C2 Cassidy

5 years later.

I walked into my company as everyone scrambled about to their posts, knowing how much I frowned at tardiness. I caught Simeon for the third time in Greg’s corner probably engaged in his usual gossip. I bellowed at him to come to me and he scurried forward knowing very well he was in deep trouble.

“Simeon, you are the most incompetent nitwit to ever walk the planet, you know that?.” He nodded frantically pinning his eyes to the ground and shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

“This company is not meant for lazy ass people. I sweat my ass out to keep things running around here, and to place this company in its present position, and you get your monthly cheque, not to run about engaged in vain gossips. This is the third time, so for that, follow me to the office for your job relief letter” He fell to my feet in tears groveling for pardon, which irritated me the more. I turned and walked to the elevator, punching in the number to my floor.

I walked into my office as my assistant ran in to drop a file on my desk. He stood as I went through the file, his hands crossed in front of him with his eyes to the floor.

“Get out” I barked at him and he took off. I started the business of the day going through my laptop to complete the work I was doing at home before coming.

I looked up as an advert got my attention. I glared at the television in outright hate, deep down appreciating the work of my topmost competitor, Phillip Norman. I reached out to pick up my coffee but met an empty space, to add to my chest pain.

I shrieked the name of my assistant that came running in immediately.

“ Where is my coffee you insolent Buffon?”

“ I...I ...I went to the usual spot to get it for you but the place was locked. Something about being under renovation” he stuttered.

“ You are very outrageous Timothy, So I won’t have any more coffee because of a ridiculous unserious supplier huh? the next three minutes I don’t get my coffee, you will join the rest of the 3 thousand groups of job seekers out there” I threatened, turning back to my laptop as he scurried off.

My chest was heaving in rage. I looked at my CCTV, looking for who to vent it on when my iPhone shrilled. I turned to look at it to see it was my mum. I huffed what does she want? I picked.

“Cassidy Trevor Gray, What in God's name do you do to your workers to get them sprinting off?” She bellowed from the other side of the phone.

I rolled my eyes.“Mum, I’m at work, can we talk later?”

“You won’t dare cut the call on me, young man. Your nanny just dropped off your son. According to her, she quit!” She yelled emphasizing the quit.

“Mum, she is lazy, and if she quits, it’s nothing to worry about, I’ll pick him up after work and by tomorrow, I’ll get someone else.” I drawled, not in the mood for her non-stop rattling..

“I didn’t bring you up to be a dunce son. If you have enough sense in you, you will recognize that this is the tenth person running off already” She rambled on. I was getting pissed.

“ Mum, it is not my fault they can’t do their work. Why then should I take the fall for it? I will talk to you later I got to go” I cut the phone before she’ll utter another word, huffing out in anger.

I stood and started pacing in my office before Timothy ran in with my coffee. He placed it on the table and turned to leave.

“ Hey, wait”

I picked up the coffee and drank, spewing everything out the next minute back to the cup. I looked up at the fidgeting Timothy.

“What the fuck is this, you idiot?!” I roared, flinging the cup to the ground, its content spilling everywhere. “Timothy you are beginning to get on my last nerve. I am trying to be patient with you, but it’s waning day, after day. Get that fuck out of my office now! Whatever you have to do, I need my Coco’s best tomorrow!” I trudged to my chair, sitting down. I placed my elbows on the chair with my hands clasped together, irritated with everything going on.

“Can I go, Sir?” Timothy frightfully asked, still looking down.

“Contact the home care center after this, I need a housekeeper by tomorrow” He nodded and quickly took off.

I bent to type an email to send to my HR to submit the file of all the workers. I needed to run a background check and know who to fire since they weren’t coming up with classic ideas.

For as long as I can remember, my company; Grayscales has been in the top front of America’s advertising agencies. I have put in time and effort into building my business empire to be the best among others. I had only five major competitors with Fleexon owned by Phillip Norman, being the lead.

I enjoyed the competition as it worked to spur me on at every turn. This will not be the first or the last time Phillip tried to nab a major client under my watch. It was the pecks of the business, I do it too. But this, this is a major one, as Saskatoon was the hit for me, and we were about to secure a deal. A deal which has obviously been taken from me by the cretin!

The cleaner came in, greeted me, and started cleaning the place hastily, as I continued working. I loved the way they all cowered in front of me. It proved that what I was doing, was truly working. I hated lazy ass people who felt entitled. they do less and yet expect a paycheque, especially the women. I always made sure to put them in their right place, not letting them become too comfortable and then develop wings.

My reputation in New York City preceded me. All over, people had ogre stories to say about me. Where ever I entered, they scurry around to meet my needs because one second lost, and you lose your job. Even if it wasn’t my company, my money and influence did the magic.

Sophia turned me into this. She made me see the worst in everyone. I became so paranoia and uptight, that even spending time with my child was an irritating quest.

There was a knock and Randy worked in, rocking his six-inch designer Armani purple suit with his sun-bleached brown hair ruffled. He smiled causing his grey eyes to sparkle. He sat down in front of me, crossing his legs, and looked up.

“Hey, how you, bud?...” I shrugged, still clicking away on my laptop.

He snorted “Look, I didn’t come all the way here from my office to have that aloof look. Some ant bit your ass, keep it to your self but you gat to pay me attention, understand?” he cautioned, instantly getting my attention.

I smiled.

I always like the way he manages to control my temperament with his words. We have been like this since high school and he knew when just the right words to get my tantrums in check.

“I'm fine, Rand...I’m sorry. Just that, that stupid old lady just quit this morning and she didn’t even do it in front of me, waited till I’ve gone to work, before running off to my Mum’s place to drop Luke” I whined, scratching my eyes.

Randy chuckled unfolding his legs and pushing his chair closer.

“You of all people know she fears your wrath. So she couldn’t quit, knowing she won’t get off easily, especially as she knows about Luke” Randy clamored, standing up to pick a wine and glass from my minibar.

He came back and poured for the both of us. I rubbed my jaw thinking about what my friend just said.

“You know you are right, that woman is up to no good. This is why I always wanted Luke abroad, but mum insisted I bring him back, for what? get to know his father” I mimicked my mum and scoffed, snatching the drink off the table to take a sharp swig.

I have to do something about that woman. People don’t have to know about Luke, not for now. I have lied to the previous nannies about his parentage, but one day Luke had divulged to the stupid woman that I was his father which she had to her advantage, being the first to last to a week. I rolled my eyes picking up my phone.

“Be careful Gray, whenever you are like that you are up to no good” warned Randy turning to watch the television.

“How’s Stacey?” I asked Randy, diverting the topic. He turned sharply to look at me, a smile crawling up his face.

“She’s as beautiful as ever. Come to think of it, I’ll let her know about the latest development. She might be of help or something since she runs a women's aid center” Randy said, sipping his wine.

“That’ll be nice, though I’ve told Timothy to call the damn agency, however, it’ll be nice to work with a trusted person, not that anyone is anyways” I growled, punching the send button on my laptop.

“You know you have to loosen up man. You have to give love a chance once again. Sophia was bad news. Both of you were never matched anyway, you just didn’t want to listen. Loosen up, you might never know” Randy pitched in, gaining himself a glow from me.

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you or the others not to mention that name ever again close to me!” I barked at the dismayed Randy who lifted his hands up.

“Wo! Mahn, calm down, I’m sorry” he told me, making me relax a bit. I hate blowing off on my friend as he is the only one who understood my pain.

“I'm sorry for shouting bud, it’s just that I hate the sound of that name, especially on a day like this”

“It’s okay. Any gist for today?” Randy asked me in his usual gossip tone. If he wasn’t my friend I will be very repulsed with his appetite for gist like some woman. No wonder he liked Stacey, she never failed to provide him with tons of it.

“Nothing much, bud, just that pain in the ass Phillip, he nabbed my client again” I muttered bitterly, to produce a peal of high-pitched laughter from Randy, earning him more of my spiteful glares.

Afterward, he left and I prepared to head home, bearing in mind to stop over and pick Luke up from my mum’s.

I thought about the run-away housekeeper and what dangers she may pose to my son’s existence. Not many knew about him being my son, for reasons best known to me. For now, I didn't need him exposed to the insatiable thirst of the press.

The less affiliation he had to me, the better to his freedom. She has to be handled and on time too.