On A Hot Plate

Jason felt dizzy.

Why was Marcus Night here? He was CEO? He gripped onto his coffee mug and took a deep breath.

"I want to hear this take," Marcus said in his seat and the attention in the room returned to Jason. Suppressing his urge to run, Jason looked straight at him.

"Mr Night thinks differently? Or is there any other information Mr Night has not shared? It might change my analysis," Jason said and Matt sucked in a sharp breath.

"Fair assessment. There is no way to prove that the leaked documents are ours. The media just says they are ours. Legal, I need you to sue anyone who makes claims without proof. Public relations should calm public opinion. You are all here to deny it with all your might. I want to hear ideas," Marcus said looking away from Jason and back at those in the room.

Those in the room quickly began shooting ideas. The meeting raged on, but Jason's mind wandered. He could not hear much of what was said. When the meeting was over, Jason left with the crowd, while still gripping to his mug.

He walked right past his office to the break room. He needed space. When he took the mug to his mouth thirty minutes later, he realized the coffee was cold.

He made himself a new one and walked back to his desk.

"You okay, man?" Matt who sat opposite his desk asked.

"Yeah. I really need a few more cups of coffee to wake up," Jason answered.

"You sure need it. Accusing Mr Night and his family like that, you must have not woken up yet," Matt answered.

"When did we ever have a CEO named Night?" Jason asked.

"You are joking, right? The company is a subsidiary of NK which is part of Night group. I guess this entire situation forced Mr Night to assume the handle of CEO. Just hold out for all this to blow over and he will be gone," Matt said.

Jason thought it through. Night Group. So Marcus was from the Night family. Jason wondered why he had not made the connection yesterday. But then again, yesterday was a lot. After all he went through, it was normal to miss things.

Jason did not see Marcus' shadow again that day. The office had their hands full so, it was easy for work to distract him.

He got home tired. He had not slept since yesterday and barely eaten.

Jason took a quick bath and jumped into bed without a second thought.

By the time he opened his eyes again, it was dark outside. The clock stood firmly at three AM and the smell of fish wafted into his nose.

Fish? He paused as he realized there was no ice from his kitchen.

He sat up quickly and rushed out to find Marcus cutting vegetables on the counter.

"Sleeping beauty wakes," Marcus commented not bothering to look up, as he continued chopping skillfully.

"Marcus? What the hell? Why are you in my house?" Jason basically shouted.

"Do you want to wake your neighbors?" Marcus asked.

"What are you here?" Jason asked though his teeth.

"What does it look like? Cooking," Marcus gestured to the his work, "Go get changed. Dinner will be ready soon," he said.

Jason felt heat rise to his head. His rage built up so much pressure, yet had nowhere to go. He walked back into his room and slammed the door shut.

The air became heavy, making it hard to breathe. Jason tried breathing through his mouth as he pace back and forth.

For a second, he was tempted to call the police. But what would he say? He was sure it would go no where and if they robbed too much he might just implicate himself.

Jason felt frustrated as he walked around. After a while, he finally changed and walked back out.

Marcus had just set the table. Jason saw Marcus gesture for him to sit and frowned. He did not like how comfortable Marcus was in his own house.

Holding his tongue he sat down.

"You are more obedient today," Marcus commented.

"The threat of a gun can do that to a person," Jason answered.

"Gun? I didn't come with it," Marcus answered and Jason paused. For some reason, this knowledge calmed him.

"If you are not here to threaten me, why are you here?" Jason asked.

"You really don't like to see me, do you?"

"You are like some evil spirit haunting me," Jason answered and Marcus took a sip of water.

"Eat. You haven't eaten all day," Marcus said and Jason paused.

"You are having me watched?" He asked but Marcus did not answer. Jason suppressed his irritation and started eating. Maybe he was just hungry, or Marcus was a good cook, but he had to admit, the food was good. Marcus did not speak. He just watched him eat.

This unsettled Jason, but he was too busy wolfing down his food. When he was done, he finally looked up at Marcus.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"To take you home with me," Marcus answered, then glanced at his expensive watch. "You should pack up your personals. We still have time."

"I am home, what nonsense are you sprouting?" Jason asked, his voice cautious.

"Well, you are about to be raided and taken. You should come home with me for your safety."

"Raided, what do you mean by raided?" Jason asked in panic.

"I mean, gunmen will dash through your door in one hour and take you. Relax, there is still time," Marcus said.

"I call bullshit. This is just a way for you have me under your watch. Whatever it is you think I am going to tell people, I promise to keep my mouth shut," Jason swore.

"Unknown gunmen will take you, or I will take you, Jason. You only have these two choices. And I am the one making the decision," Marcus uttered in a cold voice.

Before Jason could respond, Marcus' phone rang and he took it to his ear. A frown suddenly my seized his face. He got up abruptly and peeked through the blinds.

"They are here. Take anything important! Now!" He ordered Jason.

Jason hesitated for a moment. Theb made up his mind. Going with the devil he knew was better.

He hurried into his room while cursing Marcus and grabbed a bag and shoved his laptop and important documents into it and hurried out.

He met Marcus at the door loading his hand gun.

"You said you were not carrying a gun," Jason said.

"Import lesson to never forget, I am always carrying a gun," Marcus answered.