Araceli

13- Beauty's Beast (edited)

-Valarie (first person)-

A frenzy would be an understatement if I were to explain the situation. It was a complete ruckus. Most people just looked like they'd lost their minds. Kier stepped outside and I followed him close behind when an Asian man ran up to him. He was dressed in a suit and wore glasses on his plump face that made his eyes look small. With an ultimate expression of panic, making him look three times older. He looked directly at Kier with a worried gaze.

"Why haven't you told us about Mr. Kim's visit? A lot of deadlines are still pending. I don't know how to face him right now, we even held an emergency meeting this morning. There's another in the afternoon," the man ranted, tapping his foot nervously on the ground. His face twisted into an expression of agony. Like his job was on the line.

"Isn't this your fault? Joshua doesn't pay you to slack off. You must be ready to report at all times," Kier replied and gestured for me to follow him, leaving the man standing behind, still in a state of pure panic.

A lot of people tried approaching Kier as we made our way towards a room, Kier kept shrugging them off and signaling them to not approach him for now. I could see a signboard labeled 'conference room' in view as we walked further down the hall. "Why are we going to the conference room?" I asked him as we stopped right outside.

"Not we, just me. You can look at the interior if you want then go around and do what you do best," he flashed me a small smile as he replied and pulled open the door.

I saw a lot of members sitting around the council table. It was very different from how we held meetings back in my company. The conference room was really big, it was huge.

All heads turned our way, some had a welcoming smile upon seeing Kier while others looked annoyed. Kier gave them a small smile and greeted them. He gestured for me to step outside now that I'd seen it. The door closed shut behind me.

That was amazing.

Kier is like Joshua Kim's eyes and ears. He doesn't even have to attend meetings when he has Kier. Now that I was alone, I went from person to person trying to gather information. Some people didn't even bother stopping when I called them out.

It was a little bothersome and tiring. But that's how people usually speak to journalists, by not speaking. A few minutes later I came across a cafeteria. I had been walking around from floor to floor and just about anywhere without even knowing where I was.

Nobody stopped me for some reason. Usually if you see a suspicious person roaming around like that in an employee- only area, you stop them. I was tired and irritated because I managed to get only a few of my questions answered.

I walked slowly to the cafeteria hoping to find something to eat before I went back. I stood in front of a young girl. She was taking orders. She was an Asian as well. I have never seen so many people from the same ethnicity in a company.

"May I take your order," she spoke, her voice laced with honey. "A latte, please," I replied.

"With or without sugar?"

"Two cubes," she nodded.

I stood there watching her work because I had nothing else to do. And then I had an idea. People who aren't in extremely important positions tend to talk and respond better. I watched her pour milk into my cup when I straightened my posture and leaned in a little.

"Excuse me, can I ask you a few questions?" She looked up at me when she was done. She stared at me for a few seconds, probably trying to figure out If she'd seen me before or if I just started working.