A Simple Issue

-CEO, TITAN TECHNOLOGY REPORTED TO BE IN A COMA BY UNKNOWN SOURCE-

The man read the major headline news on the flat screen TV. A female newscaster of the Sky Broadcasting Organization news channel began reading compounded details about it in a digital background.

His eyes were fixated on the flat screen but his right hand played in a rhythm as he used a teaspoon to stir the contents of the green tea in a mug atop a saucer. Beside the mug was a plate of Gruyère, Bacon and Spinach scrambled eggs with a medium-sized fork.

Seated in the small dining room, facing the direction of the living room and just near the kitchen, it was already five past six as he began eating after placing the teaspoon on the table. He cut a piece out of the scrambled eggs with the fork and put the content into his mouth, chewing silently. While doing so, he was processing the information of the news in his mind.

The news was something he had personally edited yesterday after the reporters had stumbled across it. They had already gone to make a live report at the hospital but, like other media organizations, were unable to record something tangible due to the high level of security blockage made by the bodyguards of Ruben Corporations and Titan Technology.

If he didn't know any better, he would have instantly believed the news the moment he first heard about it. As it involved a member of the Ruben family, he had his doubts about the validity of the news made by the anonymous source. It was obvious that John Ruben was in the hospital due to the fact that the bodyguards of both his company and his father's were securing the place. But in a coma? — that couldn't be proved yet.

The mug was raised up to his lips with his right hand, the saucer following suit with the aid of his left hand. Steam emitted out of the mug to his face and he took a sip of the green tea. Another sip followed before he placed both mug and saucer on the table.

Reflecting back on the Ruben's second son, he wondered if the man was indeed suffering from any type of sickness, as Matthew had reasoned. Last night, he had checked on the personal detailed information file he had on John Ruben, one of the many files he had on the technology elites of the country, but didn't come across anything of sort. Medically, the man was sound. What then caused his hospitalized state?

He took two straight bites from the plate before checking for the time on the silver wristwatch bounded on his left wrist. Eleven after six. He had four minutes more to leave the house so he began a sort of marathon consumption.

He rushed the remaining contents of the meal, relaxing a little in between every bite and gulping down a substantial amount of the tea. Within two minutes, he was done and then took the used utensils to the kitchen. On getting back to the living room, he turned off the TV, grabbed his briefcase and appropriate keys before storming out of the apartment.

Inside his car, he ignited the engine and began the twenty-five to thirty minutes journey to the company.

.....

The Editorial office, thirteenth floor of Sky Broadcasting Organization;

"Any new update, Matthew?" Ryan asked while putting down the briefcase on the edge of the chair.

"Nothing yet," Matthew replied, watching him take a seat. "You did some diggings, didn't you?"

He nodded in affirmation. "Yes... Went through files and other relatives but found nothing at all,"

"The Rubens really know how to keep their identities hidden well, don't they? I mean, how are they able to keep a longtime sickness away from the public?" Matthew questioned while reasoning.

Ryan tore his gaze from his. "What if there wasn't any form of hidden sickness at all? There's a possibility that this was a sudden one. It's not right to merely base it all on assumptions,"

A thumb was placed on Matthew's chin. "You're right, It's best not to base it all on assumptions. The possibilities are truthfully endless,"

Brrrng...

The intercom which serves for the whole floor rang out loud just near the entrance.

Brrrng...

It rang again before one of the present subordinate editors, a female, went to it and picked up the call. After speaking to whoever it was on the receiving end, she dropped it back and sauntered to the section of the heads.

"Mr Stones," she said as she faced Ryan, "the secretary from the management office called."

He stared at her questioningly. "What for?"

"She says the managing director wants you in his office,"

"Did she say why?"

The lady shook her head. "No, she didn't,"

"Okay, thanks." He said as he dismissed the lady.

"Is there a problem? Why does the director need to see you?" Matthew asked as he stood up from his seat.

"I don't think I know the reason, but I'm going to find out soon." He replied and added. "Do me a favor and get me a cup of coffee from the café just outside the company. I'll give you an extra five as compensation,"

.....

The elevator doors opened and Ryan walked out of it. This floor, which serves the administrative department and was located in the seventeenth floor, was quite different from his and the other floors in the company. Like every other floors, there were three different rooms but the contrast between this and others was that each room had a secretary, showcasing the power this floor had from the others.

He walked straight to the first door near the entrance, which harbored the office of the management staff. He stepped into the office after handling the knob, arriving in front of a desk with a lady seated behind it.

"Good morning, Mr Stones," the lady, with her ebony eyes, looked up from behind the computer and greeted him with a sincere smile as she noticed his presence.

"Good morning, Nina," He returned the smile. "How're you doing today?"

"I'm fine, sir." she replied. "I'll inform the director of your presence,"

She picked up the intercom and raised it to her ear after inputting some digits. A while later, she was done communicating with the receiver which was obviously the director.

"You may go in now, sir." She informed him.

"Thank you," Ryan stated and headed straight to the office of the director. As there were two offices in there, the director's particular office had the inscription of 'director' written on the door. He knocked on it and a voice from inside ushered him in.

He walked into the elegant view of a office and his eyes greeted a light-skinned middle-aged man seated behind a desk filled with a laptop, an intercom, a pen case and a stack of files.

"Good morning, sir." He greeted the man to notify him of his presence.

The man looked up at him. "Oh, good morning Mr Stones. Please, have a seat," he pointed a hand to one of the receiving seats, urging him.

"Thank you," He pulled out one of the seats and sat down, his eyes twinkling with a bit of nervousness.

"Mr Stones, I summoned you here regarding a particular issue," the director began speaking.

"Is there any problem, sir?"

"No, no, no," the director waved his hand to decline. "As a matter of fact, it's but a simple issue... A very simple one, trust me."

"Okay I'm listening, sir,"

"Actually, it's just the issue of the recent news of Titan Technology's CEO, Mr John Ruben."

Ryan didn't see this one coming. "What about it, sir?" he had to ask.

"I want us to hands off from it," the director replied straightforwardly.

Ryan narrowed his gaze. "Why, sir, if I may ask. Is there anything wrong with the credibility of the news?"

The director leaned his back on the chair and laid out his reason. "I can't say for sure and neither can you. But I simply don't want this organization to take up details about it again. Besides, it's the Ruben family we're talking about here. Let's not pry into their private lives. We both know how strict they are with their privacy policy, don't we?"

Ryan fell silent for a while. This move from the director, it wasn't one he was anticipating. Although he knew the source of the news wasn't valid, it was still much of a big deal — something the media world hardly laid their hands on. He had to think it through before coming up with something he could try to use change the director's mind.

"But, sir, you know we're among the top news organization in the whole of the Border States. Surely, the public would need us to feed them details about this particular news. You wouldn't want us to disappoint them, right?"

The director nodded his head. "Affirmative, but a little disappointment wouldn't hurt, would it? I've talked this over with a few of the board already and they already agreed to it. Even the news director is aware of this too so I just thought I should inform you since you're also indirectly in charge of the news and sorts,"

There was something fishy about this whole thing, Ryan knew. But who was he to counter the claim? There was nothing he could do but agree to it. This might probably be the Rubens doing the silencing. Top shots sure knew how to thread their way in any situation.

"Okay, sir," he stood up from the seat. "I'll be leaving now."