Chapter 22

Lee Ali stands in front of the office, readying himself as he is going inside the building of the man that is the root of all problems for their company, but also a thorn in his side. Stewart Arnold, the former boss of his company, is his target.

His company, ENT. But why did Lee not manage the company, unlike Kevin? He should be in the place of the current boss, and he should be the one facing such problems that they have on their plate. At the back of his mind, he was also asking the same question.

But why did he give his position away to his friend?

It is because Lee trusts Kevin the most, more than his own. It is a questionable reason that he has when heard by other people, but for the man himself, there is no other man that can lead the company better than Kevin. It can only make sense that he used his power as an aristocrat to pull strings and kick Stewart out of his company and elected Kevin to his post.

When he was about to step towards the front door, his phone rang. It was his half-sister, Keisha Lazlo. He sighed and rolled his eyes, putting the device in his ear, and immediately heard the nagging voice of the sister.

“Who are you going to see?” She immediately questioned him, without even saying greeting him. “You do know that if our father knows about this, he will get mad at you for using your power for such a thing?”

“It is not just a thing, Keisha,” Lee explained to her, keeping his cool while staring at a few people going out of the building. “I have to make… little amends from what I made as a mistake. Kevin and Ms. Waters are suffering because of this mistake of mine.”

“Mistake? What is that mistake, then?”

He did not answer. Lee simply put down his phone and ended the call, looking up to the top floor that was shining from the noontime sun.

“Making him the former boss of my company,” he murmured to himself before completely walking inside, talking to Stewart.

Lee casually walked inside the building, bypassing the security guard that has been regularly checking the bags and every person walking inside. His anger towards Stewart clouded his entire body for a second and he turned to glare at the guard who was doing his job. The guard was taken aback, ready to drag him outside, but Lee managed to keep his composure and faked a smile at him.

“Sorry, but what have I done wrong?”

“You forgot to let us inspect you first,” the guard replied to him. Lee opened his mouth, trying to reply, but instead only walked back towards the entrance and raised his hands, and let the security inspect him for a few moments. When the guard had no other concerns for him, he only nodded, to which he gave back.

He forgot. That this building, despite being a giant, kept a security that is as old as time. The man marched inside, rode an elevator, and blended inside a group of employees chatting with one another during their break time. He rolled his eyes upon overhearing their useless topics, concerning themselves about things that they should not be worrying about.

It is ironic, he immediately thought to himself. Him thinking the very same thing while planning to shut down the man who is threatening his company and his friend.

It is the thing that he should not worry about, yet he is there, inside an elevator, thinking the same thing as the other people inside. He looked down and reminisced about his conversation with his father at that time, back when he was young and insensitive about the world that he was living in.

“You should learn how to live with them,” his father talked to him in a calm manner, defending the maid that Lee hurt at that time. “You can’t be a good leader to them if you keep on going on like this.”

“All of us think and live differently,” he retorted in a foul manner, clearly showing despise for the maid. “Why should I understand someone of a low life like them?”

“Lee –” his mother shouted his name and was going to reprimand him in a way that he surely wouldn’t like back then, but his father raised his arm, stopping her from saying anything further. Instead of hurting – or hitting him, he only kneeled and looked at him in disappointment.

“I really wish that you will meet someone and show you how harsh your words have been.”

That was the last time that he saw his father.

The bell on the elevator sounded and he snapped into reality, glancing around, and stepped outside as he finally reached the place that the Stewart must be in. He briskly walked to his secretary’s desk and attracted her attention by slamming his hand on the table.

The secretary jumped from her seat and looked at him with intimidation. “Yes, how may I help you, sir?”

“Stewart Senesi,” he uttered his name in a cold manner. “I need to talk to him. Urgently.”

Lee temporarily forgot his manners at the moment and went back to his old way, talking down on others like he owned the place. He knew about the power and position that he had as an aristocrat, but he felt heavy this time as if this feels wrong, abusing the influence that his name has on others.

But Kevin and Bethany were already affected, and he needs to step up before something else goes wrong and the old man’s way.

“I’m sorry, sir, but he is not here,” the secretary said in a hesitant voice, and the man noticed that she is glancing behind him through the blinds of the office, and at that moment, Lee knew that he is just inside, ordering her to keep him away from knocking at his door.

“He is inside there, is it not?”

The secretary only looked at him, and Lee rolled his eyes, stepping inside without his permission. The woman stood up from her seat, threatening him with many threats that he has heard before when he is bypassing anyone until they knew who he is.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” was the only response he made, and welcomed himself inside the office and surprised the uncomfortable Stewart, looking at him and making a nervous laugh.

“What are you doing here, Lee?”

“Just paying you a visit, that’s all,” Lee answered coolly, brushing off the secretary that followed him all the way inside. “And I am making you pay.”

“Of what crimes?”

“Everything that you have done against Kevin,” he replied in a monotonous manner, going ahead and taking a seat, legs crossed and invited him to do the same at the opposing couch. “Come on. Let us have a chat.”