Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

"Where is he then?" Florence was barely holding herself together.

"He has another family. He still supports Sevi, so—" I stopped myself. "Why am I even explaining this to you? Look, Florence. I've been out of your son's life for years. I haven't caused you any trouble. I'd appreciate if you didn't cause any for me either."

"You played my son?" her voice was shaking but I just shrugged.

"Mommy, I'm done."

I turned to Sevi. "Did you wash your hands?"

"Yes." He smiled at Florence. "Thank you for the dessert.”

"Let's go, Sevi." I took his hand and walked away. I noticed Sevi kept looking over his shoulder at Sebastian's mother.

“Erika was waiting for me the second I walked into the MedBrain lobby on Monday. "Arnaiz got a suspension memo for six months."

"What? Why?"

"Everyone's been talking about it since weekends.” 

People at the company couldn't figure out why he got suspended instead of fired. If he'd actually done something wrong, termination would've made more sense.

It didn't add up to me either. Arnaiz was perfectly fine the last time I'd asked him for the budget list for the lab reconstruction. He wasn't the type to cause problems.

"Good morning, Sir." I greeted Sebastian as he stepped off the elevator. 

He gave me a quick glance before walking to his office so I immediately followed. My eyes automatically shifted to the iPad in my hands when he took off his suit jacket. Those veiny arms on his forearms were giving me nasty thoughts. 

"You have a meeting with the engineers for the reconstruction at nine, and then…" I trailed off when I read the next item. Sebastian had access to the digital planner I managed. "Lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Rocc."

I silently thanked God my voice didn't crack.

"And?"

"At one, you have interviews for your new secretary."

"You'll come with me," he said, sitting down in that oversized chair like it was a throne.

"Yes, Sir. Would you like me to pre-screen the—"

"You'll come with me for lunch."

"Excuse me?"

"Get me coffee, Mijares."

I nodded, confused. He couldn't be serious about lunch. There was no way he actually wanted me there when his parents showed up.

Sebastian was already at his computer when I set the coffee down. The corner of his mouth lifted when he noticed it was his usual black.

"You need something?" he asked without looking up. 

"Arnaiz Purisima, Sir." I bit my lower lip when his eyebrows drew together. "Why was he suspended?"

His jaw clenched. "That's not your concern.”

"The employees are asking. They said the memo came from you. And they're asking me because I'm your secretary."

He looked at me, irritated. "Tell them to mind their own business."

I decided not to push it so I excused myself. I hadn't taken two steps before he called my name again.

"Who was with you the other night?"

I almost rolled my eyes at his arrogant  tone.

"With all due respect, Sir, that’s not of your concern,” I mimicked him.

His gaze sharpened while his fist tightened on the desk. "Answer me."

"No one, Sir."

"You hung up on me. Is that how you treat your superior?"

"It wasn't office hours, Sir."

"Your salary is double that of a normal secretary. I'm paying you for twenty-four hours. Every second counts. I work through the night. Do I need to triple your pay before you'll be available when I call?"

"No, Sir."

I felt a small sting of embarrassment because Agnes never mentioned that part. I didn't know much about being a secretary to begin with. But it made sense that the personal assistant to a CEO of a major corporation would be on call around the clock.

"Good. Now answer me."

"M-My boyfriend, Sir."

"What?!"

I flinched when his palm slammed the desk.

"Boy—"

"Get out, Mijares." I was too stunned to move. "Now!"

I bolted out of the devil’s office. 

[SEBASTIAN POV]

"What is it, Mom?" I asked, catching her sneaking glances at me across the table like she wanted to tell me something. 

Dad cleared his throat and set down his fork. "What's your plan, Sebastian?"

"I don't have a plan." My patience has been getting thinner since this morning.

"You bought a company that's nearly bankrupt." My father said strictly. 

"I'm the CEO of Rocc Corporation. I know what I'm doing."

"That's not what your father means,” Mom's voice was gentle. She knew both of us had the tiniest patience.

"Then what?"

"You don't need to stay here in Belmore. Your cousin, Poseidon's available. Let him handle MedBrain. Rocc Corporation is waiting for you back in the Capital.” 

I lost my appetite before I'd even taken a bite. I spent the next minute sawing my steak like it owed me money. "I want to fix MedBrain. I made the decision to buy it. I don't want other people meddling in my business."

"Seb." Mom reached for my hand. Her eyes were sad. "There's nothing left for you here."

"The fuck—"

"Sebastian!" Dad's voice cracked across the table.

"I'm sorry, Mom." I shook my head, tossed my napkin on the table, and stood up. I walked out of the VIP room without looking back. They called after me but I didn’t stop.

Nothing left for me here. Goddammit.

I knew that. After everything I did, was I really still hoping there'd be something to come back to?

Neshara had a boyfriend. She aborted our child. 

Damn it. Just damn it.

I didn't expect that. I really didn't. I’d clung to the belief that Neshara could never hurt an innocent kid like that. But she did and it was my fault.

"What?" I snapped when I picked up Neshara's call.

"Sir, where are you?" Even without seeing her face, I knew one eyebrow was raised. "The secretary interviews start in ten minutes."

Another thing, she couldn't wait to get away from me.

"Tell them to go home."

"Are you serious? They all made the effort to come here and you're just going to send them away? I told you about this, didn't I?"

I hung up. I didn't care if every applicant wore holes in their shoes walking back and forth to MedBrain.

Damn it. Neshara needed to stay at MedBrain where I could see her.

I TOOK  a long drag on my cigarette and let the smoke curl into the dark corners of the abandoned warehouse. I tilted my head when I heard the strained groaning.

"Boss, he won't talk."

I took one more drag before flicking the cigarette into the shadows. I grabbed a fistful of one man's hair and yanked his head back. These two broke into my house. 

My house! 

Did they not know I learned to sleep with my eyes open when I was under my grandfather’s roof? 

“You son of a bitch!” One of them was barely breathing but still had enough energy to curse at me. 

“Tell me who sent you.” 

“Kill us if you want. Someone else will come for you!” 

My nails dug into his scalp. "I don't like your tone. You’re damn  off-key. How about we cut that tongue out, huh?"

"Y-You can't scare us. You're not on your own turf any—"

He screamed, then went limp when I drove my knee into his face. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who talk too much.

"Get rid of them. Feed them to the crocs."