(ABANDONED BUILDING AT THE OUTSKIRT OF CITY B)
"You know something, Allen; you are a disgrace to the male gender. You forced yourself on a girl and left her for dead, you didn't even have the decency to check if she's alive or not. I guess you actually wanted her dead,"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry but I don't know who you're talking about; I have absolutely no idea who you're referring to,"
"You still have the nerves to lie to my face. Well I guess you have to be treated like the beast that you are,"
"Please forgive me,"
"I have a question though, what did Phoenix ever do to you?"
"Phoenix, phoenix, is she dead? I didn't mean to kill her. I don't know what came over me. When I realized what I had done, I felt so ashamed of myself; I didn't know that she wasn't breathing,"
"You didn't know? You amaze me Allen. That is no business of mine but here's what I'll do; I'll torture you to my satisfaction. I'll torture you just the way you did Phoenix and I'll leave you half dead. Of course you won't die, I'll just torture you to the point where you call for death and it won't come, I'll torture you to the point where constant pain is all you feel for months to come,"
"No, I beg you,"
"This is just a subtle reminder never to try what you did to another person ever again,"
Sterling could only be calm after he'd tortured Allen to his satisfaction and that was what he planned to do. As long as Phoenix was in pain, so would he.
********************************
By the end of the Christmas season, all employees of PHOENIX CORP. worldwide were aware of the brutal treatment meted out on their boss. Some of the employees wondered who would be the interim CEO until their boss was back on her feet. As for Cooking Fest, Miss Debby could easily find a co-host but the spot of the CEO was only reserved for those who were capable but who was that person?
Everyone kept all their questions intact and waited for Monday morning and before they would blink an eye, morning was upon them and they all needed to get to the office as early as possible.
(PHOENIX CORP, HQ)
Liyah and all the departmental heads were all standing at the entrance of PHOENIX CORPS main building waiting patiently for whoever was to come.
At exactly 8am, a Bentley Muslane, just like that of their boss was parked at the entrance of the building and an elegant man could be seen from one side. Everyone waited to see who this person was and when the person did appear, it was none other than Sterling Tyrell, the Sterling Tyrell was here.
Was he here to propose a deal were he'd ask the board of directors to sell PHOENIX CORP. to him? If he was then he really was ruthless…
Sterling could definitely see the puzzled looks on their faces; probably wondering what he was doing there. Everyone knew who I was and of course, when it came to business, I was ruthless. So me being here was definitely a cause for alarm, well to them anyways.
"Hi, I guess you're Liyah and these are all the departmental heads for the HQ of PHOENIX CORP. That being said, I'd like Miss Mills secretary to show me to where the conference room is and I expect all the departmental heads to be there in the next 10 minutes. I'm giving everyone 10 minutes to be there cause this is an impromptu meeting. Miss Liyah, lead the way,"
"Yes sir, please follow me,"
All the departmental heads scrambled to their various departments to get everything in order and head to the conference room. No one wanted to keep the almighty Sterling Tyrell waiting.
***************************
CONFERENCE ROOM
Sterling sat and waited for all the departmental heads to get to the conference room so he'd give them a heads up about the new development about to take place in Phoenix Corp.
When all the leaders trooped in and were all seated, anyone who walked into the room could feel the tension.
Sterling smirked, this was just the kind of presence he commanded wherever he went and he didn't take that aura for granted.
"Good morning everyone,"
"Good morning sir" they all chorused
"I'm sure you all must be wondering why I'm here but the good news is that I'm here to give you all the good news,"
Faint murmurs could be heard and it could be said that everyone had the same thought.
'There was hardly anything good when Sterling Tyrell was around'
"I'm pretty sure that I have an idea about what the murmur is about. Liyah, kindly play this video using the projector so that everyone here can see it," Sterling handed over a flash drive to Liyah and Liyah did the needful with no questions asked.
Not long after that, a video was being played.
(PHOENIX VOICE)
"Good day everyone, I'm sure you all will be shocked to see CEO Sterling Tyrell in Phoenix Corp but I urge you all not to be alarmed. CEO Sterling Tyrell is there on my behalf. Now, due to unforeseen circumstances, and during the process of my recovery period and as mandated by my doctor not to engage in any work related activities, I hereby give CEO Sterling Tyrell the authority to be the acting CEO in my stead until I'm fully recovered. CEO Sterling Tyrell will show you the entire temporary document which shows my signature. I enjoin you all to give him the respect that is expected as you would to me. Liyah, I expect you to forward the memo of this new development to all the sub-superiors. Thank you all,"
After the video stopped playing, everywhere was quiet and if anyone was to drop a pin on the floor, it probably would be heard.
"After that has been said, here is the evidence of the temporary transfer of power until Miss Mills is fully recovered and as she has clearly stated, let the memo be passed to the other sub-superiors,"
"Okay sir," they once again chorused. It was as though they were trying to avoid offending me.
"Okay, that will be all for now and before I forget, I want all the reports from each department on my desk by tomorrow morning. Thank you all for your time,"
I got up to leave as Phoenix needed my attention. Since she woke up from her comatose state, she has been a bit nervous about going home and besides that, the doctor still insisted that she stayed in the hospital for a few more days to undergo observation.
********************************
(AT THE HOSPITAL; Phoenix Ward)
"How was it, were they terrified? I'm guessing they were,"
"I can't argue with that. Anyone could feel how tensed they were in the conference room. I asked for the reports from each department just be up to dates on what's been happening during this period of you being in the hospital; not that I don't trust your judgment but I just like to be thorough when it comes to business,"
"I expect nothing less from the almighty Sterling Tyrell. I can't wait to fully recover so I can get back to work,"
"Until the doctor approves of it, then I'm not letting you do anything work related,"
"Aren't you already bossing me around; it's not fair"
"Whatever you say Miss. By the way, have you made arrangements on where you'll stay once you're discharged?"
"No, I haven't. In order not to be a burden on anyone, I'll still stay at my apartment but I'll hire some helps,"
"You know that you could just come live with me, right?"
"Why would I do that? That will be so inappropriate,"
"Well, to you it is but it isn't to me; but I'll tell you what,"
"What?"
"You'll come begging to stay with me,"