Enough! No more discussions. You’ll do what my—Ms. Hutton says!” he barked, cutting Mr. Brooks off with his icy gaze. “And next time, keep your attitude in check while talking to her.”
Swallowing, Mr. Brooks nodded, shifting in his seat.
Though it felt good that he supported me, what’s with the rage?
As the meeting went on, I again went back to silence, twirling my bracelet, only speaking when needed. Even that was difficult with his intense gaze on me most of the time. As if he didn’t come here to join the meeting, but to stare at me.
I sighed in relief when a clerk interrupted the long ass meeting for a coffee break.
With a large tray of mugs, he started distributing them around the table. When my turn came, I shook my head at him with a polite smile.
“No, thanks. I don’t drink coffee.”
“No worries, miss. I got some tea for you,” he replied, handing me the cup of steaming tea.
I sent him a surprised look. How did he know I preferred tea over coffee?
“How do you know I like tea?” I queried.
The smile on his face threatened to fall as he glanced around. He opened his mouth, but Ace cut him off.
“You may go now, Gabe. Thank you for the drinks.” His eyes remained on me. Gabe didn’t waste a second before hurrying out of the room, away from my question.
Casting another glare at him, I sipped on my tea. And again, I was surprised. It was made the same way I liked it. Less milk with no sugar.
I looked at Caleb. Did he tell that clerk my preference? Maybe he found out from Tess? But I didn’t think she knew I didn’t like coffee in the first place.
Weird.
“God! I’m so tired! Liza, why don’t you ask someone to help me with these report sheets? I need some help with it,” Sierra said, a girl from the finance department.
After the meeting, Liza took me on another tour around the office. This time, to introduce me personally to everyone. And when we met Sierra, a good friend of Liza’s, she started complaining.
“Everyone is busy, Sierra. I can’t just tell anyone to push their work aside and help you out. I’m sorry,” Liza apologized.
Sierra’s shoulders slumped.
“I can help you with that if you want. I have some experience of working on them with my brother,” I offered.
Her eyes widened as she straightened. “No, no. It’s all right, Emerald. Thank you so much for your offer, but I think I’ll manage.”
“No worries, I’m free right now, anyway. I’d be happy to help.”
I have been free since the meeting. Because no one was giving me any work to do. Even choosing those designs in the morning, I had to request Liza to let me do that. Well, I told her to give me something, and she handed me those catalogues. It didn’t seem like work for me, but I took it anyway. At least I’d something to do.
I figured the stuff they gave me to do yesterday wasn’t very important. I understood I was new, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t give me any serious job.
Even the other employees seemed to be too careful and polite around me. I couldn’t make sense out of their treating me like a VIP and not one of them.
“But I can’t just trouble you with my work—”
“Please, I insist,” I pleaded. My hands were itching to do some real work.
She glanced at Liza behind me with uncertainty, and then slowly nodded. A hesitant smile slowly spread across her face.
“Oh, thank you! Tell me, where do you exactly need my help?”
Once it was lunch time, only then we were finished with the work. Sierra was a fun person, so working with her was easy and comfortable. I was glad that apart from Liza. I found another easy to get along person in this office.
“You ready?” Sierra asked, getting up from her desk.
Looking up from Beth’s messages, I nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Just when we were about to get into the elevator, a voice stopped us.
It was Carter, Ace’s assistant. A redhead with a short height. The dark patches under his eyes were proof of his tiredness. Though I just met him yesterday, I pitied him. Due to some unknown reasons, his boss remained in this office all the time. And he, being his assistant, had to run back and forth between Valencian Corp and OC Textiles for him.
“Yes?”
“Miss Hutton, I’m sorry to stop you. But Mr. Valencian requires your presence in his office.”
I frowned. “Why? What does he need now?”
He shifted on his legs, pushing the specs up his nose. “Uh, he wants you to have lunch with him.”
