New Employees (2)

As for the last person he was a female villa nurse called Maria. She had worked for affluent families, and was recently caught in a rich family drama , a fight between co-wives and had escaped narrowly.

She did not need a nurse but having her is not a loss anyway.

After seeing the last person, Alex realized one common thing about them all. They had all been working in good positions with bright careers, but human nature got in their way. This included his two previous employees, John Rio who was dishonorably discharged from Filipino special forces because of rescuing his team mate behind enemy lines, after being ordered to head back to their base.

There was also Alexander Camillo who was flying a fighter jet, it malfunctioned and crashed , and he was discharged as well because of this, despite the issue having been with the jet. 

Alex pocketed all these people who were upright in character, and it was a treasure trove. They were not all Filipino but majority were. Some people like Maria were nurses surpassing the level of private hospital nurses, and their previous monthly salaries were several times what Alex would earn in a year.

Alex finished the interviews just in time to receive a package from Millo who had received a delivery from a drone. They were the contracts.

When he announced that everyone had passed the interview, he gave Jake Norton the contracts to distribute to the others, including Sylvia , Roa , Millo and himself.

Several people sat around a long dining table reading contracts that bore their names in capital. Everyone's work was different to ensure division of labor, and their terms of employment were also slightly different.

They were all surprised by the kind of freedom and pay they were receiving, and smiles of ecstasy brightened the already bright room.

After signing two copies each, Alex signed all the contracts for ten people, and he felt joy as this is the first batch of employees he had acquired. 

"Thank you everyone. We are now one family. And everyone can live here. The villa is huge with many empty rooms. I want to emphasize on an unwritten rule. Please maintain silence as that is the very reason I stay in this remote place, I would rather do all the work and have no helpers, than have this place turn like a market or nursery. Also, you came here to work. So everything else is secondary. 

You're not supposed to bring friends or your family here. Also, if you encounter problems in the future, feel free to ask for my assistance. But that should not warrant you to cause trouble. 

Another important thing, you're not supposed to call me with honorary terms like boss or sir or mr. Cruz. Just call me Alex everyone. Other than Sara, I am the youngest here. So drop the honorifics. I hope we're together so far?"

They all looked at each other before nodding in agreement.

"Since I am not to be treated as a spoiled young master, you also wont have a chance of putting on airs. Within and without. Other than your division of labor, Jake Norton here will be your leader as the butler, with Sylvia directly below him. Everyone can come to them if they want anything. If Jake cannot fulfil it he can tell me or my assistant who I believe you all talked to. Just send a message to her directly especially if you're in trouble. Otherwise anything else other than selling the place, Jake can act on my behalf."

"Thank you Alex. I won't let you down. " Jake said gratefully. Everyone else looked at Alex and their tears threatened to pour out.

"Alex, I will work hard to the best of my abilities. That is the only way I can repay you for your grace."

"Thank you Alex. Me too."

Several people stood up one after another, including Roa and Millo whose terms of employment had been changed for the better.

"Okay everyone. Thank your creator if you have one you believe in. I want to treat everyone to lunch as we don't even have a single potato or onion in the pastry. You guys can do shopping for your essentials as well after. Please choose your rooms in the first two floors and wait for me in downstairs. Jake, If you can, kindly take the room to the right of my study. It is closer and better suited for your role." 

"Yes Alex. Please hurry everyone. We are being treated for a meal so we have to make haste."

Jake Norton, the new butler said as Alex left with four copies of contracts without names to his study. Leaving two copies in the study, Alex left to where Samson Graham and Lewis Kekoa were. The rooms were in the ground floor next to each other, but they were in the same room talking about Alex.

"Gentlemen, I find honorifics terribly perplexing so I hope you forgive me for my rudeness. I will henceforth call you Sam and you Lewis. You can likewise call me Alex."

"No problem. I have no problem with that."

The former ambassador said with wonder how Alex approached and got in without making any noise. He had only heard him when he talked.

"I also have no issues. Are those contracts? Did you contact Sabrina?"

"mmh. You will both fly somewhere tonight where you will stay and receive the services you requested for. I have created new bank accounts for you. All the money your governments stole from you has been deposited in your new untraceable accounts." 

"Thank you for the trouble Alex. If I ascertain you're not an agent of any nation, I might even consider being loyal to you."

Lewis Kekoa said.

"That is right. You also know that at this moment we don't trust you and we are doing this because we have no choice. But worry not. Loyal or not, we cannot break our promise to you. You saved us and that is enough to make us more than acquaintances. I will do your bidding till I repay your favor. After that whether I continue working for you will depend."

Samson Graham added.

"First read your terms here. The name is blank and you can input any name of your liking. It will be your new name effective immediately. You will be given another two copies by John Roa if you decide to sign this one. Take your time. In ten minutes you will go out to pick your lunch. I am taking them all out now and I won't see you guys for the time being. "

"Okay. You go on ahead. "

"Use this laptop to do whatever you want. There is also a secure app to send messages to anyone in the world. Even if your message is intercepted, my security team have your backs. Talk to your mother Sam. She is waiting for you after receiving your flag yesterday."

Alex opened the door and headed out , returning to his study where he took two spiritual stones. In the walk in closet, Alex was told there a huge vault, and he hid all the other spiritual stones there. 

"This material is so good. Unlike the bag, it is not leaking spiritual energy at all. Great. Now I can rest assured."

Passing through the kitchen, Alex fused a huge knife with spiritual energy, and sliced the spiritual stone to have two equal halves. Surprisingly, the knife bent and the stone did not even have a dent.

He wanted to give a half now and another half later to Bruno Cheng, the Cheng family's powerhouse.

"What kind of material can withstand such force?"