Chapter 1: Right Hand Man

AUGUST HAYES 

"Th-That man!" One of the people helping organize the event paused when he saw August Hayes stride into the venue. "I-Isn't that the same person who always walks beside Chairman Henderson?" The guy whispered to the person beside him as he stared at August with wide eyes.

Although the man's eyes were small and narrow, they turned as big as saucers when he saw August. Who wouldn't be surprised to see that a person very close to the Henderson Group's chairman would arrive early at the venue to check on them? 

"Huh?" The other person beside him who was helping with arranging the tableware on the table stopped what he was doing to look at the man that his friend was referring to. 

Just like his friend, he was also stunned to see August Hayes was indeed with them. He just arrived with a couple of bodyguards behind him to check on their progress.

He stared at August with a look of admiration in his eyes as he clutched tightly on the spoons and forks he was holding. He had heard a lot of things about August, and he admired his work ethic and passion for the business. In fact, he is the person he looks up to. You could even say that he is his idol. 

Although he hadn't met August before, he knew everything about him. August is a famous employee of the company, and everyone knows that he is the Chairman's favorite. The Chairman likes him more than his own personal assistant, who has been working for him even before he met August. 

August also has a good reputation in the company because of his outstanding performance and the great contributions he made to the company. 

The man couldn't help but stare at August with a wistful look on his face. This is the first time he has ever met his idol in person. 

"What do you think he is doing here?" His friend whispered to his ear, not taking their eyes off the man who just entered and stole their attention. 

There is nothing special about August's appearance. People wouldn't have noticed him enter the room if it weren't for his position in the company. 

Although August was born with a high nose bridge, a deep set of eyes, and a manly facial structure, he is thin and pale with a sickly complexion on his face. 

As the chairman's right-hand man, you can see how his work is taking a toll on his body. His beauty is overshadowed by the tiredness in his eyes and the lack of rosiness in his cheeks that would have shown his vitality. 

Although August is thin, his tall height makes up for it. Although he looks sickly, August has a strong immune system, and he rarely gets sick. His body is used to the strenuous work that he has to do every day. 

If only he had more rest and didn't work in a stressful job, his beauty and manliness would have shined through. He would have looked like a handsome, youthful man who could charm all the ladies in this world in just a single look.

"I heard that the chairman sent him off to Hungary for a business venture, and that is why I hadn't seen him for months. I did not expect I would see him again here." They continued to whisper to each other. 

"The chairman must have sent him here again to check on us. You know that this event is special for the business. The Henderson Group is launching a new product in their business, and all the investors and the other rich people are invited to this event."

As if August had heard them talking about him, he walked towards them with a serious expression on his face. 

The two gossipmongers shut their mouths and stared at August with stunned expressions as he walked toward them. They could even feel the cold sweat forming on their brows as an important man as August gave them his attention.

August walked past them and grabbed the tablecloth placed on the round table behind them, making them hold their breaths. 

The man who admired August greatly clutched the spoons and forks he was holding more tightly. 

August's brows drew together as he rubbed the tablecloth in his fingertips. He looked around the room, staring at the other light beige tablecloths that covered all the other tables in the room. 

"Change all these to dark red and remove all the table decorations. Just leave the tableware behind," August commanded them as he looked around the room, searching for anything else to fix.

"Yes, sir." The two of them worked fast, removing all that they had already placed on the table to change the color of the tablecloth. 

Seeing that their hands were already filled and there were more things left on the table, August lent his hand to help them pick up the table decorations that were still on the table. 

"S-Sir," the person who admired August the most felt embarrassed that August was helping them out. 

August is their boss, and they shouldn't be making him do these menial jobs. He wanted to take the table decorations from his hands, but his hands were already full. 

"Someone help us. You! You take everything that the boss is holding," the man with small eyes commanded the person who went past them. 

He stopped in his tracks and immediately did what he was commanded to do. He politely took everything that was in August's hands.

"Sir, we can handle everything," the person who, like August, spoke anxiously as he watched the table decorations being lifted off his hands.

"Are you sure you can handle everything?" August asked him again. 

"Yes, sir. I will handle this."

"What is your name?" 

"Clarence, Sir."

"Clarence? Aren't you the one who just got promoted?"

Clarence smiled widely when he found out that August knew who he was. "That's me, sir."

August smiled. "Congratulations on your promotion," August raised his hand for a handshake, making Clarence feel flattered. 

He didn't just meet his idol today, but he also received praise and a handshake from him. Clarence gave the things in his hands to the person beside him so he could accept August's handshake. He couldn't hide the smile on his face as their hands touched. 

"Clarence," August placed his hand on his shoulder. Clarence is in disbelief as he stares over his shoulder. "You should come with me today."

Clarence nodded with excitement. He looks forward to August so much, and he has a lot to learn from him. There's no way he would pass on a chance like this. 

With two bodyguards and Clarence tailing behind August, he did what was tasked to him, which was to oversee the preparation of today's event. 

There is no other man that Chairman Henderson trusts so much aside from August. As his most trusted man, Chairman Hendrik Henderson would often give August different, highly important tasks. 

Sometimes, he would even make him meet investors or hold company meetings for him. Chairman Henderson would pass some of the things he should do to August to lighten up his workload. August is basically his right-hand man. 

August always does a great job in whatever tasks that Chairman Henderson would give him. Sometimes, the chairman would give him impossible tasks, such as giving him a print of a book that had not even been published yet. There is no task that the chairman gave him that August did not accomplish.

Guests filled in the venue as time neared the opening of the event. August stood by the corner, waiting for the chairman to arrive. 

He maintained his observant eyes as he looked around the venue, making sure that the guests were happy and that the event for the launching of their new product was going well. 

August straightened his luxurious coat when he saw Hendrik Henderson enter the event with his bodyguards and his personal assistant beside him. 

"August, there you are!" Hendrik Henderson spoke with glee on his face, showing the crow's feet at the corner of his eyes. His grey hair was illuminated by the venue's dim light as August welcomed him at the least crowded part of the venue.

Hendrik is old enough to be August's grandfather. In fact, August is the same age as Hendrik's eldest grandson. 

August smiled back at the old man whom August owed his life. Not only is Hendrik Henderson August's boss, but Hendrik is also his benefactor. If it wasn't for Hendrik, August wouldn't have the life he had right now. 

It was Hendrik who took him out of the orphanage and took care of him. Not only did he provide for him, but he also paid for his education and made him study in a prestigious school along with his eldest grandson. 

It was Hendrik who gave August hope. He will forever be indebted to him. 

August glanced at Calvin, Hendrik's personal assistant. Calvin scowled at August, clearly unpleased with his presence. 

August just ignored the look he gave him, pretending he hadn't noticed anything, just like he had done many times before. He is used to Calvin's indifferent treatment of him. Although August had done nothing to provoke him, and he always did well in his job, Calvin just hated him for nothing. 

"You did well. The guests are enjoying their time here," Hendrik praised August, making August lower his head humbly to him. 

"Everyone is excited to see the new thing we are launching. Everyone is excitedly waiting for it."

"Has Reeve already arrived?" Hendrik asked. 

Reeve Henderson is Hendrik Henderson's eldest grandson and the heir of the Henderson Group. However, Reeve's father, who is Hendrik's eldest son, is still alive. Reeve's father will have to inherit the Henderson group first before Reeve can inherit it all. 

August's jaw twitched when he heard Reeve's name. If there's anyone who hated August the most, it would be Reeve Henderson, Hendrik's eldest grandson. 

Reeve is August's greatest bully and tormentor. Reeve just hates August with a passion. The fact that Reeve and August are the same age and they both study in the same school made them classmates from grade school until they graduated college.

Since Reeve and August studied in a prestigious school for the rich, making August a target for bullying is easy. Reeve is the eldest grandson of the chairman of the Henderson Group, making him the most popular guy in school, the person that anyone wants to be close with, while August is just an orphan who only managed to study in their school because of Reeve's grandfather's help. 

With August's poor background, he is immediately labeled as the school's outcast. 

"I will inform you as soon as Reeve arrives," August muttered. 

Hendrik sneered when he heard August's reply. "Typical of Reeve. He knows he is the one who will be making the speech. He should have arrived early to acquaint himself with the guests today."

"Sir, you shouldn't stress yourself. Sir Reeve is already on his way," Calvin tried to calm Hendrik with his words.

Hendrik exhaled loudly since there was no point in him being angry. "We shouldn't wait for him. Let's meet the other guests." 

August turned to the side and bowed his head to the chairman. Clarence and the two bodyguards behind him followed suit as the Chairman walked past them. 

"August," August raised his head when Calvin called his name. 

Everyone is gone. Only he was left. 

"I left some documents on my table, and they are all placed in a single folder. Bring it to me," Calvin commanded as if August was his assistant. 

August's face turned blank. There are a lot of other people who could have done the job, yet he chose to make him do it. 

August thought he would finally have his rest here at the party. He just arrived from Hungary, and he went straight to the venue as Hendrik had asked.