Chapter 26: Close friendship
Days later, Shin returned to his usual routine, hammering contracts and backbreaking meetings.
In such a situation, Secretary Yun mechanically worked like lightning delegating and communicating with the board of directors.
"Then we will re-evaluate the present financial report in comparison to the past couple of years this week." Secretary Yun concluded, peeking a glance at his boss.
Shin Keir sat there like a sovereign overseeing his people, his deep, unfathomable eyes were frighteningly cold and lethal.
The huge conference room was deathly quiet, like hell's spitfire, the supposed short meeting had dragged on for hours now.
Who offended this demon emperor?
It was just before noon but the temperature inside was very wrong, like carnage itself.
Last night, Shin slept late without any psychological burden.
Unexpectedly, that bizarre dream disturbed him once again, the same strange forest and the woman in a red flowing dress.
This time, she was standing on the edge of a steep forest cliff with huge red rocks like mounds of raw rubies, fluttering around her seemed to be glowing red butterflies, and the surrounding area was covered by a dense fog.
Like before, she looked back knowing his existence, and gave him the sweetest smile.
She was dangerously beautiful, ethereal yet desolate.
Shin walked towards her, not liking how she was standing by the cliff with no sense of danger.
The beautiful woman's mouth moved but he was still too distant to discern her words, then the next instant, her body tilted and she fell down the cliff.
Despair and inexplicable agony enveloped his being, his heart violently slammed against his chest and he willingly plunged into madness.
Without stopping, he went and jumped after her, unafraid.
Shin's body convulsed and he was covered in cold sweats when he woke up, madness rippled in his eyes as if a devil was lurking within, struggling to break free from its shackles.
It took him a cold shower till he gradually regained control of his sanity.
However, Shin wasn't as nonchalant as before, and coincidentally, this only began after he met Yeri.
Although he doesn't believe in anything unexplainable by science, he also won't tolerate something that could put his state of mind in chaos.
For the time being, Shin resumed working unable to sleep, and later went to the company with a face as if people owed him a lifetime.
"Ahem! Boss?" Secretary Yun cleared his throat and reluctantly called.
If possible, he didn't want to disturb his boss but the meeting won't be dismissed without his consent.
Shin snapped out of his train of thought and his sharp eyes coldly swept on the people around.
Generally, members of the board of directors were twice or thrice the age of Shin Keir but none of them questioned his competence and instead regarded him with great respect.
Still, despite their age, they couldn't help but feel a splitting headache and indescribable trepidation whenever they had to face Shin Keir.
"Master Ando, I heard you have a son that goes to SC University, how is he?" Shin recalled Yeri has a close friendship with a guy named Levi Ando.
From the information he gathered, the two have known each other since middle school, he didn't want to admit it but an inkling of jealousy sprouted in his heart.
Master Ando was holding a cup of coffee, hearing Shin Keir called him out, his hand shook.
What to say, suddenly asking about his son, is there a trap?
Originally, he was the Minister of Education, Sports, and Culture but the messy politics had long upset him and there was also his old father who had been expressing his desire to retire from the board of directors.
Between the two, of course, Master Ando chose the latter, resigned as a minister then took the place of his father.
Anyway, only a year has passed since he took this position, and rarely had any interaction with Shin Keir.
"My son is good, his grades were always on top." Master Ando politely smiled.
"A promising kid, is there a fiancee?" Shin wondered why Yeri was never close to any other guy and only to this Levi Ando.
Being together oftentimes, wouldn't they develop feelings for each other?
Master Ando shuddered not understanding Shin Keir's intention of staring at his son.
However, there was no trace of mockery or sarcasm in Shin Keir's tone of voice and indifferent face.
Is he just bored or simply curious?
"The family has suitable ladies in mind but the boy is too reserved and quiet, he only likes playing some online games." Master Ando stiffly answered.
"Well, if it doesn't affect his studies, an online game is not a bad hobby." Shin expressed his viewpoint, thanked everyone, and dismissed the meeting.
After he left the silence persisted, looking dumbstruck.
No one knew what was the demon CEO thinking but one thing for sure, it was the first time he arbitrarily asked something personal.
Everyone has different speculations while incredulously exchanging glances, they also have sons and grandsons, why didn't Shin Keir ask them instead?
How did Master Ando do it?
Master Ando "..."
He really didn't do anything!
Perhaps he had offended Shin Keir and this is his indirect way of attacking him, putting him on the spot.
While the board of directors was still in the conference room, muddled. Shin Keir and Secretary Yun descended a few floors, going to the IT department.
"Why is there an abrupt issue of fund allocation for this project? I want the detailed list of the handling team from the start to the present." Shin demanded, his tone stern and oppressive.
"According to the proposal, it is said there was a need to employ at least a few more data scientists and analysts to expedite the project." Secretary Yun reported, already imagining the IT department hemorrhaging.
No one expected that the CEO himself would come to the IT department without notice since the matter of fund allocation was dealt with by the finance department.
Shin Keir has an unpredictable and terrifying habit of plucking guilty employees who dared to rear their ugly heads.
Depending on his mood, he would randomly visit several departments, turning the whole company into a madhouse.
"Expedite?" Shin snorted and stepped out of the elevator, his long, decisive steps were like a hammer foreboding an ominous trial.
Those who immediately recognized Shin Keir were startled and stupefied.
One of the team leaders could be seen crawling, hiding behind cubicles to report to the CIO.
Secretary Yun's mouth twitched, looking at their alarming expression as if Shin Keir was the embodiment of the apocalypse.
"Why did no one inform us that the CEO would come, is today another madhouse day?" One of the technicians muttered.
But no one bothered to respond as his coworkers were already busy throwing or hiding personal and irrelevant items on their workstations.
'It's really a madhouse day!' The technician palpitated and also busied himself.
Lucia Hera was also a technician in the IT department, the news of the CEO's sudden appearance swept like wildfire but instead of panicking, she took it as an opportunity.
For weeks, she had been thinking of countless ways to create a chance encounter with Shin Keir but it was completely impossible to bypass his strict security, she couldn't even catch a glimpse of his shadow!
Lucia also had to count Shin Keir's unfriendly people, particularly Secretary Yun.
Finally, an opportunity came like it was predestined.
Lucia grabbed the stack of papers on her desk without delay, scheming to block Shin Keir.
Along the hallway, she obscurely raised her skirt, pinched her cheeks, bit her lip hard and her eyes moistened from pain.
Relying on her experience with men, her current appearance looked charming yet harmless.
Like a weak and bullied white lily, it could awaken any man's instinct to protect.
It wasn't hard to find Shin Keir with a domineering height of 190 cm, imposing physique, and devastatingly handsome face.
Lucia was so flustered she almost dropped her character, the rumors weren't exaggerating and the greed and desire in her heart swelled.
This man is too sinful!
Perhaps god is truly unfair and has favoritism toward his creations.
If coveting Shin Keir is a crime then no doubt she was guilty.
One...two...three...
Lucia estimated the distance, pretending to walk in a hurry and with no hurdle, accidentally lost her balance right in front of Shin Keir.
Initially, she planned to knock against him but restrained herself thinking it was too obvious.
Additionally, it is said that the CEO despised skinship so she had to leave some reservations and for now, simply brush her existence.
Papers flew and scattered on the floor.
"Ah! Sorry, I..." Lucia appeared as if she was in pain and struggled to stand up.
Loading the script!
Excellent acting and kneeling posture, Lucia lifted her gaze feeling anxious and excited at the same time and was about to say-
'Eh, CEO Keir?!'
It's a pity that Shin Keir didn't follow the moral standards and showed no ounce of interest in her performance.
Shin Keir indifferently evaded her, didn't even look down, and moved ahead with no hesitation as if she weren't there in the first place.
Secretary Yun frowned, giving her a strange look, he felt that he had seen her somewhere but couldn't remember where.
Anyway, how could someone tripped on such a wide hallway with no obstruction?
If the problem was her shoes then put something comfortable like flat shoes, the company doesn't have a strict policy for women's footwear, as long as it is formal.
Sighed, this situation already happened many times but alas, his boss is blind to this kind of deception and even if it wasn't intentional nothing will change.
After the two passed by, Lucia was left frozen and embarrassed.
Lucia "..."
The beauty trap she had honed for years didn't even get a single point from Shin Keir, not even to his Secretary!
"Lucia, are you alright?"
"What happened, why are you kneeling?"
"Did you cry? Who bullied you?"
"I'll take you to the clinic, are you injured? Luckily, CEO Keir didn't mind."
It's exactly because he didn't mind that she felt miserable, okay?!
Even though others were busy, some employees nearby noticed her stumble down and immediately offered their worry and concern.
Lucia bit her lip in shame but this was the kind of reaction she was expecting, which meant there was nothing wrong with her talent.
Blame herself for underestimating Shin Keir, next time she will surely do better!
In less than an hour, the news of Shin Keir's sudden visit to the IT department reached other departments and divisions within the company prompting suspicions, uneasiness, and gossip.
After all, this either implies massive termination, contract revisions, or an opportunity for promotion.
Immediate meetings were held in different departments, fortunately, the IT department took the first blood.
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