Chapter 4

ELIOT’S POV

“So, this is a thorough representation of our top-tier lifestyle updates from the past week.”

“And the ratings?” I pressed; my tone clipped as I stared with furrowed eyebrows at the colored charts on the screen.

Flustered, “Er-y-yes sir!” John rushed, zooming on a section of the screen. “On this side are the breakdowns of how our updates were accepted. Our approval ratings, followers, as well as new brand proposals… everything you want Sir!”

Hmm.

Seems good enough. “A 5% increase from the first week?” I confirmed, my eyes fixed on the tablet in my hands as everywhere remained silent. “Good work!”

The silence remained, but then my eyes looked up. Capturing the tensed-up faces of the editorial team staring right back at me.

And no more than three seconds, “Ah! Thank you, sir!” they smiled sheepishly, squirming on their seats with discomfort.

But that was all I needed. And like that, I returned to checking out the reports to be able to follow up on the presentations.

Speaking of presentations, “Well?” I paused, pining my eyes on John. The team manger and the one supposedly handling presentation this morning, “Is that the end of it, John?”

He blinked, alarmed but jumping back to his feet at once. “Oh, sorry sir!” he gushed, and soon his voice filled the air again as he continued his explanations. “So here, we received a report of the newest but surprisingly hot topic….”

But as I listened, my mind drifted off to something else.

“You need me.”

“What?” John froze, his eyes startled. “What did you just say?” I asked again, my expression distasteful as I waited for his response.

“M-me?” he stammered, “I was just saying that we could use a bit of cutting down in the ads for the Bexley campaign and-

“No!” I cut him off, “Not that, what you said after that"

He paused, physically trying to think back. “Well… I said the Bexley campaign seems to be doing just fine and I see no reason to-

“Not that!” I snapped, getting irritated now. “You just said something about- ‘needing me’” I explained, watching as his expression grew even more confused.

The others at the table not looking any better.

“You just said you needed me,” I insisted, “Am I right?”

My eyes moved on each team member, taking in their uncomfortable yet confused gazes. “We didn’t… we didn’t exactly hear him say so, Sir” one of them managed to respond,

“Yes sir,” John joined, gaining my attention again. “I didn’t say that. Did you… did you hear that?”

Hmm.

That’s strange. I was pretty sure I heard it.

Taking a few seconds to internalize that, I picked back up my tablet. “Carry on!” I voiced, focusing on my screen. And a moment later, John resumed like before.

I waited to listen this time, wanting to be sure this time. But several moments passed, I heard nothing. Noticed nothing, except John chirping away in front of everyone and everyone actually listening. All except me.

And with a silent sign, I did just that. Pushing whatever that was to the back of my mind.

But just as I did that, it came again. “You need me, Eliot.” The voice whispered, light and feathery as it grazed past my ears. Confirming it wasn’t one of the team members as my eyes rapidly scrutinized them. To identify the culprit.

But I got nothing, especially as the voice sounded again and I noticed no one’s lips moved. “You need me,”

“What is this?” I thought to myself, my eyes checking my sides for a moment. Just to confirm.

Was I hearing things now?

“I AM NOT DIVORCING!” the words suddenly sounded in my ears. Loud and clear, startling the crap out of me as the tablet dropped from my hands and onto the table. Alerting everyone as I sat, stunned at what just happened.

“Oh God!” a team member gasped from surprise, her eyes wide.

But despite that, one thing became clear to me; I knew those words.

I knew it, and no one at this table uttered them right now either! Meaning…

“Are you okay, Sir?” concern flowed from those words, reminding me everyone still had their eyes on me.

Surprise, curiosity, and most of all questions, were in their every feature. Pissing me off even more as i reluctantly grunted out, “I’m fine!” stiffly picking my tablet back up from the table.

A sign for everything to return as they were.

And sure enough, my team got it. Everyone facing the projected screens immediately like nothing happened. But I knew something did.

Something happened here, and the mere thought that I could already tell what it was, turned my already sour mood even sour.

“I am not divorcing, Eliot and that’s final!” her voice filled my ears again, the proud defiance in those blue eyes replaying in my mind again.

Her footsteps echoing. In my ears, in my mind... Just as it had been doing ever since our encounter yesterday. But this voice stuff was different.

‘Serena. Damn it.’ I cussed bitterly, already feeling myself get worked up.

Why was she being so damn stubborn out of nowhere? Disagreeing and calling people names.

“Go prepare to welcome your BASTARD, Eliot. Cause I am not signing!”

Bastard. That word, almost made me lose my shit and snap at her yesterday.

Something not even all the annoying pieces of shits I’ve met in my life combined could never get out of me! But she…she managed to. Just as she always does.

Making her all the more dangerous and the more reason her signature should be on those damn papers so we can be done with this! So, I can be done with this!

Whether she liked it or not, I had a child coming and I truthfully wanted no mess surrounding that.

I was no rascal or monster; I know her devotion towards me. I was aware of it, and felt it all these years, which was why I would ensure no harm came to her.

Not even a strand of her hair would be touched or hurt in any way. I would ensure she got what she deserved, cause she did deserve it and more.

She knows this as well, so why isn’t she signing?

Was this some sort of ruse? She had no friends, else I would’ve concluded there was some external influence.

But bastard? Shouldn’t a person of her standing know not to use such words? Given her position in her own family.

The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. And the more confused I became the more I realized this was going to become a bigger issue if she doesn’t get on board. Adding to my irritation!

“Err, Sir? Any question? I’m about rounding up now” John’s voice came filtering through my thoughts. For the third time just this morning too, but no one could know that. It was bad enough that I kept count.

All these would end, just as soon as I get those documents with her signatures on them. Everything would be fine then.

“Nice work, John.” I sounded out after scanning the report on my tablet for a few seconds. “Everything is well rounded and accounted for. Good job!”

My words seemed to make the other team members visibly relax in their seats. Smiles slowly gracing their features as they shared grateful looks.

It was the norm around here. I grill them on staying on top of everything the company had going on, they make adjustments and I grill some more until they get things right!

Every mistake calls for a repeat of the entire process. And as they have grown to get accustomed to, I had all the time in the world to recheck until I got what I wanted.

Equating to more workload for them, as John- the team manager would say but I didn’t give a shit.

It was either excellent or nothing!

You feel it's too much? Get out then!

The Ward Syndicate didn’t become this great by making excuses and managing second bests.

I made sure of it and our multinational connections and growth were proof enough. From the city’s elite conversations, fashion narratives, social buzz to luxury digital publishing, high-end streaming& tv production, celebrity image management, crisis control, and news media. We managed and controlled all!

So, mistakes are never an option.

“We are glad you like it, Sir!” John announced with a relieved smile from the front. Of which I did not return. Instead,

“Anything else?” I pressed, looking round the table as I usually did. “Any new leads to something worth our interest?”

They remained silent at first, looking amongst themselves. “If that is all, then-

“Oh wait!” a voice rang out, a feminine voice too. “There is something… I think we should know about this”

“Oh? Lilith has something to say, that’s new.” John chuckled as she shyly rose to her feet.

“Let's hear it then,” I probed, “Wrap it up!”

She nodded eagerly and then she started, “I came across this post last night but I didn’t really pay much mind to it, just gave it a simple like as goodwill. But something happened, I came back early this morning, and that same post that I saw last night at barely 3 reactions, has gotten over 50 reactions! All in a space of just a few hours!”

“Hmm, that sounds… interesting” John mumbled, “What post is it?”

“Well, it's not really a big post or blog. The page looked like it had been created recently and that post was its very first! That’s what caught my eyes.” The lady explained eagerly, excited that the team seemed receptive of her idea.

And in no time, everyone had their tablets out and checking out the post.

Forcing me to as well. Reluctantly…

“Woah, ‘It’s funny how a person can sleep beside you every night and still make you feel like you’ve been left. Truly, the saddest goodbyes are the ones that happen while you’re still in the room. #MarriedButAlone #Pagesi’llDeleteLater” someone read out,

“Sounds so intriguing!” another praised, others concurring.

“Yeah, fictional but yet so personal! Makes me cringe my face, but also makes me want to read more, haha!”

“Whoever wrote this is good! People will eat this up. Now, I’m curious,”

The compliments just kept coming, but somehow as I scanned through the post I couldn’t seem to see the reason for all the gushing at all.

If anything, it all felt so very lame to my ears. My eyes too the more I scanned through the post

“This is just ridiculous,” I voiced, already fed up and logging out from the post. “Whoever wrote that was probably bored out of their mind! Nothing else to do than post trash online for some reactions. So typical!”

“You don’t like it, Sir?” John probed, a curious look in his eyes. “The post I mean, it doesn’t catch your interest?”

“All I see is another bitter boring person with enough wifi!” I responded point blank, taking in their speechless faces. “No doubt it’s a woman,” I added, looking at the lady that brought it up.

“Just another housewife wanting attention… Anything else?” They looked between each other, the lady slowly reducing back down on her seat as the others embodied her silence. And so, I took that for a yes.

“Seems that is all then, let's get to work!”

“Yes Sir,” soon filled the air as they all filed out of my office. Shutting the door behind them.

And then, silence once again reigned in my office. Just as I liked it.

But this time with it came an incessant amount of thoughts concerning a certain topic I would rather not remember at this point. But there was no turning back at this point.