98 Family Holiday (II)
Alex continued to follow his father into the elevator, keeping quiet all the while. His morose expression was rather inappropriate for an 8-year-old; yet, no one was daring enough to actually try to strike a conversation with him.
He had this 'go away' vibe.
Not the 'I am in a bad mood' vibe that would make one go all 'big sister/brother' mode to coax the little one, but more of the 'come, if you dare to disturb me'.
So everyone tacitly agreed to simply follow respectfully without entering the private zone and disturbing the little prince.
Alex was completely oblivious to the thoughts of the people around him.
Sure, he knew that they were staring, he knew that no one dared to approach him - but he was under the impression that they were just too immersed in their either idol-like worship of his father or too scared of his father's 'big boss' halo.
Never did he think it was attributed to him.
When walking with his father, or standing side-by-side with his father, Alex had gotten used to the fact that people would gravitate towards his father and not him. Even if his presence was acknowledged, it was more of showing respect or being polite to his father.
Alex clenched his jaw and ignored everyone around him.
As the special entourage was heading upstairs towards the CEO's office, the CEO's team was in a tizzy. While most were feeling nervous excitement, one was feeling agitation.
Karen, the executive secretary, watched in exasperation as the employees at the CEO's office were twittering about and some were even giggling as they looked at their phones. They were so engrossed in whatever it was on the phone that they had not even noticed her presence.
"Is this a night market or an office?!" Karen shouted as she slammed her palm onto a nearby desk.
Her eyes glared at the nervous women, who had jumped in shock at her shout.
"Get back to your workstations," Karen instructed, pointing towards the desks that were devoid of people, "Mr. Smith will be arriving soon, and seeing gossipy women would not be a good impression."
The guilty group quickly dispersed, while Larissa, the CEO's secretary, quickly made herself busy. Karen wasn't done with her, yet however as she walked over and tapped the table impatiently.
"You, of all people, Larissa, should set a good example," Karen said sternly.
Larissa resisted an eyeroll, and merely nodded, giving a perfunctory smile. As soon as Karen left, Larissa quickly texts the rest in the secretaries WhatsApp group - that didn't have Karen in, naturally.
Lar: <Old hag is being so uptight as usual>
<It's not like we don't do work> complained Marlene, as she pouted at her workstation, hiding behind the computer monitor.
<She's certainly not normal> stated Greta, popping a sweet into her mouth as her fingers flew across the phone keypad.
<Agreed> answered Elise <But you know what's really not normal?>
Greta: <What?>
Elise: <The fact that there is not a single good picture of Kyle. I mean, come on...>
The four women groaned when they thought about it.
Every single picture that the 'spies' below had taken was horrible.
Some captured him *just* as he turned his head, causing the picture to be blurry. Some had half his face covered by their own CEO or, his PA ... heck, there was always someone, or something!
Some just had managed to capture the back of his head as he walked past by.
Never did they know that there was not a single person in the entire building that could make a good sneak shot.
A collective sigh from all four could be heard, making Karen - who had walked towards the CEO's office, turn back to look at them sharply.
However, she couldn't see anything out of place as everyone was staring at their computer screen, seemingly hard at work as the sound of the keyboard clacking filled the air.
Karen frowned a bit but chose to ignore it and entered the office, carrying the file that had documents that she needed the CEO to sign.
When she entered, she left the door open so as to give an unobstructed view of her in the room. This was to avoid anyone creating any sort of gossip that she may have disturbed other things in the room.
Karen was very professional, and didn't seem to have a life outside of work, making everyone giving her the nickname 'old hag'.
It wasn't just because she didn't seem to have a love life, but more to the fact that she appeared to be resentful of those who did. Snide remarks on how some were dressed as she deemed it too inappropriate for the workplace, showing no empathy when some took slightly longer on their lunch breaks (date) and things like that.
Lar: <I'd love to see the day the old hag gets into a relationship>
Elise: <Is that even possible? She lives and breathes work, making our lives miserable>
Lar: <Can you imagine her being in love?>
The women shook their heads just thinking about it and some glanced at her straight back as she straightened the documents that were scattered on the CEO's desk.
Greta: <She'll either be the same stiff woman you see there …>
Elise: <Or a total love idiot>
At this, all laughed as they couldn't imagine the utterly prim and proper woman that seemed to eat starch be a love idiot.
That would certainly be a sight to behold, wouldn't it?
After ensuring that the table was neat and orderly, just the way the CEO liked it, Karen straightened her back and picked up the files that the CEO had already dealt with. However, as she turned, the scene that came to her eyes made her freeze.
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It was at that moment that Brian was entering the office with Kyle walking beside him. Karen had known that the CEO was arriving as he could hear him speak. She was prepared to see them when she turned, ready to stand at attention and wait for Brian to introduce her.
What she didn't expect, however, was that she would be so totally gobsmacked by the vision in front of her that she found herself unable to breathe, her heart started beating at a rapid pace, and worst of all, she started heating up.
Karen wanted to gasp but she somehow managed to get a hold of herself and she somehow heard her boss calling her.
"Karen? Karen? Are you okay?"
Karen could hear the concern in her Boss's voice and she swallowed what little saliva she had, feeling the lump in her throat and the dryness there. Clearing her throat a bit, she managed to say rather hoarsely at first, "I-"
She cleared her throat again, "I'm sorry, Sir. Yes, I am okay."
Karen felt really stupid at that moment, and her face flushed as she thought what a fool she was making herself out to be.
She felt like her brain emptied itself.
What was wrong with her?
Alex, who was right behind Kyle, saw this entire scene and felt like giving himself a facepalm.
This was perhaps, the most ridiculous reaction yet that he has had to bear witness to in is entire 8 years of life.
Why was it so exaggerated?
All those giggling women, those red-faced women, those women fawning stupidly over his father paled in comparison.
Alex looked at his father sternly, studying his face and his reaction.
He noted that his father didn't seem fazed by it at all.
It was as if he was used to it.
Perhaps he was.
But shouldn't he … you know, at least discourage them or something?
Why must he act like he didn't notice anything?
Alex turned his attention back to the stupid woman.
Stupid, because one should never be so obvious when being starstruck or something.
Stupid, because the object of that person being starstruck was his father.
Stupid, because the said object already had a wife and a son who was right beside him.
If that wasn't stupid, what was?
Alex scoffed in his heart, disdain quite filling his heart for he felt that when one did fall in love – or, rather, when feeling attracted to someone – it should not be based on looks.
Appreciate, yes but love?
No.
Alex automatically crossed out such people.
He felt that such people were just too shallow. How can you say you like or love the person without knowing them?
Though Alex was right to some extent, he missed the point that people can get attracted to (and admire) people who look good. To him, it was just "yes, he/she is good looking" and can acknowledge it but to have their eyes glued on the person?
Not a bit.
He couldn't understand it at all.
Then again, Alex had grown up being surrounded by good-looking people so perhaps he could be more objective about it. Would his views change once he hit puberty?
Perhaps, perhaps not.
Only time would tell.
For now, though, he was just filled with disgust while looking at the obviously infatuated Karen.
