24. This Is The First Time
AMBER'S POV.
"Good morning, Miss Amber."
Asleena took a deep breath and rolled her eyes in exasperation. It was only six o'clock in the morning, but Vincent's figure was already in the living room of his house. Even though Benny didn't tell Asleena at all that he was going to pick her up.
"Why are you here?" I was not interested in answering Vincent greeting. His tone was curt.
Vincent frowned with a slight grin. With his back leaning against the back of the sofa, Benny folded his arms in front of his chest.
"Ah, I didn't get any greetings back," said Vincent showing a look of fake horror on Asleena.
From my side, Halmey suddenly appeared. Stepping hastily with a slightly awkward smile because he had heard Benny's words.
"Hey, Amber, don't be so snappy with Benny!" Halmey hissed at me. Her eyes widened in panic.
I frowned as well as looked at Halmey in surprise. His left shoulder was slightly gripped by Halmey, making him suddenly startled.
"Auntie..." I spoke softly while stroking the part that was gripped by Halmey.
Looking away from me, Halmey immediately smiled awkwardly at Vincent. Halmey bowed to pay respects to Vincent and at the same time signaled an apology.
"I'm sorry Asleena, Vincent. Maybe he was surprised by your sudden arrival here." Halmey repeatedly persuaded Benny. Like people who really really respect. "With you coming here, I can rest easy knowing Asleena is awake well."
I immediately widened her eyes in panic at Halmey after hearing those words. What does Haley mean? I didn't even feel guilty about her attitude towards Vincrnt. However, why did Halmey seem so submissive?
"It's okay, Aunt." Vincent was both formal and friendly, making Asleena chuckle in amusement. "Are you ready to go now?"
Instead of answering Vincent words, I actually deliberately looked for Roger's whereabouts. I took a few steps back to look outside the house, but there was no one there.
"Who are you looking for?" Halmey asked with a confused look at me.
"Roger. Didn't he pick me up?" I asked back in between giggles to the view outside the house.
Suddenly Halmey's facial expression immediately showed displeasure. There was a feeling of discomfort, especially when he glanced at Benny before approaching Asleena behind him.
"Amber, Vincent has come to pick you up. Why did you even ask about Roger's arrival?" Halmey hissed a hint of rebuke through his bulging eyes at Asleena.
Without Halmey realizing it, actually Vincent could hear his voice. Vincent stood up from the sofa with a smile of curved formality. Although to be honest Vincent was a bit surprised because he thought Halmey's attitude was exaggerated.
Tubborn conversation with each other. They glanced at Benny in unison, then I groaned and shook her head.
"I'm going to call Roger to—"
"No need. I already called Roger not to pick you up."
Instantly my movement who was looking for Roger's contact stopped. My attention shifted to Vincent, stunned for a moment. I immediately lowered her hand that was holding the cell phone roughly before finally approaching Benny.
My eyes were so sharp. There's no hesitation in showing his annoyance to Vincent—this CEO has started to act as he pleases!
"I didn't order you to command Roger. After all, Roger is my subordinate, you didn't hire him," I emphasized emphatically.
The aura of tension in the room increased as I looked almost out of control. In contrast to Asleena, Benny was still looking at the woman in front of him calmly. His hands remained in his coat pockets.
When Halmey again wanted to reprimand me, Vincent immediately raised a hand. Giving a signal so Halmey doesn't need to rebuke anything.
"Miss Amber. Until when do you plan to prolong this matter? Your shift is about to start." Vincent actually changed the subject instead of replying to Asleena's words.
On the other hand, I looked away lazily. His face looked irritated in just an instant.
"I became dispirited on my first day at work because of you, Honorable CEO Vince t."
***
"Welcome Miss Asleena. We really appreciate your coming as a substitute for the CEO of this company."
Asleena still couldn't get used to the greetings of employees, including the leaders of the company's four important divisions, when she just stepped foot in the lobby. Luckily Roger was beside him now—and contrary to what he thought, Roger picked up Benny at the car stop.
Instantly Asleena remembered about the letter from Joshua, her father, that there was a traitor in the company. Seeing the faces before her now made Asleena think which of them all meant to be the traitor?
Asleena watched some of the faces in detail. His silence made everyone instantly awkward. They looked at each other as if asking what was going on.
"Thank you for your welcome, but I don't need this kind of formality." That was Asleena's irritated tone. Remembering the fact that his father had been killed by a traitor among them made him unable to calm down.
The aura that intimidated Asleena was palpable to the employees who greeted her.
One of the women stepped forward, bowing slightly reluctantly, she said, "Miss Asleena, do you want to be delivered to your room?"
"There's Roger," Asleena answered then. "I heard he would accompany me anywhere. So, I'll just go with him."
The woman's smile faded slightly at Asleena's answer. On the other hand, Roger only gave a curt nod when Asleena gave the code to be brought to the room immediately.
Regardless of how the employees would react to her actions, Asleena just left. Roger followed his steps and immediately moved towards the CEO's special room.
All the way through the quiet corridor, after passing through the private area, Asleena immediately asked Roger.
"Which of them has had problems with my father?"
Roger suddenly gasped at Asleena's question. Because they were both struck by silence for a few moments. But now Asleena suddenly asked something quite powerful.
"Looks like the head of the finance division, a guy with a split head in the middle and a bit small build."
"Ah, that fat guy?" Asleena originally blurted out.
"Y-yes, Miss Asleena," replied Roger, who was even more surprised because of Asleena's outspokenness. "Mr. Joshua rarely tells who he's having problems with. But one week before the accident, Mr. Joshua had an argument with the financial manager."
Asleena's steps came to a sudden halt, causing Roger to stop as well.
"Debate over what?" Asleena asked with serious eyes.
Roger thought for a moment. "Problems about the company's cash flow. When checking the company's cash flow, it was found to be a decrease in money, Miss Asleena."
Asleena was immediately taken aback by Roger's words.
"Then how will it go?" Asleena asked.
Roger shook his head. "It looks like Mr Joshua is either trying the finance division to check the flow of funds or they have to cover the flow using their money."
"And since then, how is the relationship between the two of them?" Asleena asked. "What is the name of the person who had trouble with my father?"
"Their relationship is tenuous. That person's name is Mr. Bram."