INDEPENDENT NEIGHBOUR

The night passed slowly and next came the expected morning. The noisy birds sang as much as their voices could carry and decided to leave when the soft morning sun graced the much more peaceful day. Ocean is majestically walking back to his apartment after his usual morning walk around the neighbourhood when he spotted his new rabbit teeth neighbour across, furiously searching her handbag for something. He ignored her but his legs had their plan as they carried him to where she is standing beside her car.

Who knew that my rabbit teeth neighbour would look this hot in office wear, I would have never guessed, he thought to himself. His eyes moved from her well-ironed white shirt that is well tucked into her pencil mouth skirt, showing off her delicate curves and toned slender legs. His eyes narrowed a little at the very long black heels she is wearing.

Noticing the presence beside her, she stopped her search for a while to look at the person. Seeing it is the neighbour from last night, she mentally hissed while eyeing him warily. Her eye moved from his short ruffled hair to his slightly unbuttoned shirt then to his shorts and finally, his boots, who wears heavy boots instead of trainers for a morning walk? when her eyes finally met his grey-like ones, the wide grin on his face sent chills down her spine. I have a weird neighbour, she thought to herself. Why is he just standing there and looking at me? she thought to herself while waiting for him to say something meaningful

"Morning Mr neighbour." She greeted him with a lack of interest hoping he would take the hint

"hmm, morning my rabbit teeth neighbour" She eyed him but didn't say anything as she focused her attention back on what she was looking for "Looking for something?"

"Nope," she answered immediately. He smiled down at the young girl who had poured everything inside her bag on the car's bonnet, her brows kept moving up and down.

"I might be of help" he persuaded her

"Thanks, I will find it myself. I am an independent lady" He blinked twice at her reply, before leaning against the car to watch her

"Okay" My independent rabbit teeth neighbour, internally laughed at the name

"oh my god, I might have thrown the key into the waste paper basket this morning while cleaning up or did I leave it on the couch? No, I am sure I brought it out with me now" She ignored the person beside her as she tried to recollect every possible place she might have entered this morning. Ocean chuckled at her frantic state which got her attention "What is funny? I am running late to work and I don't know where I placed my car key and you are laughing"

"My dear independent rabbit teeth neighbour, has anyone told you that you are funny?"

"huh?"

"or is it because you have just one eye?" He shook his head dramatically before jerking his head towards the direction of the car's door. When she followed the direction of his head she blinked several times at her key hanging from the door's keyhole. Dumbfounded and embarrassed, she slowly packed everything back into her handbag. If there is a way to disappear and save herself the embarrassment, she would gladly do it. She didn't know how to face her neighbour after boasting of being an independent lady and not being able to find the key she had safely put in the car's door keyhole.

"where are you going to?" his question made her look up to see she had gone to the passenger's side "Do you plan to drive from the passenger's seat today? I would love to see you too," She turned around and walked towards the driver's side which is where he is standing. "Are you embarrassed? well, you should be" because it is very interesting, he completed in his head

"Mr neighbour, don't you have any work to attend to?" her embarrassment soon turned into irritation as she entered her car and banged the door, holding the steering tightly, imagining it to be his neck.

"Not really" He bent to her window length to see her face and inhale her heavenly scent, but she didn't turn to meet his eyes as her heartbeat accelerated

"well I do"

"okay see you later my independent rabbit teeth neighbour" 'I hope not' she replied in her mind and he sent her a small smile making her wonder if she said it out loud. Without waiting for him to breathe another word she put her car into action and drove away from the neighbourhood.

A few hours later, Ocean and Stone walked through the gigantic doors that leads to the ground floor of a tall and proud building. As if demanding attention, everybody turned to look at them as their different footwear kept colliding with the sparkling marble floor, and no one dared to stop them. Without sparing anyone a glance, the two handsome young men ascended the stairs at the same time, making the people around wonder if they planned the whole thing. Once they were out of sight, words started spreading from one department to another.

Reaching the proposed room, Ocean pushed the glass door open, making a grand entrance as he interrupted the ongoing meeting. When his eyes landed on the person he came for, his smile broadened as the person had a look of shock.

"George" he acknowledged the older man who is sitting at the head table "Looks like I am interrupting an important meeting as you all look surprised to see me" He teased.

"Of course not! We just finished the meeting and yes, we were not expecting to see you here today" the man George was quick to reply with a gentle smile

"I thought I should give my workers a surprise visit and.... ta-dah, here I am. Oh, I hope this meeting is for the company's progress and not overthrowing the boss?" he teased again

"What?" George asked with a look of surprise

"I was just joking..... I hope so" He replied, flashing each person in the room a tight smile. He internally chuckled as most of them looked uncomfortable with his presence. "Ladies and gentlemen you may return to your respective offices as I would like to have a word with my managing director" They all scurried out of the conference room, leaving George, Ocean and Stone in the room. Stone sat on one of the chairs with his legs crossed over the other as he watched the other men

"Mr Ocean, I hope all is well?" Questioned George

"Of course, I just have a number of things I would like to verify. First, why did you cut off the monthly donations the company makes to those orphanages and elderly homes? Second, why did you reduce the workers' salaries? Are we having any financial problems that I don't know about? Last but not the least, where are the people I appointed to the board of directors?"

"Mr Ocean I don't know who has been feeding you all this wrong information but I am glad it has come to my notice. I would like to address the first issue, you see, those orphanage homes and elderly homes have been receiving donations from other companies and I think it would be better if we keep our money. The second issue about the workers, they have been slacking on work and I thought it is a good way of punishing them and we are lacking funds too. Lastly, Mr Ocean, you should know that I would never go against you-" just as those words left his mouth, Ocean and Stone chuckled softly making the older man's brow furrow

"Go ahead" Ocean motioned with his hand for him to carry on with his lies.

"About the people you appointed, some of them resigned for no reason while some who felt too relaxed were asked to leave the company."

Ocean nodded "I have heard all you said George, but on whose order did you carry out these actions? Seems like you are forgetting who your boss is here but I would like to remind you today that I am your boss, you are answerable to me and whatever I say stands. I know what is brewing in that old head of yours but just know that it is not going to work. This company has enough funds to support whatever it wants to, including its workers. If you want to punish the workers at least one or two months' salary cuts should be enough punishment. Most of these workers must have budgeted what to do with the salary they worked for and here you are punishing them for your own greed. If I am not wrong, you and your fellow board of directors are not experiencing this lack of funds as you all are still well paid or should I say more paid. Don't think I don't know how many contracts this company has been getting and how some funds have miraculously been missing. I really don't like people who play dirty games but I also know as humans we all make mistakes right Stone?"

"Yes, we all do, even me, I am full of mistakes" Ocean internally rolled his eyes at Stone before turning to George

"Good, that is why I have decided to forgive and give you a second chance on the note that you will make sure to return those stolen funds and pay a complete salary to my workers by adding the subtracted amount from all those months you stole from them to this month, contact all those orphanage and elderly homes and place them back on monthly donations, bring back all the people I appointed into the board of directors and get rid of those people I saw here earlier. As for you, you would be on 5 figure salary instead of 7 till further notice. Am I understood?"

"Yes sir"

"Or if you don't want to, you can pack your things and leave my company because I already have one of your good friends on your board to replace you" Mr George gritted his teeth as he never thought one of his friends would betray him.

"I will do as you have said, sir"

"Good. The month is ending next week so I expect everything to be settled by then. That's all, I would be on my way. Stone..." The younger men walked out of the room, leaving a fuming George alone. With gritted teeth, he fished for his phone in his hip pocket and dialled a number. The owner of the number picked a three rings

"What took you so long to answer?"

" I was cleaning my nose" answered the other person in a bored tone

"I don't care, I want you to do it this night, midnight. The stupid little human is biting more than he can chew."

"How do you want the job done," the person asked with small energy this time around

"You already have his address. Give them a slow torturous death that one won't recognise their dead bodies. No need to say much, I trust you on this. Send me pictures of the dead body and don't forget to keep his blood for me, I am sure it must be tasteful. You can have the younger one, he is useless"

"Okay. If that is all, I am busy"

"Yes, cleaning your dirty nos-" the other person abruptly ended the call. George sat on one of the chairs and grinned widely, showing off his fangs and red eyes as no one is around

"We will see who the real boss is little boy" He let out a victorious laugh. All this while, he failed to notice the small black bird that flew away as the conversation ended.