Working at the Garden

3rd Person's POV

The meeting ended with Edward convincing Caren to agree to let him become her suitor which always ended with her answering a huge no. The executives went to mind their own businesses like training, meeting, looking for some random infos that they could use against enemies and such. Shia went to take a shower and Xian went with Samuel to teach him the basics. Xenia was playing with Rachelle along with Alex and her grandparents. It was peaceful. For the guests.

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Shia was about to take a shower when suddenly, something popped up on her phone's screen and Aia spoke to her from her earrings which is secretly a communicator.

"Master, there's a spy from the Wild Gale mafia. They're positioned at the east wing and northwest wing of the mansion."

"How many are there? What are they infiltrating as?"

"There are approximately 46 spies. 2 leaders and 22 underlings each. Most underlings are pretending to be servants and as of the leaders, one of them is a chef and the other is a guard."

"Hmp. Inform the executives. Let the twins handle this. Remember to tell them not to make any mess. We don't want the guests to be disturbed. You know what to do."

"Understood Master."

Shia sighed and just proceeded to take a quick shower just to cool her head. The things happening are stressing her, but nonetheless didn't care about it. She's used to it. After that, she changed into something comfy. A high waisted denim short, a loose white shirt and a checkered button-up long sleeves. She paired it with a high ankle lace up buckle boots.

After changing, she first went and sat at the porch and watched everything unfold. Her gun beside her just in case something went south.

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The executives were all minding their own business when suddenly, Aia, their trusted AI, suddenly spoke through their earrings/piercings. There was also a map that popped up on their phone screen.

"Sorry for the bother respectable executives, but I have to inform you all that their is an emergency. A spy is sent here by the Wild Gale mafia and there are approximately 46 people with 22 underlings each under two leaders. Their coordinates are in the east side and northwest side of the mansion and most of them are pretending to be servants. The two leaders are the ones pretending to be a chef and a guard."

"What?! That's so sudden! And they're so many." Crase complained but was smiling excitedly.

"Just as I thought. The representative for the WG (Wild Gale) was acting weird when we were talking at the lobby." Marky said.

"So, who's up for this one? Did Boss Shia told you anything Aia? If not, I'll volunteer." Kevin said with a confident tone.

"Oh shut up Kevin. I know you're just gonna mess it up." Heather said probably teasing Kevin.

"I'm sorry to dissapoint you Master Kevin, but Master Shia said to let the twins, Master Chase and Master Crase to take care of it. The rest of you will stand by to assist in case things went south."

"Yey! I get to do some action! Yes, come one Chase let's get to it!" Crase joiced as she pulled Crase to get ready fast. Chase just sighed at his sister's actions.

"Remember Master Chase, Crase. Master Shia said to not make any mess if we don't want to disturb the guests. Also, please refrain from killing the leaders. That's all. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any help." With that, the twins immediately took their guns and went on their way. The other executives just remained their guard up.

The twins went their separate ways. Chase went to deal with the guard and Crase with the chef. The guards are usually stated at the east side and the kitchen at the northwest side. It was easy for them because it was outside and the guests was inside either at the movie room or at the library. The garden will be occupied by three in the afternoon where the view will be the most beautiful.

It was easy for them to get rid of the underlings with the help of Aia. Partnered with their sharp observation skills and quick thinking, it was just child's play. It was easy for them to find the leaders and the underlings was technically wiped out. It was just shoot here, shoot there and done. Just like that.

"Oh looks like I found the final boss! How 'bout you Chase?" Crase exclaimed happily as she found the leader cooking some barbecue which actually smells good. But Crase knows really well that it's covered in poison.

"Yeah, same here. This is actually boring. I didn't even broke a sweat." Chase said while having a staring contest with the other leader. "So, shall we start beating these two?"

"Gladly!"

Crase's Side

"Hey miss chef, you're Rian right? Come on, no need to hide Riri, you know how much I want to fight you right? Oh, and let me guess. Max is the other one right?" The spy's leader known as Rian, stood there quite shock. She was about to turn when suddenly, a fist landed on her face that resulted her landing on the hard ground.

"Hey, stand up Riri. Can't believe you just fell easily like that. I was holding back you know." Crase said with a sweet but scary smile. She grabbed Rian's hair and forced her to stand up.

"You're still a dirty player as ever, Crase Bond." Rian was angry and at the same time annoyed by her opponent's actions. After all, the two of them spent their whole childhood in the slums together.

"Oh come on Riri. There's no such thing as 'playing dirty' in my vocabulary. It's called taking advantage." Crase answered then slamming her on the wall. Because of the impact, it made a small but noticeable dent. "Oh, it made a dent. I should report this later."

While Crase was talking to her self about the dent, Rian took this chance to kick her in the stomach which made Crase lose her balance. Rian sat above her and started punching her to get back. She stopped when Crase suddenly laughed crazily.

" AHAHAHAHAHA! It tickles you know? Your punches that is HAHAHAHA! You're still weak. Nothing changed. Now, good night!" With that, Crase headbutted Rian and she instantly blacked out. "We're still going to have a long talk later."

Chase's Side

"Hey, long time no see Max. How long has it been? 8? 10 years?" Chase greeted the other leader known as Max. The latter just stared at him with a hint of anger in his eyes.

"10 years. And you're still the same old you. Nothing changed."

"Yeah. You also didn't changed. Your appearance I mean. I bet you're still weak." Chase said with a smirk. Max just stood there fuming with anger. Chase took this chance and shot his legs, making him wince in pain.

"Cunning as ever, huh Chase? Wouldn't even give the opponent the chance to absorb all the information given to him." Max was struggling to get up. Chase was looking down on him, his eyes clearly saying that he's not worth his time.

"Hmph. I'm not stupid Max. Even a child would take that chance to attack. Only you and that cousin of yours would be so kind to do that." Chase scoffed and kicked Max straight on the face.

Max noticed that Chase is spacing out and mumbling to himself. He then took the opportunity to shoot him straight in the head but sadly, he missed. Instead, it just grazed Chase's cheek resulting in some blood dropping from it.

"Well, that's cute. You almost hit me. This is getting boring so I'm going to finish this." With that, Chase knocked him unconscious. And to be honest, Chase was really suspicious of how they were acting. It's impossible for Max to just be knocked out like that. Chase contacted her twin sister to know her situation.

"Crase, you done there?"

"Yup. I'm just helping clean the mess. How 'bout you?"

"Yup, all done. Aia."

"Yes Master Chase?"

"Please connect me with Shia's line. I have something to tell her." Aia was a little hesitant about this request but still obeyed.

"What is it that you want to tell me, Chase?" Shia spoke while going down to the library since the two were done with their jobs.

"Shia, we've taken care of the spies but there's something suspicious about how they act."

"And why is that?"

"We couldn't have beaten the two easily. I know them since we were kids. There is just something weird about them."

"Yeah, come to think of it. They were positioned near our escape routes. And where our people always come and go during business." Crase interrupted.

"Contact my brother. Tell him to investigate these two places carefully. If he can, he should investigate it personally. We can't risk our infos to be leaked out for the Blood Battle. That's all. After you lock them up there, you can relax."

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Xian's POV

Wow! They have a personal library?! This is so cool! And it's so big! I'll get lost here for sure.

"Xian, over here." Samuel called me. He's going to teach me the basics of being a secretary.

"As one of the huge company's CEO's secretary, you will have many works to do and will always be busy. You will mainly assist her, arrange a meeting for her, take notes of the important details, review the files and documents, and check the status of the businesses we run. You will always be with her at all times." I wrote everything he said on my notepad. As this is my very first part-time job, I can't afford to mess this.

"You also have to be careful and alert at all times. Working as a secretary in this company, many people will try to harm you, seeing that Miss Shia has many enemies. Bullying within the company will also be normal for jealous employees." I nodded and he went to one of the shelves and took a 2 cm thick book.

"Do I have to read it?" I asked and he looked at me. He smiled and nodded.

"Yes. It has the other things you have to learn. You can read that while we wait for Miss Shia. Oh, would you like some tea?" He asked while pouring some tea to his cup. I smiled and he gave me. After that, we read some books while waiting.

30 minutes later

I'm halfway through the book but Shia still hasn't arrived. I wonder what she's doing. Suddenly someone came in and it was Shia. She looks pretty. Wait, why am thinking about these things?

"Have you grasped the idea of being a secretary?" She asked as she took a seat in front of me, pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Yes. Though, I'm only halfway through the book." I answered and she hummed in return.

"Let's go to the garden. It should be a good thing to do work there. It's quiet and relaxing. Bring that book with you."

We went to the garden and it's also big. I'm not surprised. Their library is huge so technically so as their garden. There are five gazebos arranged in a circular manner. A beautiful fountain can be seen in the middle. Different kinds of flowers can be seen here and there. There is also a small lake with a bridge. You can also see fishes swimming. It also has a large space where kids can play and such.

"Finish reading that then memorize the profiles of the board members and directors of each department. If you can't memorize it then just take note of it." She instructed as she proceeded to review the pile of documents. So, that's the amount of work that I have to do in the future?

Well, whatever. Let's just get this over with so I can relax. Hopefully. I read and read the book thoroughly and when I finished it, I started to read the profiles. It was sort of, complicated. With all the data here and there, but I can do this. After a few minutes or rather an hour, I finally finished memorizing the profiles. I looked at Shia and she's down to the final document. She looked at me and raised a brow. Eyes cold like usual. Well, except when she was talking with her family members.

"What are you staring at?"

"I'm sorry. Shia, I finished memorizing all the board member's and director's profile. I'm also finish reading the book." I smiled.

"Good. Now sort this by department." She said then called Samuel, who was sitting under a tree, to get us some tea and snacks. I slumped on my seat as I started sorting the documents.

It was quiet. Me sorting the documents, while Shia spacing out. Her head resting on her palm. I noticed that she was wearing piercings. She has three on her right ear and one on her left ear. The afternoon rays are lighting her face and her crimson eyes seems like it's shining. She looks peaceful.

I knocked out of my trance when she looked at me. Heat flushed my face in just a matter of seconds. Good thing that Samuel arrived. Shia just ignored me and I continued sorting the documents.

"Would you like some?"

"What?" Did Shia said something? I was so embarrassed that I didn't hear her said anything.

"Tea and macaroons. Or would you like some beer? What about nothing?"

"Oh, yeah I would like some tea. And, macaroons."

She gave me some and it tastes good. It's heavenly. After a few moments, I heard laughing coming to our way. I looked and saw Alex, along with my family, Shia's family, and Rachelle.

"Brother!" Xenia waved and run towards us.

"Xenia, what are you guys doing here?" I asked as I picked her up and seated her on my lap.

"Big sis Chelle said that we could play here with the flowers. Then I saw the beautiful uncles and aunties from the lunch and I thought that it would be nice to play with them!" She smiled cutely as she sneakily grabbed a pink macaroon. I sighed and gave it to her.

"Well, why don't you start playing? The flowers are waiting for you. Besides, brother still have a work to finish."

"You and the pretty lady are still working?"

"The pretty lady is already done with her work. All that's left is me." I answered then she hummed in realization. She's so cute that I started ruffling her hair even if I know how much she hates it.

I have to finish this quickly so I can enjoy my day. If Shia can finish this in an hour or in a few minutes, then surely I can do it too. You know what they say, 'All men are created equally.'

"Shiaaa! The document you asked for are finished! Do you still have anything you need? Then leave it to your beloved brother!" Wow. Shia's brother is really clingy. But you can see how much he cares about her.

"Thank you nii-chan and no, that's all I need. But there is one thing that's bothering me."

"Huh? What is it? Nii-chan will do anything to help! I'll even find the end of the universe for you!"

"Forget the end of the universe, you'll never find it. You have a surprise for me right? So, where is it?" Shia teased her brother and he looks so surprised. Haha, the two of them looks cute.

"How did you know?! I'm sure nobody told you about that!"

"Ranx, you're so stupid. You're like an open book. It's surprising if Shia didn't see through it."

"Shut up Kevin! I'm not talking to you!"

"Huh?! Why are you shouting at me?! Don't forget that you still owe me some money!"

"Tch. Whatever. Back to the topic. Samuel! If you may?" Shia's brother, who I learned to be Ranx, called Samuel. What could that surprise be?

Samuel took a big box that's under one of the trees in the garden and gave it to Ranx. He then gave it to Shia who opened it immediately. As soon as she opened it, butterflies with different colors came out from it and they were flying around Shia. It was mesmerizing, added with Shia's beautiful face, it looks like it came out from a painting.

After the butterflies have settled down and went to the flowers, Shia looked inside the box and there was a big bouquet of beautiful flowers. Under it was boxes of different chocolates and other sweets. After seeing that, I swear I saw Shia's eyes sparkle but it dissappeared after I blinked.

"So, do you like it?" Ranx asked and looked at her hopefully.

"Mhm. I love it."

Hearing her sister's answer, Ranx jumped in glee and started running around the garden who then fell after tripping on Kevin's leg.

"Oops. Oh, look at the fish in the lake. They look tasty." Kevin whistled innocently and started moving away from Ranx. Ranx then looked angrily at Kevin with dark aura around him and started chasing him.

"Don't you dare run away from me Kevin! You like the fishes, then join them!" He yelled and pushed Kevin to the lake but unfortunately, he also fell. There they started fighting like cats and dogs. I giggled.

"What are you giggling at?"

"Hm? It's because your family is so fun Shia!" I smiled and she just looked at me with an unamused face.

'If only you knew, then you wouldn't think it's fun.'