" I am so dead" was the only thing in my mind when I heard the bellow of my gramps. I slowly stood from my work station. With a huge smile plastered on my face, I turned around and faced my grandfather.
"Hello grandpa,how have...."
"Don't you dare hello me. Do you know how worried we have been about you and yet,here you are. Two whole weeks!"
"Old man,I suggest that you calm down and we talk calmly." replied Abe.
Abe just had to go and make everything worse. Old man? Even we don't have that privilege! I felt the temperature drop and even I shivered. Wait,why does grandpa have the aura of a mogul?
"Young man, you have the guts to call me old? I was saving the world when you were still in diapers!" gramps said in a very low baritone voice. Woah,easy grandpa always this cool??
"Maybe I should teach you some manners." he added while raising his walking cane. Yikes, I had better save the day.
"Grandpa,you wouldn't want to hit my friend now would you?" I called out to him in a slightly coquettish voice while hugging his arm. I knew this would work because I always held his hand this way as a kid. Though it's very uncomfortable for me, picture the look of horror on their faces right now. Yeah,it's strange but I had to save Abe from assault.
"Friend? Lil L,you made a friend?" he asked,slightly agitated. Sigh,I know gramps, I know.
"Actually, it's friends, gramps. They took care of me when I was sick."
"My lil Fleur finally has some friends. That's very good."
He was in a good mood, yeah, but I had to know how did he know I was sick, my work place too? Did Rio snitch on me?
"Gramps, how did you know I was sick? How did you find my work place?"
"...."
"Did Rio tell you?"
"That tramp knew as well that you were sick and didn't even tell me? Hmph, you both had better prepare yourselves for torture."
I think this is what the Chinese mean by shooting you own foot. Sigh,let me face the beat of the drum. Sorry, Rio.
"I have my ways, Fleur. My ways! I don't need to ask a junior about your well being. I have a hand in all your lives young lady." Oh dear,he called me Fleur. That's bad.
"We're sorry gramps."
"No excuses. I want to see you both tomorrow." He said as he walked away.
"And bring your new friends too. I want to properly thank them for taking care of you." He added as he walked away. Phew, crisis averted. The whole floor was quiet. It just occurred to me that I did all that in front of them. Sigh, there goes my image.
[Kye:Oh,jumping to save future hubby.]
[Fleur: * blankly stares on*]
[Abe: *glares then whispers* too soon Kye,too soon.]
[Kye:*0-0*]
"Guys,really sorry for making a mess of things." Haaaa,this is very annoying. I've just remembered something.
"A mess? You saved us,Fleur. Twice!"said Emily. What is she talking about?
"I gotta admit, the way she handled the hacking, sooo op!!"added another person from the department. Now everyone was riled up. Ok,am I that amazing?
"Ok, everyone listen up. Thanks to Fleur, we managed to save the data of the organization and for that, you all have the half day off."said Abe
Heh, half day off? Not bad though I don't understand. It's just half a day, why is everyone so hyped up about it?
"Yeah, and also Ms. Simine, I'll have you know that Ms. Hales got into this department,this team using her own skills."he added. Awww, he sta doing up for me. Go team leader,go!
"What skills? She.looks younger than all of us yet you say she has the skills? Stop bluffing."blondie,or Ms. Simine added.
We were all quiet for a while. What is her problem? Why can't she let it go? As I thought on what to do next, I heard Alec speak from somewhere in the room.
"Heh, skills? You're talking about skills? Then let me help that water logged brain of yours understand something. To join the core group,you need one of these two. Either a recommendation from a higher up or, enough 'skill'. Your lowest academic achievement has to be a PhD. She can type and go toe to toe with team leader. That alone speaks volumes of her skill."
Wow, I didn't think Alec would stand up for me. That was so nice of him. Maybe having friends isn't so bad after all. I know, you're probably wondering why a PhD. Before the invasion, phds were hard to obtain. Not because of money,but because of brain. After the invasion, different things about humans changed, intelligence levels inclusive. Yeah,so holding a PhD is easy,but only if you push for it. Not many people know of this information so keep hush hush about it, otherwise...
"Ok,since that's settled everybody clear whatever you have left and then the rest of the day off. Emily,Alec, Fergus, Archie, Jade,Brax and Fleur, meet me in my office when you're done."
"What a shock I've gotten today. Lucy, your grandpa is scary."said Emily. If only she knew.
"He didn't look scary to me. He was just worried for Fleur's safety."added Fergus. Preach to them for me Fregus sama.
"Are you going to get into trouble,Lucy?"asked Jade. Why would she ask that?
"Stop delaying. Hurry it up."barked Alec. What is his problem? Anyway,we all made our way to Cedric, ahem ahem, I mean Mr. Edwards office. I had never been there before but it's Scandinavian design was enough to blow me away. Black and white hues washed the walls and window curtains with a brown couch to the side to stand out. The ebony black table at the centre of the room screamed of power and with him sitting behind it,looked like for a CEO. Something drew me to the room. It wasn't the table or the paintings or the owner,but rather the windows.
Our department had its offices on the 23rd floor of a 50 floor building. Since it was high noon,one could gaze out see everything for miles out,even though they are only tiny specks. Makes me miss home. My mood soured all of a sudden. I was lost in thought when a hand tap woke me up.
"Fleur,are you ok?"came Brax's worried voice.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired." I replied. Truth be told, I couldn't pinpoint the specific reason.
"Ok,why I've called you all is to tell you guys that we shall be having our little get together to welcome Fleur today. I hope everyone's okay with that?"
This guy is weird. He speaks with finality leaving no room for discussion yet he still asks if we are ok with it! I want to hit his head! Oh no,it's back. I need to get out of here! NOW! Panic attack,but why now?
"Are you ok,Fleur?" asked Abe.
"What?.....Oh,I'm fine. There's just something...You know what,here is my DC. Send the location coordinates of the place. I'll be there." I said as I hurriedly got a pen and jotted down my digital code. (We use these instead of phone numbers,more secure) I didn't wait for any approval and left.
"Something's fishy about her." said Alec. That was true,very true indeed. It made Abe want to have her checked.