The Billionaire's Trials

004: Final Decision.

Three days later,

Leo examined the spacious reception room, looking through the transparent glass windows and doors. He felt out of place, just sitting there, watching employees scurry to and fro.

He tapped his fingers repeatedly on the seat as he glanced at the old, cracked watch on his wrist. He's been waiting there for the past forty five minutes but no one attended to him.

He tried to approach the receptionist earlier but after giving him a quick look, she ignored him and he was forced to find a seat.

Was this how his own receptionist used to behave to people? The thought slowly seeped in his mind. Did she use to treat people based on their appearances? Did she cast them out if they weren't well dressed like him?

"Excuse me mister," A feminine voice interrupted the chain of thoughts in Leo's head. He looked up and saw that the receptionist finally noticed him.

He stood up hurriedly, clutching the bag in his hand tightly. Not like a treasure was in it. It's just the contact card Mr Greene gave him. Just in case he is unable to meet Mr Greene today, he'll try contacting him in other ways.

"Good afternoon," Leo spoke as politely as he could. The receptionist didn't respond to his greetings. She just gave him a dismissal that looked like she couldn't wait to get rid of him.

So he hurriedly told her the reason why he was there,"Miss, I want to see Mr Greene."

The lady observed his appearance, her eyes darting from head to toe and he suddenly felt self conscious. Isn't this shirt and pants he's wearing decent enough?

Why is she giving him a look that clearly shows that she thinks he is a piece of dirt? "Miss?," He called her when she refused to respond. She regained her composure and gave a light cough.

"Do you have an appointment?," She asked. Usually, she would address the guest with 'sir/ma' but she couldn't find it in herself to address Leo with respect. Someone that looked like he lost his way.

"No. But...," Leo didn't get a chance to complete his sentence cause she informed him,"We have rules sir. You can't meet the Ceo without having an appointment. I'm sorry. You can't see Mr Greene."

Leo gritted his teeth in frustration. He should have expected this when he was coming here. What should he do now? He skipped work today just to come here and he will probably get fired.

Besides, he spent his last penny to come here. He can't just leave empty-handed. He reached out into his bag and brought out the contact card, an idea flickering in his head.

"Miss," He called her. "Look at this." The receptionist didn't bother to hide her annoyance at being disturbed just to look at a contact card.

"I can see it. It's a contact card."

"Yes. This was given to me by Mr Greene himself. You can confirm the authenticity of this card and let me see him," Leo urged. He remembered that Mr Greene told him that day that this card was made exclusively for him.

So it should be enough proof for the receptionist. The lady looked pissed off but she still tried to maintain her calm expression as she warned him,"You have to leave before I call the security and report you as being a nuisance. I already told you that we have rules. I can't just let anyone in cause they presented a fake contact card to me."

Her voice rose with each word. Leo felt embarrassed at the way some of the curious employees were staring at him.

But he still tried one last time,"Miss... Can I make use of this telephone and call the number to confirm to you that what I am saying is true?"

He pointed at the telephone on the receptionist desk. The receptionist looked reluctant but the sooner she proved him wrong, the faster she'd get rid of him so she nodded.

Leo heaved a sigh of relief as he punched the numbers into the telephone.

"He doesn't even have a phone yet he is claiming to know Mr Greene," Leo heard someone say as she walked past him. He didn't even spare her a glance as he just waited patiently for the call to get connected.

Meanwhile at the top floor of the headquarters, the conference room was filled with employees who were presenting their various projects to the ceo.

The project manager was currently giving his presentation when a phone rang in the room, putting a stop to his words. The employees froze as they looked at each other, trying to decipher who it was that broke the CEO's rule.

An employee had been sacked recently for bringing his phone into the conference room and forgetting to put it on silent mode, thereby disturbing the meeting which incurred the CEO's wrath.

"Hello," James' voice made the employees who had already ceased their breath in fear start breathing in relief again. Turns out that it's the boss's phone that was ringing.

"The meeting has been postponed," The Ceo's personal assistant informed them before turning around to follow this boss out of the room.

"Hello sir," Leo greeted respectfully, hoping Mr Greene hadn't forgotten about him.

"Leo! Is that you?," James' enthusiasm could be felt from his voice. "Why are you calling from the company's landline?"

Leo smiled and was just about to answer when the excited old man answered his own question,"You are at the company, aren't you?"

"Yes," Leo confirmed, nodding even though the man couldn't see him. "But the receptionist has refused to let me in cause I do not have an appointment."

The woman standing opposite Leo glared at him. She's seen many ploys like this where desperate people would fake a call and pretend to be talking to Mr Greene.

"I'll send someone to get you right away," James assured him and disconnected the call. Leo cautiously returned the telephone.

"So are you ready to leave now?," The receptionist questioned him, looking bored.

Leo was a little bit surprised at her reaction. Didn't she see him talk to Mr Greene just now? Yet she still doesn't believe him.

"No... I will just wait for a few minutes. Someone is...," Once again, she cuts his words short.

"Then you can go back to those seats over there. Don't stand in front of my desk," She shooed him away. Leo was infuriated by her rude act but he didn't comment.

He turned away and walked back to the seat. Choosing one randomly, he glanced at his wristwatch again to check the time.

It wasn't up to five minutes when a man walked to the receptionist desk. Judging at the way the receptionist regarded him respectfully, Leo could tell that he is the one sent by Mr Greene.

"Where's the young man that's supposed to be here?," He heard the man asking the receptionist. He could have just stood up then but he wanted to listen to the receptionist's answer.

"Sir... Who are you talking about? I haven't noticed anyone walk in since I have been here," Leo was rudely shocked by the receptionist's blatant lie.

An amused smile tugged at his lips as he sat back on the chair and watched the scene. "Mr Greene asked me to bring him up to him. Are you sure you haven't noticed anyone here?," The man asked the receptionist again who shook her head sideways to indicate 'No'.

Leo almost chuckled. Does this mean the receptionist doesn't regard him as a man or was she too blind to see his gender?

He stood up lazily and walked to the receptionist desk. As he walked over, he said,"I have been waiting here for the past one hour just as the receptionist instructed me to, so why is she denying to have seen me?"

Leo watched the receptionist's eyes widen as the man turned to look at him. He put away his phone and advanced to Leo. "Are you Mr Leo?"

Leo nodded and the man smiled. Stretching his hand out for a handshake, he introduced himself,"I am Jake. Mr Greene has been awaiting your arrival."

Leo was sure he heard the receptionist gasp loudly. That serves her right. He tried telling her but she refused to listen. "This way please," Jake motioned. Leo refused to follow him.

The receptionist treated him rudely and she would have to pay for it. "I didn't know that the employee standards here are really low. She kept me waiting for an hour, wouldn't listen to me and even insulted me."

Jake glared at the receptionist. What a dumbo! He had witnessed himself how Mr Greene seems to adore this man and yet a mere receptionist had dared to offend him.

"Sir... I had no idea he...," The receptionist was already shuddering in fear.

"Pack your things and head to the financial team. Collect your last paycheck and evacuate the premises immediately," Jake ordered angrily.

Leo smirked. This familiar feeling is really satisfying. How long has it been since he's had a chance to exert his authority like this?