The Assistant

Chapter Eighteen

Aurora had stood eyeing the boy in the conference room where they had left him to talk about what to do privately not only was there a bomb in the building but, there was a child attached to it. The boy's many jackets were on the desk leaving the metal object open and exposed and connected to him afraid if they did anything to remove it, it would go off "Why don't we just unstrap him and throw it out the window" "Liam this is serious we can not touch it unless the bomb experts get here I already called the police" Hiroto rubbed his temples the amount of pressure everyone was under was evident the atmosphere tense. Hiroto walked up to Aurora grabbing her by the arms. "Aurora I need you to go evacuate the building but, don't tell them there's a bomb if you do then everyone will run in a panic as well as get the press involved we need to do this in confidence" "But how will I explain what's happening to them?" "Tell them an inspection needs to take place and I'm sorry I didn't mention it before, once you get everyone out of the building Liam will escort you out as Mason and I deal with this" "Absolutely not!" Aurora protested throwing her arms in the air, Liam saw the stress from Aurora walking behind her if need be to take her out of the room "Aurora there is no way I'm letting you stay here with a bomb as your boss I am responsible for the welfare of everyone in this building including you putting my safely last" Aurora slowly shook her head "And I'm looking after your safety as well, I understand you're trying to protect everyone, I'm staying right here"

His eyebrows drew together, he wasn't happy about this situation and Aurora was hitting nerves he didn't know he had with her being stubborn, Aurora could feel the cold shiver down her spine as he took a few steps towards her "Aurora, do not make me order you to leave" his voice was deep and cold, there was no emotion in his words his monotone voice, his demeanor was so different to how Aurora had seen him all this time; he looked like a completely different person. Before Aurora could protest more the door suddenly opened a chilling wind came through and an unfamiliar man walked in "Sorry for my intrusion but, I'm afraid there seems to be a lack of action in this office room" Everyone wore the same facial expression mouth slight agape with wide eyes unblinkingly at the massively tall man who stood one foot into the office. The man in question had this attacking aura coming from him, his hair was painted a red color not as bright as a rose much like the sunset color the texture was wavy stopping just underneath his ear lobe, and his eyes were half-lidded revealing a dark blue hue. Aurora felt more than threatened by this man showing up out of nowhere looking and acting very suspiciously, Aurora took a step back knocking against Hiroto, and his hand immediately landed on her arm squeezing it before walking in front of her towards the man. "I'm sorry sir but, unfortunately, this is a private meeting," Hiroto said making sure to give him a charming smile being utterly polite, the strange man smirked at him shutting the door himself entering the office completely "Unfortunately this meeting is not as private as you think" He shoved his hand into his pocket digging into it before pulling out a pair of keys, the first set of keys looked like car keys with its logo on it; it was too far for Aurora to read as well as his big dumb thumb in the way; the second was a small key that had buttons on it colored a very bight shade of yellow "One of these buttons opens my car and the other makes the bomb go off" It was as if you could hear everyone's heart drop to their stomach, this was the man who had created all this bullshit and he stood calmly.

"Wait, you sent this little boy with the bomb attached to him, you're responsible for this?" Hiroto said anger seeping through his words evident in his voice, the stranger let out a laugh before he spoke "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Mr. Han" Mason took a few steps closer as well just in front of Aurora He snapped his fingers pointing at the stranger. "You're the guy from three years ago who lost the 'Biggest Company Challenge' aren't you? The one who was escorted out for throwing that tantrum" "I did not throw a tantrum" The man said with much anger and hate clenching his fist against the keys, Aurora's breath hitched thinking that he might accidently press it. "Yes, my name is William Addison from the beauty magazine companies your so-called favorite company" Strange, his name was familiar as if Aurora had seen it somewhere before "Look, Mr. Addison, I don't know what you want or what you're after here but, I can assure you I'm not your enemy and for you threaten me and my employees with a weapon more over a bomb will not go unheard by the press let alone the police" William's smirked faded into a very droopy frown "So you think I'm here for money? Or a job? if so then you're dead wrong. You've been leading the biggest magazine company for far too long, you think you can inherit something as big as this company and not lift a finger cause everything is done for you? That play is over" 

The room was silent before a beeping was heard from the boy who still looked unfazed by what was happening "What was that" Hiroto said taking a step closer to William feeling his blood boil from anger "That was the bomb telling you, you have thirty minutes to disarm it or it will go off automatically so in other words you're running out of time Mr. Han" William said pushing past Hiroto towards his desk taking a seat on it, Aurora moved away Mason noticed this he grabbed her arm pulling her towards Liam who was standing in a corner "If you're not after money or a title what exactly do you want from me?" William hopped off the desk walking behind it taking a seat in his chair doing a menacing spin before he smirked returning his hands together his fingers touching "This" "The desk and chair? " Mason sheepishly asked "I want to be the number one magazine company, my company has only gotten small petty awards with the semi; half; not even good enough models because you Mr. Han had stolen all of them" Aurora was utterly confused, nothing of what he said made any sense to her 'Mr. Han didn't deserve it?' Aurora knew he inherited some of his money but, this was beyond what she was aware of let alone the length of a threat he would go to have Hiroto's wealth "Is she your new assistant?" William said pointing a pen at Aurora Hiroto eyed Aurora he knew the type of person William was and he was not ready to take any risks, he walked over to her looking her dead in the eye "Miss Solace I want you to go outside, and tell everyone to evacuate the building. Mr. Whitlock I ask that you please can accompany Miss Solace on doing so when you are done do not come back into the building" Mason nodded at his request to Liam, Aurora looked at Mason before looking back at Hiroto "I will not leave" Aurora continued her stubbornness despite being in a most dangerous situation, she took a step back from Hiroto who closed his eyes and took a breath not having any of her attuite "Miss Solace this is not the time to be stubborn" Liam was as scared as everyone in the damn room maybe more than sacred.

"Solace is it? I'd listen to your boss if I were you, not only can he fire you in seconds but, you have no authority over him like he has you" William said, it took every fiber of her not to bite her tongue "Mr. Han gets ugly when he's angry and his old fired assistants can confirm that" Did everyone but Aurora know about his previous assistants but her? she couldn't let her thoughts wander at a time like this, she shouldn't be this stubborn, but she knew she wouldn't forgive herself if anything happened to Hiroto. "Be a good little maid and obey your master, why don't you leave us men to talk?" Aurora had bit off her tongue at this point, but before Aurora could open her mouth Hiroto spoke "With all due respect Mr. Addison, you are not to speak to my assistant nor any other assistant for that matter in such disregard" William's smirk returned as he raised his arms in the air in defense "Alright, my apologies" Aurora gave Hiroto one final glance before Liam led her out of the office, Hiroto's eyes stayed on Aurora before she was completely out the door, at that given point Aurora knew he wouldn't change his mind so she dropped it. Liam walked Aurora a few steps away from the office before she ran to the announcement room where the secretary was. Aurora had asked if she could make a quick announcement for the entire building, and the staff happily agreed. "Attention fellow staff members, visitors, and higher-ups, I'd like everyone to stop what they are doing and remain calm as we need to evacuate the building" Aurora paused catching her breath before she continued she could imagine the puzzled-looking faces on everyone "I want everyone to remain calm as I lead everyone out of the building" Aurora inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "There is a bomb in the building"