"Good morning Sir!" Few men led by Serene chimed in perfect sync.
"Are we doing it again?" Rubben asked in dull tone.
"Are you seriously asking me that? You told us not to skip a day until we get every cent of the money" Serene said looking at him inquisitively.
Perfect right! They must've thought that they look too soft yesterday. So, they practiced a little! Serene added with a crooked smile.
Rubben pondered silently before he asked again distastely, "What about the kitchen? Don't they have to run a resturant?"
"Don't worry, Sir. We already prepped everything this morning". Chef Paul grinned.
"You don't have to work hard that much" Rubben mutters with a long face. Suddenly Rubben doesn't feel that it was a good idea to make a scene there.
"Right! I got a call that all the money in the bank account siezed too" Serene enthused.
"What bank account?"
"Gallery bank account!"
"That's why yesterday her card .....!" Rubben sighed.
"We should get it done before others take all the money. We must strike while iron is hot. We need....."
"I didn't ask you to do that" Rubben screamed, annoyance written over his face making Serene and the men flinched back slightly in shocked.
-----
"What do you think doing this? Stop it instantly" Jisonia try to nudged the man who was bringing down the painting.
"We need to take the things valuable. Take it down!" The man ordered to his men.
"We still have time until the deadline. Please don't do this" Jasmi and Kenny pleaded. "Ms. Na, Please call the police!" Jisonia ordered gritting her teeth.
"Police!" The man gasped dramatically. "We are the ones who should call the police" The man said seethingly.
"Ms. Na! I told you to call the police." Jisonia said in low and forceful tone.
"This little girl ....!" The man cussed as he raised his hand to slap Jisonia, but to his utmost surprise, his hand was caught mid-air.
"Oh my god! It's hurts. Who are you?" The man groaned in pain.
"Mr Sel....?" Jisonia mutters audibly breathing out a deep breath.
"Get your hands off me!" The man scowled.
"How dare you try to touch her?" Rubben threatened, dark gloom covering his face smacking his hand off.
"Are you okay?" Rubben said with a concern. "Yes, I am.... " Jisonia covered her mouth in shocked in next moment when Rubben flexed his jaw, which the man had hit with so much intensity from the side.
The man instinctively took a step back when Rubben slowly raised his head up, gazing at him with murdering eyes. "Who...are you..to involved?" The man chickened out.
"Me? I am the new director. Why?" Rubben roared making everyone jaws drop with his answers.
"Then, Pay it up" The man said in shaky voice.
"You piece of shit! Tell me, How much I have to pay you?" Rubben dared in a murderous tone.
------
"That's nice! Indeed the best tea is pu'er tea." Rubben said as he took a sip of tea.
"That's Earl Grey tea. I saw how you didn't like pu'er tea last time." Jisonia replied.
"I see, Earl Grey tea" Rubben nodded his head stiffly.
"You were joking earlier, right? About how you're the new director?" Jisonia asked softly, her eyes were boring into his.
"I am not joking. As I told you, I'm a serious man of few words especially when it comes to money." Rubben said in firm tone staring at her.
"It's impossible! You don't know anything about art and what gives you the right?" Jisonia asked feigning ignorance earning a meaningful glance from Rubben.
"You went through that mess with your customers because you couldn't afford a few thousand dollars. Didn't you?" Rubben eyed Jisonia.
Jisonia stayed her gaze on his for a while before turning her face away from his face and asked, "Did I asked you to pay that money?"
"Then, Pay my two million dollars. Wait! Adding with today, how much it would be....?" Rubben pondered before he sank into the couch comfortably.
"Don't overthink! I'm simply trying to make my own money. Haven't you heard of contingent management? When a company is having the hard times, the creditors hired a management specialist to solved it and I'm really good at making money" Rubben said, tugging a proud smile on his lips.
"A gallery is not where you make the money" Jisonia said, her gaze was daring and condescending.
"Hey! I told you not to overthink. You don't even have to prepared a desk for me. This couch will do, Okay?" Rubben said with a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.
----
Kamil narrowed his eyes approaching a man who just step down from the car.
"What?" Rubben scowl.
"Can I ask what you do for living?" Kamil asked looking straight to his eyes.
"No, you can't ask" Rubben flatly replied before walking ahead.
"Unbelievable!" Kamil let out a mocking laughter causing Rubben turned his body fully to him.
"I saw you hanging out with some thugs today in the morning and I advice that you abide by the law so that we won't need to meet again." Kamil snorted, looked at him squarely.
"You see, my body reacts whenever I met unethical people, Goosebumps!" Kamil said folding his sleeves.
"Hey! Mind your own business!" Rubben seethed.
"Be careful, You may be my landlord but I won't go easy on you!" Kamil warned heading for the stairs.
"You be better careful not to get kick out! Your electricity and water bill increase by double" Rubben hissed while Kamil stick out his tongue staring at him.
"You crazy brut!" Rubben cussed under his breath.