Chapter 5 Office Rumor
1276 Words
"Hmph."
Mrs. Rakeem snorted.
"What now? Are you going to act like you've been wronged and report me to your sugar daddy? Well, for your information, I've worked here for a long time and cannot be dismissed casually just because of a few words from you."
"Ma, which eyes of yours saw me sleeping with any executive member? Do you have evidence? Without evidence, how dare you slander me like this?"
"Look at her acting all self-righteous," someone shouted.
"Otherwise, how could you have gotten the CEO's secretary position with your Third Class and no experience?"
Rose's grade had always been a sore point.
Mrs. Rakeem had done far more than touch it.
She stood there trembling, unable to utter a single rebuttal, remembering everything she had gone through just to graduate with a Third Class.
Her tears threatened to fall, but she desperately held them back.
Just then, Akin, who had been observing from a distance, stepped in.
"Mrs. Rakeem," he began, "I didn't know you possessed this virtue as well."
Mrs. Rakeem frowned.
"What virtue?"
"Gossiping during work hours."
The room instantly fell silent.
"Ah, Assistant Akin, you're here. It's not what you think. I was just about to dismiss them."
"Is that so?"
Akin smiled lightly.
"Because it didn't seem that way. In fact, it looked like you were adding fuel to the fire."
He glanced around the room.
"Accusing someone of selling their body without evidence? Mrs. Rakeem, do you know you could be sued for slander and defamation? Such accusations could affect both an employee and the company's image."
Mrs. Rakeem's face turned pale.
"It seems Mrs. Rakeem hasn't reviewed the company's policies in a very long time."
"I'm sorry, Assistant Akin. It won't happen again."
Akin smiled.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
His gaze shifted to Rose.
"The apology should go to Miss Olumide."
Mrs. Rakeem froze.
Apologize?
To a junior employee?
"What? Is Mrs. Rakeem reluctant to do it?"
Akin's smile remained.
"I'm sure HR still has your records if further action becomes necessary."
"No, no, no, Assistant Akin."
Mrs. Rakeem hurriedly waved her hands.
"I'll apologize now."
She turned reluctantly to Rose.
"Miss Olumide, I'm sorry. I was reckless with my words."
Although Rose was still upset, she decided to let it go.
Otherwise, she'd appear ungrateful.
"It's okay. I'm fine."
Akin swept his gaze across the room.
"A repeat of this will lead to severe consequences."
Then his voice turned firm.
"Back to work."
Everyone immediately scurried back to their desks.
After all, Akin's words were often treated as the CEO's voice.
Still, once the crowd dispersed, the whispers continued.
"Hmm, she really hooked up with Assistant Akin."
"Yes ooo, it seems she really has charm."
You couldn't control people's mouths, after all.
Dalia walked over.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Thank you."
"Just ignore them."
Rose nodded.
"Sure. I won't let them get to me."
"Alright, I'll get back to work."
Leaving the HR department, she headed for the fifteenth floor where her office was located.
Now she'd completely missed seeing the CEO because of Mrs. Rakeem's drama.
People in the company said Mr. Dekan rarely came downstairs.
Even when he did, he usually wore sunglasses.
He also kept a very low profile and stayed away from social media.
But from the few side-profile pictures people had seen, he was rumored to be very handsome.
After arriving on the fifteenth floor and settling in, she noticed Akin heading toward the CEO's office.
She quickly walked over.
"Hey, Mr. Akin."
"Oh, hello, Miss Olumide. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm good. Thank you for your help earlier."
She smiled.
"I didn't expect them to misunderstand my employment like that."
Akin raised an eyebrow.
Oh, Miss Olumide.
It's not me you should be thanking.
It's a certain someone.
Thinking about how Mr. Dekan had gone out of his way to pick her up that morning, Akin felt strangely frustrated.
"Miss Olumide, it's not me you should be thanking. If you really want to thank someone—"
"Wait."
Rose blinked.
"Are you saying you're not the one who helped me? Someone sent you?"
"If it's not you, then who?"
Akin froze.
Could it be she truly didn't know?
Didn't know who got her the job?
Didn't know who had been helping her?
But that made no sense.
The boss had personally driven her to work.
How could she not know?
Unless...
She didn't know that the man who drove her around was the owner of Dekans Tech.
Akin suddenly felt like he had uncovered a shocking secret.
Was his boss secretly pursuing a woman who had no idea who he was?
"Mr. Akin?"
Rose called.
"Yes, yes. I'm here."
Rose chuckled.
"You seem lost."
"Just thinking about something."
Akin turned to leave.
Then he stopped.
"Do you know the boss's name?"
"No. Why?"
"Nothing. Have a great day."
Akin walked away smiling.
It seemed the boss really was keeping his feelings secret.
Hopefully he wouldn't be murdered for knowing too much.
"Uhm, Assistant Akin."
"Yes?"
"The boss... I wasn't at my desk when he arrived this morning."
Rose looked nervous.
"Will I get fired?"
"No, don't worry."
Akin smiled.
Even if the boss fired the entire company, he probably wouldn't fire you.
"Well, that's good."
Rose sighed in relief.
"I wouldn't want to be fired on my first day."
The rest of the day went smoothly, and before long, it was time to clock out.
As she passed through the lobby toward the exit, she could still hear whispers.
Public opinion was truly a terrible thing.
Still, if you turned a deaf ear, it couldn't affect you.
At least that was what Rose told herself.
"I can't believe she really hooked up with Assistant Akin."
"Yeah. It's surprising."
"And here I thought Assistant Akin was a proper gentleman."
"I can't believe he actually sleeps around."
Coincidentally, Akin had just arrived downstairs and heard every word.
He nearly face-palmed.
What exactly did any of this have to do with him?
If they wanted to gossip, they should direct their complaints to their love-struck boss.
Rose let out a laugh.
"It seems I really dragged you into my mess and ruined your perfect gentleman image."
Akin smiled.
He was genuinely surprised she could still joke despite everything.
The boss had truly found a rare gem this time.
"Well, what can I say?"
He shrugged dramatically.
"I had to save a damsel in distress."
Their conversation was immediately interpreted as flirting.
The gossip only grew worse.
The two of them looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Mr. Akin, see you tomorrow."
"Sure. Stay safe."
Sitting inside the cab on her way home, Rose decided to call both her brother and her best friend.
It suddenly occurred to her that she hadn't even told them about the job.
The moment the call connected, Beatrice's loud voice filled her ears.
"You finally remembered us!"
she complained.
"Sorry, babes. I've been busy."
Rose laughed.
"But don't worry. I come bearing good news."
"Guess what?"
"You finally got a man?"
Rose rolled her eyes.
Beatrice was truly a hopeless romantic.
"Can't you think of anything else?"
"Fine. What is it?"
"I got a job."
Rose had to pull the phone away from her ear because of Beatrice's excited scream.
"Congratulations, girl!"
"Thank you."
They talked for a while before ending the call.
Next, she called Daniel.
The moment she told him about the job, he became just as excited.
By the time the call ended, Rose finally felt better.
Seeing how happy they were for her made everything seem worthwhile.
- Writer
