ECHO PROTOCOL: Rise Of The Rejected

CHAPTER FOUR

“Why the hell did you do that?!” Jace questioned as he held his cheek.

“Why are you here and what do you want from me?” Vira asked in an irritating tone. She had just come out to ease her thoughts after her husband left the house. She was not expecting to see her ex-husband.

“I did not come here to see you.” Jace told her.

Vira scoffed.

“And you want me to believe that? You and I know you have been obsessed with me since day one, so how can you say you did not come here to see me?” she asked.

“Vira that was then, I did not come for you.” Jace tried explaining.

Suddenly her eyes fell on his outfits. She immediately grabbed his coat and opened it. He had forgotten to remove the tag.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Jace asked as he tried to release her grip on his coat.

“Did you steal this?” she questioned.

Jace's eyes widened, “No! Why would you say that?”

“Liar! You are lying Jace, you stole that from somewhere. I know you and you can't afford that. It is too costly.” She told him.

Jace sighed, he can't believe she sees him not only as a nobody but as a thief now.

“So are you saying I am a thief now?” Jace inquired.

“The truth is clear. You did not have to steal to impress me. I am married now and will still have nothing to do with you.” Vira told him.

As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang.

“Your husband, right?” Jace asked with a raised brow.

“That is none of your business, you have to return that suit now!” Then speaking into the phone, she said, “Hello darling, I was about to report a thief before you called. You can't believe what he stole…”

Jace smiled as he watched her walk towards the exit. She must have greatly underestimated him to treat him that way.

He entered his car and sat with his hands on the steering wheel. When he turned to the side, he noticed the envelope he had thrown into his car after the meeting.

He reached out his hands and gently tapped it with a smile. He can not wait for the next day to arrive.

Bigger things await him. This was the start of his rise to wealth.

***

The next morning, Jace rose up with the early morning sun. It warmed his body as he jogged down the road with his headset on and a bottle of water in hand.

He needed to complete his tasks if he wanted to maintain his health. For now it was still at full percentage.

While jogging, he noticed the ladies staring at him, whispering and drooling over his attractive physique.

“He looks so hot.” he heard some say and smiled.

He was finally getting some traction. Something he had always desired. To be noticed by the public for something nice.

A few hours later, he was panting heavily as he stood by the road, trying to gasp for air. Soon his phone rang, it was an unknown number but he answered it.

“Hello–my house?–oh, I'll be there right now.” he finished and began to jog back to his building.

“Good day sir,” a tall slim man said as he walked towards his entrance.

He can't believe he had actually forgotten about his personal assistant, the one he had employed last night since he had no clue on how to do some things.

“Good day, the new personal assistant, right?” Jace asked.

“Yes sir, I'm Serex Kade, nice to meet you sir.” he said and shook hands with Jace.

Several hours later, Jace was on his way to work. His assistant sat in the front seat, while he relaxed in the back.

“Today would be great! I can feel it already.” he muttered to himself as he crossed his legs.

***

“Have you heard about the new CEO?” a tall lady at the reception desk asked her partner.

They were unaware of the fact that Vira, was straining her ears to hear them.

“I heard he is sexy! Oh, I can't wait to meet him.” the other girl said.

Vira clenched her fist in anger and began walking towards them, but she came to a halt when the first girl exclaimed loudly, “Oh my God! He is here!”

Vira turned quickly, careful not to twist her ankle. Her eyes were fixed to the entrance of the building, waiting for the so-called CEO, but instead her eyes fell on Jace and she frowned.

What the hell was he doing here? she asked herself as she stormed towards the entrance.

Jace saw her coming and let out a smile.

“Why do I have to see you again?!” she yelled as she eyed his expensive suit, “Have you gone to steal another one because I haven't turned you over to the cops?”

Jace said nothing and continued smiling. This really infuriated her as she took out her phone and began to dial a number.

“I don't care what stunt you are trying to pull but I won't let you get away this time.” she told him.

“Vira, what is going on here?” Elias asked as he approached from behind Jace.

Immediately she put her phone down, “Thank God you're here. This is the same thief I told you about last night. I guess he is here to steal something.”

“Thief?” Elias repeated as he turned to face Jace.

He gasps in shock and falls into a bow, gesturing for Vira to do the same.

“What the hell are you doing? I just finished explaining to you that this man is a thief and you dare to bow before him.” Vira asked in anger.

The crowds were already forming and taking photos of them. Vira turned to face every camera; she enjoyed being in the spotlight, and this time she was pleased that the headlines would acknowledge her assistance in apprehending a thief.

Still bowing, Elias informed her, “He is not a thief, Vira; Mr. Jace here is the new CEO.”