*NICK'S POV*
Monday - a gruesome, dragging, dull day of the week.. but here I am, awake before six in the morning and still in my boxers, because according to the email I received last night, my schedule today is apparently from 7 to 7 - just great!
"Who's meeting who now!?" I ask the person on the other line. I suddenly stopped stirring my black coffee after hearing what my secretary has to say.
"A temporary editor will be assigned to you sir." He replied with a hint of stiffness in his every word. He might've not expected my reaction.
"I'm sorry man. Didn't mean to yell at you." I apologized, realizing that he's just doing his job.
The news I have never expected to receive or rather, never thought I will receive so soon.. finally arrived and it hit me in the head like a hard solid brick.
"That's okay sir. I was just presented with this proposal from the head office as well." he replied calmly and composed.
"Tell me the details first thing when I arrive." I requested firmly which I immediately got a verbal nod from him.
"Noted Sir Nick. I'm on my way to the office now." was his parting statement before we both hang up the phone.
I have yet another reason to curse Monday.
After driving approximately 20 minutes, I finally reached my destination - the busiest place I have ever seen in my life, my workplace. A tall blue-ish building that has 60 floors in it. The exterior design was very well thought. A concrete vertical wall on the right side was made to look like a pencil - every detail was created with pure god-like skill. You can also see the mantra of the company written on it - WE CONQUER THE WORLD WITH WORDS NOT SWORDS.
I got 17 minutes before seven so i hurriedly drove to the basement to find myself a parking spot. To my surprise, a bunch of cars are already occupying the area.. but luckily, a perfect location near the elevator was waiting for me. I drive past it so I can position my car with it's front facing the exit. As I was on the process of doing reverse parking, I heard a loud screech and there I saw a 2017 Corolla LE Eco in purple color, coming fast behind me. I instinctively stepped on my brakes to avoid any damages to my bumper but unfortunately, my neck did not escape the accident.
"Fuck!! I'm really going to kill that bastard!" I exclaimed in pain. I punched my dashboard as if it could save me from my agonizing moment. This has been a hell of a day!
I quickly checked my coat to get my phone so I could call for assistance.
"I'm in your office now sir." Alfred answers after the first ring.
"I need you down here at basement 2... also, please call my attorney." I demanded.
"Attorney? What happened Sir Nick?!" He asks, concern was obvious in his tone.
"I twisted my neck, that's what happened! Now don't forget to contact Atty. Adams so I can drag the ass out of this idiot!" My voice is sounding rough. After all, I have not moved my head for a good five minutes now.
I did not wait for my secretary to respond. Instead, I disconnected and focused on my breathing.
As I patiently wait for Alfred, I can hear a car door opening and closing. Then distant soft voices were heard.
"Oh my! Did he die?" a woman spoke quietly.
"Let's hope not ma'am.. 'cause you may end up in jail." a man flatly replied.
"What do we do now then? she asked.
"I think we should run." the guy responded quickly. He sounded monotonous.
"Like I told you, you weren't ready for this." he continued.
I was intently listening, but their murmurs seemed to disappear into thin air. There was no sign of an engine starting so I know they are still around but I wonder what they're doing.
"Sir Nick!...what happened to you?!" a frantic sounding Alfred scared the shit out of me.
He suddenly banged on my slightly open window like a mad man. I definitely did not see him coming. The jump scare did not do anything good as it caused me to move my aching neck.
"Damn it!"
"I'm s..so..sorry sir!. I.. I just panicked seeing your head leaned on the dashboard! I thought I was too late!" he explained in a quivering voice.
Awesome! Now there are two people thinking I was dead.
"Get your act together man! Is the ambulance coming?" I questioned him.
"In a few minutes sir." is his answer.
"Good. Now do you still see a car behind? They're responsible for this. Take a picture of the plate number, then send it to Atty. Adams."
"Will do sir" Alfred replied and immediately, I heard his footsteps fading away.
"No need to do that. I'm the owner and here's my calling card." I heard the guy from earlier speak up. Compared to how he reacted a while ago, now a deep masculine voice resounded in this closed space. What a prick!
"Hello. I'm Alfred. Would you mind me calling the number here?"
"Not at all. Go ahead. By the way, I'm Kenneth."
There was a brief silence after they exchanged their names, then I heard a phone ring.
"Cool. Now that you know the phone is valid, allow me to exit first as I still have a meeting to attend to and we, are running late." The Kenneth guy strongly imposted. If I could just lift my head a bit to see this piece of crap, I'm going to remember his face and haunt him.
Is he the only one that had a meeting?. Is he really thinking, this is not important? We'll see.
"Ma'am. Let's go." he continued as if nothing happened. Who the heck are these people?
Two sets of footsteps then resounded the place, the elevator opened and closed. Just like that, I'm left there with no other options but to trust that Alfred knows what he needs to do.
"Don't worry Sir. I sent his information to a police friend and he just confirmed his identity." my trusty secretary, now standing near my car stated as if reading my mind.
"Alright Alfred." I replied.
Loud Ambulance siren echoed in the basement after a few seconds. Sounds of the equipment prepared by the personnel eased my mind. They slowly adjusted my position to get me out of my car so a brace can be placed on my neck.
The treatment was quick since the damage was not that severe. My secretary made sure to collect all the receipts of the expenses.
"Has it been six years now since the last time you visited the hospital, Mr. Nick?" Alfred asked suddenly.
"Yeah. It has been.. and it still scares me."
was my quick answer. I did not really want to talk about it.
"So who were those people?" now I'm the one asking, to change the topic.
"I did not get the woman's name but Mr. Kenneth, actually worked for the only company who can stand equal to ours untill recently." He answers.
"What?.. You mean the W.O.R.D Inc.?".
"That's right sir."
"Have you heard or seen his name before?"
"No sir. He probably have used pen names in his writing career."
I fell silent. Why on Earth did he come to my workplace?
This smells DISASTER.