Chapter 5.2

Things We Don't Share

Amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, among the concrete jungle of establishments and IT companies lie West Enterprises.

The towering building that is West Ent. is a dirty-white mass of concrete, glass, and steel. Even though the company is the smallest of its sister companies, it already has a reputable status in other parts of the country.

Their office in the tower is divided into G-8 FL, 10-18 FL, and 20-29 FL. The Lobby to the 8th floor or G-8 is where people under HR, Admin, and Customer Relations have their stations. The 10-18th floor or 10-18 FL is for business intelligence, logistics, and supply chain management workers.

Near the top, 20-29 FL is where the company inventory or archives and the finance office are. The 9th and 19th floors served as locker rooms, sitting areas, and vast meeting rooms. The 30th floor is off-limits to the regular salary employee. Only the CEO, Keanu West, Ms. Lee, and Mr. Lewis, his secretaries, had business saying on that floor.

The 30th floor was quiet, as usual.

Mr. Keanu West has been nicknamed "new blood," the newest member at Alexander West's board meetings. To the bosses, he was a pup, but at West Ent. he was the big dog.

He was known as CEO West, a shadowy figure behind every CCTV camera to the rank and file in their office. They rarely saw him. Still, to their bosses, he was a professional, work-friendly, busy individual with his eyes straight on the money. He and his two executives made the gears turn at West Ent.

---

Today, the same as yesterday was quiet. CEO West had an appointment outside the tower, which meant the main office was uneventful, except for the executives' front desk.

As Dina organized the main office, Kenneth was busy doing his remaining paperwork behind the large mahogany double doors.

The day flew by quicker than expected for Ken, but today was as hectic as yesterday for five years. The routine was the same as five years ago too. Executive Secretary Lewis woke up, ate, took a cab to work, sorted out stacks of paperwork, answered ringing phones, went home, ate and slept, and answered a few phone calls at home. He was a self-proclaimed corporate robot.

At the moment, Kenneth was busy with the day's report while waiting for Sec. Janet at Records to call him back. He was impatiently shifting his gaze from the desktop to the telecom on his right.

"What's up, Ken?" he said mentally to himself.

Kenneth wasn't usually like this; he was more organized, but he couldn't help but have a sinking feeling. His gut was telling him something, but he didn't know what exactly. He took a deep breath, pulled open the desk drawer in front of him, and peeled open a menthol patch for his aching neck.

He was stressed, but he had no complaints because of the extra incentives. It was bad enough that he rarely had time for his wife waiting at home, but Kitty was understanding, so she didn't mind; they were saving for their future after all. Ken looked at the clock; he still had time.

"I still have a minute or two," Ken thought, picking up his phone and speed-dialing Kitty.

Ring. Ring. Ring. She wasn't picking up. Ring. Ring. Ring. She picked up.

"Hello, dad?"

"Hi mom, I'm just calling to tell you that I'll be home a little late today," Kenneth groaned; Kitty could tell he was stretching.

"Oh, for how long?" Kitty tried to mask her nerves.

Ken glanced at the digital clock above the elevator, "Hmm, for about an hour late. I'm eating in the house; leave my portion on the table, please."

"Okay, that works, dad."

"Mom, are you okay? I can tell from your voice that something's up"

"Oh," Kitty laughed.

"Well, dad, you beat me to it. I was going to call and tell you that I'd also be working an extra hour at work." Kitty lied. "The staff needed an extra hand. We sold most of the products on the shelf, and later, we'll be restocking."

"Wow, that sounds great," Ken prompted. "Well, I'll leave you to it then. Take care, please."

"I will, you too," Kitty said, hanging up.

---

Kitty went to touch her mouth with a shaky hand.

I did that? I did that.

Katherine Doe-Lewis, for the first time in her life, lied to her husband. She did it to help a stranger who threatened to blackmail her by telling her boss that she stole from the shop.

Kitty's phone rang again; this time, the caller was labeled "no-name" on her phone.

"Hello," Kitty said skeptically.

"Hi, it's Leah."

"Oh, how was it? Did you manage to get your brother out?"

"Yes, I did!"

"And the crazed lover?"

"He's getting detained for a few days. Luckily he doesn't know my complete address," Leah chuckled.

"Well, that's good news for me," Kitty tried to sound cheerful.

"I'm on my way out. Do you need a lift?"

"No, I can manage, thank you," chimed Kitty.

"Okay, take care now. See you around!" Leah dropped the call.

Kitty felt her eyes well up, a tear dripping down from her face, "I can't do this."

Before the tear reached her chin, one after the other her eyes started to leak. She made her eyes red with all the rubbing as she held her face with her hands.

"You'll be okay. It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay," Kitty chanted to herself.

"Are you alright, miss?" Kitty's eyes widened. Someone was seated in front of her.

"I'm okay." Kitty sniffed.

The handsome stranger smiled at her, "Are you sure?" he asked. He had beautiful brown hair, a strong jaw, and beautiful, beautiful brown eyes. Kitty looked at his mouth, there was a bruise, but it didn't matter; he looked handsome either way.

"Are you okay?" Kitty pointed at her mouth, the same area he had a bruise.

The stranger smiled. "I'm okay now."