A clock rested on the wall.
"Tick.... tock...."
The sound echoed in the room. One desk and a computer sat in front of a black chair. Emptiness filled the room, the clock sound interrupted the silence. Aiden looked at his new office with hatred. It was an offence to work while chaos was spreading.
He looked through a huge window placed behind his desk. He could see the employees from there, but they were not able to see him. His older brother told him to meet the new team, but he didn't want to meet with anyone. His father had died, and his brother was an idiot.
Aiden fell on the chair, his head was hanging backwards. His father was gone, his friend, the man with a strange sense of humor. They were different for sure, yet that difference made them a good team.
He remembered his laugh and his bad jokes. A strong sensation crossed his body. 'Who will laugh at their family meetings?' Aiden lowered his head and stroked his forehead. He shook his head, he did not want to think about his father.
Aiden got close to a box and ran his finger down the tape, while looking for a broken space in order to remove it.
"Tshhhhk…"
The tape detached from the box. He opened the box with both hands. In slow motion he took out a few objects: two economy books, a pendulum, his favorite pen, tape, and some scissors.
His fingers crushed into a glass. He had almost forgotten. He took out a photograph with trembling hands. Her mother; an asian woman, medium height, white skin, dark eyes and hair, smiled in the picture. Next to her was Mr. Firestorm; he had dark brown hair, and hazel eyes, he was also smiling. Aiden gulped. He took a deep breath and placed the picture on his desk.
Aiden saw the employees arrive from his window. They walked to their stalls without making any noise. Aiden took advantage of the silence to work. He was sure his brother left tons of work to do, just to complicate his existence. He was right. When he turned on the computer there was a list of pending tasks.
It was for the best. He needed to forget his father no matter what. He worked as fast as he could.
"Click...click... click..."
The keyboard sound merged with the clock sound. Several hours passed but Aiden didn't move, not even for a second. He focused on his work.
The progress was going perfect until Aiden felt disturb for no reason.
"Click... click... click... laughs."
People laughed and spoke in loud voices. Aiden pushed his seat with his feet and looked at the window.
The office environment was more energetic than before. He soon discovered the reason. An unknown short young girl with black curly hair moved through the office distracting the team. She could not work there; she was wearing a white dress and white matching shoes. Employees at the building normally wore dark colors.
Aiden followed the girl with his gaze. The team seemed to be familiar with her presence. It was possible that his father hired a new person while Aiden was in Korea helping his mother, but why did no one tell him.
The smiling face on the young girl made him mad. He took out his phone and typed his brother's name.
"Beep... beep..."
'...Voice mail…...'
Aiden cursed in silence. He dialed three more times until his brother dared to answer.
"What do you want?" he bellowed.
Aiden frowned. "Why is there a stranger at the building?..."
"Be more specific. I don't think a stranger can enter the building so easily", Elian words echoed inside his ear like a bomb.
"There's a girl. She looks young.... I don't think she can possibly work here."
Elian paused and muttered something to someone at the other side of the line.
"I think you mean June."
Aiden stroked his forehead one more time. "... Who?"
"She was our father's assistant."
"You mean... she now works for you", said Aiden.
He heard a chair move. "No... She works for you now."
Aiden took several seconds to process those words. ".... What...?" he backed off. "I don't need an assistant!"
"Look, Aiden. I don't have time for you. Unlike you, I have tons of work to do."
His brother hung up. Aiden threw his phone on the desk. An assistant was nothing more than a hindrance.
*
*
*
The financial department always had a low-spirited environment. The old CEO, the oldest son from Mr. Firestorm, liked perfection. Employees could barely speak or move at the office.
June regretted meeting with Elian Firestorm. She did not want to work for him. At least, he did not want her either.
"I don't need an assistant", he grunted. "Go help my brother."
June hadn't met Mr. Firestorm's family before. She used to see Elian Firestorm at the meetings. Elisa Firestorm, the youngest sibling was seen at the social events, but they never got to know each other. Aiden Firestorm; the middle sibling, traveled to South Korea when Mr. Firestorm hired her. She imagined him as a child, just because she saw an old picture.
She had a feeling that Aiden Firestorm also did not want her help. Thanks to Mr. Firestorm's last will, she was still working at the company. June felt lost without her boss around. She supposed the new boss also liked passive environments, since the team members look dead.
"June", said a young girl.
June smiled at the girl. "Mornin' Kiara. Would you like some tea?"
She didn't dare approach the new CEO, so she preferred to help the employees at that department.
"Just what I needed!" Kiara stretched her arms.
"I need coffee", said a man from behind a computer.
Ten minutes later every employee at the department asked for tea or coffee. June shook her head.
"You're the best June", cried someone. She headed to the kitchen.
She delivered the drinks while chatting to the employees. The office felt more energetic. She did not want to distract them, but she needed a distraction herself. Mr. Firestorm died in a mysterious way. The cause of death was a heart attack, but Mr. Firestorm never suffered any heart diseases.
June feared the company would fall apart. After his death, chaos spread everywhere. Just her, and Mr. Blake seemed to understand the principles Mr. Firestorm had.
"Have you met the new CEO?", asked June.
Kiara moved her chair backwards. "No!" she breathed.
"We think he didn't come to work", said the man working next to Kiara.
They both were the youngest employees at the department.
"He's a coward", said Kiara.
The company should not stop working, no matter if he was a coward. Mr. Firestorm wanted to expand his hotel company around the world. Of course, a week had passed since the mysterious death, so maybe his son was not ready yet.
"They say he isn't an attractive man and looks old for his age", said a middle aged woman.
A chorus of voices confirmed this comment.
"You shouldn't talk about someone you haven't met", said June.
To be honest, she had a bad image of the new CEO as well, maybe it was because she met the new chairman, Elian. She couldn't help but picture Aiden as a horrible tyrant, thirsty for power.
"June!" cried Kiara, ".....don't tell me you are here to fire someone."
The comment ruined her good mood. She had to visit the new CEO. She decided not to wait more, perhaps they were right and the office would be empty.
She said goodbye and headed to the office.