Chapter 1

The first time I clearly heard them calling me an old geezer was at our regular meeting on Monday.

Samuel had his head bowed as he listened to me lecturing him, his eyes turning red.

Someone muttered under his breath during the break, “He’s really an old geezer who loves mistreating handsome young men.”

I froze at the remark, which caused a ripple effect that grew into torrents of whispered rumors and gossip.

“He’s totally abusing his authority and venting his frustrations on the young man.”

“He’s already 32 years old and still harping on his eight-year-long relationship. How stubborn and narrow-minded of him, really.”

I put down my glass and silence immediately ensued in the meeting room.

All their gazes landed on me, as though I were the one at fault.

Samuel pressed a napkin to the corner of his eye.

“Mr. Graham, I’ll check through the data again.”

“Not check through, but re-do.”

I tried to ignore the piercing pain in my chest and said coldly.

“I want to see the accurate analysis report and remediation plan tomorrow morning before the meeting.”

My gaze swept across everyone in the meeting room, including those gossipmongers.

“The meeting is adjourned.”

I stood up and left the meeting room.

Hushed whispers surged up again like a tide.

This time, even more unbridled than it was before.

“Why is he acting all high and mighty? He only got to the position of director because of Ms. Stewart.”

“The old geezer just flew into a rage. Did his mid-life crisis come early?”

When I arrived back in my own office, I received a notification on my computer of an incoming email from the internal system.

I clicked it open, only to be greeted by a shocking title, “Suggestions for optimizing management communication approaches and caring for our employees’ mental health.”

The sender was the HR director, but I knew who was behind this.

Samuel’s tears spoke volumes more than my performance report.

Just as I closed the page with a cold snort, Wanda’s call came in.

She spoke lazily while trying to appease me, “Jansen, I heard you blew up during the meeting? That young man burst into tears from your lecture.

“Samuel is still young and inexperienced. Making mistakes is inevitable for someone at his age, do be patient with him.”

I could even hear sobs coming from the phone.

I tried to hold myself back from being emotional and said as calmly as I could, “Samuel’s basic data was sloppily done and riddled with errors. His mistakes have a direct impact on the company’s quarterly financial report.”

“Oh, it’s just work, Jansen. Mistakes are inevitable.”

She went on, trying to trivialize the matter, “Samuel’s health hasn’t been in a good condition and I think he’s been suffering from gastroenteritis. Do be a little more understanding of him.

“Shall we have dinner tonight? I’ve made a reservation with that new restaurant down the road.”

-

After work, I hopped into Wanda’s white sports car, looking slightly more appeased.

“He’s just a young lad and still insensible. Give him a little more guidance for my sake, won’t you?”

Wanda looked pleadingly at me.

I decided to let things go and not give her a hard time.

Samuel was in the private room, looking neat and tidy, accentuating his handsome good looks.