As he drove, he brought out a phone and switched it on, notifications flooded in immediately. He took a glance at the notifications and immediately, his mood dropped drastically. His expression turned cold and rigid.
He used his free hand and sent a text. He threw the phone on the chair next to him and stepped on gas. His car swirled dangerous on the road. He had things to attend to and people to deal with.
Back in Taylor's apartment, he just returned from having a warm bath. He had a towel tied around his waist loosely and hummed a melodious tune. It looks like he had a good new year after all. His ultimate plan at the moment was to jump into his bed and have a wonderful sleep till morning.
He changed into his night robe and laid in his bed. He picked his phone to see if he had any necessary message or missed call. The first notification that popped up made him sit up immediately.
He rubbed his eyes and read the message again.
'Meet me in the study in twenty minutes' the message read.
"Shit!"
Taylor jumped out of his bed and did not even bother changing into proper clothes. He grabbed his car keys and dashed out of the house like he was being chased by a blood thirsty vampire.
He jumped into his car and zoomed of. The message had been sent since the past fifteen minutes and by that time, poor Taylor was soaking his tensed muscles in a warm bath. He was going to be dead today.
Knowing his boss, he rarely send abrupt messages only when a situation calls for urgency and with the recent updates in the company and his absence at the party, things were in turmoil.
How could he plan to sleep so easily. He had not even given it a thought before jumping into his bed.
'Taylor, you are so dead' He groaned inwardly. He checked the time and it was already way past the time Eris gave him. All he could do was heave a deep sigh.
While he was in deep thoughts about his life, a car suddenly overtook him. His car swerved off his lane and nearly hit another car in front of him. He stepped on brake to only miss the hit slightly. His car jerked forward and his body also jolt forward causing him to bump his forehead hard on the steering wheel. It hurts so bad and he was certain he would get an ugly swell soon.
He let out stings of curses in his irritation and drove on. As he got to Eris home, he zoomed past the security. He dashed out of the car and entered the house. He nearly bumped into the butler who could not help but gap at him.
"Why..." The butler muttered but shook his head, he finally understood the reason for the rush. This was about the big boss after all.
Taylor pushed open the study door and entered. Immediately, all eyes fell on him. He ignored all other eyes that looked at him as if he was a crazy man that just escaped from asylum. He took a quick glance at his boss. Eris shot him a very cold deathly look and he shivered. He pulled his robe closer to his body subconsciously. No matter how many years he had known Eris, he could never get used to him.
"You are ten minutes late" Eris said in an emotionless voice. He looked at his secretary and best friend disapprovingly.
"Swears, I got your message late and I came as here as soon as I received the message. Just look at me, I even got into an accident, can you see my head. Your best friend would have been dead because I wanted to obey your urgent order..."
"Do you still want to die?" Eris questioned interrupting him. Taylor's jaw dropped, he wanted to continue his long list of excuses but he had a rethink.
"No" He answered. It was better to live after all.
"Good. There is a lot of work to do, but first, what did you notice at the party" Eris asked.
Although Taylor and Audrey seems as if they were away from the activities during the party, they were actually paying attention to the discussions of the shareholders and every potential member of the company. They watched everyone's movements and activities.
"We noticed that a higher percentage of the shareholders are in support of you but these group have only small shares in the company, their opinion is not very welcomed. During the party, the group against you met and I was able to gather that they planned to hold a meeting soon in the company that you won't be aware of and then drag you and your father down. That is as much as I gathered" Taylor responded.
"Audrey, make sure you follow up each of them and find out the exact day for the meeting as soon as possible. We have people to surprise" Eris said.
"Yes, I will work on that" Audrey nodded.
Eris turned to the other two people in the room. They stood straighter as his eyes fell on them.
"You know your job, get him and keep him safe and alive till you hear from me again. I perceive he is busy with further plans to get back his shares from me. Before he does anything, take him away quietly" He instructed.
"Yes sir" The two answered.
"You should also make sure you retrieve every useful information about their stubborn group from him. You should not worry too much about that aspect, Audrey will take care of most of it" He added and they nodded attentively.
"You are dismissed".
The two men left the room as fast as their legs could carry them. Eris, Taylor and Audrey were left in the study. Taylor switched mood easily and flew to Eris side.
"Tell me big boss, where exactly were you? You got everyone so worried. Well, not everyone but I was so worried about you, Audrey was worried and most especially your mother!" Taylor cried, he tugged at Eris sleeve but the latter pushed him away just by flicking his wrist and ignored the pesky fly.
"Eris! Won't you even tell us, your close subordinates? You were gone for so long and not even me knew where you were. I heard your mother bore the embarrassment of your absence. The poor woman, so much for having a heartless son. You need to see how those scary businessmen flocked around her throwing all sort of suggestions that you are colliding with your father to forcefully take over the company. You—"
"You talk too much" Eris interrupted Taylor who obviously was not done with his unending story.
"You still won't let us know where you were?" Taylor asked again.
"How is that your business?" Eris questioned.
"You—" Taylor wanted to argue but was interrupted by Audrey who was irritated by his whining.
"What is your problem Taylor, can you not see that Eris is not telling?" Audrey said.
"As if you are not curious too" he mumbled and Audrey rolled her eyes at his childlike behavior.
None of them noticed Eris who had stood up and was already walking towards the door. He opened the door and paused. He turned around then said to the two,
"I had a date".
Wait.
"Did I hear him correctly?" Taylor laughed and said to no one in particular. He waited but no one answered him. It was only then that Eris words stuck in his mind. He had a date.
"He had a DATE!?" Taylor yelled, how could he!. He was his bestfriend and did not even know he did. When did he plan all of it?. Taylor fumed and left the study in anger. Next time, Eris was definitely going to give a lengthy explanation to his friend.
Audrey was dumbfounded after Eris dropped the bombshell on them. She was shocked and could not believe it.
"He must be joking" She said to herself and thought Eris was such a bad comedian. Why would he have a date when she.... nevermind. She left the room in deep thoughts.
Eris walked into his bedroom, he had a quick bath and changed into his sleeping clothes. He laid on his bed and picked his phone and searched for Rhea's contact. He could not help buy want to hear her voice again before sleeping. Just as he was about to dial the number, a knock was heard on his door. He frowned.
"Sir, please open up. It is urgent" The butler said hurriedly.
Eris frown deepened, he dropped his phone and walked to the door. What urgent matter could not wait till later but now, he thought. He opened the door and looked at the butler with a raised brow.
"Please follow me" he said and started walking away.
"This better be urgent" Eris warned in a voice devoid of any form of emotion. The butler increased his pace till they got to the sitting room.
"You are there sir. Excuse me" The butler turned around immediately and left. Before Eris could open his mouth to form a sentence, another voice beat him to it.
"Eris" A soft voice called. Eris turned around immediately. He looked at the woman before him before opening his mouth to say,
"Mother"