Reyona knew something was wrong the moment she stepped out of her office.
Actually, she had known seconds earlier.
She had been antsy since she got back to work, and she couldn't settle down no matter what she did.
She had tried to contact CEO Jordan to ask him to persuade his partner or whatever she had to do to not let that asshole screw her over.
The personal line he had given her had gone straight to voicemail.
Michelle told her he wasn't back in office yet.
"Oh, I can't predict his movement," was what the assistant said when Reyona asked if she knew when he would be back.
So, she was back to where she started from.
And the prospect of going back to the rental house for any culinary adventure holds about as much excitement for her as being poked in the eye.
So, like a caged lion, she moved from her desk to the opulent seating area at the other end of her office.
She tried to work, but the numbers seemed to be playing tricks on her eyes.
She tried to read a book she had some interest in a while ago.
She had not been able to read more than a few pages before she stopped.
So she felt she might as well try to read it.
Maybe it would help calm her down.
But the moment she saw the word love in the title, The 5 Love Languages, it only worsened her angst.
She gave herself a pep talk as she stood up from the seating area.
She was just going back to her desk with the determination to get some work done when she heard whispers from outside her door.
"Do you think she might have seen it?"
"I don't think so. I don't know. This is just so..."
"I think we should tell her immediately. She would want to know."
Reyona moved quietly towards the door, and the whispers intensified.
She recognised the voices.
Why would the two of them be hesitant to bring anything to her?
She wondered as she reached for the door.
"I still think..."
The sudden opening of the door made the two ladies on the other side jump.
"Boss,"
"Ma,"
Samantha and Charlotte chorused nervously as Reyona stepped out.
Reyona's eyes narrowed when she saw the way Charlotte's hand went behind her back instantly.
All she could see in her secretary's hand was her phone.
Why would Charlotte be hiding her phone from her? She wondered.
Just as she asked, "What is going on here?"
They all turned their heads to see Phil turn the corner on his way to Reyona's office.
He had the same anxious look on his face.
Just as he heard what Reyona asked, he instantly turned around and tried to leave.
"Phil?"
He stopped in his tracks like a deer caught in a headlight.
"I can see you also have something for me," Reyona said simply as she glanced meaningfully at the two ladies.
"What?" Phil said as he turned back and sent a "save me" look towards Samantha.
When the latter only looked away, he said to Reyona "No, I was... you see, I was actually on my way to my office. I made the wrong turn. So, I will just... you know, go now," he completed lamely.
The foreboding feeling enveloping Reyona's body increased at that.
Nothing fazes Phil ever.
Even in the face of a crisis, he had always found a way to lighten the mood and make things work.
If he was being this hesitant about whatever this was, then it must be something serious.
Reyona went with her gut and stretched her hand, palm up towards him.
He attempted to give her an innocent look as he asked, "What?"
But Reyona could see the panic in his eyes.
So she simply said,. "You obviously have something to show me. Out with it."
Samantha was shaking her head vigorously behind Reyona, but they both knew it was inevitable anyway.
Phil closed his eyes and sighed as he opened them back.
"I am so sorry, boss," he said as he unlocked his screen and handed the phone to Reyona without looking at it.
Reyona was expecting the worst.
Maybe someone sabotaged the company.
Maybe someone sued them for something.
Why would Phil be sorry?
Could it be that his legions of admirers posted something slanderous about the company because he refused to return their advances?
Her brows furrowed when she saw the thumbnail of the video on the screen, but then she still clicked it.
Maybe there was more to it.
But then a chirpy voice filled the hallway.
Samantha and Charlotte looked at Phil in surprise as they all heard the commentary on the funny cat videos.
Reyona smiled as she looked at Phil.
"A cat video? That is what this is all about?"
"No, no. I must have mistakenly swiped it. Hold on," he said as he quickly collected the phone and swiped twice to the right one.
Then he handed it back to Reyona as he said, "Brace yourself."
Reyona scoffed, thinking they were all just being dramatic for nothing.
The little smile on her face froze as the video started playing.
A combination of heat and cold waves swept through Reyona's body as she saw herself displayed in graphic details.
She was held up by her sheer willpower as her legs wanted to buckle beneath her.
The temperature seemed to have dropped considerably and she was chilled to the bone.
Her bones felt bristle, and her limbs felt stiff as she slowly moved back until her back was touching her door.
Then she turned around and opened the door.
Leaving her employees looking after her with worried glances and anxiety, Reyona entered and locked the door behind her.
Her eyes were glued to the screen as she watched the scene she could remember vividly.
She went to her seating area and finished watching the 15-minute, edited clip.
Then she replayed it.