The Plan

SOME EMPLOYEES WERE SECRETLY LOOKING at us especially me who was still on the floor while lividly staring a CK. After a couple of minutes being on the cold tile, there was this one man behind me who offered a help to get me up. It was Janus.

"Please don't mind, Sir CK. Just ignore his stupidness. He really is a ball of craziness. He's not even worth of your curse so better off not minding him." Janus whispered to my ear while carefully helping me to stand up.

"Janus, teach that shameless man a lesson! He seems like he doesn't know who I am for him to rude me aroundㅡ" he wasn't able to finish his tempering line when the door to Chairman's office opened.

A moment of silence engulfed us until Chairman Alberto broke it with his casual yet intimidating voice.

"Oh, so who do you think you are, CK?" the Chairman asked in monotone yet sarcastic voice while standing before his grandson.

He looked at me first before glancing at Sir CK.

"You know, what I don't like about the most? Those people who are not permitted to hurt my employees." then, the moment he uttered those words was the exact time his palm whacked CK's face.

"C-Chairman?" CK buffered whose cheek was now turning red due to heavy slap from Chairman's hand.

Chairman Alberto was about to open his mouth when he was halted by this loud and irritating scream coming from Mrs. Lorrie who was now running toward us. She definitely saw what Chairman had done to her son.

"CK!" a sharp and scathing scream from Ma'am Lorrie halted us.

She quickly neared her son who's currently holding his cheek where the Chairman's palm landed. "Papa? Why did you do that to CK?" Ma'am Lorrie was perplexed but Chairman was still acting dull and hip.

"From now on, CK Gomez, you are not allowed to enter this building unless I cancel my order. Your ATM cards were also cut. You are not even allowed to use a single cent from the company's money. In other words, you are grounded!" right after the recitation of his punishment, Chairman went back inside his office, leaving his grandson in dire disbelief and rage.

He signalled me to follow him inside the office and said, I still have things to explain to him.

"Please do understand CK's unacceptable behavior. I know you were hurt that is why I am asking for understanding," said Chairman the moment we entered the office.

"Uhm, Chairman, may I ask a question?" I was too hesitant to say this but still I pushed it through.

"What is that?" He inquired back while settling himself on his chair.

"Ah, why don't you want to pass the position to CK? He seems interested to the position." It's not that I am being nosy, but I am just confused on what was happening in the bond between them. I asked this because I noticed how he treated CK earlierㅡit was really far from how he treats Aiden.

The Chairman heaved a profound sigh before opening his mouth.

"You know, Enzo, I do really love our family as much as I love my company. My whole world since Gomez Robotics started in the industry was already allotted to this company. As much as possible, I really want to give this company to someone who is deserving, someone who has a legit care to my hardships. I've been spending almost my whole life keeping this company run in the industry and I wouldn't even dare to put Gomez Robotics in its greatest downfall just for the sake of grandson's inheritance. For me, passing the company to CK means allowing to meet the greatest downfall." He cut himself for a second to give time standing from his seat.

He sauntered towards the huge glass window wherein you can see the overlooking view of the whole city.

"And because I am trusting you, I will tell you some of the truth of our family." suddenly, my limbs shuddered. "CK is not a Gomez." My brows arched after hearing his confession.

"What?"

"You heard it right, Enzo. CK is Lorrie's son to another manㅡnot with Gibson." my mouth went parted after knowing the truth behind CK.

"Y-you mean, Aiden is the only biological grandson in the Gomez family?" I am trying to clear things up.

"Yes, Gibson is my only son, husband of Lorrie and the father of my grandson, Aiden. Lorrie already gave birth to CK before he even met my son and soon marry him. After a couple of years, she gave birth to Aiden. So basically speaking, only Aiden has the authority to get this position." With that brief explanation, everything was already cleared to my head though it was still blowing my mind.

"Oh, I didn't expect that," I almost said in whisper while nodding my head.

"Anyways, changing the topic, what brings you here?" the way our conversation shifted from the shocking truth to this? It was ineffable.

Can Chairman let me digest his confession first?

"Ah, I was here to pass my report." then, I handed him my white folder containing the report I made earlier.

"Okay, thank you." He put the white folder on top of his table before turning his attention to me again. I was about to bow my head to pay respect so that I could leave already when he speaks again, "Enzo, I want you to see this." He put five pictures onto the table and let me see it myself.

"W-who are these, Chairman?" I asked, perplexed.

"These are the alleged killers of Gibson and Aiden." He has a monotone voice yet you could feel the eagerness to catch the culprits and make him or her pay for the damage they put to the Gomez family.

While my brows knitted, I have seen there the faces of Sir CK, Mr. Wang, Chairman Royo of Royo Bots Co., and I don't know who's the other man right next to Sir CK, and the last image was...

"Mrs. Lorrie?" I uttered in disbelief.

Why is Mrs. Lorrie included here? She looks nice though.

"It is better to suspect them although their existences were not presenting any evidences that is related to Gibson and Aiden's incident."

By just hearing his facet, I could conclude that wealth can really make people evil. Even your close relatives can betray you no matter how good you are to themㅡjust for the sake of money, they will risk everything. And even if their family member has no evidence that can prove their guilt, still you will be part of list of suspects just to make sure they're not missing any details.

"How will you know who amongst them is the mastermind?"

"I still don't know, Enzo. However, it doesn't mean I am quiet, guarantees everyone I am doing nothing. Sometimes, silent actions are the loudest ones when they embark in revenge. I have tons of speculations and ideas moving around my head and one day, you'll just be surprised, the culprit has been killed in so many ways already. Lying on the cold floor just like what they did to my son and Aiden." My heart suddenly pound in fear when heard the nerve-wracking words of Chairman.

"C-Chairman, will you engage yourself in killing?" my voice was trembling in fear and nervousness.

He pulled a deep sigh.

"...For my son's and grandson's justice? Yes." He emphasized every words he uttered which give it more thrilling effect. Clearly, the eagerness to take vengeance is evident in his voice.

I was not able to comment anymore because of fear. My brain couldn't even dare to process the thought of Chairman killing someone.

"Don't feel scared, Enzo. I am not dumb to drag you to my problems. I will protect all the people who are excluded from this shit." In an instant, the fish bone settling in my throat disappeared. Chairman really knows hot to calm people around him.

"Thank you, Chairman."

Silence was covered the whole office again when Chairman quietly put the pictures inside his drawer and took my folder.

"So, here's your report?" he stays silent until he finished reading the report. "Please inform me immediately once you are done with the chips."

"Noted, Chairman."

"So, the plan will go like this..." He quieted for a second before looking at me intently. "Once we're done completing Aiden 2.3, we will trade him with the real Aiden in the hospital. The exchange should be done neatly to avoid suspicions." I was listening to his plan so that I couldn't miss a detail.

"After the trade, what will happen next?" I asked for more clarification.

"And that's the continuation of your job. You will be living under the same roof as Aiden because you need to protect him and assure that everything is going really fine whereas I spending my time in the laboratory trying to mend my Aiden." after that statement, I heaved a sigh while thinking I would live with that metal man.

Is this even a joke? Was this really happening to me?

"And that's also the start of my job as his security?" there's a streak of unassurance and hesitation in my voice.

"Yes, only you and I are responsible for Aiden's safety as we are the only person who knew about his real identity. And I know that both of us don't like the idea of mission failed just because we failed to secure him. Moreover, no one is allowed to guide, and secure him but only you. I am not always available to take care of Aiden 2.3 as I have a lot of errands to attend to, that is why I am giving the full responsibility to you." Suddenly, my fist clenched in unison of wholly accepting the mission vested upon me.

"You can trust me with this, Chairman. I will take care of Aiden 24/7. I will also make sure he's always alright. I will be with his side no matter what." Chairman Alberto curved a smile and tapped my shoulder.

"Thank you so much, Aiden. You're such a great help for us. Don't worry, I will give everything you need." I didn't help myself to smile because no matter how hard this work is, still, the Chairman is paying me beyond my normal salary. Somehow, it helps my family live a beautiful and less stressful life.

"Thank you, Chairman. But I have a last one question."

"What is it?"

"May I know what is your task in completing the robot?"

"That's a good question, though. Enzo, my grandson has this type of characteristic that I find so extra. If ever I am right with my guess, I will insert that chip to him." My brows knitted as my head gets messed up with his explanation.

"What do you mean by that? Can you please make it more clear?"

"With or without that chip, Aiden 2.3 can still function exactly the same way as Aiden. But, if ever my guess falls in truth, I won't hesitate to put that character in Aiden 2.3's system. I think, it's beautiful."

There's nothing I could say in response because though I've heard his answer already, still I am lost with the thoughts.

"Your face shows confusion. Don't worry, in time, you will know what I am depicting about, and surely you'll like it," said Chairman, leaving my head in contemplation.

<a novel written by kuyasitan>