"Boss…" Bao nervously looked at Luka who folded his hands over the table and seemed to be in deep thoughts.
The meeting with that person a few hours ago was still vibrantly replaying in front of him.
It was already long past midnight but Luka refused to leave his office.
So Bao stayed with Luka, reluctant to leave him alone. Bao didn't know the details but it was clear that Luka shunned that old woman. Once when Bao felt brazen enough to inquire about that person's identity, Luka only said she was his benefactor.
But Bao was only more perplexed, if that strict and full of herself old hag was Luka's benefactor, why was his boss so avert against her? It didn't make sense. It was because Bao didn't know that Luka made a deal with the devil.
Yes, that old woman, Yolinda, was the devil and Luka basically sold his soul to get to the position he was now. The youngest CEO, so capable, so talented, so cunning- it was all a fluke.
It was true that Luka was good at his job but as a newbie how could he have beaten the old CEO who had years of experience, everyone loved and was great at his job?
It was because Luka was desperate enough to take the hand held out to him by the devil to create a path. So, Luka agreed to make a deal with Yolinda. Back then Luka was a rising star, promising and bright, but he was bitterly aware that no matter how talented he was, he could never become a CEO in the next 10 years.
The path of becoming a head was never easy.
That was when Yolinda one day came. Despite her old age of 50s, she was dressed elegantly and had a cold aura. Her eyes regarded everything below her and nothing could live up to her expectation, but that woman who held contempt was an excellent business person. Even more than that, Luka could feel she was truly skilled.
And that woman, threw one look at Luka before her lips curled up. It made his skin crawl and he knew on the spot it was dangerous to get involved with her but when she said those tempting words, Luka was instantly sold, "I can make you the CEO of this company without anyone questioning you."
Then just as she said, it happened but just like every other deal it was give and take, the only problem was that until this date Luka didn't know what he had to give Yolinda in return. Every time he asked, she only said, "You'll know later, when the time comes."
Luka closed his eyes, "Make me a coffee please."
"Yes, yes," Bao quickly left. Although his blind date went down the drain, Bao still wanted to properly do his duty for Luka.
Seeing him deflated like this, didn't sit well with Bao. Bao secretly thought he deserved to be employee of the fucking century.
Once Bao left the office, Luka balled his fists. If he had known that this deal would stress him out so much, then he would have never agreed, but now that he became the CEO, he actually didn't regret it.
For his goal, Luka was willing to do everything. Luka wanted to free himself from the grasp of his family and eliminate everyone in his way, for that he had to become stronger and more influential than them.
Luka's parents were massive stakeholders in many secret projects of the government, as well as important politicians. This kind of government and politics, Luka wanted nothing to do with.
His parents also signed a deal with the government. It was quite terrifying and Luka, maybe for the rest of his life, couldn't free himself from the shackles his parents bound him to.
So, Luka desperately wanted to struggle against it and become independent.
The first time he had these thoughts was when he got closer to Yana. Her carefreeness, her cheerful and chatty personality all took the burden of his future away. Until then Luka has accepted becoming a puppet to his parents. Yet when Yana left, his new built world slowly crumbled into the horrifying hole of confinement he disillusioned himself to have broken out of.
That was why, part of the reason Luka wanted to become an influential person was to give Yana a better life but he knew none of the things she had in her mind, much less of her goals.
Luka sometimes had the faint fear that Yolinda also worked for the government and was actually keeping tabs on him but whether that was true or not would be left proven to the future. For now, Luka wanted to quickly establish himself without any help and connections from people he couldn't trust.
Luka's goal became his driving force, his motivation that bitterly clung onto his body. To escape from the future, he would have to endure and need a path for himself. No matter what it took, no matter what would happen.
The end goal hopefully would be as imagined, together with Yana. However, if he had to give up on her to fulfil his goal then-
Bang.
"Oh, oops," Bao kicked the door open a bit too forcefully as he came in with a tray which he gently put down in front of Luka.
"Voila, my best speciality," Bao elegantly and skillfully poured Luka a cup of coffee while he excitedly hoped for a pay raise.
Bao would be offended if he didn't. Just look at him overworking and sacrificing his private time for his pitiful lump of flesh of a boss.
"Thanks," Luka rubbed his head seemingly feeling as if evil thoughts penetrated him wanting to make their way into his brain and infest it.
Pay raise.
Why did these two words suddenly appear in his mind? Luka glanced at Bao's dignified face and thought he was just imagining things. His good employee Bao, who was greedy and whiny at times, wouldn't have such ulterior thoughts.
Bao, who unknowingly was labelled as good and holy, still harboured evil and greedy intentions but none of it showed through his impeccable facial expressions. Bao has learnt a thing or two from Yana.
Just as both of them were in their own disillusioned thoughts, the other devil called personally.
Luka's eyes widened and he jumped up before answering his phone the second it rang, "Yana! What's wrong? Why are you calling? Ahem, I mean I am really happy about it but-"
Bao rolled his eyes. All the goodwill he accumulated through hard work was directed at Yana!
Bao started to have feelings of rage against her again. Bao could never win. He just wanted the raise he deserved!
"What?" Luka's loud and serious voice stunned Bao and the expression Luka had told Bao something bad had happened.
"Ok, I'll be there immediately. Wait for me!" Luka hung up, grabbed his coat and told Bao, "Quick, we need to go to the police station."
Bao cried on the inside. Would he have to work through the whole night?