Chapter 15 Personal Assistant

Sabrina sat next to her supervisor, Sharon, and observed the executives at the party. Something felt off, and she was about to inquire when Sharon shared a cryptic message with a very displeased expression. "Listen. Be mindful of how much you drink and excuse yourself as early as you can. Go home when you've got the chance." Sabrina had worked long enough that she knew what that meant. It disgusted her. She had no idea she would be dragged out into something like this despite her relatively unflashy job at the administrative department. It became clear that the party was meant to please their CEO from HQ. The executives seemed rather anxious—which was a far cry from their usual behavior. Even regular employees like herself had heard about recent events within the company and the CEO's anger, which had put the higher-ups on edge. They were so determined to secure their positions that they were willing to consider any idea they believed might work. The clock struck 7 p.m., and the guest of honor had not yet arrived. The executives grew increasingly anxious. Could it be that Mr. Walton had discovered their intentions after all? Another half-hour dragged on, and finally, the door swung open. The higher-ups stood up, prepared to welcome him. To their astonishment, Victor Beumont walked in, nodding and smiling at them as if he were simply following protocol. He took a seat in the chair reserved for Curtis. "Thank you, everyone, for this gathering, but... the boss had an emergency to attend to, so I'm here on his behalf. Honestly, I see this as a little vacation. I don't really care about the company… I'm only part of it because I have to be. If anyone interferes with my ability to make a profit, I'll do the same in return, no questions asked," Victor declared. "I'm sure you all catch my drift, don't you?" The higher-ups recognized Victor from their encounters with him at the headquarters. Victor's speech left them feeling exposed and uncomfortable. The CEO had apparently caught wind of their scheme, and sending Victor as his proxy was a clear warning. "Okay! Chow time!" he declared and grabbed the utensils. The crowd followed suit in silence. Sharon let out a sigh of relief and exchanged knowing glances with Sabrina and Felicia. She was worried about what could've happened a while ago, but Victor's presence provided a sense of security. It was evident that the CEO did not approve of the situation. Sharon could not help but think about just how much trouble these higher-ups were in. The executives had initially offered to drive Victor back home after dinner, but he declined the offer. "I'm here for dinner and a leisurely stroll. Carry on with whatever you folks like to do," he remarked. "However, I'd like Miss Carter and the others to stay. I have something to discuss with them." The executives panicked. "Aww, don't look so tense! Relax! I just wanna chat with some old friends," Victor responded with a grin. These buffoons panicked over the slightest things—and yet they were the ones secretly committing wrongdoing behind the back of the headquarters at every chance. What a bunch of cowards. Not that it mattered. Curtis already had all the evidence he needed to dismiss these individuals. The higher-ups reluctantly departed. "So, you must be Sabrina Roth, correct?" Victor had reviewed Sabrina's file before joining the dinner, so identifying her was a simple task. She nodded. While she didn't know who Victor was, she was well aware that he was someone important. Sharon, meanwhile, exchanged a meaningful look with him. She had been transferred from the headquarters to the branch company and was scheduled to return to the headquarters later in the year. She had known Victor for years—enough to understand his intentions without him saying a word. Quickly, she pulled Felicia aside with an excuse. "Well... I happen to know your husband quite well. He's an arrogant, self-important little prick with a shocking lack of empathy. He can be a pain in my ass at times too," Victor began. It might have sounded like an unexpected dig, but everyone present knew it was a spot-on description of Curtis' character. Sabrina was surprised. She had long suspected that Curtis might be working in the same company as she did, but now it was practically confirmed. "I don't actually know much about his job. What… role does he occupy in our company, exactly?" she asked. Victor rubbed his chin and thought for a while. Sabrina was puzzled. This man occupied one of the highest positions in the company. If he knew Curtis… did that mean Curtis held an important role too? "That guy? My personal assistant," he answered. "We'll be here for a year. Congratulations on your marriage." Sabrina felt a little embarrassed. What was the point of congratulating a marriage that would only last for a year? Nevertheless, there was a crucial piece of information in his reply: the reason why Sabrina had never seen Curtis before was because he used to work at the headquarters. His move to the branch company had been prompted by his boss's relocation. "We're actually friends on a personal level, so there's no need to treat me like your boss or anything. I mean, I pretty much have your husband doing my work! Ha!" Victor added with a gleeful downplay of Curtis's position. "I see. Well, I'm sure Curtis is good at his job. Is that all?" Sabrina replied calmly. Victor was stunned. He knew that neither of them had any emotional investment in the relationship, but he hadn't expected such a nonchalant response. Sabrina chuckled in embarrassment. What was there left for her to say? "I guess that's all," Victor relented. "Look, about what happened tonight? Don't say a word." The executives already knew they fucked up, but they also knew they could not admit to it until the boss told them to. Sabrina nodded. The women then watched Victor leave before going their separate ways. Felicia shot one last look at Sabrina before they went, her face brimming with gossipy curiosity. In the end, she restrained herself from saying anything. Sabrina found the brief private conversation with Victor to be quite the headache. She couldn't help but worry that people would hear about it and begin to read into it with their own interpretations. She dreaded the rumors that would inevitably circulate in the office the next day.