1 Dilemmas At Work

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Wilfredo Angelito Solomon "Willy" Bernardino Santiago y Buenavista Fernandez is a tough guy—or so he thought. For someone who'd killed hundreds, this was his self-image before he met the infamous Miura Takumi.

Even a few seconds of silence from his boss can make the most prolific assassins tremble on their knees. For example, Willy's hands never shook when he has to snipe someone, but they uncontrollably jerk on their own whenever he has to stay in the same room as Miura-dono, as they call him.

"This is the only footage you recovered?"

"Y-yes, Miura-dono."

"What am I supposed to do with this blurry image? I can't even see her face."

He watched the terrifying Miura Takumi tap on a tablet, zooming a picture out. A shot taken before the black out flashed before him, showing a woman hiding under a diamond-studded mask.

"Every second with this woman's voice and angle, I need it compiled within an hour."

Their boss was talking about a lady... Poor thing, their minds said in unison. For the unbiased Miura Takumi who hates everyone equally, she's just another name on his list; waiting for her final verdict. Death Penalty like the usual.

"As you wish, Miura-dono."

Together with his team of assassins, they filled the spacious room with their sighs. They were built to be 'field workers' who work on a 'specialized field' but were scampering around a small room like minimum wage office workers as Miura Takumi gets into his afternoon nap.

As if the masked lady could hear him, he tried to talk some sense into the image, "You can run, you can hide, but I can't guarantee you'll live." Whoever she is, she better hide. He thought to himself.

Meanwhile... in a different city. Their subject was facing an inevitable crisis on her own.

"Strawberry or Vanilla?" With her index finger pressed on her forehead, our female lead was on the verge of losing her sanity. "Hmm... I want a... uhm."

"Wait... there's chocolate too?" She clicked her fingers sideways, nailing a perfect impression of Swiper failing at swiping, "Aww maa~enn! This is getting harder and harder by the second."

Miss Delia the gelato lady had gotten used to this scenario. These past few months came out boring without seeing Miss Lin's funny expressions during lunchtime.

A smile crossed her face while watching Miss Lin (as they call Zeirenne) biting her lips to stop an emotional outbreak. "Wah! It's so hard to choose. I wanna eat them all."

Capable of illuminating the entire cafeteria with her brightest idea yet, a lightbulb dinged above Miss Lin's head. "That's actually a great idea. I'd take one scoop from each flavor." She beamed with pride, satisfied with her noble thought.

"Three gelatos coming right up!"

The whole cafeteria snickered from this announcement, with the staff gaining a better appetite from their CEO's lively comeback.

"You'll end up having an upset stomach." CEO Young (who's been doing the same job of making lunch more appetizing for everyone) reprimanded her back at their table.

"At least I won't have to squeeze my brain anymore."

Beside them were two ladies who've been exchanging glances ever since. When did their bosses become close? They eyed each other for they do not know.

After a sumptuous feast, they immediately went back to what they were doing this morning.

Upon reaching the hundredth floor, the two secretaries tailing them headed for their respective work tables. And Both CEOs entered Miss Lin's office, oblivious of the surprise waiting around the corner.

"Mr. Argenti? What brings you here?" She gaped towards her unexpected visitor, whom Mr. Young greeted with an unwelcoming glare.

"I came to deliver an important message," He replied, returning the shots fired, "but I don't think now's a good time."

He stood ready to leave but Miss Lin stopped him "No, wait. It's a good thing you're here. I was just about to call your office for an appointment. I need to know your preferences before the renovations start."

For the summit preparations to proceed without hassle, everyone decided there should be a commonplace for the three companies. With the two men measuring up to each other, they knew it was the best idea to go with Zelenne Asia.

"If you have special requests for your office, then I'd gladly take them down for you."

Mr. Argenti checked his watch before answering, "Sure, where do we start?"

They made themselves 'comfortable' on the sofa and within an hour, magazines featuring different office designs stacked above the table.

Feeling her back ache like an old woman's, Miss Lin decided that they should all walk around and stretch. Thinking this opportunity was the perfect time for a tour around the company.

They marched around the company to visit different departments—unbothered by the suspicious shadow that's been following them.

With a daily newspaper at hand, this shadow belonged to an unknown office worker who barely lives off of minimum wage and has therefore decided on taking some drastic measures for a promotion. He was not part of the staff, but he had some deep and private business with the three CEOs.

Using a pen to capture some stolen shots, he followed the three on their tour, listening in secret without paying the necessary talent fee for the beautiful tour guide who was hard at work.

Yes, he was be doing something unethical (and underhandedly illegal) but he had ways of ridding himself of guilt. "I'm just doing my job. At least I'm not taking innocent lives, unlike those cold-blooded gangsters." He told himself, and someone from a far distance sneezed. Bless him.

By the time they reached the 78th floor, "Miss Lin, it's time for your meeting," the hardworking tour guide was interrupted by her own secretary.

"Oh, right? I guess that's all for today." She checked her watch. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'd be able to escort you out, Mr. Argenti."

"It's fine. I'm good on my own."

"I'll lead him out." Mr. Young offered. This remark should've sounded professional, but somehow, it came out sharp. Like his determination to lead his business partner out.

Miss Lin and Miss Dorothy headed for the meeting, leaving Miss Jones sailing alone between two colliding storms.

While the two men nonchalantly walked alongside each other, she imagined seeing a finish line inside her head from having to run as if she signed up for a marathon. Long strides here, a little bit of running there—she did everything just to catch up with those two. "I didn't sign up for this," she whispered to herself.

When they finally reached the finish line (aka company entrance), she concealed her breath-catching moment with a folder.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Young," Mr. Argenti said before extending his hand out.

Saying nothing, her boss reached his hand out and her knuckles hurt from seeing such a firm handshake.

"You can go now, Miss Jones. Have a safe trip on your way home." Mr. Young said after Mr. Argenti's car faded into view.

"O-okay, sir."

Her phone lit up with a 3:05PM—way too early to leave work. But with all the struggles she had to suffer from, it was enough compensation for her.

She watched in silence as her boss entered the company once again, shaking some unbelievable thoughts off.

"Why do I feel like there's something going on? Could it be that... no... that's not possible. At least not from our poker-faced CEO."

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