VSI: Vark Slade Incorporated Company.
~Jessica's POV~
I stepped out of the car and walked straight into the company. Every staff member I passed bowed their heads to greet me, but I didn't bother to respond. My mind was focused on other things.
I headed directly to my office and picked up the phone to call my secretary. She hurried in, and I asked her about the arrange board meeting we discussed on phone because my father had important announcements to make.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am, I will go and do that now," she replied, and started leaving.
"Wait," I called her back, "I told you to always address me as 'Madam,' not 'Ma'am.'"
"I'm sorry, Madam," she corrected herself quickly before leaving my office.
I opened my laptop, ready to start my work, when I noticed one of the company staff members sneaking around to his desk. He hadn't realized I could see him from my office.
"Why is he tiptoeing like that? What's going on? And he's not even one of the company VIPs," I muttered to myself. Curious, I got up and followed him.
"Stop right there!" I shouted, and the person froze in place, still facing away from me.
"Turn around, let me see your face!" I demanded.
He turned slowly, forcing a smile, but it was clear he was nervous. "Hello, ma'am Jessica," he said, but his smile didn't look genuine.
"You work here, right? So why are you sneaking around? And what's your name?" I asked, folding my arms under my chest, waiting for an answer.
"Uh, I'm Eric, the system analyst. I wasn't sneaking, ma'am," he replied, but I could tell he was hiding something.
Before I could question him further, my secretary rushed in again. "Madam, the board members are refusing to attend the meeting because they weren't informed in advance."
"What!?" I snapped, my temper rising. "Call them again and tell them to report to the boardroom immediately! It's an order, not a request! Now get the hell out of my sight."
At that moment, I felt like tearing the world apart or crushing it into dust. How dare the board members defy me? I am Jessica, daughter of the most powerful vampire, Vark Slade. They may be our investors, but my father and I protect their lives from werewolves. No one dares to say no to me.
My lips tightened with anger as I noticed Eric still standing there, watching me.
"Hey, you. What are you still standing there for? Get back to your post now, moron!" I barked, and Eric quickly rushed out of my sight.
I stormed back into my office, slamming the door behind me. What the hell just happened? I dropped into my chair, fuming as I waited for a response from our investors. My father would be so disappointed if I couldn't even arrange a simple meeting with them. This situation sucks. I have to do everything in my power to keep my father happy, especially since I'm the one who will take over when he's gone. But how can I prove I'm ready to lead if I can't even get the board members and investors to follow my orders?
No, I won't let this slide. I'm the boss here, and they will listen to me. As I was thinking this, the phone rang, breaking my focus. I shoved the laptop away slightly and grabbed my phone to check who was calling.
When I saw the name on the screen, my anger flared up even more. How many times do I have to tell her to stop calling me? She chose someone else's child over me. I'm her real daughter, but I don't need her in my life anymore.
The phone rang again. "This woman just won't quit," I muttered. "I guess I'll have to change my number so she can't reach me anymore." I tossed the phone back onto the desk, and an old memory came rushing back.
**************
I was just a little girl, playing in my father's garden, when I heard a scream. It was a woman's voice, coming from one of the cells. I wanted to see who it was, so I started heading in that direction. But then I ran into my father and two of his vampires, emerging from one of the cells. My father was carrying something wrapped in clothes.
"Hey Daddy, what's that you're carrying?" I asked with a giggle.
My father exchanged glances with the vampires beside him before replying, his face stern. "It's nothing."
"But I heard a noise coming from here, Daddy," I said, my voice curious.
Instead of answering, my father told the vampires to take me to my room. I didn't mind though, because when they brought me there, I found my mother inside, arranging my bed. I ran up and hugged her from behind.
"Mummy, can you please tell me what's going on?" I asked her.
But what she did next shocked me. She pushed me away, and I fell to the floor. I had no idea why she did that until she looked at me with hatred in her eyes.
"Stay away from me! I hate you and your father," she spat before walking out of my room. I tried to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. All I felt was anger.
*************
Just as I was lost in thought, someone knocked on my office door. I quickly composed myself and looked up, don't want anyone to think something was bothering me.
"Yes?" I asked, fixing my gaze on my secretary.
"The meeting will proceed as you requested, Madam. All our investors and board members are ready to meet with you," she said, standing at the door.
"Good. Seems they've learned to follow orders. You can leave now," I said, waving her off. She nodded and quietly closed the door behind her.
I stood up, grabbed my phone, and called my father to let him know the meeting would happen. I could hear the pride in his voice as he responded, and I knew I was doing exactly what he wanted.
*************
Eric glanced around, making sure no one was watching him. Satisfied, he pulled out his phone and quickly sent a text to Gabriel.
'Don't leave the apartment under any circumstances. I'll come to get you both. It seems like Vark Slade and his daughter are planning something. Just wait for my message.'
After sending the text, Eric slipped his phone back into his pocket and started working on his computer. No one noticed; all the other staff were busy with their tasks.
~ Kaelos POV ~
"You never told me the city you always talk about is this beautiful and noisy," I said, standing in front of Gabriel as he sat on a chair, listening to me.
Just then, his phone buzzed. Gabriel pulled it out, checked the message, and read it aloud. But the text didn't make much sense to me because Eric didn't provide many details.
"Gabriel, do you understand what he's trying to say in that text? It sounds confusing to me."
"Yes, Kaelos," Gabriel replied. "Eric is just warning us not to leave the house. Is there something else you don't get?" He placed the phone beside him, but I could see something wasn't right. His expression showed there was more to the message.
I couldn't just let it go. I had to ask.
"Gabriel, is there something you're not telling me? I can sense something's bothering you." I sat beside him, ready to hear the truth.
Gabriel stood up, scratching his head with his lips pressed together. He was hesitant to speak.
"Hey, Gabriel! Say something. What is it?" I urged, starting to feel worried.
"According to Eric, Vark Slade is up to something again. If we don't act, he might get ahead of us," Gabriel finally said.
"So, what do you think we should do about it, Gabriel?"
"We need to act quickly and find a way to get closer to Vark Slade. Don't worry about not having your powers right now. We need to learn more about his moves before it's too late," Gabriel explained.
"But how are we supposed to do that when Eric just told us not to leave the house?"
"We need Eric to tell us everything he knows about Vark Slade's lifestyle in the city. I'm sure once we have all the details, we'll find something we can use," Gabriel replied.