Matias: The Forgotten Civilization

Chapter 30

"SO FAR, THE first day was successful. There were a handful of audience."

"If it wasn't for Walter, we wouldn't have that much audience."

"The question is… Will it be the same case for tomorrow knowing we wil charge them for a ticker."

"Chill out, guys. I got your back. And we did well, we should not worry about it for now." I paid no notice to chat of the group of the people that entered the cafe. But the last one who talked in that conversation, I am familiar with the owner of the voice… Walter.

I refuse to believe that this man is here again. Not only that, he brought his friends along with him. For the love of thousand stars, I cannot believe that this Walter is in this cafe again. I already have had enough of his arrogance back at school. Not in my workplace, again.

When the group finally settled in the corner, Walter stood up and made his way to me. He even fixed his hair in front of the countertop. "Oh! It's Ms.Stacey, again. Greetings."

"Good afternoon, Sir. Welcome to the cafe. May I have your order?" with a smile, I replied back.

"Miss me?" he enthustically uttered it.

He really remain untilted from what happened the last time he was here. How thich is that face could be? Shoul I test it with a hoolow block? Nonetheless, professionalism, Stace. Remain unbothered like a queen. You heard no arrogance from the man in front of you.

"May I have your order now, Sir?" I put a smile on my face trying to hide my irritated expression.

"I brought my mates in Theater Club along. You know, to chill out. Acting is so taxing."

Deep inside, I would want to tell him straight to his face "Who asked". Because with all honesty, I am no therapist here or his mom that cares how did his day goes by. That's none of my business and should leave me alone for it. Can he just give his order already?

"I see, Sir. I hope you will have a good time, Sir. May I have your order, now?"

"Maybe, you could give me a discount for bringing more people here? Yeah?" he whispered.

What is he? A Karen? Do I look like I run this shop to casually give discounts? Even if he brought the whole people in the city, I couldn't care less. Even if without him and his friends, this run can still function. I could never this man's arrogance.

"Thank you so much for the crowd, Sir. However, I do not own this shop. The price is as well fixed. I'm so sorry, we don't give discounts no matter the crowd you invite," I said it out loud making sure that the people in the shop would hear it including his friends. Let us see if he won't get embarrassed.

I effectively get him embarrassed as his face turns tomato red now. My voice is naturally loud so I'm confident that a lot heard what I said. That is what you get for trying to be a haggler. I don't tolerate stingy attitude.

"I was just joking. No need to blurt it out loud!" If only ashes can be seen coming out from someone's ears if they are mad, I would see definitely see it with Walter.

"May I have your order, Sir?" I made a sneer after I said those words.

Joke? I am taking no joke in the middle of my work. Besides, are we close to begin with for him to be playing jokes with me? Jokes are only for people who are personally close to each other. That being said, I don't even know him.

Finally, I made him gave his order. And when he leave the countertop, I'm sure he carried the embarrassment with him. That's what he gets for messing with the wrong person.

PRESENTLY, IT'S TEN in the evening. Walter and his group are still enjoying themselves in the cafe, but instead of Walter himself ordering more food in the counter, it is now his friends who does the job. In the middle of my service with a customer, the sound from her phone captured my interest.

"Just in, a lawsuit is filed against Traders, the rising company in the hardware industry. Traders was alleged for not giving its employees their salary for more almost 7 months. Department of Labor is now looking at this matter."

"Here is your order, Maam," I exuberantly said before handing order the clients order.

"Thank you," with a smile, she replied. She seems to have a problem but

Okay, confirmed. Conversation might be possible with this client. I am intrigued with what I heard. It was loud and clear to me that a lawsuit was filed to Traders, the company that I have invested half of my savings into.

"Ma'am, may I ask if I heard it right that Traders was under a lawsuit?" I manage to inquire before she gets the chance to leave the counter.

"Ah, yes. It's trending in the city today. I even heard that a strike was happening outside the company. I am quite helpless today because I invested so much in their stocks," an uneasy look in his face is now visible.

"I am one of the investors too, Ma'am. If Traders are proven guilty, things might get unfavorable in our end."

"Yes, you're right. Let's hope this is just some empty allegation. But given the rumors that this case is the work of Delravin's in the shadows, this might be true." Her reply made my mind went blank for a second. Delravin's is involved? If so, this is bad… very, very bad.

"Just look it up in the internet. I have somewhere else to be. Have a good day," she added and left.

I cannot contain my composure right now. I need to use my phone to see what is going on. However the work ethics are unfavor with it, I cannot use my phone at the moment. This is really alarming as most of my savings are invested on Traders. If something happens to Traders, then the same will happen to my savings… and even to my future.

"Why uneasy? Because I'm leaving? Don't worry. I will come back for tomorrow, Ms. Stacey." A grinning Walter is what is in front of me right now.

"Anything you need, Sir?" Even though I am sweet with my response, I really wanted to give this person a slap. Why does he have to make my day worse everyday? If I'm in the mood for his jokes earlier, I am not up for up this time as well.

"Just saying goodbye, Ms. Stacey." And with that, Walter and his friends left the shop.

"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR is now looking at this matter. While the investigation is going on, the department has decided to cut off the Traders' profit by ten percent for the mean time," said the reporter.

I am nervously replaying the latest news. My uncomfort from earlier didn't subside but instead is accumulating. This is a very serious case. The thought that Delravin's is involved in this case occured to me again.This is what makes my heart race even more. It might be rumors for some, but who would go against Traders if it ain't Delravin's? An issue of the scale is beyond the capability of ordinary workers. Delravin's is involve, that is for sure.

"Seen in the screen is the strike of workers that is happening outside the company."

"Pay us now!"

"How dare you delay our salary for eight months!"

"Justice for our labor!"

The number of people shown in the camera proves that there were a lot of people that participated in the rally. My savings are already being drained despite me having a job. I have invested most of my savings in Traders. Now, if this allegation is proven, I'm sure that the prices of stocks of Traders will plummet… and boom my savings are gone.

How could Traders do something like this! I have research about the company. Everything should be fine or is that my research is lacking? Don't tell me that the something amiss that I have been feeling is this? For the love of thousand stars, wake me up and tell I am dreaming.

I slapped myself as hard as I can but to no avail, I am wide awake. Now, I think my cheeks are swollen because of my stupidity. I don't what to do anymore. This is beyond my control. I'm starting to panic.

After some time of being hysterical, I decided to calm myself down and think of things that I can do. I went to check the website of Traders, but my hunch was right, the stocks are on hold says the notice. I won't be able to sell my stocks as long as the trial is going on. And even if I do sell my stocks right now, no one would buy it.

Jio's

"PAYNE, YOU SHOULD go home for now. It's past ten already," I told my personal body guard.

"Sir, my job is not done as long as your safety is not guaranteed," he replied.

Loyalty, indeed. Not only that my talent in business is outstanding, they say. But I am confident with my talent in finding people worthy of my trust too. Given I have to facilitate the assault towards Traders today, I have neglected my company duties. That's the reason for me doing overtime today since have to make it up to my company.

"I'll be going home late today. You go already and attend your wife, Payne." There was a hint of tease in that response.

"You should tell that to yourself, Sir. I know you are dry these days."

Woah, Payne's being daring today. This is the first time he has spoken to me like an acquaintance. I keep on telling me to just be casual when no one's around but he insisted that I am his boss and he should not do something as inappropriate as that. But looking at him now, he has step up his game.

"You're tongue is sharp today, Payne. Keep doing that. I don't want to see you being intimidated by me," I gave a smile although I am not looking at him, I'm sure he saw it.

"You've been busy these days, Sir. You should sometimes waste yourself and have some good time," he teased by emphasizing the word 'good time'.

"You know that, Payne. I badly want to go party and ravish a woman right now, but I can't." I gave out sigh. If only I could invite a woman in my office and have her attend my needs, I would do so. However, I don't to be involve in an issue as a womanizer. "I also cannot let the company off-guarded during these days. If I decided to be a drunkard for a day, we would ran out of cards to play against Traders."

"Why not try having a good time on your screen, Sir," he suggested.

If what he meant by good time in my screen is playing games, I'm past that era of my life already. I have grown tired and sick of it. It doesn't give me the same satisfaction that I used to feel before. Going into party or having s*x is what makes me alive right now.

"What do you mean by that?" full of curiosity, I inquired.

Payne has been my personal body guard since I was living my teenager life. He had seen me live it by playing various games. He should know as well that games are not into my liking now. Perhaps this screen is something else? What could it be?

"Cam girls are pretty popular these days. You don't know them?"

This time, I halt myself from working and gave him a look. This cam girls happened to captured my curiosity. I never heard of them. They happen to be foreign into my ears.

"Cam girls? What is that?"

I DIDN'T GET the chance to review the news of Traders being prosecuted, so I'm making it happen today. For a company to try challenge Delravin's they should have worked clean. I might be able to let their company slide. But they are doing underhanded methods. Not paying the laborers for seven months? How shameless of Traders.

I was one of those who have suspicious given their abrupt rise. At first, I paid no attention to it, I thought they were perhaps being led by someone talented. But when their rise was too overbearing, I told Payne to go investigate their operation. Later, I found out this issue and decided to hire a lawyer friend of mine to urge the laborers file a case about their unissued salary.

I dialed the number of my Romwald to have tabs on the updates. Although I trust his capabilities as he is a genius in this field, I have to monitor the progress of the case and prepare properly if the Traders chose to retaliate. He never failed me and picked up the call in less than a minute.

"How is the situation in your end?" I tell him.

"Everything is in favor of us so far. Why call early? I'm having my breakfast." The audible sipping of a drink proves he is telling the truth right now.

"Just making sure that you have another set of cards to play today," I tease.

"What do you think of me? Of course I got you covered," full of confidence he said.

"Tell me what plans do you have."

"Why do you have to be so prudent? You always need everything to be so sure." he exclaimed.

He heard silence from me as a reply. I don't take risk, I control it. Growing up together he should that if he wants to make me believe him, he should give me a whole flow chart of the course of action he will perform, not just an empty promise.

"Okay, fine! I'll have my friend at the Department of Labor pay out little friend Traders by any time today."

"And? Is that all? You know that Traders wouldn't mind losing 10 percent of the profit. They would rather accept the losses than pay their workers their salary." Come on, Romwald. Show me that you are the genius in the law industry who has passed the bar exams at he age of eighteen. Show me that you are still that genius seven years ago.

"You got it right, Jio. You have seen it coming then. Don't underestimate the department visiting Traders today, Jio. The department would sure tag the Traders' raw materials and deliveries as forensics-no exemptions, the old and the new. They wouldn't be able to operate while the case lasts," I can hear him speak with confidence. Very dependable as always.

"Well done, Romwald. I want this to be a clean sweep for us."

If that's the case, then I'll have to rest easy. Romwald you better get those dirty entrepreneurs face behind the bars. Anyone who dares to cheat business deserves no part of it. Cheating is never a part of the key points of a successful business.

"You called the right man. Leave it to me."