Rise Of The Hoarder

"Hahahahaha!!!" I laughed uncontrollably. r

It was too amusing to hear. While I couldn't watch what had transpired in Charles' office, hearing it was the next best thing, and trust me, it was so funny I couldn't help but laugh.r

"So, Melissa is coming to apologize… and Daniel is coming with her?" A few chuckles managed to escape from my lips as I slowly ceased my loud laughter.r

Still, it was weird hearing Daniel sound like that. There was no way I wouldn't recognize his voice, but all he said felt so wrong.r

"He really has changed, uh?" r

In any case, I tried to concentrate on the rest of the conversation so I wouldn't miss anything else.r

~You are dismissed, Melissa. The sooner you give your apology, the better it will be for you.~ Daniel's calm voice sounded.r

I was pleased that the prideful man knew his place and had enough sense to rightly judge the matter Ana had brought before him. He certainly gave me a good time.r

'Maybe I'll reward him later.'r

~Ana, stay back. There's something I want to discuss with you.~ r

Upon hearing this, my eyes bulged.r

'He wants to talk to Ana in private? What for?!' r

Many thoughts ran through my mind. Was he trying to spill the beans about me to her? I knew I couldn't completely trust him, which was why I left the bug in his office, but it didn't make any sense for him to betray me this soon.r

'I'm holding his wife hostage, and his daughter's identity is also something I can easily find.'r

~Okay, Charles. We're off.~ I heard Daniel say.r

A couple of footsteps sounded, and I could hear the creaking of the door as It was closed, and once again, silence reigned.r

I was feeling anxious, staring hard at my speaker. What was Charles planning on asking Ana about?r

~Ana, this is something important… and I know it will make you very uncomfortable, but you need to hear me out completely.~ Charles stated.r

I gulped, tapping my fingers on my hand as I folded them and impatiently waited for what he would say.r

~What is it about?~ Ana responded.r

For a moment, there was silence again, as though Charles was thinking of ways to break the news to Ana.r

'If that man so much as says anything, this whole thing will be ruined.' r

Panic didn't even begin to describe how I felt, but I held it in. Was I being too impatient? Paranoid? Was I rushing things too much by taming Charles? No, I had no choice, he would have found out anyway. r

'I had to take the initiative… there's no way I made a mistake!'r

~… It's about Jeremy.~r

The moment I heard this, my eyes bulged as I gritted my teeth.r

"Charles, you…"r

>KNOCK< r

>KNOCK<r

>KNOCK<r

I heard sounds coming from the door. This startled me and caused me to remove my attention from the speaker and look in the direction of the entrance instead.r

'Shit, I was too careless!' My mind rang.r

I had been too focused on the Charles, and my panic had clouded my senses, that I couldn't even sense the presence that approached the room. Now, the visitor, whoever they were, had reached the door, knocked, and would soon enter.r

"Peter and the rest, maybe?" I whispered, my mind going into overdrive.r

No, there was no way it could be them. After the meeting, they had left to get breakfast and so it was too early for them to return.r

If it wasn't them, then who could it be-?r

"It's Melissa, Jeremy. Open the door or we're coming in!" A familiar voice suddenly sounded from the other side.r

My eyes widened, realizing it had to be Melissa and Daniel who were outside the door. They had just left Charles' office some moments ago, and they were already here. Granted, it didn't take very long to traverse the stairs and hallways, but they've arrived too fast.r

'Did they run here?!'r

"Jeremy, don't ignore me!" Melissa yelled, banging on the door once again.r

'This bitch!' I gritted my teeth.r

In any case, I couldn't listen in any longer, and so I had no other choice but to return the speaker into [Subspace] and make for the door.r

Upon reaching the door, I opened it, only to meet the annoyed face of Melissa, and the surprisingly calm face of Daniel. Both of them appeared to have been in an argument, with Daniel trying to calm her down.r

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down, he's ignoring us!"r

"Maybe he's asleep, and-"r

As soon as they saw that I had opened the door, both of them stopped their disagreement, ignoring the fact that it was too late and I had seen them.r

"Good morning…" I greeted them dryly, as I was honestly not in the mood for any conversation.r

Despite how much I had anticipated the apology Melissa and Daniel would render, it was nothing compared to the burning sensation of suspense that enveloped me as a result of Charles' conversation with Ana. There was also no way for me to record their conversation since the bug and speaker couldn't store audio files.r

"U-Uh… After reflecting on my actions last night, I-I finally realized t-that… I had gone too far a-and…" Melissa began, stuttering.r

Obviously, the mere fact that she was speaking to me as an equal was killing her pride, talk less of an apology. However, she had no other choice but to do it.r

It's a shame I wouldn't be able to savor this moment, with all that is going on.r

'No, Jeremy. You have to calm yourself. There's no point worrying about that now. Just try to enjoy this situation… you can take care of Charles later!' I spoke to myself.r

A smile slowly formed on my face as I watched Melissa struggle to apologize. Daniel was still transfixed, obviously waiting for Melissa to be done with her apology first before he gave his own. r

What a gentleman he was.r

"Yo, Daniel. It's been a while." I smiled, ignoring Melissa and turning to the tall teenager beside her.r

"U-Uh, me?" Daniel asked, pointing at himself in surprise.r

His eyes displayed shock at the fact that I casually called him. He most certainly wasn't expecting me to be so open with him.r

As for Melissa, her reaction to my snob was pure rage and malice. Just what I wanted to see.r

"Oi, Jeremy… don't ignore me when I'm talking to you!"r