CHAPTER 8- MY COMPANY, MY RULES

THEO

"Ahh!" Blake screamed... Professor Adrian hit him again as he crashed onto the floor, clutching onto his nose. Blood seeped through his fingers, dripping onto the floor...he tried to wipe it off and stop the bleeding...

The entire office went silent as staffs were all silent and watching the feud happening between Blake and his uncle...

My heart raced as I stared at him lying helplessly on the floor...He looked back at me with anger boiling in his eyes... Without my glasses, everything around me was blurry, but I could still make out his figure struggling to sit up.

He wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand before lifting his head.

"...Uncle?"

Blake quickly scrambled to his feet, ignoring the blood running down his face.

"Uncle!" he exclaimed again. "What are you doing? I'm trying to stop a thief!"

The office remained quiet...Professor Adrian didn't answer...Blake pointed directly at me.

"He's here to steal! I caught him sneaking around! Throw him out before he takes something valuable!"

"N-No... that's not true." I instinctively countered...Blake scoffed.

"Shut up!" He marched toward me with fury burning in his eyes. "You've always been a liar!"

"Blake..." I whispered

"I warned you not to show your face around decent people! What did you tell them, huh? That you're looking for work? Did they believe you?"

"I didn't lie to anyone."

"Oh, really?"

"Then tell them who you really are."

"I don't owe you an explanation."

"What?"

"I said I don't owe you one."

"So you've finally grown a backbone?" I remained silent but that only seemed to anger him even more...

"You think getting invited into a company makes you important?"

"It isn't like that."

"You don't belong here!" Before I could respond, Blake shoved me with both hands...without my glasses, I couldn't see how close the furniture behind me was...my feet slipped as I stumbled backward.

"No..." The side of my head slammed against the sharp corner of the table...it stinged so badly because the cut was a bit deep

Blood dripped from my head as my vision blurred even further.

"Theo!" One of the men rushed forwards to hold me up...I reached up instinctively.

For a second, everything around me was spinning...

"You idiot!" Professor Adrian lashed out towards Blake...before Blake could even turn around...Professor Adrian grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward so violently that Blake nearly lost his footing again. "...You have crossed the line."

"Uncle, listen—"

"No... shut up would you..." Professor Adrian tightened his grip around Blake’s collar... "You walked into my company...and you laid your hands on one of my workers." Blake stared blankly at him.

"...Worker? Are you kidding me uncle...he couldn’t be one of your workers..."

"Did I stutter?" Blake laughed nervously.

"Him? Theo?"

"He's my employee." Professor Adrian repeated himself as Blake stared as though he hadn't heard correctly.

"No... No, Uncle... you're joking."

"I'm not."

"Him? Out of everyone, you hired him. He's not worth working here...He can't even take care of himself...He doesn't deserve a place in this company."

"And who gave you the authority to decide that?"

"I... You?" Professor Adrian took one step closer to Blake...

"This company belongs to me...I decide who deserves to work here." Blake swallowed hard as his eyes drifted between me and his uncle...

"But Uncle—"

"Outside this building...you may call me Uncle...But while you're standing inside my company...you will address me with the same respect everyone else does." ...Blake lowered his eyes for a brief second.

"...Yes...sir" Professor Adrian finally released his collar...then he looked toward two security guards standing nearby.

"Hold him."

"Yes, Boss." The guards immediately stepped forward and held Blake by both arms.

"What are you doing?" Blake struggled. "Let me go! Take your hands off me...He’s the one you’re meant to be throwing out" Blake lashed out pointing directly at me

"You don't get to walk into my office...create a disturbance...assault one of my workers...and tell me who is or isn't worthy of working here."

Blake's face burned with embarrassment as he stared at Professor Adrian and the other employees standing around him...employees watched from every corner of the office but no one spoke to defended him...He then looked towards me...

"This is your fault...If you hadn't come here—"

"I came here because I was offered a job." I cut him off...

"You manipulated them!"

"I didn't."

"You always play the victim!"

"Enough." Professor Adrian cut in...Blake clenched his fists.

"But—"

"I said enough."

"This isn't over." Blake lashed out as he tried to wiggle himself out of the guard’s grip..."You hear me, Theo?” The guards tightened their grip as he struggled..."You'll regret today...I don't care how you got this job...I'll make sure you lose it...The moment you step outside this building...you're finished."

Professor Adrian didn't even look at Blake for a second more as he ordered the guards to take him outside

"Take him outside." The guards immediately dragged Blake toward the entrance.

"No! Let me go! You can't do this! Theo!" His voice echoed as he screamed “You think you've won? I swear...you'll regret this!"

His shouting continued until the doors closed behind him...I finally let out the breath I'd been holding...then the pain in my head increased further...I held my head in pain as Professor Adrian turned toward me...His stern expression softened slightly.

"Theo."

"Y-Yes... sir?" He glanced at the blood running down the side of my face.

"You need first aid."

"I'm alright."

"No...I've caused enough trouble already."

"You didn't."

"I did...My first day here...and your office is already in chaos because of me."

Professor Adrian walked closer.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"I think it's better if I just go home."

"You'll do no such thing."

"Sir..."

"My office has a first-aid kit."

"I can treat it myself later."

"You'll come with me." I hesitated...

"I don't want to cause any more problems."

Professor Adrian sighed.

"It wasn't a request...It’s an order."