Chapter 3

Valentina walked alongside her brother, Nicolas, who had his arm around her shoulders. She couldn't stop thinking about the interview and how arrogant and grouchy her future boss was.

- You know what, brother, I feel like I'm going to get this job. - Valentina said confidently, walking slowly towards the bus stop.

- You've done it, little sister. - Nicolas said, messing up his sister's hair. Valentina frowned angrily at Nicolas for messing up her hair.

- Bloody hell! I told you not to mess up my hair. - Valentina said angrily to her brother. Nicolas ran off like a child afraid of being hit. - Come back here, you lunatic. I'm not going to hit you.

- I know! - He shouted, suspicious, almost at the end of the block.

- I mean it! - She said tapping her foot on the floor, crossing her arms.

- Trust the saint and don't pray! - Nicolas said, knowing full well that Valentina was lying just to get him closer so she could hit him.

- I was going to tell you something, but you don't want to come here. I won't tell you. - Valentina tries her best to get Nicolas to come closer.

- Do you think I'm stupid? No, I'm not. - Nicolas said, moving further away for his own safety. - Bye, sister, I'm going back to work, otherwise my boss will kill me. Call me as soon as you get home.

- Okay. Bye, bye. Love you. - Valentina said, heading for the bus stop across the street.

"I was just going to poke him. I wonder how he guessed?" Valentina thought as she watched to see if the approaching bus was the one she needed.

***

Tomas's car entered the building through the underground parking lot, Aslan was in the passenger seat listening to his friend making small talk as usual. He no longer paid attention to anything that came out of Tomas's mouth.

"I wonder who that man was?" Aslan thought as his friend parked the car in his space. Aslan didn't wait for the car to stop and got out of it, speeding towards the elevator.

- Wait a minute, Aslan! - Tomas shouted, getting out of his car and running to catch up with Aslan, who was in a very bad mood that day. He stopped in the middle of the road to wait for his friend, who managed to catch up with him with great difficulty.

- We have a meeting in 10 minutes with the creative team in their department. - Aslan informed Tomás authoritatively.

"Apparently today is going to be very long and tiring." Tomás thought despondently as they waited for the elevator.

They got into the elevator, Aslan pressed the button for floor 38, where the meeting with the creative team would take place. Thomas prayed that the employees hadn't done anything wrong, otherwise he'd be beaten up one after the other, and he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. As soon as they reached the desired floor, Aslan hurried out of the elevator. His secretary, who knew his boss very well from her years working for him, was already waiting for him on the floor he had just come down from.

- Sir, everyone is in the meeting room waiting. - Anne informs Aslan as soon as she sees him. He just nodded in agreement and headed for the meeting room. Meetings with the creative team took place every week.

- That's no good! - Tomas muttered to himself as he shook his head negatively. From what he knew of his friend, he wasn't in his usual mood, his stress and bad humor was getting to him and his secretary.

- Excuse me. - Anne said to Tomas, returning to the presidential floor. Aslan was further ahead and didn't hear his secretary leave. His friend walked faster to catch up with the CEO, who turned into a corridor.

- Go do your job, leave the meeting to me. - Aslan ordered harshly. He walked faster and faster so as not to be late. By his reckoning, he had another five minutes. Tomás ignored the CEO and continued to follow him.

- No way. I'm going with you. And I won't take no for an answer. - Tomás said, disobeying his friend and boss's order.

- You know very well that I can fire you for not obeying one of my orders! - Aslan turned away, slurring his words angrily.

- Then fire me. But I'm going to take part, whether you like it or not. You're a bit out of your mind today. I'm going to help, have you forgotten that you're also part of my sector?

- That's why you already have a representative from your sector - he said sulkily at his childhood friend's words, otherwise he'd be thrown out right now for his audacity

- No problem. Have you ever heard that two heads are better than one? - he asked, winking humorously.

Aslan entered the room, greeting the people who were already waiting for him, his closed facial expression indicating that he had few friends that day. The staff looked at each other, sensing the tension in the air.

- We can start the meeting. - He said, sitting down in the chair at the head of the table. - Daniel can start by informing us of Sarta's usage data. - Aslan ordered dryly. Tomas observed everything from his seat; so far, everything had been running smoothly. Daniel, the employee responsible for the graphs and the AI utilization flow, explained the graphs that appeared on the slide.

- What do you think you're doing? - Aslan growled angrily at his employee, he couldn't stand to see people not doing their job properly and it was clear that he wouldn't accept mistakes in his company.

- My job. - The employee replied, shrugging his shoulders in fear of the CEO's reaction.

- And you're doing it wrong. - Aslan stated vehemently. - These graphs are wrong and this slide was done half-assed.

- Sorry, sir! I'll do better from now on. - The official said, excited to learn how it was really done. Aslan was irritated by the excitement, which he thought was forced. He closed his eyes and frowned, annoyed by the excitement.

- Don't get too excited. You made a mistake and you have to learn to do the right thing, otherwise you'll be fired, understand? - Aslan said angrily, he was used to being angry. Angry and tired of so many stupid people around him, he left the creative part of Aslan S.A. and headed for the elevator, back to the president's floor.

- In the name of Aslan S.A. I can assure you that this will never happen again - Tomas says to everyone, leaving the room right behind his friend, who was certainly not in his normal mood.

- What's wrong with you? - Tomás asked excitedly.

- I don't know what you're talking about. - Aslan replied harshly to Tomas, calling the elevator in the hope that it would come as soon as possible so he wouldn't hear any more of his friend's rants.

- You've never looked like this. - Tomas said, making Aslan roll his eyes, tired of his friend disturbing him.

- Just go to your sector," he said, closing the elevator doors, leaving Tomas standing outside with his mouth hanging open in disbelief at what he had just witnessed.

Aslan tried to control himself, but on that particular day everything was getting on his nerves.

- Anne, I need a calming tea urgently. And cancel the meetings for the rest of the day. - Aslan ordered rudely as soon as he stepped out of the elevator and headed for his office, not even looking around as anger and stress consumed him.

"My God!" Anne thought as she phoned the scullery. As soon as a member of staff answered the call, she informed her that the CEO urgently needed some calming tea.

- Anneee! - Aslan shouted from inside the room, which startled her. Even though she was afraid, she entered the room to find a furious Aslan holding a crumpled piece of paper in his hands. - Call this woman and hire her to babysit Felipe. - Aslan snarled and threw the resume on the table, furious.

- Yes, sir.

- And make sure Valentina is prepared for everything. And don't forget to tell the housekeeper.