75Once there, his assistant, Elysia, quickly joined him, entering and closing the door behind her, looking a little nervous and afraid.Michael, noticing Elysia's demeanor, asked with concern, "What's happening, Elysia?"Taking a deep breath, Elysia mustered up the courage to share, "I just attended a meeting with the heads of department, and Wallas mentioned that he hasn't heard from Mr. Walker, the CEO, for several days. In light of this, he proclaimed himself the new CEO until we hear from the former.""What the hell? No way!" Michael exclaimed, feeling a sudden shock at Wallas's audacity. The news immediately heightened the strain he had already been feeling throughout the day.As if synchronized, a brutal knock pounded on the door, causing both Michael and Elysia to jump. The knock sounded again, this time more forcefully, followed by a deep voice—a voice they both instantly recognized as Wallas's. "Whoever is here, open the fucking door now!" he shouted.Michael glanced at Ely
76Elysia quickly stood up from her chair, her heart pounding. She knew she had to find a way to divert Wallas' attention and prevent him from discovering Michael in the restroom. Meanwhile, inside the restroom, Michael's heart pounded in his chest. He had dropped a lamp he was holding in his hand, and now he feared the consequences of Wallas discovering him. He hastily tried to clean up the broken pieces, but it was a futile effort."Erm, Wallas," Elysia called out, her voice trembling slightly. "I just remembered, one of the pipes in the restroom has been leaking. I heard it earlier, and it might have caused that sound. Maybe it's best to leave it be for now and inform maintenance."Wallas paused mid-step, his face reflecting concern mingled with annoyance. "Again? We've had issues with the plumbing lately. Well, I suppose you're right. Let's leave it for maintenance to handle. But they better fix it soon," Wallas grumbled, reluctantly abandoning his investigation and turned to go
77As he entered the cozy coffee shop, his eyes immediately darted to a familiar figure sitting at a corner table. It was Robert eagerly waiting. With a smile spreading across his face, Michael approached, feeling a wave of excitement.They both exchanged a nod as Michael approached."Hey, Robert. Thanks for coming," Michael greeted, taking a seat across from him.Robert leaned in, intrigued. "So, spill the beans, Michael. What's this job opportunity you mentioned?"Michael released a playful chuckle at Robert's enthusiasm. "Well, you know how you mentioned being jobless? I might have something that could interest you."Robert's interest was instantly piqued as he leaned in even closer. "What do you mean?"A mischievous grin adorned Michael's face as he began to explain. "You used to be a banker?"Robert nodded, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "Yeah, but why do you bring that up?"Michael paused for a moment, relishing in the suspense. "Well, my friend, I have some exciting news for
78Startled, Michael swiftly turned towards Robert, his finger pressed against his lips, signaling for silence. "Shh! Keep your voice down, Robert," Michael whispered urgently. "I'm trying to handle something sensitive here."Not fully grasping the situation, Robert lowered his voice and asked, "Sensitive? What's going on?"As if on cue, the entire sales team turned their heads towards Robert, their gazes filled with a mix of surprise and apprehension. Robert, determined to maintain his composure, cleared his throat and addressed the sales team. "Alright, everyone, let's get back to work. There's no need to be distracted by my presence. Carry on with your tasks and focus on meeting our targets."Everyone lowered their gaze and continued working in silence. Though taken aback by the unusual scene, Robert tried to exude an air of authority, hoping to regain control of the situation. He glanced at Michael, silently urging him to explain everything later.Ignoring the lingering curiosi
79The next morning, Michael and Elysia walked into the CEO's office, only to find Robert already there, chatting happily. They exchanged greetings before Robert's expression turned serious, catching both Michael and Elysia's attention.Robert handed them a document, and Michael furrowed his brow as he took it. As he read, shock washed over his face, and Elysia couldn't help but react in the same way."What's the matter?" Elysia asked, concern lacing her voice.With a sigh, Michael turned to face Robert. "We've received a complaint from Enlighten Energy Inc. They're accusing us of defamation and spreading false rumors."Elysia gasped, realizing the gravity of the situation. "But that's not true! We would never do something like that!"Robert nodded, clearly understanding their distress. "I know, but they claim to have strong evidence. If this goes public, it could tarnish our reputation and lead to a major loss of customers."Michael considered their options, the weight of the situati
80Wallas glanced at Robert with a smile, expressing his hopes for a long-lasting partnership. "I truly believe our alliance will stand the test of time," he said optimistically.Robert returned the sentiment, nodding in agreement. However, before he could speak further, Wallas shared an unusual invitation to solidify their new relationship. "To seal the deal, I've organized an unforgettable evening for us at a local hotel," Wallas mentioned, emphasizing that the company would foot the bill. "It's an exclusive orgy with the stunning girls from our company, and I would be honored if you could join as my esteemed guest."In the midst of this surprising revelation, Michael, who had been quietly occupying the restroom, clenched his teeth in anger. How could Wallas dare to use company funds for such a debauched event? Elysia, sensing his frustration, approached him and urged him to remain calm.Inside the office, Robert took a moment to compose himself, his mind racing as he prepared to re
81"What are you doing in your office with that filthy and lousy employee?" Wallas asked with a shocked and stern expression, gesturing disdainfully towards Michael as if he were a trash can.Robert, still seething with anger at Michael's earlier comments, stepped forward and defended him. "He is an exemplary employee," Robert declared firmly, nudging Michael nervously, urging him to stay calm.To their surprise, Wallas let out a bitter laugh. "Exemplary? That hypocritical bastard is going to cause problems and disrespect you, just like he did to me," Wallas responded, his voice dripping with sarcasm.Determined to stand up for Michael, Robert's anger flared up. "I barely know him, but he has already made a positive impression on me through his work," Robert vehemently argued.Wallas scoffed, his condescending tone lingering in the air. "Impressions can be deceiving, Robert. Trust me, I've seen his type before."In the ensuing silence, Michael felt his face reddening, a mix of embarra
82 Wallas continued, insisting that there was something more crucial that needed their attention. He gestured towards the stack of papers on the desk, which contained evidence of various money theft schemes. "The most important thing is right in front of us, Robert," he emphasized.Robert chuckled in response. He found Wallas' seriousness amusing. "You always find a way to make work entertaining," Robert said with a grin. They shook hands to seal their agreement, and Wallas left the room in high spirits.As Wallas made his way out, the restroom door swung open and Michael emerged, his face still flushed from his impromptu hiding spot whenever Wallas was present. Spotting Robert at his desk, Michael hurriedly walked over and anxiously asked, "Did you manage to convince Wallas, Robert?"Robert nodded, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Oh, without a doubt," he replied, his voice laced with excitement. He has mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Before he could say more, Robert's phone rang a