CHAPTER 107: EVERYONE’S FUTURE, EVERYONE’S LIFELINE

[Summit Partners]

Whispers echoed in every department of the building as news spread like wildfire. News that wouldn’t really matter to anybody else except themselves.

After all, they heard the big boss’s wife would be here any second.

Although Atlas’s face remained unknown to many of the employees, his presence was enough to change the atmosphere in the work environment. Everyone had been uptight and treading carefully, as if the very surface of the building had turned into eggshells. Even those in high positions were more serious than usual.

On top of that, all of them had been redoing their work because the papers they had submitted came back to them shredded. They were simply glad none of them had to clean up their desks because giving the twins a standing ovation during their "concert" was a life hack.

Which was why this news was a good thing.

If no one would get fired just for clapping for the twins, what more if they could curry favor with the madam? They were all set for life!

"But... how would we know if it’s her?" One employee leaned over the cubicle next to hers. "We don’t even know what the big boss looks like."

"Sir Allen," came a voice from the cubicle across from them. "We don’t know the big boss’s face, but Sir Allen probably does!"

The other employees, who were pretending not to care, stretched their necks over their cubicles.

"But Sir Allen isn’t around."

"Then, Sir Harvey! He’s the only one who isn’t an executive but has met the big boss!"

"Oh, that’s a good point," one nodded. "For sure, someone from the higher-ups will welcome her."

"Should we take a break?" another one suggested. "I want to be there when she arrives."

"Breaks are for breaks." Suddenly, the team leader, a slightly older man in his fifties, walked into the department. He stopped and looked at everyone, clicking his tongue. "Goodness. Are you all that free to worry about such things, huh?!"

He dropped a stack of papers onto the nearest desk. "If you have so much time, why don’t you redo all of this? Instead of worrying about how to curry favor with the person in power, work hard and secure your spots!"

Everyone frowned deeply. It wasn’t like they weren’t doing their best. With their collective efforts, they helped Summit Partners become the company it is today. However, it was just different when the big boss was around.

"But... this is for our future, too," one of the employees whimpered. "We don’t know when the big boss will leave, since this is the first time he’s stayed so long."

And none of them were sure if they could keep their positions until then.

The team leader looked at everyone in dismay, shaking his head. But then—

Bzt... ding! Ding!

Vibration noises and notification pings echoed in the department. Everyone intuitively checked their phones. Even the team leader had to fish his phone out as it started to vibrate aggressively.

The moment everyone checked their respective chat groups, all they saw were rapid messages from different people in the company.

User1: Omg, omg! All the higher-ups are headed downstairs.

Iamafly: I’m headed downstairs.

PartlyCloudy: Please take a picture of the madam! I want to see what she looks like!

Pillowfight: I heard she’s pretty — she has to be pretty! The young miss and young master are so adorable! They must have gotten it from someone, right?!

More messages popped up in less than a millisecond, causing older phones to lag. Some were there just to contribute to the chaos, while others were finding ways to leave their posts to get a glimpse of the big boss’s wife. A few were already in the lobby, idling and pretending they had business to be there.

And in this department...

Everyone watched the chaos unfold on their phones before they raised their heads. Slowly, everyone turned to their team leader, who was the only one still standing in the office.

No one said a word, and everyone just kept a blank look.

After a second, the team leader, who had been lecturing them on focusing on their work, was the first to run out of their department.

***

In the elevator going down to the lobby, the twins stood at the front. Their hands were clutching the straps of their small backpacks. They looked up, only to see a few people inside the lift with them. The twins studied everyone’s faces with a smile.

"Sir Harvey, are you also excited to see our mommy?" the little girl asked, making all the men gaze down at them. "Why? Do you also like her?"

Harvey laughed as he glanced at the CCTV camera. "Young Miss, please don’t say it like that. I still want to live."

"Young Master, Young Miss, since Sir Allen isn’t around, no one else will take you into the lobby," one of the men said, clearing his throat and also glancing at the camera just in case a certain someone was watching.

"Ohh..." the little boy’s mouth formed an o-shape. "So, you don’t like our mommy?"

"Of course not!" they answered in unison, feeling like any answer they would give now was like jumping on the chopping block themselves.

Please stop asking questions!

Harvey’s face squeezed in the middle as he lowered his head a bit. "Of course, we... respect the madam. It’s just that she might get angry if she sees you all alone in the company. Besides, your father told us to take you downstairs."

The twins narrowed their eyes, making all the men sweat just a little. When they finally answered, "Okay!~" they all heaved a collective sigh of relief.

***

Meanwhile, Lola trudged her way to the Summit Partners’ entrance while busy on her phone. Since her mind was all over the place just because she woke up in Atlas’s arms this morning, she had to borrow his car.

[To: Unknown]

Where can I get the keys?

[From: Unknown]

They’ll come to you.

"Did he mean someone is going to give it to me?" she murmured, dragging her feet into the entrance of the building.

She was about to type a reply when she paused, taking one step into the Summit Partners’ lobby.

"Hmm?" Her brows knitted, and she lifted her eyes to see that everyone—every single living, breathing person in the lobby—had stopped like mannequins, all looking in her direction.