More than a month has passed since Vesna first came to the company. Since then, she came here regularly to the point where rumors had started that she was their CEO's new "toy" to play with. Both Vesna and Chris were both aware of the gossip, but they didn't bother to correct it. After all, this was not the first time they were embroiled in such rumors. As long as this did not affect their work quality, they didn't care what others thought.
Vesna was currently tapping her finger against the armrest. Her eyes were fixed intently on the wall-mounted screen in front of her. The screen displayed a live feed of the meeting room just down the hall. Inside, Chris was seated at the head of a long conference table. His posture was slouched, his chin resting in his palm, as he half-listened to the presentation being given by an old employee.
She shook her head, wondering how this guy had even landed a job at Kairos. His ideas were outdated, and his presentation skills were cringeworthy. She mentally thanked Chris for being there, taking the bullet for her so she didn't have to sit through this every day.
Vesna turned off the screen and picked up a file from the pile in front of her. She began to read through it, her eyes scanning the pages. Halfway through, her phone pinged, breaking her concentration.
Not putting the file down, her gaze flickered to the smartwatch on her wrist which was displaying a name she had received the message from. Seeing the familiar name, she put the file down.
"What do they want now?" she muttered, picking up her phone to read the message in full.
"Come to the villa tonight. We have something to discuss." the message read.
Vesna quirked an eyebrow seeing the message from her father, Louis. It had just been a month since she left the villa and they were already calling her back.
Suddenly, another message appeared from the same number.
"Please make sure you are dressed presentably."
Vesna gave a soft chuckle in amusement. Now she knew why they were calling her. She looked down at her clothes.
"Looks like I am going shopping today," she mused to herself and stood up.
"I'll be leaving now," she told Amaya who had just entered holding a pile of files in her hand. She paused, staring at Vesna and then the files she had brought.
"Send them to my place. I'll check them there," Vesna told her, already aware of what she was thinking.
"Yes chief," Amaya answered, "I'll get the car ready for you."
"No need. I'll manage by myself." Vesna told her as she picked up her bag. She paused at the door, turning back to face Amaya with a thoughtful expression.
"Oh, and Amaya? About Mr. Bian..."
Amaya tilted her head. "Yes, chief?"
"How long has he been with the company now?"
"Eight years," Amaya confirmed.
"Eight years," Vesna repeated, a small smile playing on her lips. "That is quite a long time, isn't it? And I heard in the elevator that his daughter just had twins last month. How lovely."
Amaya's eyes widened slightly as she began to understand. "Yes, I believe so."
Vesna continued. "It is a shame he does not get to see them more often. You know, at his age, family should be a priority."
Amaya nodded. "I understand, Chief. I will make the necessary arrangements."
"Excellent," Vesna said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I will be out for the rest of the day. If anything urgent comes up, you know how to reach me."
With that, Vesna left the office. She walked out of the office building and hailed a Taxi, giving directions to the mall. The city passed by in a blur, but her mind was elsewhere.
She was sure her father was calling her because he wanted her to meet someone which was surprising because he would rather hide her shameful existence from the world. Vesna pondered what could be the reason for this sudden summons though she did not ponder much about it either. She would find out eventually.
The taxi pulled up to the mall, its engine rumbling softly as it came to a stop. Vesna paid the driver and stepped out, her gaze already shifting toward the mall's entrance. She wasn't someone who particularly enjoyed shopping, but when she did, she preferred to spend a generous amount. This way, she wouldn't have to repeat the experience anytime soon.
Vesna moved from one store to the next, her arms gradually filling with bags. With her shopping complete, she hailed another taxi to take her back to her apartment.
She knew she was getting late, but she did not care much. If they wanted her on time, they should have informed her earlier. She could already imagine the pissed expression on his face and could not help but chuckle. It had been a long time since she had seen that particular look, and she was oddly looking forward to it.