It had been over a year since Ashton entered Arthur's penthouse. The memories of the days spent here as Arthur's secretary lingered in his mind. He could still feel the excitement of those days as he was the only employer who treated him humanly. Although Arthur could be a workaholic at times, he was never unreasonable to his employees, unlike his mother, who treats employees like tools and machines she can junk anytime.
Ashton is in his late 20s, a tall, thin man with auburn hair and brown eyes. His face is gentle and kind, with prominent cheekbones and a slightly upturned nose. He has a pleasant smile and an air of confidence. His clothing is smart but not too flashy - a good reflection of his calm yet assertive personality. Perfect as the secretary of the chairman of Hendricks Earthwise Consortium.
Ashton arrived at the penthouse precisely 10 minutes earlier than their agreed time, his footsteps echoing in the vastness of the foyer. He had been on the phone with his father throughout the journey and had only caught a glimpse of the sleek black and gold door from the corner of his eye as he walked towards it. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, steeling himself for the day ahead.
He had expected to be welcomed by Arthur himself and be given a brief of the day's agenda, but instead, he found himself standing alone in the foyer, the silence of the penthouse reminding him of the gravity of his task. After moments, he heard a faint voice from the hallway and realized that Arthur had been waiting for him.
"Ah, Ashton," said Arthur as he stepped into the foyer. "You're ahead of time. I trust your journey was pleasant. It's nice to see you again after, like, what... over a year?"
"Yes, thank you, Mr. Hendricks. It's been over a year working with another employee, and there's nothing like you," said Ashton, bowing his head.
"Is that a compliment, Ashton?"
"Of course, you're the best employee I've ever worked with."
"Thank you for that. I trust you remember why I asked you to come over?"
"Yes, I do. To work as your executive secretary again. Mr. Hendricks, I'm so glad you're back. I really like working with you, sir," Ashton said, smiling warmly.
"I'm also pleased you accepted my offer, Ashton." Arthur nodded and gestured for Ashton to follow him. They quickly proceeded to a sitting room with a burning fireplace, casting a soft glow across the walls.
"Let's start with Daniel. I want you to call my best friend Daniel and set up a meeting with him with me. Tell him this is about Nathan," said Arthur, gesturing for Ashton to sit.
"Mr. Hendricks, is there any specific you want me to say to Daniel besides mentioning Nathan?" asked Ashton.
"I need to know what he's been up to lately. Besides, Daniel has something to say about my brother, Nathan, as he told me on the phone. I have been waiting to hear from Nathan for some time and need to know how he and Nathalie are. I've been trying to call them for the past two months, but it wouldn't be pushed through. I'm worried about them both."
"It might have something to do with your parents, Mr. Hendricks. Especially that your father passed away..." Ashton paused. "I mean Robert," he knew Arthur didn't treat his dad as one. They were not on good terms for a few years already. Arthur let it slide.
"Could be."
I'm not sure what he's been doing recently, but I know he's still involved with the Hendricks Earthwise Consortium on the last day of my work."
"For now, I need you to call Daniel first while I take a rest. I didn't sleep a minute last night."
"Alright, I'll call Daniel and schedule a meeting with you, Mr. Hendricks."
"Good," said Arthur, nodding. "Now, let's talk about the board meetings after Robert's burial and the day after. I'll need you to schedule them, review the agenda, and ensure everyone understands their roles. I'll also need you to coordinate our hosting events here."
Ashton wrote it all on his working tablet.
"That would be all for now," Arthur said.
Ashton nodded and stood, ready to get to work. But before he left, Arthur gestured for him to sit back down.
"One more thing before you leave," said Arthur. "I want you to make sure you take care of your health. You will work very hard with me over the next few days, months, and years."
"Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Hendricks," said Ashton.
"Good. You're dismissed."
"Mr. Hendricks, You take care of yourself too. You need some sleep," Ashton said with a hint of concern.
"I appreciate that, Ashton. Thank you."
Ashton bowed his head and quickly exited the sitting area, marveling at the luxurious designs that seemed to adorn every corner and crevice. Despite the gravity of the task ahead, he couldn't help but feel a little relieved to have been welcomed back into Arthur's home and was thankful for the opportunity.
Just as Ashton arrived at the office assigned to him, he got a call from Arthur.
"Ashton, call Alicia and tell her to meet me this afternoon," Arthur said as he was about to lay on his bed.
"Sure. I'll do that, Arthur," Ashton said. The call ended after that.
Ashton quickly got to work with Arthur's best friend, Daniel, and set up an afternoon meeting with him. Daniel agreed and promised to come to the penthouse at the scheduled time.
Next was calling Alicia and setting up a meeting with her and Arthur for later that afternoon. He couldn't help but wonder what the meeting was about but knew better than to pry into his boss's family affairs.
As the day went on, Ashton found himself deep in work, scheduling meetings, coordinating events, and ensuring everything was in order for the next few days.
Ashton spent the rest of the morning preparing for the board meetings and coordinating the events for the next few days. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't even hear the time ticking away until his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything all day.
He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed for room service, ordering a sandwich and some coffee to keep him going. As he waited for his food to arrive, he couldn't help but think about what Arthur wanted to discuss with his mother, Alicia.
He knew that Arthur had been struggling with his strange parents. He wondered what would happen to Alicia now that Robert Hendricks was gone. And he couldn't help but wonder if something had happened that was related to Nathan and Nathalie.
Daniel Johnson arrived just on time. Ashton showed him the way out of respect, although Daniel knew every corner of the massive penthouse.
"Mr. Johnson, please wait here," motioning to the couch as they arrived in the massive living room. He seated comfortably, waiting for Arthur to come out of his room.
Daniel is a tall man with a square jawline and deep-set eyes. He has broad shoulders and a robust build. He wears a black pair of trousers and a white polo shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, giving him a bright yet casual look.
Arthur emerged from his room, freshly showered and looking immaculate in his outfit. He wore black suit pants with a white polo shirt, the sleeves rolled up, giving him an air of casual elegance. He has a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere about him as if he is comfortable in this new look after taking a break from the business world.
"Arthur, it's amazing seeing you in this look again," Daniel said, adoring Arthur's look.
"Thank you, Daniel. It's good to see you again," he said, hugging his best friend. "Please sit down. Do you want anything, coffee, tea?"
"No. Please, I'm fine. I came here to talk about Nathan," his tone firm, his face becoming serious.
"Of course. Daniel, what do you know about Nathan?"
"This is hard to talk about, but I will, for you. Arthur, your brother is in a drug abuse rehabilitation center."
Arthur's face showed a blend of shock, sadness, and despair. His lips pursed slightly, and his eyebrows knit together as he took in the news. His strong posture had begun to slump, and his hands clenched in front of him in disbelief and helplessness.