Mysterious CEO

Chapter 7 - Unknown Enemy

Rose's POV

Ryan walked with me on my way back and I didn't find Martin anywhere in the canteen. The canteen is on the 8th floor and so we had to take the elevator to the twelfth floor. Both the elevators were not on the floor and we had to wait. An elevator came down and Fiona got down from it. I wondered why she was so late. I didn't actually notice her when I was coming down. The lunch break is going to end in just ten minutes and I can't believe that she was working during the break. Actually I shouldn't judge her so quickly. She might be hardworking and I was just thinking of her all wrong. I was lost in my thoughts that I didn't see the elevator until Ryan pulled me with him. 

"Why do you zone out so quickly?' Ryan asked, pressing the number 12. 

"I was just wondering why Fiona was so late." I said.

"You think so much about her. Just ignore her and concentrate on your work." He said.

"You are right, I have to finish my work before evening." I said getting down on the 12th floor. I hurried to my desk and was about to sit when I noticed something. There was water on my desk. I checked the chair and it's soaked in water. I haven't brought any water to my desk, then how did this water come? I quickly checked the folders I have been working on. Water is spilled on everything. All the files have become useless. All the hard work I did from this morning is being washed off. I checked the desktop and keyboard but there is no water on them. How is that possible? Even if I left a bottle or glass of water on the desk and it fell over the folders, then why is the desktop and keyboard dry which are near the folders? Again how come the chair is soaked? The chair was so far away from the table that water couldn't flow down the table and fall on it. I checked the floor and it is dry. Martin and Ryan came to me, seeing me still standing near my desk.

"What's the matter, Rose?" Martin asked.

"Look at this. I am sure I didn't keep any water on my desk. Everything is soaked, even the chair." I pointed towards the desk and chair. They checked where I pointed and had the same doubt I have. Ryan suggested going to Michael and Martin backed. I agreed and walked to his cabin. He wasn't back after the break, so I walked back to my desk. I was about to clean my desk when Ryan stopped me.

"Rose, are you going to clean the evidence? What will you show Michael when he comes?" 

"You are right, but I also don't want to waste my time." I said pulling a spare chair. I waited until Michael came back. I went to him and told him everything. He was shocked to hear such a thing. 

"If someone did it deliberately, we will definitely find it. I will ask to check the CCTV footage. For now, you go and resume your job. I will look into the matter and take the necessary action." Michael promised and I walked back to my desk.

I cleaned up all the water on the desk and changed my chair. Then one by one I tried to dry the folders. I just wanted to get some details because whoever did this didn't know that I have already feeded most of the proposals on my desktop. I switched on the desktop and started to finalize the proposal. By 4.00, I had made a draft of the proposal. I took the print of the proposal and went to meet Kelly. She was pulling out her hair in frustration when I knocked at the door.

"Rose, I am not at all in the mood to hear any of your ideas. The deadline is tomorrow and I am still struggling at the beginning. I don't have anything to present tomorrow. I am going to lose this job." She cried. 

"Kelly, can you please spare a look at these papers. It might brighten up your hopes." I said placing the folder in front of her. She flipped the pages without any interest and then she became more alert. As she flipped each page, her lips curved into a smile. Suddenly she stood up and ran to me and then hugged me really tight that I feared my hips may get bruised. 

"Thank you so much Rose. I can't tell you what you have done for me. You saved my life. You are my saviour." She kissed the back of my hand.

"Please don't praise me like that. I haven't done anything special. It's your proposal, I just rectified some flaws and edited it." I said.

"That's so nice of you that you don't want to take the credit. You did a marvelous job Rose and that's a great achievement for a trainee at this level. Come with me Rose. We will go right now to Michael to get his approval." Kelly pulled me along with her to Michael's cabin. 

"Michael, please have a look at this draft. If you approve, we can prepare the final proposal." She said giving the papers.

"Kelly, I don't want another bullshit. If this isis going to be just like the previous ones, I promise, I am going to throw you out." Michael said, taking a look at the papers. He too didn't show much interest at the beginning but as he flipped the pages his face brightened. 

"Wow, Kelly, this is superb. What were you doing until now? I was really worried about tomorrow's presentation. You saved me from being embarrassed in front of the Dumonts. Thank you so much Kelly." Michael thanked her.

"If you really want to thank someone, then thank Rose. She's the one who saved both of us." Kelly praised me.

"That's not right Michael. I just modified Kelly's proposal. There were just some flaws which I was able to find out. It's her work." I said.

"Don't be so kind, Rose. That can cost you a lot. It's not a world for kind people. Don't let others take advantage of your kindness." Kelly said.

"Kelly is right. Make yourself more tough so that no one can break you. When someone appreciates you, then accept it. Don't bow down or leave the line for others because no one will ever care about your sacrifices." Michael gave really nice advice.

I wasn't always this kind. The job of a waitress made me like that. Even though I always wanted to be liked by others, I was always very distant from people. This is the first place I am being this close to other people and I love it. 

"By the way, I have asked the security incharge to check the CCTV footage to get the real person behind spoiling your work. They are right now checking the footage and soon we will know who did it." Michael said. 

"What happened?" Kelly asked.

"I explained to her what happened a few hours ago. She was shocked to know that something like that happened in our office. 

It was already five and the end of the second working day. Kelly took the responsibility to make the final proposal before she leaves. I had mailed her the draft so that she could make the necessary corrections. 

Martin had already left and Ryan was waiting for me to return. He followed me as soon as I took my bag. On the way he asked.

"Would you like to have a coffee with me?" We were waiting for the elevator and soon one came and stopped in front of us. We got in and he again asked.

"You didn't answer me? Would you like to have a coffee with me?" He again asked. 

Before answering him, I thought of the talk at the canteen. I didn't want to hurt him again. Finally I said,

"Okay, but I will pay for mine."

"Okay, if you want you can pay for both of us. I just want to know more about you." He said.

"That won't be necessary. We can pay for it, after I give the green signal for our friendship." I said. He took me straight to the cafe opposite the Dumont enterprises. Ryan ordered two coffees. 

"Would you like to have some snacks?" He asked.

"I would have a cupcake." I said and went to sit on an empty table. Ryan came with the coffee and cupcakes as it's a self service cafe. We talked about various things while having coffee. After finishing the coffee, I stood up after keeping the money for my coffee on the table. 

"Hey, I will pay as we are friends now." He said.

"We are not yet Ryan." I said walking to the door. 

"How long do I have to wait,Rose?" He asked, running behind me.

"You really don't have patience. Okay, if they succeed in finding out who put the water on my desk and chair, I will accept our friendship." I said and walked to the nearest bus stop.

While waiting for the bus I saw Ryan going back to the Dumont enterprises. Did he take me really seriously? Is he going back to check whether they found out or not? Lot of questions came to my mind and before I could get an answer, the bus came. I got on the bus and throughout the ride, my mind revolved around Ryan. Why does he want to be my friend? There are a lot of girls at the office who are literally behind him and would even be ready to stand naked if he agreed to be their friend. What will he get from a girl like me? I wondered. 

Before going to the apartment, I remembered to buy some more groceries. After reaching the apartment I went straight to the kitchen and arranged the groceries in place and then went to take a warm shower. Ryan never left my thoughts even in shower. He was dominating my mind that I couldn't concentrate on the assignment Michael had given us. So I went and made a simple dinner and went to bed early. I really hope they find out who spilled the water. I really can't miss the chance to be his friend. I closed my eyes praying to fulfill my wish.