[Vincent Coleman]
[10am, Emergency meeting at the AO Company--]
After a few days of getting everything under control in the best way they can, an emergency meeting was called upon. Despite the concern and difficulties, all of the board directors were present. There was worry and anxiousness written on all of their faces.
Moreover, they looked weary and drained from the lack of sleep. It has been pure madness-- from preventing people from barging into their company to ensuring the safety of all staff personnel that were within the company's premises. As a result, many have not returned home through the company's secret passageways and have worked tirelessly to resolve the matter at hand.
Not even Vincent, the CEO of the company, had returned to his penthouse. He had not slept at all in the last couple of days. The skin around his eyes was slightly darkened and there was a murderous aura around him.
The board of directors waited in nervous silence for Vincent to start the meeting. After the dismissal of Dr Fitzpatrick and a couple of staff who were aware of the news interview at that time, the remaining staff members of the company have been walking on eggshells.
Regardless of the current situation with AO Company's reputation, no one wishes to be dismissed from a renowned company over a misconduct and breach of contract. Having such a record would be crippling and there was no coming back to the workforce after a dismissal like that. Everyone and anyone knew of the company and its international standing. Thus, such a dismissal will be highly referenced to when the affected individual applies for a new job. There was no escaping the consequence.
"How is damage control?" Vincent asked.
"Sir, the public's view of the AO Company has plummeted since the news announcement last Friday. Many reporters and upset citizens are still gathering outside the company and calling all of our office lines. We are even beginning to receive threatening emails and letters," a man dressed in a light blue plaid shirt answered.
"Any letters of complaints from our stakeholders and investors?"
"No one has withdrawn their investment nor has there been any complaint. Seeing as one of the stakeholders' alpha sons had been one of the couples involved in causing a beta to change to an omega, the stakeholders and investors were already well aware about the situation before the news broadcast," a lady in red satin collared shirt answered.
"Good. What about marketing?"
"Steadily increasing since betas who are extremely worried of being affected have purchased heat suppressants and a variety of pheromone prevention products. Our company is afterall top in the field when it comes to developing such products," Vincent's secretary answered as he adjusted his frameless spectacles.
"I see... Any followup from the legal team?" Vincent asked.
"Yes, since our company is publicly listed, there are limitations to the steps we can take to circumvent the small gathering outside the premises and the incessant calls and emails people are sending to us. Unless the safety of our staff is threatened in any way on a personal level, we have no choice but to tolerate the nuisance."
"Thus, for the threats we are beginning to receive, will be handed over to the law enforcement and let them trace it back to the individuals responsible for it. Furthermore, if any of our staff members are to be harassed in their own homes, it would be an infringement of their privacy-- which would only give us leverage when filing a suit later on... It is a good thing that our staff records in the system have double encrypted security measures. That, and with the usage of our secret entrances, the chances of our staff being endangered in any way would be unlikely," the secretary replied.
"Yes, that is good. Thank you, Rowan."
The meeting continued as the board members discussed the less urgent matters.
***
[2.52pm, after the meeting in Vincent's office--]
Vincent loosened his necktie with one hand as he sat at his desk. The meeting had taken hours. There was still so much to do and there was no quick solution to the whole matter. Sighing, he drank the remaining coffee that he had left on the table. The coffee had long turned cold but he needed something to keep him alert. He was sleep deprived and had a minor headache.
'Perhaps I should return to the penthouse tonight. All the pressing matters have already been sorted out thanks to Rowan and the rest of the staff,' Vincent thought to himself.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Yes?"
"Sir, your 3pm appointment is here," Rowan said as he opened the door of the office ajar.
"Just postpone it. I need some quiet."
"But sir--"
"I don't want to hear anymore about the appointment," Vincent growled and rubbed at his temples with his right hand.
The secretary actually huffed and opened the door wider. He even had the nerve to roll his eyes right in front of his boss. Vincent was about to reprimand him when the secretary continued.
"Sir, it's Mr Dixon. He's your 3pm appointment."
Vincent immediately straightened in his seat.
"Why didn't you say so?!"
The secretary just stared at Vincent silently, "So, shall I send him in?"
"Yes, please do-- Oh! Rowan, I need you to run down to that cafe at the end of this street and buy one of every dessert, and anything else that is sweet."
"Pardon?" Rowan just stared in surprise for in all the years he had worked at the company, his boss had never once shown any liking or interest in sweet desserts.
"Here, use my card," Vincent basically shoved his personal credit card into Rowan's hands.
"I--"
"Make sure to return within the next thirty minutes. Oh, and please have Mr Dixon come in," Vincent said and Rowan could have sworn that he saw the corner of his boss' lips twitch upwards slightly as he turned away.
***
"Welcome, Mr Dixon--" Vincent said as he greeted Dixon at the door of his office.
The beta's eyes widened in surprise as he almost stumbled into Vincent at the very doorway. Vincent was quick to move and had grabbed onto Dixon to prevent the beta from falling. Dixon must not have been expecting Vincent to be right by the door to welcome him into the office.
'Mm… He smells good. He must have just had a bath,' Vincent thought to himself as he unconsciously gripped tighter.
"Ah, I'm so sorry, Mr Coleman!" Dixon exclaimed as he pulled away from Vincent. "I… I wasn't looking at where I was going."
"It's okay," Vincent glanced at Rowan who was standing a couple of feet away behind Dixon. As if understanding what he wanted, the secretary bowed silently and rushed off. "Please come on in," Vincent then ushered Dixon to the sitting area in the room where there was a couple of black couches and a coffee table.
"Thank you," Dixon said as he sat down on one of the couches. He was still looking flustered from the earlier incident.
"Mm... So, you've come to discuss some terms of the contract before signing it?"
"Ah, yes…" Dixon said as he pulled out the small stack of papers from his backpack.
'Unlike how he wore the other day at the cafe, seeing him in a plain white shirt and black pants formal wear gives me the impression that he is going for his first job interview. Moreover, carrying around a dark blue backpack makes him look much younger-- like he had just finished his college classes and had come to see me,' Vincent mused.
"I actually have no problem with any of the clauses or terms stated in the contract but I'd just like to know what exactly my job would entail. I'm a beta and was wondering how someone of my second gender would be able to be an ambassador for a renowned company like yours. Your company basically caters to the alphas and omegas... Additionally, as you know, I run a cafe that publishes comics and thus, will not be free on most days until much later in the evenings. I've noticed that there was no estimated timing specified for the job. I do not wish to sign for something where I will be able to be present for most of the time..." Dixon trailed off as he laid down the contract on the glass coffee table.
"You're right. The AO Company does mostly cater to alphas and betas, but not all of our ambassadors in the past have been of either genders. In fact, a number of our ambassadors were betas. Since the population of omegas are fairly low, there were not many who have even applied or accepted the job offer in the past. The alphas on the other hand… Well, let's just say that a number of them feel that being an ambassador is beneath them."
"Ah, I never really thought of that… It's the same thing back at my cafe as well. Most of my staff are actually betas. I didn't expect the situation to be similar with a renowned company like yours," Dixon replied.
"Yes, it's about the same in every other place. Since alphas tend to come from wealthy families and mostly excel in everything, they feel entitled. I guess you can say that we alphas are very arrogant in that way."
Vincent paused and watched Dixon's expression before continuing.
"We tend to always get what we want."