นิทรามาเฟีย

"Dalton Brown! Do you have any idea how important this bid was to the company? And yet, you actually had the nerve to sing folk songs during the Q&A session!

"Had Leo not been there to salvage the situation, who knows how much more of a fool you would've made of yourself and how much embarrassment you would've brought on the company and me?" My wife, Gemma Hawkins, fumed, pointing at my nose in my spacious office.

Half an hour ago, Gemma and I had gone to the company's most important tender meeting of the year with an intern and my assistant. When it was my turn to present, I had, as usual, confidently taken the microphone.

But when the client had asked a question, I, who should have answered it smoothly and professionally, had instead stumbled over my words before breaking into a folk song. The scene had stunned everyone in the room.

Gemma's expression had hardened on the spot, and she had demanded to know what on earth I was doing.

I had wanted to explain, but the second I opened my mouth, another folk song had escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Left with no other choice, I had hurriedly passed the microphone to her, hoping she would take over.

Little did I know she hadn't reviewed any of our tender documents. In that moment of crisis, Leon Hart—who had been standing beside us—extended his hand, grabbed the microphone, and answered every question clearly and methodically.

His answers had been flawless. Not only had the client been impressed, but Gemma had also even beamed at him, risen to her feet, and applauded.

I, on the other hand, had been rooted to the spot, feeling the blood in my veins freeze over, reeling in confusion.

Leon was an intern who had joined the company less than a month ago. He hadn't been familiar with our business yet, nor had he ever been exposed to our tender documents.

Yet, his answers matched the document I had spent six months of overtime meticulously drafting, word for word! Not only that, but the calm, composed demeanor and the logical thinking he displayed after standing up were identical to my own.

Even my assistant had noticed it. Right before we walked into my office, he had quietly joked, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd possessed him, Dalton. Even the way he talks and his little habits are identical to yours."

I was no fool. Of course, I knew something was wrong. However, no matter how much I thought about it, I still couldn't figure out where the problem lay.

While I was still lost in thought, Gemma's voice pulled me back to my senses.

"Spread the word. Leon has completed his internship and has been converted into a full-time, permanent employee effective immediately. He'll take over Mr. Brown's role as manager, so increase his salary accordingly.

"Mr. Brown, on the other hand, is relieved of his position as of this moment and is expected to reflect on his mistakes. All of his current projects are to be handed over to Mr. Hart as soon as possible."

The moment he heard he was getting promoted and receiving a raise, Leon had ped Gemma's hand in excitement and thanked her over and over.