He shook his head as he made his way to his post, the one he had just recently assumed after serving as one of the security guards for two weeks.Kevin found it funny that all the talks they dedicated a good time of their morning to were all about him—the CEO of Print Odd company—and Mia's useless husband.He briefly chuckled to himself.Even as he made his way to the CCTV footage room, he felt the judgemental and condescending stares, and he wondered what they would think and how they would look at him and talk to him if they knew who he really was.Just as he stepped into his office space, about to settle in his seat, the telephone rang.He walked to it and picked up the call. “Hello?”“It's the boss’ secretary.”“Okay?” What does Mia want this time?“Your attention is needed in the boss’ office.” There was a pause, and Kevin was about to drop the telephone when the secretary hurriedly called out, almost as an afterthought.Kevin arched his brows after the call finally ended. Why do
Mia gaped at Kevin, wondering if she had heard wrong, wishing that she had heard wrong."What do you mean that's impossible?” She asked incredulously, angrily.Kevin shook his head, looking exasperated. “I mean, I cannot stop seeing Alessia.” He enunciated each word. "I cannot stop speaking to her, and I cannot stay away from her. Ask for something else."Mia was rendered speechless. He was not even remorseful about what he had done or felt bad that his relationship with Alessia bothered her. “So you're not denying being in a relationship with her?”Kevin rolled his eyes. "Name another price, Mia. Staying away from Alessia is out of the question.”“Wow," Mia breathed as she slowly shook her head. So Kevin, her own husband, valued his relationship with Alessia more than the one he had with her, his wife? Even if they weren't as all couples should be, had he forgotten that she saved his life? Sheltered him and fed him? Now she was convinced who Kevin really was—an ingrate. That was wh
After the call, Kevin made his way to his surveillance office. He let out a sigh as he dropped into his seat and prepared to get started with work.First, he checked in with the biometric scan. Then he went through the footage from the previous day and the report that the person on duty the previous day left.Then he inspected the cameras, monitors, and recording systems and ensured that they were functioning well. Just as he finished adjusting the equipment and was satisfied with the optimal view around the premises, his phone began to ring. Once he saw the caller's ID, he picked it up immediately.“Hello, boss," Vivian said into the phone the moment Kevin picked up.“What is it?"She briefly glanced toward the Mekin company representative. “There is a representative from the Mekin company. He wants to meet with you.”Since he wasn’t at work the previous day, Kevin decided to delegate the responsibility to his manager.“Tell Amy to meet with him and handle whatever he is there for.”
Kevin dipped her hands in his pocket and slightly tipped his chin toward the Mekin manager's direction. “What's your name?"The manager of the Mekin company, who was still stunned by what Kevin had said, blinked at Kevin. “What?” He blurted, further confused.Kevin sighed deeply and shook his head. He was briefly thankful for his manager because he was sure that she would not go somewhere and begin to shout or dumbly say ‘what’ to every question or statement thrown at her.“I asked what your name is, manager?"The manager of the Mekin company gaped at Kevin. “Who is this man? So you mean you don't know me? You don't know my name?” He scoffed. "Do you even listen to or read business news? In fact, do you listen to news in general?” He jabbed his chest with his fingers. “My name is mentioned in every paper that's published daily. I am Ross T-”“Ross, I'd appreciate it if you return to the company you manage,” Kevin paused, laying enough emphasis on'manage.'' “And let them know that Print
Ross' face contorted in confusion as he regarded Kevin for a while, then he hissed, deciding not to waste his time on a nincompoop like him. With a huff, he turned around and walked out of the company.Everyone watched as Ross walked off with his offer to sign a contract with them.As Vivian watched, she had no idea what to do or even say. She didn't blame her boss; the Mekin manager had been rude, but then... An offer like that doesn't come to one's doorstep every day.Amy was frozen to the spot as she also watched Ross walk away. “That's our chance at success walking off,” she thought. Then she was quick to drag herself out of her torpor and rushed to Kevin's side.“Boss,” she said hurriedly, hoping she'd get her words out and be able to placate and convince Kevin before Ross would drive off.Kevin dragged his gaze away from Ross’ retreating back and turned to face his manager with a smile.But his smile waned when he saw the worry and slight anger on her face. “Is something wrong?”
Once Kevin had left, Jake, Amy, and Vivian headed to the surveillance room.A few minutes into sifting through the footage for that day, Jake noticed that Kevin's manager seemed a bit down; she wasn't her usual agile self.He moved closer to her and nudged her arm as he looked down at the current footage of one of the parts of the building.Amy glanced up at Jake, who in turn arched his brows and asked, “Are you okay?" “I'm fine," she muttered, then she pressed her lips together and returned her gaze to the screen."No, you're not,” Jake insisted.Amy sighed. She thought she could hold it in; she thought she could just keep her fingers crossed and see as everything unwinds, but she couldn't. “I don't know,” she shrugged, then she sighed again. “I'm just worried. I don't really know. Im just not sure if this will work."Jake frowned. "It still is a brilliant idea. Why aren't you so sure anymore?”"What if this backfires?” She glanced up at him, her brows scrunched worriedly.Jake's fr
Without a word, without a hint of how he felt about losing his job, Kevin turned around and left the office.Felix blinked as he watched Kevin step out of his office and close the door.“What the hell!" He muttered as he reclined in his seat and further stared at the door.He slowly shook his head, further assuring himself that he did the right thing by firing him.How could he just walk out like that? With the calmest demeanour and without a word. “So arrogant,” he spat to himself.Usually, when he fired any of the employees who weren't working towards the organisational goal, they begged him. Some of them even fall to their knees and plead with him to retain their job, promising to change their ways. Besides, that is what any sane person will do.But not Kevin, the arrogant nitwit. He was too full of himself. Felix, annoyed at Kevin's attitude, concluded that if he had to fire him a thousand times, he would do it over and over again.And he'd gladly wait to see how far he'd go with
Kevin's phone rang just as he stepped out of Mia's office.He retrieved it from the phone and picked it up, making his way to the surveillance room that was once his office.“Hello, boss. Good day, sir.”“Hello?” His steps slowed down as he wondered who was on the line.“It’s Howard, boss.”“Oh Howard,” Kevin said. “How're you doing?" "I am fine; thank you, boss. I just called to greet you.” “Thank you.”“I also want to tell you that my daughter has gotten even better than when we left the hospital.”“That's good,” Kevin said, glad that Lisa would not be confined to the bed again. She could now move and play like every kid should.“Yes. But it's all thanks to you, sir. Thank you for all of your help. We deeply appreciate it." "Oh, Howard. I've told you, you're welcome, so stop thanking me,” he said. He wondered if Howard would ever cease to thank him. He was such a grateful man.“We've also moved to the house that Alessia got for us. Thank you for the house; Lisa loves it so much.”
“Okay. I was just thinking a better school would do her good," Howard said.Kevin shook his head. “No, there'll be no need for that. It's like when you have a slight headache and you decide to go for a scan when all you need is a pain reliever. I'm not saying bullying is a mild offense. It isn't. But the school is a good one. The flaw they had was not seriously tackling the issue with the bullies…” and the principal's foolishness to favor the kids of sponsors, but he didn't tell that to Howard. "And I've taken care of it. So, there's no need to worry, Howard. Put your mind at rest and continue to play your role as her father. Lisa will be fine and you'll be too."Howard looked up at Kevin and nodded. “Thank you so much, boss. I really appreciate this."Kevin shook his head. "It's nothing, really. I did it for Lisa. Every victim of bullies deserves to be freed.”"Thank you,” Howard said one last time."Yeah," Kevin said absentmindedly as he remembered to let him know that… “Your accoun
Lisa lingered at the door to her classroom. She turned back the way she had come,gazing down the shirt hallway.Maybe I should go back to uncle Kevin and plead with him to follow me in, she thought.She knew that Kevin had done something to them, their apology was a testament of that, but… there was this fear that they've instilled in her. She barely ever showed it, but their presence fill her with dread. When they had walked out of the basketball court, she had grown rigid with fear until she remembered that the principal was by her side and Kevin wasn't far away.“Don't worry, Lisa,” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You’ve got this. You can do this. Uncle Kevin has warned them off, there's nothing to be scared about anymore.”After the quick pep talk, she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders like her mom always teaches her to, and walked into the class.She passed a quick greeting to the teacher and walked to her seat, avoiding to look in her ex-bullies’ direction.
“Wow,” Kevin exclaimed. "That's great!” Vivian beamed."Which company is that?" Kevin asked.“Glikkle enterprise."The name Amy mentioned immediately rang a bell. Though not as big as the Mekin company, Glikkle enterprise was one of the big businesses right now."What a great way to begin the day.” Kevin smiled. “See that we're not doomed like Mr Ross, the manager of the Mekin company equivalent to the CEO of any other company, thought we'd be."Amy and Vivian laughed lightly. “We're not, boss.” Amy said, a smile plastered on her lips. “No one can stop the Print Odd from growing."“Now, that's the zeal. Let no one intimidate you just because the company is a start up.”“Yes, boss,” they chorused, insanely glad that they had a man like Kevin as their boss."So boss, when will you be free so I can book the appointment?”Kevin ruminated on her question for a while. “Tomorrow, by 12, will be fine."“Alright, boss. I'll go get started now."Kevin nodded as Amy walked out. He handed over
Kevin ended the call with Gideon. He was about to pull back on the road when his phone rang again.With his hands still on the steering wheel, he glanced back at the phone. The moment he saw the caller's ID, one of his hands fell from the wheel as he picked up his phone and answered the call.“Hello, boss, good morning.”"Lionel, good morning.”"I called to ask if you've heard from the guy, boss.”"Gideon? The one you suggested to handle the company in my absence, right?”"Yes, boss. We've talked, and I have actually given him a go-ahead. In fact, he has arrived in Landary province. He's in the country right now.”"Yes, I know that. I've heard from him. I actually just finished talking to him.”“Okay, then.”“Yeah, everything's alright. We've discussed a bit. He seems like a good guy. And I can see he's very interested in the role he'll be handling. That's a good start.”"Yes, boss. Once I told him, he accepted in a heartbeat.”Kevin chuckled lightly. "I'm not surprised.”“By the way,
“People need to learn to drive properly,” Kevin muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he slowed down and allowed a motorcycle to speed past the front of his car. If he had been driving as recklessly as the boy and kept up with his speed without being cautious, he'd have hit the ignorant boy. As he marched on the accelerator and returned to his initial average speed, his gaze followed the young boy on the motorcycle who had sped ahead. Kevin began to contemplate if he should go after the boy and reprimand him for his speed. He was on a packed highway; he should move with some sense and not just speed ahead because he feels adrenaline pumping through his body because he's on a power bike. Before Kevin could make up his mind, his attention was drawn from the motorcycle that was rapidly disappearing in the distance ahead; his phone rang out.With his gaze now on the road, he reached for his phone on the dashboard. He switched his attention between the road and his phone. Ashe c
“So that's all about the premises,” Jake said as they stepped out of the storeroom behind the Print Odd building. “As time goes on, you'll get used to the ins and outs of the building.""Thank you,” Howard said to Jake, grateful for the detailed tour. The Print Odd building was quite bigger than it looked. If Jake hadn't shown him around, he was sure to get lost someday.“So now, let's head up so I can introduce you to the two second most important people after the boss.”“Okay,” Howard said, then he added, guessing. "That would be the manager and…" He trailed off, and Jake didn't hesitate to fill in.“And his secretary. They basically run this place since the boss is always busy."Howard nodded as they made their way inside the main building. Jake first walked them toward Vivian's cubicle. And as luck would have it, as they approached, he saw that Amy was right there with her, hunched over Vivian's desk, both of their gazes glued to the system as she pointed at the desktop's screen,
Just as Kevin took a step in the direction of the parking lot, he came to an abrupt halt as a thought hit him. He turned around and walked back into the school building.He was headed for the principal's office, but then made a detour when he saw the principal in the hallway. He appeared to be in a serious conversation with someone as they walked farther down the hallway.“Principal,” he called to stop him since he was walking as he spoke with the man.The principal instantly stood straighter, immediately recognising the voice he had just come to know about half an hour ago. It was forever etched in his memory. He turned around and saw him walking toward him. “Mr. Kevin,” he smiled as he began to walk toward him, determined to reach him before he took more than three strides. He reached him just after Kevin took his second stride.“You came back," he said when he stopped before him. Did he return to accept the invitation to the end-of-the-year party? He wondered before Kevin could
“The right thing to do is to apologise to the person that you all offended. Who do you think is madder at you than I am right now?"Their eyes widened the same instant that one of them gasped, “Lisa!”At that moment, they all scrambled to their feet and raced one another outside the court, each wanting to be the first to apologise to Lisa.Kevin smiled as he watched them troop out of the door. He began to walk to the door so he could join them outside, turning the lights off on his way out.Outside, the kids were already in front of Lisa, apologising to her.Lisa and the principal gaped at them, wondering what Kevin had done to them.They even had smiles on their faces! Lisa squinted her eyes at them to see if their smiles were the evil ones they always gave her in class or the forced ones they flashed at her whenever there was a teacher around. But it wasn't! She couldn't believe her eyes; her bullies were genuinely smiling at her.The principal also looked at them, shocked but glad.
“Lord Phoenix," Lionel's voice filled the space. “Is there anything you need me to do for you?" Kevin smirked as he pointed his left index finger to his phone that he held in his right hand, "Do you hear that?"“What? Sorry, Lord Phoenix. I didn't get that.”Kevin took in the kids' reactions, their bugged eyes and open mouths. The girl who had her arms stubbornly crossed across her chest as she proved to be a badass just a few minutes ago now had her hands by her side, clutching her gown as she shivered with fear. She was the one that looked the most scared. It was true that the loudest was usually always the dumbest.Kevin scoffed, shaking his head.“Lionel,” Kevin finally acknowledged him. “Yes, boss?""I'd call you later,” Kevin told him, then he hung up.All of the kids shook with fear as they gaped at Kevin. They couldn't believe they were in the presence of the lord Phoenix.The lead girl and the tall boy who had both seemed the boldest and most fearless were the ones who trem