Chapter 24

JAMES

"Boss."

As I emerged from the airport, The first person I saw was Vince, waving at me from the car. I walked over to him and he collected my luggage, placing it in the car trunk while I got into the car.

"How was the trip?" He asked when he returned to the car.

"It was fine and profitable." I replied. I had just returned from a two-week business trip, and was dying to get home already and sleep.

Vince started the car and I took out my phone out from my pocket, switching it on for the first time in two days. I had been too busy to use it since the last two days and it also had to be switched off during the flight.

My phone buzzed incessantly, notification after notification popped up on the notification bar. I scrolled through them and as always, they were irrelevant things and I was about getting rid of them when my eyes caught The Hardins corp on one of them.

I immediately tapped on it, and my eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell!" I exclaimed, my face scrunched up in a frown

The article containing a buyer's experience about Silvana's products, claiming they caused pimples and boils to a buyer's face. There were even pictures.

"Is something wrong?" Vince asked from the front with a concerned expression, and I showed him my phone. "Do you know anything about it?"

"Ah. Yes," he replied, "The Hardins corp. is on fire after the lady in the picture posted a negative review about them."

I scoffed and dropped my hand. Negatively? Total rubbish.

"Find out who this woman is. Her name, house address, her workplace, everything."

"Aren't you going too extreme? I mean, it's the Hardins problem to solve."

My head whipped towards him with a glare. "Are you gonna do what I asked or you want to be replaced?"

"I'm sorry sir." He cleared his throat, and I went back to my phone, but I could still feel his eyes on me. Looking up, I caught him staring at me and he smiled before facing the road.

______

"Welcome home, sir." Mrs. Claire said with a warm smile.

"Thank you." I replied, heading for the stairs. Mrs Claire followed me with my luggage, which Vince had handed over to her.

"Keep it there." I instructed, pointing to the space in front of the dressing room, and she nodded, doing as I asked.

"I prepared a warm bath for you, Vince told me about your arrival."

I thanked her again, smiling in appreciation, and she bowed before leaving the room.

I undressed and made my way into the bathroom. Like Mrs Claire said, a bath was already prepared. Going over to it, dipped my hand into the tub, nodding my head at the warmness. Vince certainly knew how to do his job well, but he talks too much.

I chuckled at the thought and went in the tub. Reclining on the edge of the tub, a sigh left my lips as I closed my eyes.

I don't know how long I stayed in that position, but when I opened my eyes, the water was really cold. I must have slept off. I stood up from the bathtub before leaving the bathroom in my towel.

Once I was dressed in casual clothing, I picked my phone. I went to Vana's contact and was about dialing it when I stopped.

"She might get angry again." Mumbling, I dropped my phone before going downstairs.

The next morning, I set off for my company immediately. As I walked into my office, I stopped in my tracks when I saw the heap of files there.

"Good morning boss." I turned to see Vince coming in.

"What's all this?" I pointed at the files.

"They are documents you need to attend to."

"That much!" I couldn't help the yelp that came out from lips.

I watched as he chuckled and shrugged. "Not my fault. You were not available for weeks."

I let out a deep breath. How and when am I going to finish this today?

"Why are you here, by the way?" I inquired as I proceeded to my sit. I gazed at him. He ambled closer to me, motioning at my computer.

"I've sent the information you asked for to your email, and I also made copies of it." He pointed a file at me and I collected it. I glanced through it briefly before waving him off.

I took my phone to call the one person that could help me. Chad.

"Yo! You called me. Am I safe?"

"Can you help me find someone?" I inquired, ignoring his remark.

"Great. Always calling for something. Who do I need to find." His voice swiftly turned serious.

"I will send the person's information to you. I need you to send someone to where she lives. Find out how she looks and get testimonies from the people around her."

"Huh, why all this? Is she a criminal?"

"I will send it now." I said, ignoring his question and hanging up. I sent the information to his email.

I was about attending to the files when his call came in.

"Did you get it?" I asked once I picked.

"Yeah, but the lady in the picture seems familiar. Isn't she the pimples lady trending right now?"

"Yes, she is."

"Why are you asking me to find her though? Are you trying to help the Hardins corporation? I heard Silvana is the owner of the company. Do you like her?"

I groaned inwardly. How can he ask this much questions in few seconds?

"Are you there?"

"Does it look like I like Vana?"

"Yes. You were staring at her at the club and you are also calling her Vana instead of Silvana."

"Can you just do your job without questioning me?" I released a frustrated breath.

"Stop acting like you are doing me a favor! I'm the one doing that..."

I hanged before he could continue, dropping the phone loudly on the table. What's his business if I like her or not? I don't even act like I like her or...do I?