The CEO’s dark secret

Chapter four:The locked floor

MAYA'S POV

By the end of the first week, I had learned Adrian's schedule, how patterns, signs that told me the kind of day we'd have even before it started

His black coffee at exactly 7:45, no unnecessary chat, no questions, the fierce look on his face when a particular call from D comes in.

I still didn't understand him fully but I was learning to, I want to

“You're getting faster” Renee said to me one morning as she watched me organize the schedule without asking questions “ most people don't last this long”

That's when it hit me, the “last” the other employees mentioned the other time, I was curious

“Uhm, my Renee, what happened to the

..last?” I asked,I shouldn't have

She looked at me as I watched the smile wipe off her face

“she left.”

“Left or?”

“Ms Whitfield, I suppose you have other things doing, I'd prefer you focus on your work as you see I have other things doing” she said firmly and turned her back on me

I let it go but different questions keep popping in my head, I imagined several scenarios at the same time,

Was she killed?

I became scared, what if what I was warned about was true.

That afternoon, Adrian asked me to deliver a set of documents to a floor I haven't been to before, one that I didn't have access to. Renee punched some code in without letting me see them then she entered

“Wait here” she said to me stepping inside leaving me out alone

I let my curiousity get the best of me as i walked a few steps towards a door that seemed different from others then I heard faint conversations from inside

“... can't keep delaying the shopping Adrian, Reyes is already asking questions”

“I'm handling Reyes”

“You said that about the last situation too but look how it ended, I had to handle it myself which I didn't like” the voice said firmly

I froze and fear gripped me, as I took steps backwards unaware of the side vase behind me I hit my shoulder with it making it rock dangerously and loudly before I caught it.

Everywhere went silent, s**t!

I moved quickly towards the elevator with my heart pounding very fast and standing exactly where Renee left me

“You didn't move right?” She said as she came outside from the room

“No I didn't” I lied “I was here the whole time”

She looked at me for a while then beckoned on me to follow her

I didn't see Adrian again until the evening routine of reviewing the next day's schedule. That evening he looked more tired than usual, his tie loosed, sleeves rolled up and I peeped his tattoo for the first time “A”

“You're quieter today” he said

“I'm just tired sir” I said with my voice almost shaking

“Liar” he said as he stood up

My heart sunk, sunk too deep, my head was thinking of different things at the same time, I'm cooked, I need to flee

“Whatever you think you heard today” he said as he grabbed my hands roughly “ you better forget it for your own good”

My eyes water “I don't know what you're saying sir” I stuttered

“Don't do that here, I'm not asking you to lie I'm asking you to be smart” he said

“And if I don't want to forget it?” I asked firmly

He let me go then backed me

“Then you'll decide how much you'll want to know, because in my word, knowledge isn't what I give for free” she said in a low tone

“Is that a threat?” I asked

I should have been afraid, but I'm talking back more than I should

He looked at me again

“Go home Ms. Whitfield”

I left his office with my heart still racing, my mind spinning through everything I'd heard, everything I hadn't asked, everything I was suddenly certain I needed to know.

“Reyes, the shipment delays, the last situation, whoever the last assistant had been, whatever had happened to her”

I didn't go home first that day, I went to the hospital where my mother lied and stared at her weakly

“I miss you mommy” I said as tears began to flow from my eyes “ I wish you were here at least everything would have been easier” I said

I felt somebody hold my hand, it was her

“Mommy” I said in a breaking voice

“Maya” she struggled to say

“Mommy I miss you, I wish you were better, I and Father needs you” I said

“I'm here Maya, everything is going to be okay” she smiled weakly

“ I promise to make everything right, I'll pay for your treatment and make sure you get back on your feet ma” I said as I wiped my eyes

I had no time to be vulnerable, I need to be strong

“Maya” my father called from across

I quickly wiped my face dry

“How was work? Are you okay” he asked calmly

“I'm fine daddy, I just wanted to see mom, I've been too busy to visit her and since I closed early it was a perfect opportunity” I said

“Oh that's sweet”

My stomach grumbled

“You haven't eaten all day right?”

I had been caught up in tensed situations that I had forgotten to eat

“Don't worry, I got you” my father said as he brought out a flask from the bag and handed it over to me.

Few minutes later I received a message from Adrian

“Be at work 5:30” it read

Several thoughts ran through my head at the same time, am I about to end up like the last or?

“No questions” another message followed

My face went pale,I didn't know what tomorrow is having in stall for me

“I have to face it!” I said to myself trying to hide my fear, I couldn't tell anybody about it, nor my father or Ava, I have to deal with it alone

I was starting to understand I'd walked into something far bigger than a job and despite every warning and reason to run, some reckless, foolish part of me had no intention of walking away.