The Devil's Harem

Chapter - 38

"Don't be nervous, Alex. You are going to do just fine," Jennifer said when she saw Alex walking out of the meeting room, fidgeting his fingers.

"Yeah, as long as you don't infuriate our CEO," Ellaine said, walking towards them.

"Is she short-tempered?" Alex asked, getting worried about his presentation tomorrow.

"I won't go that far to call her short-tempered, but she is especially strict with the male employees, whatever measly number of them we have here," Ellaine told him.

"Was she dumped by an employee of hers?" Alex asked curiously. Alex had this innate interest in gossips. He was only a week old in this company, but he knew what most he could, being a man.

"Shhsssh--- don't say anything about our CEO's love life out in the open. Even walls have ears. If she hears you, you will be dead meat". Ellaine said as she hushed him to quiet.

"Is it a taboo or something? Do you know anything?" Alex asked. He was getting itchy to know everything there is, with each passing second.

"Well, it's not a secret or anything. But you need to be careful talking about this matter in public," Ellaine said, then she looked around. Only Jennifer was there who could hear them. Giving her a wink, Ellaine gestured for Alex to come closer, "I might as well just tell you, listen carefully". Ellaine said and pulled Alex to her height and started whispering in his ear.

And the sad story goes like this---

After Jessica graduated, her family arranged a marriage for her like any other business family. This marriage was more like a collaboration between the two family businesses. Jessica, who had never been in a relationship before, did not have much of a say in this alliance. The two families decided that Jessica and the guy should spend some time together and get to know each other before their matrimony.

As time went by, and as they spent time together, Jessica slowly began to develop feelings for the guy. He was more than a friend to her now. The guy did show advances towards her, but Jessica kept it purely platonic between them and didn't let him go beyond holding hands.

It took her time, but when she was sure about him and accepted her feelings for him. When Jessica was ready to confess her feelings to him and take their relationship a step forward, she found him in bed with his cousin.

Feeling betrayed by the one she fell in love with. Without giving it another thought, she announced the annulment of their engagement, both to the families and the world.

But what hurt her the most was her family. The one she thought would stand by her in this decision, her family, was the first one to turn against her. She thought that her family would support her, stand by her, but no, on the contrary, they tried to make her understand why the guy cheated on her. How it was her fault for not being proactive enough.

Feeling disgusted by the way her family just wanted to sell her off for business gains. She left her home and moved in with one of her friends.

The rest is a legend that everyone knows in the business world. From that apartment, Jessica laid the foundation of 'Theation'. And in just three years, she made it into one of the most successful companies in the entertainment industry.

Many in the industry have noted that betrayal might be the reason why most of the employees in the company are female. Having experienced herself, Jessica didn't want women to give the steering of their life to someone else. She wants them to be in the driving seat of their own destiny. She wants them to make their own decisions, no matter right or wrong, and stand by them.

"Now, do you understand why I told you to be on your guard? Don't try to outsmart her and just nod to everything she says," Ellaine said as she made him understand the situation of male employees in the company.

"What a pitiful child she is," Alex said, "She has worked really hard these years," Alex sympathised with Jessica.

"Well, I will keep that in mind. Thanks for the heads up," Alex said and walked back to his desk.

Soon all of them got themselves busy with their work. Karen came once and asked Alex to prepare a report on all the things they discussed in the meeting today by tomorrow. They will have a little go through the ideas before pitching them in front of everyone else.

Alex tried to complete the report before leaving for the home itself. He only left his desk once when a police officer came to drop his bike. The police called early in the morning to check on him and inform him about the fates of the men that assaulted him. They even offered to drop his bike at his workplace, which Alex was more than happy to accept.

By the time Alex was done with the report, it was already nine o'clock. Everyone had already left, and the office was shrouded in darkness, except for where he was. Alex grabbed his stuff and was about to leave when he saw the lights in Karen's office still on.
Alex looked through the glass and found Karen engrossed in her work. Alex knocked once to get her attention.

Karen looked up and was surprised to find someone beside her in the office at this hour. She gestured for Alex to come in.

"Why are you are still here?" Karen asked as soon as Alex walked in.

"Well, I thought of completing the report by today itself, and I just got it done," Alex told her.

"You are done?" Kare asked with astonishment. The newbie was quite efficient.

"Yeah, just some editing is left. I will do the final touches at home. What about you? It's already nine, and you are still here. Aren't you going home?" Alex asked, pointing towards the clock on the wall.

"What!! it's already nine?" Karen turned to look at the clock, " I am going to be so late today. He is going to make a fuss about it," Karen murmured to herself, but Alex could hear her.

"You are married?" Alex asked, surprised, 'Why would she marry so young?' Alex thought to herself.

"Why shouldn't I be? I am already thirty-three this year". Karen said, chuckling when she saw the frowning look on Alex's face.

"Thirty- three? You must be kidding. You look more like twenty-five," Alex said. Well, part of it was him trying to flatter her.

"Flattering me won't get you anywhere. So stop it, and let's go," Karen said as she picked up her bag and walked out of her office.

"I was just telling the truth," Alex murmured to himself, but Karen had a smile on her face when she heard him.

The two of them got in the elevator, and Alex pressed the button for the parking while Karen for the ground floor.

"Aren't you going to the parking?" Alex asked when he saw her getting off a floor above.

"I have sent my car for repairs. I will flag a cab for home today," She explained.

"How long will it take you to reach home?" Alex asked.

"About an hour or so. There will be a lot of traffic at this time," Karen told him the rough estimate.

"Can't you call your husband to pick you up? You can even go on a nice little date," Alex asked.

Alex didn't notice the slight change in her expression on the mention of her husband, "I don't want to trouble him. I will be fine on my own, I am not a little girl," Karen said.

"Come, let me drop you home. It's not safe to travel alone so late at night," Alex suggested.

"It's just nine. How is this "so late"?" Karen said, amused by Alex, and continued, "And do you even know where I live? What if we live in completely opposite directions?" Karen asked as she laughed a bit, but it felt nice to have someone care about you.

"I live around 'Blake Avenue', what about you?" Alex said.

"I live in 'Durbee Street'"

"Well, you are in luck. We are going in the same direction," Alex said. By now, the elevator has reached the ground floor. Alex closed the door hurriedly, and the two of them made their way to the parking.

* * * * *