CALEB'S POV

Resumption at the Office

Although Caleb had bought two brand-new cars for himself - a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a BMW X5, he still preferred to ride his motorbike because it gave him the feeling of independence and power. That feeling of being in total control of one's destiny and having absolute command of their affairs - something which had eluded him all his life for the long haul.

So early in the morning - about a week later, before anyone else was up, he got up and had a quick bath, dressed up and put on his helmet, then quietly stole out of the house on his bike. It was in the middle of summer and the weather was warm even at the crack of dawn. As he rode along the narrow and winding plains surrounded by open fields, he felt like he was floating in the air when the sultry wind kissed his face.

He recalled one weekend during springtime a couple of years back when he and Mia went skiing for the first time on a hilltop and had a similar sensation. He had often wondered what it would feel like to actually go places on his own and explore - a feeling brought about when a bird flew over their heads flapping its colourful wings and making a shrill chirk in ecstasy.

Caleb flung his arms in the air for a brief second, replicating the kind of freedom he thought that bird had just soaring into the sky without any care. He let them flap at his sides, his mouth making some hullabaloo sounds just like he remembered the bird doing.

After riding for nearly 40 minutes, he made a roundabout turn and started heading back to the house. But on second thoughts, he decided to go straight to the office. It was broad daylight already, so reaching home before going to work might steal into his official time. Besides, he needed to keep up with the impression that he was a mere assistant. Miss Jonas had already started to give him attitude when she noticed how close to the boss he was.

He heard his stomach making a rumble and thought to stop over at the Cafe shop nearby and grab a cup of coffee. Grandpa would certainly be coming to the office with lunch packaged and sent by Mama anyway, so he didn't have to bother about food.

By the time Caleb arrived at the office, the time was eight o'clock on the dot. He went to park his bike on the available spot which was in between Miss Jonas' car and the branch manager's, Mr David. As he made to climb down, he heard a deafening bang behind him. He tried to turn around but his head hit something and the next thing, he found himself on the ground.

"What the heck!" he shrieked.

Then he saw it. A red Porsche car.

Before he staggered to his feet, he saw two legs in bright red cover shoes taking two steps forward.

"Jeez! You nearly blasted off my head," he cried. But that wasn't the worst. He also found lying on the ground broken pieces of shrapnel. The backlight of his bike was broken. "And look at the mess you've done to my bike."

Caleb was still dazed from the fall that he hadn't properly taken a look at the person whom he was addressing. When she continued to stare down at him without uttering a word, his eyes travelled up from her legs to her face. Behold, standing in front of him and looking like a goddess from Disneyland was Elena Daniels, his ex-girlfriend's friend.

"What? You?" Caleb couldn't hide his shock.

Elena chuckled in derision. "It is indeed I."

"What are you doing here ramming into me like that?" he queried.

"I should be the one asking you that question," the beautiful lady who couldn't be less than 26 years of age with sand-coloured hair and black eyes shot back.

Caleb struggled to his feet. "Really?" Then his tone became conciliatory, "Since I asked first, I think it's only proper that you oblige me with an answer."

"I am the manager of Castor Oil company. I'm here to speak to the CEO of Dezani Cosmetics about the two companies cooperating to produce baby lotions for the launching of the Save the Children Campaign in some parts of the city which would kick off by the first quarter of next year."

Caleb was interested. But at the same time, he was furious over the damage to his new bike. He had heard the mention of this organization from his grandfather sometime last week but had no idea Elena would be directly involved. And their locality had been in the WHO news lately regarding an outbreak of skin infection caused by the sweltering weather and affecting newborns. Cooperating with a big baby-products-making company like Castor Oil would be a boost for their own company.

"That's great. Yet, it doesn't explain away the damage you've done to my bike." Caleb said and looked her over with indignation, hoping she would at least apologise for what has happened. But behind him, he heard some running footsteps and turned back. Two security guards were racing towards them. They too must have heard the loud noise from the collision and came to find out what that was about.

"Any problem ma'am?" the slim one asked Elena while completely ignoring Caleb. He had been acting that way since the first day he arrived and Caleb had always ignored his snobbish attitude. "If this new boy is giving you trouble," he continued eyeing Caleb maliciously, "you only need to say so and we'd have him reported to the management."

Elena sniggered and turned pointing to the slight scratch on the side of her car instead of the damage to Caleb's bike.

"I'm afraid so. This piece of shit parked his bike here just as I was reversing to take the spot."

She was obviously lying because there was no sign of her car when Caleb wanted to park there.

Caleb bit his lower lip and said nothing.

"He did so deliberately I'm sure," the slim security guy concurred.

"But look at the back of his bike," the other security guard said. He was always friendly towards Caleb and waved at him every time he was coming in or driving out of the gate.

The slim guy struck his arm. "Who said the bike belongs to him? Just because he works as a mere assistant to the boss and has access to his motorbike doesn't elevate him to a big man. He's a nobody."

Elena laughed scornfully. "I want to personally speak with the CEO and make sure that arrogant people like him aren't given employment in a big company like this."

When the slim guy heard that, he nudged his colleague to assist him in pushing Caleb out of the premises. "Let's throw him out of here. He should wait outside the gate for constituting a nuisance until the boss comes around. We can't afford to lose an important personality like this because of an amateur worker."

He was seemingly trying too hard to please Miss Daniels. He was already drooling at her and she must have noticed because she acted really dramatic as she continued to berate Caleb.

Just then the honk of a car blared from behind and everyone turned in the direction of the approaching vehicle.

"The boss is here," the other security guard spoke.

A smile broke out on Elena's beautiful and well-rounded lips. She was going to further make jest of Caleb now to prove to the slim security guy who she noticed was making passes at her that she was a powerful lady.

"He will be fired today. I am a well-respected member of my company and we have a good relationship with Dezani Cosmetics."

When the Mercedes-Benz E-Class came to a halt, it was Ricardo who alighted instead of Lord Dezani.

"Why did you set out of the house without informing anyone?" he asked Caleb looking anxious. And then his eyes flew to the back of his bike.

"OMG, what happened to the bike? Were you involved in an accident? The boss would kill me for this."

Elena noticed how well-dressed and good-looking he appeared, especially in his Brioni Italian black suit which complimented the expensive car he drove, and thought he must be the new CEO.

"Thank heavens you're here. I want to see you inside your office, Mr CEO."