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Putting it on the island counter, I open it to reveal a bunch of cash.
I add the fifty dollars to the growing pile. Staring down at the bills, I don't feel an ounce of guilt. I've stolen this, all of this, from Jonathon using similar ruses. I've managed to accumulate over four thousand dollars. I've never spent any of this money. The day I manage to convince him to free me of this blood debt, I will take this money and run. I'll never look back.
I've been working in Jonathon's office for six years now, and never once have I received a salary. I never even received pocket money. I had to watch his children get showered in nice things and eat good food while I was fed once a day, even with their table scraps. It was only once I was more visible to the pack that he began to dress me in more than rags.
I let out a shuddering breath.
He tried. He tried everything, but he’s never been able to crush my spirit. However, he thinks he has, and I will never let him believe differently.
Counting the cash again, I grin to myself, ridiculously amused by another good haul. The rich scent of the soup cooking makes me quickly close the box and put it back in its hiding place. My apartment is often randomly searched. I can't escape this blood debt without dying, so I guess it is just Jonathan's way of humiliating me and reminding me of my place.
Nobody ever thinks to check on the top of the kitchen cabinets. Most probably because of how tiny the space between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling is.
Smiling despite the pain, I sit down to enjoy a hot cup of soup.
*** **
My job title is Personal Assistant. However, I do everything and am involved in every department of the company. The Moore family owns and runs a huge food brand, KDL Foods Inc. Jonathon is the CEO while Norman is supposed to be Managing Director. Not that he does much.
Since I've been working here for so long, Jonathon has trusted me with all decisions. He used to simply sign off on my plans and suggestions, and as a result, the company flourished. He barely had to do anything with me running everything in his name. But the moment Norman came on board, everything went askew. Profits declined and the company's turnover rate rose. Female staff drastically decreased in number once they realized that Norman replaced the HR Head with a friend of his. He never interned here or did any research. He just liked the control.
And every time he messed up, he blamed it on me.
Jonathon preferred to believe that the girl from the slums was the reason behind his company shares falling. I was the one who was constantly punished for it. I still am. The only upside is that now Jonathon checks each and every decision of mine, so Norman doesn't have room to blame me. The damage is done, though.
The company's reputation has been ground in the mud, thanks to Jonathon's useless drunkard of a son.
I place my bag on my desk, my back aching from yesterday's whipping. I'm about to sit down when the intercom buzzes. Sighing, I grab my tablet and head into the CEO's office.
The pack alpha is at his desk, a frown on his face.
He looks up when I enter. "You're late."
It's taken years of practice to not roll my eyes when the situation calls for it. I know I'm ten minutes early.
"Sorry."
Jonathon leans back in his chair, his lips twisted. "Have you seen the news?"
"No?" I say, warily. "Did something happen?"
He picks up a remote and unmutes the screen on the wall beside the door. I turn to look at the television and see a reporter talking about canned food that had been served at schools and was way past the expiration date. I close my eyes, already knowing where this is going.
"Why are we sending rotten food to schools?" Jonathon throws the remote at my face, and I flinch when it hits me on the forehead.
However, I keep my voice demure. "It's the new quality control measures in the factories. I mentioned it in the report––"
"There is no mention of anything––"
"It's on page five, sir. Norman made some changes, and I outlined the possible issues that could occur––"
He's already flipping through the report, and his eyes run over the paper. His jaw hardens, and before I can blink, he tosses the report at me, barking, "Why didn't you tell me this in person?"
I stare at the papers scattered at my feet. I feel numb to this humiliation. I did tell him, and he knows it. But if I remind him, the consequences will be worse for me.
"I'm sorry," I murmur, demurely. "I should have informed you."
He looks away from me, and I let out a shaky breath.
The silence that follows is nerve-wracking, and then he suddenly speaks. "This cannot go on like this. Our shares are plummeting. We're losing confidence in our customers. If this goes on, Norman will never be able to ascend to the Alpha position."
My head shoots up at those words, shock filling me.
I've heard Norman mention a couple of times that he will become the next alpha, but I always chalked it up to arrogance and delusion. The Alpha position has always rightfully belonged to Jonathon's oldest son, Adam Moore. While I grew up in the same house as both of Jonathon's sons, I barely ran into Adam. He was always busy with his Alpha classes, and when he wasn't, he tended to stay away from the house, preferring to live at his aunt's. I know for a fact that when he was fifteen or sixteen, there was a huge fight, and Adam ended up leaving the family home for good. I've not seen him since.
However, he was still the Alpha heir. Nobody has ever stated differently, especially when he set up his own company in direct competition with his father's. Maril Food Ltd. has been vastly successful, and ever since Norman took over the reins of our company, Adam's company has grown leaps and bounds.
This is the first time I've heard of Jonathon's intention to replace Adam with Norman.
Before I can stop myself, I find myself asking, "Will the pack be okay with that?"
Instead of getting angry, Jonathon shoots me an arrogant look. "With changing the Alpha heir? As long as Norman can prove himself, they should have no problem. But we need to acquire Maril Food Inc. if we want to be successful. Adam has been building power in the pack for years. Once his company is under mine, he will lose that power."
I blink.
Does he really expect his oldest son to hand over his company so easily?
"You're intending to acquire the competition?"
- Writer
