The Devil's Harem

Chapter 126: Coincidence? Or is something else cooking?

Chapter – 126

The room went into a frenzy as soon as George finished. Just because his son came to work in the company, everyone was being gifted a trip? How awesome was it? What followed was thunderous applause and cheers enough to bulldoze the building.

It took a while and some effort from George to bring the room back to silence.

Finally, when everyone had stopped, George waved his arm and picked up from where he stopped, “I know you guys are excited but hear me out first.” George looked around and said, “Me, My son, and you guys, we won’t do a single penny’s worth of work this whole week. You guys are going home right after this meeting. Discuss within your respective departments, and let us know by tomorrow your preferred destinations.”

George paused and took a deep breath, “Each department can decide on its own destination, so you don’t need to worry about the limited choices, but you can only join your department during the trip. So choose your destination after giving it some thought.” George instructed.

George then went on to share the plan with everyone, “Again, let us, or to be more direct, to Matthew. Let Matthew know your decision by tomorrow noon. Do your packing on Wednesday, and join your group at the airport on Thursday.” George explained, “If everything goes according to plan, we won’t be seeing each other until Monday.”

“Now, shoo! Shoo! Go back home and try and enjoy the rest of the week,” George said as he waved his hands.

.....

Happily beaming with joy, the employees cheered one last time for George before slowly scattering away from there. Soon, only George, Alex and Matthew remained.

George then walked up to Matthew and whispered something in his ear before moving back, and then put his hand on his shoulder, “I will have to trouble you.”

Matthew did not say anything and, nodding towards George and Alex, walked away, calling someone.

After George and Alex were the only ones left, George looked at Alex, boasted a smile, and said, “What do you think? Ain’t I cool?”

Shaking his head in irritation, Alex replied, “You just needed a reason to slack off, didn’t you? You just used me as an excuse.”

Justifying himself, George tried to explain, “It will be a great opportunity for the employees to know you,” George said, “They need to know that you are not the bossy type, but the easygoing boss, just like me. This retreat will be...”

“Hey, dad... Something just struck me. All those times you said that you were going on a business trip, don’t tell me you were going on such trips, having the time of your life?” Alex interrupted George and suspiciously asked.

“Ahem...” Hearing Alex, George stammered, “What are you saying? Why would I do such a thing? It has always been about work, work and only work for me...”

“Oh my god,” Alex, with his eyes popping out and exaggerated acting, pointed at George, “You really did that, didn’t you? Huh... I can’t believe you would do that,” Alex scoffed, looking at George, and then leaned towards him as he whispered, “Don’t tell me you...” Alex said but stopped midway as he made an okay sign using one hand and rammed his index finger of the other hand through it to and fro. He was gesturing if George cheated on Martha.

“Your butt must be itching right now,” George roared at Alex without constraints as he raised, trying to hit him, but Alex leaned back, trying to avoid him, “Don’t you dare run away... I will wipe that smug off your face, you stinking brat.”

“C’mon, don’t stress those old bones of yours. I was just joking... I have read that it is hard to fix broken bones at your age,” Alex teased George as he backed off. There were a few employees still there, looking at the father and son, surprised.

“If you weren’t my son... I... I would have sued you already... But Alas, I would be the paying... If... If I were to sue you,” After running behind Alex for a while, George stood there with his hands on his hips, panting for air.

“C’mon, you can’t even take a joke, dad... That’s so not you,” Alex stood at some distance from George and chuckled, “But seriously... All jokes aside, I got a thing to ask...”

“Fire it away, cowboy. What is it?” George took a deep breath and stood straight. He was still out of breath.

“Did you name this company AR Entertainment as in Alex Rutherford?” Alex looked a bit expectant as he asked.

When George heard Alex, he looked at Alex for a good couple of minutes before he smiled at him and walked away, patting his shoulder.

“Hey... Hey... Dad? What is the meaning of that?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

*Buzz... Buzz...

Jessica was shuffling through her files when her phone rang. Looking at the name on the screen, a small but pleasant smile appeared on her face.

“What’s up, my hero? What made you remember me so early in the morning?” Unlike her usual rude, stuck up attitude, Jessica was very happy to have received this call.

“Huh... Your flattery won’t get you anywhere,” from the other side, a deep but tired voice of a man was heard, “From the day you have left this house, it’s always been me taking the initiative to call you.” The man complained. He was not loud, but one could feel the weight behind his tone.

“Fine... Fine... I am in the wrong here. Don’t be angry with me, grandpa,” It was Jessica’s grandfather who called her, “First of all, tell me are you taking your medicines on time? What about your blood pressure?”

“What do you care about?” Her grandfather scoffed, “If you cared, you wouldn’t have just left like that. Never visiting this old man anymore.”

“C’mon, grandpa, now don’t bring that up,” Jessica shook her head. perhaps he was the only man on this earth she didn’t feel repulsed from, “Now tell me, why did you call?”

“Taking the easy way out,” Grandfather was not pleased with her tone, but he put that matter aside for now, “I asked Veronica to check on you, did she?”

“Yeah, she was here. She was as annoying as always,” Jessica sighed, “Why did you ask her to check on me? I am not a breastfeeding kid that I need a babysitter.”

“It’s always good to have friends like her,” Jessica’s grandfather told her, “Anyway, I have prepared something for you and Veronica.”

“Like a surprise?” Jessica asked. Her grandfather has been way too much into giving her surprises since she was young, “What is it? Tell me.”

But before her grandfather could answer, there was a knock at the door.

“Let them in. I can wait,” Jessica heard her grandfather say.

“Okay, just hold on for a moment,” Jessica asked her grandfather and then called out for whoever was outside, “Come in.”

As the door opened, it was Amanda who walked in, “This parcel just came in,” Amanda said as she forwarded the parcel towards Jessica.

“Who is it from?” Jessica asked.

“Your grandfather,” Amanda replied with her poker face on.

“Grandfather?” Jessica was confused. Taking the parcel from Amanda, Jessica looked at it and then turned to Amanda, “Okay, if there is nothing else, you can leave now.”

But Amanda didn’t leave, “Well, there is something I need to report on.” Amanda said.

“What is it?” Jessica asked, “If it’s nothing important, can we talk about it later?”

“It will only take a second,” Amanda said, “the employees have submitted their preferences. Should I go forward with the arrangements?”

Not able to understand what Amanda was talking about, Jessica asked, confused, “Preferences? What preferences?”

“It’s about the notification you issued on the company website, don’t you remember?” Seeing the confusion in Jessica’s eyes, Amanda asked.

Hearing Amanda, Jessica had an ominous feeling in her. The coincidence of her grandfather contacting her today and now this notification thing, she could feel that they were connected somehow.

‘What are you up to, grandpa?’ Jessica thought.

“Umm... I will look into it in a while,” Jessica said, “Anything else?”

Amanda shook her head in denial, and without saying anything else, walked out of the room.

As soon as Amanda walked out, Jessica put her phone back on and asked, “Spill the beans... What have you done?”

“What have I done? Why are you dragging me into your shit all of a sudden?” Her grandfather denied it right away. But she could feel the delight in his voice. Other than that, she could also hear muffled giggles from behind him.

“My adorable little sister is in this with you, right? Now I know the reason for her visit a couple of days back. Now it all makes sense to me,” Jessica said as she pondered, and the pieces began to fall in place.

The girl, on the other side, on the other hand, could feel the displeasure in Jessica’s tone, but like hell did she care.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. Check the parcel when you have time, and now my job is done. I don’t have time to listen to you play Sherlock. Bye,” and with that, Jessica’s grandfather hung up before giving her the chance to say something.

“Grandpa... Grandpa! Hello... Hello... I am not done with you yet... Ughhh...” Jessica continued to call out for her grandfather even after the call had ended.

She threw her phone on the table and rubbed her temples in frustration. It took her a while to digest it all. When she had calmed down, she opened the company forum and looked for the announcement Amanda was talking about.

Soon she found what she was looking for.

‘Taking into account whatever has transpired over the last few days, the company has decided to sponsor a vacation for all the employees. The cost of travel and accommodation will be burdened by the company. Those interested, let your destination choices be known to your managers by Monday next week.’

Reading the notification in the bulletin, Jessica almost facepalmed herself. It was an unnecessary burden on the company’s expenses. With board members already trying to find ways to hack her in two, this was giving them the right ammo on a silver platter.

‘Can’t he just enjoy his retirement?’ Jessica thought to herself. Her grandfather had stepped away from the business long back, handing over everything to his sons. But with the power and respect, he still had, if he wanted to have anything taken care of, no one could refuse him. And in a city like Elenor, it was a walk in the park for him.

While she contemplated what could be done regarding that extravagant spending, her eyes fell on the parcel Amanda had delivered minutes back. Since it was from her grandfather, it must be something related to the stunt he pulled.

When she opened the parcel, she found tickets and other stuff related to her trip, already organised by her grandfather. And it was not a solo trip for her. Veronica was also going to join her on this trip.

Sighing, Jessica looked at the tickets in her hand, ‘Looks like I cannot avoid this trip.’ she thought.

* * * * *