The next day at Alans magazine, employee's voices rose in admiration and appreciation for their new CEO's thoughtfulness and generousity.
I couldn't blame them for over hyping me.
To them, I was the first of my kind they'd ever seen.
A blood test from a highly dignified lab was not something they got to do as they pleased.
But I gave them the chance and for free at that.
I paced about my office, my expression calm but my mind a turbulent storm.
"Everything is already in place." Daniel informed as he walked into my office.
"The medical team?"
"They've started collecting the samples, they'll move the samples to the lab once they're done." Daniel explained.
"Send some of our men to accompany them back to the lab to prevent any accidents." I instructed.
"Okay."
"Get me the CCTV footage." I said to Daniel.
He left my office and reappeared in barely a minute.
"Here it is." He hands me the CCTV pad.
I scanned all the areas where there were booths to check for Scout's location.
I spotted her in line in front of the booth on the third floor.
She wasn't acting weird.
She seemed eager even.
Maybe I had just over thought things before.
Time passed slowly, but eventually the test was over.
Their vans were fully loaded with labelled blood samples.
"Are the escorts ready?" I asked Daniel.
"Yes. They'll be following them in secret." He informed.
"Good." I said before Daniel left my office.
There would be no mistakes.
I made sure of that.
Or so I thought.
Adrian stepped into my office without knocking as usual.
"And what are you doing here?" I questioned, feeling irritated.
"You! You can't just use and dump me." He argued.
I gave him an expression that said 'I already did'.
"Will you come to the old house to see grandma tonight? She misses you and plus you can discuss your coming engagement there." He asked.
"I'll try. I have an event to attend with North this evening." I said, casually.
"Ohhh, seems we have a new Romeo in town." He teased.
I was about to put him in his place when my door swung open.
"Vincent."
I turned to see that it was Daniel.
Hie facial expression caught my attention.
I knew the look on his face
Something had gone wrongly.
Terrribly wrong.
"What's wrong." I asked.
"The lab just called."
"And what did they say to make you like this?" I asked, looking relaxed.
He hesitated.
"There's a problem."
"I can see that." I said, wanting him to get straight to the point.
"A sample is missing." Daniel finally broke the news to me.
Adrian's voice echoed in my office.
"But how can a whole vial of blood go missing just lie that. I mean we were watching it the whole time."
Exactly the same question I was just asking myself.
"According to what they said, all vials were complete and full, just that one container did not contain actual blood." Daniel explained deeply.
I kept quiet, trying to pull myself together.
"Whose sample?" I finally asked the question that had been sitting on the edge of my mind.
"Some Mr Heather." Daniel answered and I subconsciously sighed.
"Was there someone you were hoping it shouldn't be?" Adrian raised his brows.
"You know, you talk too much for a man." I said, trying to shush him.
"Whatever."
"Get me the footage of the booth the Heather guy used." I said to Daniel.
"On it." He said before passing me the CCTV pad.
I replayed the footage a dozen times but I still couldn't find any loopholes or proof that the Heather guy switched his sample.
"No one moves that carefully without a trace." I said almost to myself.
Adrian mused.
"This is getting a lot more interesting."
"Instruct Mike to bring the Heather guy to me, I want to have a private conversation with him tomorrow." I gave out my order.
It had been quite a while since I last tortured the useful out of fools like him.
"Hmm." He answered and was about to leave when I remembered the promise I made to Mayelle.
"And Dan." I called out.
"Yh."
"Contact a high profile designer, I want you to get North a limited edition dress, not too tight, that won't work for her." I instructed.
"Anything for my future sister-in-law." Daniel laughed lightly before leaving the room.
"You're in real deep." Adrian teased.
My phone rang, making me pull my attention away from Adrian.
"Hey." Mayelle's voice rang through my phone.
"Hey, you good?" I asked.
"Yh." She answered curtly. "I just wanted to inform you that I'll be going to the venue first, I'll send you the address so you can meet me there."
"Hmm. By what time exactly?" I asked.
"6 PM sharp. Don't be late." She said and cut the call.
I stood up from my chair and Adrian does the same.
"Where are you going?" Adrian asked.
"I need to get ready for the programme.'" I answered simply.
"I'll come with you, after all we both know I'm the best when it comes to fashion." He said and followed after me.
I ignored him and made a call to Daniel to inform him that I was no longer in the office.
A series of 'thank you, Mr Russo', 'you're the best, Mr Russo' where what rang throughout the office as I and Adrian approached the
Thankfully, we didn't take long at the boutique as Adrian quickly settled for the first outfit I tried on.
Black pants, black shirt and a navy blue suit.
On my way to the programme I called Daniel.
"Have you gotten the dress?" I asked the moment he picked the call.
"Yh. You didn't ask about the Mr Heather."
"He's not important. Bring the dress to the address I'm about to send to you." I said and ended the call.
"As you wish." Daniel said and ended the colour.
The grand door of the banquet hall was pushed opened by the bodyguards when they saw him.
The interior screamed of luxury.
I swept my eyes around the hall in search of Mayelle but I couldn't see her.
Adrian was also on alet Incase he saw her but he didn't.
I saw a small crowd, forming a circle around someone and I decided to check it out.
I was about to turn away when I saw that the woman they all gathered around.
It was Mayelle.
Her clothes had been slightly torn and she looked disheveled.
Some random woman was about to hit her on the head with a wine glass and that was when I knew I had to step in.
I hurried and managed to block the hit with my hand.
The room stilled when everyone saw what had just happened.
I glared at all the women that had partook in harming Mayelle.
"This is my first and final warning. Touch a single hair on her head and I'll destroy the basis which you all live on." I warned. "Mark. My. Word."
Once I had said my piece, I lifted Mayelle in my arms and walked towards the lounge under the stare of every pair of eyes in the hall.