THE INSIGHT
Glydon’s POV
I walked into the laundry room, soap lather spilling out of the washing machine onto the floor. Wet clothes were dumped all over the place. Katie sat on the cabinet, licking her paws as she swayed her tail towards the balcony.
Chris, my boyfriend, had been here a few minutes before I stepped out for work. But I stupidly forgot the project analysis I painstakingly stayed up all night working on for my presentation at the office.
“Come here, Katie." I extended my arm, helping her escape from the foamy mess Chris had made.
Where the hell is he? I wondered as I carefully stepped out of the laundry room.
I kept Katie on the floor and grabbed the document I had left behind before heading towards our bedroom. Chris wasn't in it. Just as I was about to enter the bathroom, the door opened, and Chris slipped out, all sweaty.
“Are you alright?" I asked with a frown, concerned by his sticky appearance.
“Did you forget something?" He brushed my question off, his voice a bit more off and hasty than usual.
I narrowed my eyes and stepped closer to him, suspicious of what he had done inside the bathroom.
“Is there something on my face?" he stammered, scratching the back of his head.
“Were you jerking off without me? You sticky man," I teased, wiggling my brows at him.
He laughed awkwardly and sighed. “Didn't want you to get that idea."
I chuckled, forgiving him for being a man. It's not his fault that he can't control his libido. Besides, a hot babe like me would be hard for him to resist, even in my absence.
Satisfied with the effect I had on him, I closed the gap between us and whispered in his left ear.
“How about we do it all night once I get back?"
His ears reddened, boosting my ego to the sky. He is so adorable when he blushes. I patted his shoulder and pecked him before turning around to leave.
“Don't miss me too much once I am gone, sticky man," I teased before stepping out of my apartment.
Chris and I had been in a relationship for five years. We literally knew each other like siblings. I loved him enough to shelter and care for most of his needs since he was in a bit of a tight situation. He had lost his job three months ago, and I was okay with it because he was intentional and loved me as much as I loved him.
My cab arrived just as I stepped out of the apartment complex. I still had forty minutes until my presentation.
I sat at the back of the car, revising my speech. My promotion was dependent on the project. I had toiled through sleepless nights and stressful days to have a finished product.
Five minutes later, I arrived at my office. The mood was tense, and everyone seemed to be on edge.
I briskly walked to my teammates, curious about the whole situation.
“You are so lucky you got here on time," Chloe, my desk mate, muttered in a low voice as I took my seat.
“What's with the gloomy atmosphere?" I asked, matching her sneaky voice.
“The CEO is in a bad mood. Three people just got fired because they couldn't give him a standard project brief," she said, and my heart sank into my stomach.
‘Get your act together, Glyn. You are different,’ I encouraged myself, even though my hands were shaking.
The CEO was known to be a ruthless work addict who loved perfection to a fault. The slightest mistake could have an entire work unit dismissed from their jobs. He never gave second chances, ever.
“Team Three, you are up next." I jolted on hearing, Mr. Han, the CEO's secretary, announces my team.
The five of us rose to our feet, with me taking the lead. We filed out of our office and down to the meeting room.
‘You got this, Glyn,’ I encouraged myself as I waited for our turn.
The large doors of the meeting room flung open, and a lady rushed out in tears while her team followed behind her with flattened expressions.
What happened in there?
“Our lives depend on you, Glyn," Chloe reminded me.
I flashed an awkward smile at her, then glanced at my teammates before walking into the room.
At the foot of the long table, Mr. Rognez sat with a stoic expression. Blue eyes cold enough to drown my soul in the abyss.
I turned to the projector, unsure of what to do since my hands wouldn't stop shaking. Just as I was about to connect my flash drive to the laptop on the podium, I tripped on a wire and landed face-first on the ground.
“Is this some kind of talent show?" he thundered, his voice deep with irritation.
I quickly stood and mistakenly rolled my eyes in frustration.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me?" he questioned.
My throat went dry, unable to fathom words as I stared back at him. My brain searched for a reasonable answer, but nothing was coming forth. It was as if I had completely blanked out.
Without a word, I connected my flash drive to the laptop and put my project on display. Falling on my face was already embarrassing enough. The least I could do was save the team with the time left.
“Get out," he grumbled.
“No."
The word came out of my mouth before I could think. I swear I had no idea where the boldness came from.
The scowl on the CEO's forehead deepened. I knew from the start that I was screwed. Now or never, this was my only chance to set things straight.
I grabbed my project file, crossed the room to where he was sitting, and slammed the folder in front of him.
“I worked day and night to get this project done. So you are going to listen to me until I present every single word I have written down," I said firmly, even though my heart was beating like crazy.
A cynical smile pulled across his face. The next second, he was laughing as if what I had said was funny.
“You are hired," he declared.
I stared at him wide-eyed, dumbfounded by his words. “Hired?"
“You begin tomorrow." He got to his feet, buttoning up his suit jacket. “Don't disappoint me, Miss Parker.”
