VEINS OF SILENCE

VEINS OF SILENCE > Part 7

In the CEO’s Office

Caspian sat in his chair, facing away from the desk, his tall figure partially hidden by the wide backrest. The atmosphere inside the room was tense as the door opened. His assistant entered, followed by Ms. Alcaraz, along with Celeste and Ivy.

Assistant: “Sir, they’re here.”

The assistant then turned to Ms. Alcaraz. “Only the interns are allowed inside.”

Ms. Alcaraz nodded, then leaned toward the two girls with a firm but encouraging look.

“I know you can do this. Just don’t forget the heart of your report.”

Ivy and Celeste: “Yes, ma'am.”

After she left, the door closed quietly, leaving only Celeste, Ivy, and Caspian in the vast office.

The two girls stood silently, waiting for the CEO’s command. Celeste kept her head down, refusing to meet his gaze, her palms cold against the folder she held.

Breaking the silence, Ivy suddenly spoke up with her usual bright energy.

Ivy: “Good day, Mr. Villanueva. We’re interns from St. Aurelia University, currently assigned under Ms. Alcaraz from the Reception and Lobbies Department. I’m Ivy Santos, and this—” she gestured toward her friend—“this is my co-intern, the real brain behind the report. She’s the one who prepared everything sir.”

Ivy nudged her lightly, signaling for her to introduce herself. Celeste hesitated, clearly reluctant, but had no choice.

Celeste: (quietly) “Good day, sir… I’m Celeste Dela Vega.”

The moment Caspian heard her voice—her name—his eyes widened. Slowly, he turned his chair to face them, his sharp gaze now locked on Celeste.

---

Caspian: If someone takes credit for work they didn’t do, how do you prove ownership without sounding defensive?”

Celeste:

“By letting the work speak for itself—only the real creator can explain the process behind it, sir.”

Caspian gave a faint smile and said, “You may leave now.”

Ivy was caught off guard, while Celeste avoided looking at the CEO.

As they stepped out of the room, Julian walked in, his eyes briefly meeting theirs. Ivy flashed him a small smile.

Once they were outside, Ivy whispered, “That’s it? We didn’t even get the chance to present the whole report. Mr. Villanueva doesn’t seem to take our work seriously.”

Celeste: “He already understood where our presentation was headed. That’s why it ended like that.”

Ivy: “Really? But you know what, Celeste, the CEO is unbelievably handsome. Even if he’s stern and intimidating, his appeal is just… strong.”

Celeste stayed silent.

When they returned to their department, Ms. Alcaraz was shocked to see them back so quickly. Sheimmediately asked, “Why are you here already? Did something go wrong?”

Ivy was about to speak, but Celeste spoke first.

Celeste: “Mr. Villanueva no longer needed us, ma'am. He just wanted to clarify who the real author of the report was.”

"I see. Well, that makes sense. The CEO is sharp—I could tell he was impressed by your work.”

Ivy: “That’s true, ma'am. Mr. Villanueva is incredibly intelligent, almost like he already knew everything about the report. That’s why he didn’t need us to explain much.”

Ms. Alcaraz: “Thank you both, especially you, Celeste. I know you were the one who really put this report together.

"Alright, you can go back to your desks. As for the issue, I hope you’ll keep this to yourselves for now—I need to look into it further.”

Both Celeste and Ivy nodded in agreement.

_____

Back in the CEO’s office

Julian: I just arrived, and you already dismissed them.

Caspian: Takes a deep breath, returning to his cold demeanor, then tells Julian — From now on, keep an eye on every move in this company. Make sure no one finds out.

Julian nods.

Julian: I reviewed the incident earlier. It turned out that the three interns did steal the work of Celeste— I mean, of intern Ms. Dela Vega.

Caspian: You already know what to do.

Julian: That’s the problem.

Caspian: Why?

Julian: One of the interns is Mr. Cruz’s daughter. For sure,

he’s going to complain to your father.

Caspian: Takes a deep breath in frustration. He knows very well that Mr. Cruz is a sycophant, always trailing behind his father, the Chairman. To avoid trouble, Caspian decided not to interfere further, since he didn’t want the stress of facing his father.

___

The sound of applause still filled the hall as employees and fellow interns cheered for the clown clique, believing their presentation had been a success. No one knew what had actually transpired behind closed doors. The three, basking in the attention, acted even more high and mighty, and every time they crossed paths with Celeste and Ivy, they made sure to target them with sharper glares and smug expressions.

Days later, on the much-anticipated Intern Promotion Day, Ms. Alcaraz gathered his team once more in the department. She stood proudly in front of everyone, expressing her gratitude to the interns and imparting a few words of encouragement. After her speech, the room buzzed with anticipation as she finally announced the promotions.

She congratulated the interns from St. Aurelia University for making it through and revealed that they would now be assigned to a department on the 5th floor. A wave of applause followed, though the reactions varied—some interns clapped sincerely, others clapped begrudgingly, hiding their envy. As expected, the clown clique wore smug smiles, acting as though they alone deserved the spotlight. Meanwhile, Celeste and Ivy exchanged a glance filled with relief and excitement.

Ivy leaned toward Ms. Alcaraz and whispered, "Ma'am, why were those three included? Weren’t they supposed to be punished—or at least removed from the company?”

Ms. Alcaraz whispered back discreetly, “I don’t know either. I only followed the decision from above. Perhaps they’re covering up the incident.”

Ivy frowned but quickly turned back to Celeste, forcing a cheerful grin. “Congratulations, frienie!”

Somewhere at the back, a small group of interns couldn’t hide their murmurs.

Intern 1: “Why are those two included? They didn’t even get their presentation chosen.”

Intern 2: “Exactly. We all worked the same jobs here. Why weren’t we promoted?”

Intern 3: “Maybe they were just dragged along because they’re from the same university as Biangca.”

Intern 1: “So unfair.”

______

The selected interns soon made their way to the 5th floor, where they gathered in the waiting area to await their office assignments. Their placement was in the Department of Training and Development. Here, St. Aurelia’s intern would be working alongside an intern from Ravenwood University—one of the most prestigious institutions in the country.

As Celeste and Ivy entered the waiting area, Celeste spotted a familiar face.

“Celeste, right?” a voice called.

She turned, surprised, and her lips curved into a small smile. “Adrian.”

Ivy blinked, looking between them. “Wait—you two know each other?”

Celeste nodded lightly. “I talked to him the other day.”

Adrian returned her smile, his expression warm and reassuring.

On the other side, the Crown Clique sat back casually, watching the other interns with smug expressions. In their minds, everyone in that room was an enemy.

Bianca: Wait, who’s that guy talking to those witches?

Vanessa: He’s handsome, but ugh… lowering himself by talking to trash? Pathetic.

Bianca: Well, we’re almost at the top. I can already feel the victory!

Vanessa: True. I’m also excited to finally get promoted to the highest rank.

Claire: Aren’t you two worried? If the CEO catches us, we’re doomed.

Bianca: Shut your mouth, Claire. You’re ruining our day. You should even be grateful we brought you along—after what you did.

Vanessa: Exactly! We could’ve been kicked out because of you. The only reason we’re still here is because Bianca’s father came up with a solution to the mess you caused!

(Claire stays silent.)

______

The waiting area of the Training and Development Department buzzed with anticipation. The interns fidgeted, exchanged whispers, and stole glances at one another. Moments later, Clara Santos, the HR Manager, entered. Her presence commanded attention without a single raised voice.

“Good morning, everyone,” Mrs. Santos began, her warm smile putting some of the more nervous interns at ease. “It’s wonderful to see all of you again, and congratulations on your recent promotions! Today, we’ll be finalizing your office assignments. Each of you will be paired with interns from other universities, giving you the chance to collaborate, learn, and—most importantly—shine.”

A soft murmur of excitement and anxiety ran through the room. Mrs. Santos paused, letting the words sink in. “I expect each of you to bring your unique strengths to your team. This isn’t just about completing tasks; it’s about leadership, creativity, and working together to achieve something meaningful.”

She began reading the assignments. Celeste exchanged a quick glance with Adrian, her new partner from a prestigious university, before stepping forward. They were to join the Leadership Development Department. Bianca and Reign were assigned with them as well, though everyone could see who was really running the show. Reign trailed behind Bianca like a shadow, obedient and eager to follow her lead.

Ivy, meanwhile, found herself paired with Ryan, a quiet but undeniably brilliant intern. Together, they would be joining the Employee Development Department, alongside Vanessa and Gorge. From the looks of it, Gorge had already adopted the Crown Clique’s arrogant demeanor, strutting around as if he owned the place.

Claire and a few other interns were sent to the Training Department. Some cheered silently, others groaned internally, but all understood one thing: their work had just gotten real.

Mrs. Santos concluded, her voice steady but encouraging, “These assignments will challenge you, yes. But they’re also opportunities—opportunities to show what you’re capable of, to lead when necessary, and to collaborate effectively. Remember, initiative is important, but teamwork is just as valuable.”

The interns nodded, a mix of nerves and excitement swirling inside them. Some were already brainstorming ideas. Others tried to predict how the dynamics of their new teams would play out.

Across the room, the Crown Clique lounged with smug confidence, their eyes tracking everyone like predators sizing up prey. Bianca arched an eyebrow, clearly amused by the chaos she thought she owned. Vanessa let out an exaggerated, disgusted “Ugh,” shaking her head at the idea of having to work with some of the others. Reign and Gorge followed silently behind them, obediently mirroring every move and expression.

To be Continued...