Chapter 49 - What did I do to lady luck?

POV: Aiden

This was an outrage! A major sigh moment. A major fuck-you moment. An unnecessary but necessary... bad emotion. Look, I just couldn't find the right words at that point in time because of the utter DISRESPECT I had to face about thirty minutes before. To fill you readers in (A/N look, I just wanted to break the fourth wall because I'm lazy to go around it the smart way. I'm a terrible liar but have mercy on me. I'll do better... on my next story... if I ever right another), thirty minutes ago... I got kicked out of my job. Well, no I didn't get kicked out as in fired but I'm temporarily told to stop coming to work anymore. To satisfy some other bullshit company.

Basically, a little background story, I entered my tech company quite recently. Like I think it's been a year or something and you'd think I'd be starting from the bottom and working my way up and you're exactly right. That's what happened. Except, I'm a tech god so I essentially sped run the entire process of getting promoted and after a year, I'm the head of my department (and I'd honestly be head of any department except for advertising because I'm that great). The entire process should've taken at least five years. Initially, the people didn't like me because they didn't want to work under someone younger than them but I shut them up with my skills and my outgoing personality and they all grovel at my feet. I also want to brag that I don't even have to wear a suit to work because my big brain is too much of a loss to the company. I straight up told them I'd quit if they didn't let me come in my hoodie one day and they immediately surrendered. (A/N ok Aiden was never meant to be this arrogant but it happened)

Anyway, the CEO got a call the other day from some company and apparently, they're in a tight patch. They're not understaffed by any means but apparently, they don't have people who are big brain enough to deal with the issues they're having and it's causing them major stress. My stupid boss was good friends with their stupid boss and told him that he could borrow some of his employees for a short period of time like we're some sort of TOY. The DISRESPECT. Like I understand their problem but it's not our problem so like... stop?

But nooo, the stupid, loyal boss came out of fucking nowhere and told my department that the best of the best was needed and funnily enough, that happened to be me. Obviously, I was against it because what the fuck, I don't want to work in an unknown environment with no benefits, like I even have to wear my suit again. I tried every excuse to get out of it. I managed the entire department ("former manager can take over temporarily"). I'm an important asset to the company, I fix everything ("you'll only be gone for a couple of months. You're still our employee so we'll call you if anything major comes up"). I'm inexperienced and I'll give the company a bad name from all my screw-ups ("your first point was literally you being the manager and that's because of the lack of mistakes you make in the first place). I can't wear my hoodie anymore ("good"). I'm queer ("how is that relevant?"). I'll be a bad employee ("you're not usually a bad employee, minus your arrogance sometimes, so if I hear complaints, it means you're intentionally rebelling and I'll tell Nero as well as take you away from casual clothes privileges.")

Yeah, it was a complete and utter defeat on my part and which brought us to where I was walking in the middle of two extras (apparently, the dumb company needed help in multiple departments so my dumbass boss went to the required departments of his own to get two more excellent employees. They're all stuck up, goody-two-shoes) towards our new home for the next couple of months. I probably should've asked for the company name and where we're heading to (I followed these two losers there) but for my exit to be dramatic and over the top, I needed to throw tantrum and leave without saying a single word of farewell. I also decided to go wearing my Arctic Monkeys hoodie, in hopes of the boss turning me away on the spot. It's because of this that extra #1 and extra #2 were giving me a lecture about my work ethics, the company image and some other shit along the same line. I zoned them out after I realised they're not going to listen to me.

After what felt like an hour of walking (it was actually twenty minutes), we finally reached the very modern skyscraper and the three of us stop before the entrance. While the other two fangirl over... whatever they're fangirling about, I read the company name, smacked right above the entrance. Nichola and Co... I feel like I've heard of that somewhere before. This name sounds really important... I think I need to know this or else it might put me in trouble. What kind of trouble though is the question? They're some car company right? Why would that be so important to me? Why am I getting eery chills down my spine?

While I used all my brainpower to solve the mystery, the two extras already began entering the building. I was tempted to run away without looking back but manned up instead and deal with the next three months in peace. Blend in with the crowd... in my hoodie apparently. I really didn't think this through.

Yeah, the reception was real nice and I would've appreciated it a lot more if I wasn't trying to figure out why it was important to know what Nichola and...

Oh bloody fucking holy shit... NO! It can't be...

And just when you thought the day couldn't get any worse, it finally hit me like a tsunami why fucking Nichola and Co was important. The name... how could I have forgotten. It was the one place I avoided at all costs. The one place where the devil ruled. Life was against me. The world was against me. My boss hated me and all I did was give him love and attention. I felt underappreciated and betrayed. Oh my god, I don't want to work under him. I don't work with him. I don't want any association with him whatsoever. Why am I put in this position? What did I do wrong?

I'm escaping. That's it. I don't care if I get fired anymore. I am NOT going to do– suddenly, I felt a tight grip on my left forearm and I was dragged forward by extra #1. He said something about stop dragging my feet but that was a guess because the only thing I heard was the ringing in my head, telling me to escape from this goddamn place. I began struggling to get out of the grip but his hold was like a vice, so I was about to go off at him about personal space and yada yada when a familiar golden, shoulder length hair popped up from an open elevator. Luckily, Erwin couldn't see me since I was behind extra #1 so I harshly jerked my arm out of his grip and immediately pulled the hood over my head. It managed to cover most of my face if I looked down but that didn't matter because I planned to bolt out of there. I turned towards the exit again when extra #1 fucking held onto me AGAIN and hissed, "Where are you going? Mr. Fonzo is right over there."

I swear on my fucking name I'm going to electrocute that stupid hand of his and make it useless. I grabbed onto the gripping forearm as I saw Erwin approach closer and with a faux smile and sweet tone, I informed, "I just need to go to the bathroom. Need to look good for our new boss you know. And I just REALLY need to go."

The other man looked sceptical before saying, "you're an adult man, I'm sure you can hold it in. Now stop disrespecting Mr. Fonzo." With that, extra #1 tugged me hard (there was legit no muscle under that sleeve. Where the fuck was he getting his strength from?), causing me to yelp and positioning me so I was standing in the middle of my co-workers and right in front of my one demise. I rapidly put my head down, putting my full attention to Erwin's shoes and his (most likely) secretary. I will go with the shy persona. It's the only option I have right now.

"Good afternoon gentlemen," greeted the secretary. His voice wasn't as deep as the CEO's but it's pretty fucking deep in comparison to your average joe. "You guys must be the employees from Piece by Piece tech, considering how in awh you seem to be of the receptionist area." The irrelevants laugh at the bad joke in politeness and I don't risk joining them, still keeping my head down. I felt hard stares from all directions (especially right in front of me) and extra #2 pinched me to verbally get me to react to the secretary's comment but I don't flinch and remain as I am.

The secretary doesn't sound fazed by my unusual reaction (or appearance) when he continued onwards. "Well, it's nice to meet you and I'd like to express my gratitude for coming to help us and on such short notice."

"Not like we had a choice to begin with," I mumbled under my breath. No one heard it over the secretary's introduction. I hope.

"My name is Shinsou Bri and I'm the CEO's assistant. You may call me Shinsou, that's fine. The man next to me is who I work for and I'm sure you know but for formalities sake, I'll introduce him anyway. This is Erwin Fonzo, CEO of Nichola and Co. I'd give you a history lesson right about now but I feel like it's unnecessary when you can just look it up on Google later."

My co-workers both said, "nice to meet you," and I imagined they extended their arms to shake. I trailed after them with the "nice to meet you" but don't follow suit when it comes to shaking their hands, stuffing it in my pockets. I'm being so disrespectful right now, surely they'll tell me to fuck off by now. Right?

Wrong. I just felt intense eyes on me from both men opposite me. Luckily, the stares were removed when extra #1 and extra #2 did their introductions. Extra #2 went first.

"My name is Will Hems and it's an absolute honour to work under your care, Mr. Fonzo." Oh, they have names.

"My name is Enji Le and I'm excited for the next few months. We hope to not disappoint." I thought he was going to stop there and let me do my own fucking introduction but apparently, Mr. Nosy over here decides that I'm incapable of doing it on my own. "And I want to apologise for the man next to me. He's very shy and doesn't know how to react when meeting new people (EXCUSE ME YOU ASSHOLE? WHO YOU CALLING SOCIALLY AWKWARD? I BET YOU STILL LIVE WITH YOUR MUM AND HAVE A 8PM CURFEW, YOU UNSOCIABLE, AWKWARD, MIDGET). This is Ai–"

"I'M MATTY SMITH, manager of my department and your neighbourhood tech guru." I intervened so fast, even flash was impressed with me. I modified my voice to be x5 deeper but instead of it making me sound cool, it makes me sound like an idiotic adolescent trying to sound gangsta. I was still looking down but the temptation to say fuck it and look at everyone's reaction was beginning to get to me. Anyway, I was hoping that twiddle dee and twiddle dumb would play along but nooo, they're too saint (or too dumb) for that shit because extra- I mean Will had to comment, "um, no you're not? You're–"

"Matty Smith." I turned my head towards his direction, glaring at him and trying to tell him to shut the fuck up. My hoodie still managed to over my side profile.

Now it was Enji who decided to give me a hard time. "What are you playing at? You're not Matty Smith."

I turned my head in his direction (fast enough so the two men in front of me can't take a glimpse of the face) and argued back. "Yeah, I am. I just never told you. Because we never met before today. My other name is fake." This has got to be the worst excuse you've ever pulled out of your ass Aiden.

And it seemed the other man agreed because he gave me a frustrated huff and snapped at me. "I have no idea what is with you! Ever since- no, even before coming here, you've been nothing but painful and disrespectful. You decide to turn up in the inappropriate uniform and furthermore, you begin disrespecting another company's boss and associates by being shy and quiet out of nowhere. You're giving a bad name to our company and I will not tolerate it any longer. Leave if you cannot maintain a professional attitude." By the time he's finished, he's panting and his face was completely red. His eyes were glaring at me and his hands were crossed over his chest to aid in intimidating me. Too bad I could pick up on his lips quivering and his forehead sweating bullets.

His outburst was surprising, to say the least, to everyone on this floor but it wasn't unexpected. The guy clearly cared about this random exchange and really liked the company he worked for.

Woo for patriotism.

It's because of that passion, I conceded and get rid of any persona I had lined and stripped myself bare. There was no point in trying with people like these and his passion lowkey moved me. "*sigh* yeah, fine whatever. I'm sorry," I direct at Enji in my usual voice.

I finally removed the hoodie from my head and immediately, I heard someone's breath hitch. I don't need to be no Sherlock to figure out who it was. I finally turned to face a very shook Erwin Fonzo and a very confused Shinsou and monotonously, redo my introduction. "The name is Aiden Hendrix and I wasn't lying when I said I'm a tech guru and the head of my department. I'd also like to point out that I've been trying to leave this place ever since I entered but Enji refused. I never wanted to be here. If you're keen to fire me, I'm all for it and will not retaliate whatsoever."

The only response I got was Erwin's shocked silence, Shinsou's shocked but confused silence as he looked between us two and my co-workers were also silenced. I don't what type of silence it was and I'd try to figure it out if it wasn't for the fact that my attention was captured by Erwin's slowly growing shit-eating grin.

This man might be my first participant in my '101 gruesome ways of torturing someone' experiment.