70Curiosity piqued, Michael asked the manager why they were working at night. He sighed, a weariness evident in his voice."Well, since I have nothing left to lose, I guess I can explain," he began and motioned for Michael to take a seat. "I know it's not ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures," he said wearily.Michael leaned forward and asked again. "Why are we working at night? What's going on?"The manager hesitated for a moment before deciding to open up. "The company is on the brink of bankruptcy," he confessed. "It's all due to the mismanagement of funds and foolish decisions made by our CEO, Mr. Walker."Eyes widening, Michael couldn't help but ask, "How did it get this bad?"The manager sighed again, the weight of the situation evident in his voice. "Mr. Walker's decisions undermined customer confidence, causing many to leave. As the marketing manager, I tried to warn him countless times about the risks, but instead of listening, he threatened me and even forc
Alarmed at the prospect of being caught inside the CEO's office, Michael swiftly made his way to the nearest hiding spot – the restroom. From there, he strained to hear the sound of Wallas knocking on the door, signaling his arrival. Elysia, ever composed, greeted Wallas and opened the door, granting him entry into the office.As Wallas stepped inside, his sharp gaze swept across the room, searching for the elusive CEO. Finally, his eyes fell upon Elysia, and he wasted no time in getting straight to the point. "I've been trying to reach Mr. Walker for days now. Where is he?"Maintaining her calm demeanor, Elysia spoke in measured tones. "Mr. Walker hasn't arrived yet. The state of the company has left him with an immense workload, and he requested not to be disturbed while he works."Wallas, clearly growing impatient, furrowed his brow. "Why doesn't he work alongside his collaborator like other CEOs? And where is Lyra, his secretary? She should be here, shouldn't she?"Elysia shifted
72"I have work to do, Wallas. I don't have time for this."A smug smile tugged at the corners of Wallas' lips. "Oh, so you think you're too important to answer a simple question? Well, I can assure you, Michael, no one is indispensable here."Michael's annoyance bubbled to the surface. He couldn't stand Wallas with his pompous attitude, always acting as if he held all the power in the company. Taking a deep breath, he mustered up the will to respond, though there was a hint of frustration in his voice."I have no obligation to answer your question, Wallas. My business is my own." He attempted to sidestep Wallas and resume his stride down the corridor.But Wallas was having none of it. He grabbed Michael's arm, pulling him back forcefully. "You dare to defy me? I have the authority to fire you on the spot!"Michael's eyes narrowed with irritation. He was tired of Wallas' constant power play, and he wasn't about to let him insulted him. With a calm but determined voice, he spoke. "Go
73Tiffany's gaze dripped with contempt as she shifted her attention to Alex, who stood nearby. She couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire, "You better not hang out with Michael. Trust me, he's a total screw-up. A pathetic excuse of a guy."Tiffany smirked, pleased with her attempt to undermine Michael. She moved closer, lowering her voice slightly so that only he could hear, "You know, Michael, I overheard Wallas talking to some executives earlier. They were discussing some major changes, and it didn't sound good for you. You're done, finished. Kiss your little empire goodbye."Michael raised an eyebrow, seemingly unfazed by her words. He leaned against the nearby cubicle and crossed his arms casually. "Is that so, Tiffany? And how exactly did you manage to become the bearer of such news? Care to enlighten me?"Tiffany smirked again, relishing in the power she believed she held over him. "Let's just say I have my ways of getting insider information. It's not my fault if you're a com
74"Michael," Wallas called out, beckoning him to join him on stage. Reluctantly, Michael made his way towards Wallas, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on him. Once on stage, his eyes met Tiffany's, and her devilish smile only deepened his unease.Clearing his throat, Wallas introduced Michael to the entire staff, seemingly enjoying the power he held over him. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Michael, the most foolish and reckless employee this company has ever seen," Wallas sneered. "No one has dared to disrespect me like he has."Michael shifted uncomfortably, his jaw clenched tightly. This was not how he expected the day to unfold.In a show of domination, Wallas continued, "Today, we'll test just how much Michael truly cares about his job." The air grew heavy with anticipation as Wallas demanded, "Kneel."Michael's eyes widened in disbelief. What? Kneel? No way! Thoughts of rebellion flashed through his mind, but helplessness and not causing a scandal by reveali
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