Callistus' fingers froze over the keyboard. "I-I thought you were leaving."

Ivan shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I said I'd wait, didn't I?"

"Yes, sorry," Callistus quickly resumed typing at his previous pace.

Ivan stood behind Callistus, a cup in his hand. He continued to observe Callistus, noting the dedication and effort he put into his work despite the late hour. 

Finally, Callistus finished the last entry and exhaled in relief. "All done," he said, looking up at Ivan.

"Excellent work," Ivan said, genuinely impressed. "Let's go."

Callistus nodded, feeling a strange mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. As they walked out together, Callistus couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic CEO and the connection he felt, even though he couldn't quite place it.

—

The next morning, Callistus quickly finished the last quarter of the book, leaving him plenty of time to rest before sending the records to Ivan. He went out to lunch again with Star and Myiesha. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was nice to spend time with some friendly faces.

"You finished transferring the data already?" Star asked. "So fast."

"Not really. Didn't your brother tell you?" Callistus replied as he took a bit of his lunch. "He said he came in to grab something for you."

"Really?" Star responded, looking puzzled. "I'm not sure about that. But I do remember mentioning to him that you were working overtime."

"Do you think he made that excuse to see Callistus?" Myiesha speculated, glancing at Star.

Star and Callistus both shrugged, shaking it off. Ivan had always been quite introverted, often silent when conversations turned to him. Star wondered where Pavanya, Isabell, and Danish were, only to find out they had been sent overseas for a while as another building was opening, and they were invited by Ivan.

"He didn't go, did he?" Star remarked, with Myiesha shaking her head.

"You always said he was a quiet man," Myiesha replied before they headed back to their respective places.

Callistus didn't have much else to do for the rest of the day, so he spent the afternoon watching his computer, waiting for any new tasks to come in.

A notification rang from Mia, informing him about a change of plans from the client. Instead of meeting next week, the client wanted to meet in three days, on the night of the auction. Callistus didn't answer, he had hoped he could go to see the auction with Ivan.

As the day of the auction approached, the atmosphere in the office became increasingly busy. The upcoming auction was set to be held at the Everlasting Chase Estate Auction's Official Hall for the first time, drawing thousands of people—rich and poor alike—eager to witness the grandeur of the newly constructed venue. Built a few years back amid the company's meteoric rise, the estate had become the subject of much speculation and fascination.

Despite the company's name suggesting a focus on estates and household goods, the auctions offered a diverse range of items each month, keeping enthusiasts on edge and prepared for the next big event. The auctions were broadcast live worldwide, allowing participants to bid from across the globe. This was not just any average business—it was colossal.

"What type of auction are we holding this month?" Callistus asked his colleagues, feeling somewhat out of the loop.

"Memory loss boy?" one of them mocked. "You don't know?"

Callistus shook his head, ignoring the joke.

"Aren't you the high-positioned favourite?" another taunted, eyeing him up and down. "Called to the boss's office for personal lessons. Lunching with the company's most beautiful ladies every day."

"Hey!" Callistus snapped. "That's none of your business. Sorry if your frog-looking ass makes you too shy to speak to them."

Annoyed, Callistus turned away from the group. The man with the frog-like face grabbed Callistus by the collar, his intention clear—he wanted to fight. But Callistus pushed him back with a sharp shove, causing the man to stumble. 

Another wanted to join in, chocking Callistus by the neck. Callistus fought back, throwing a punch onto the other guy's face. But a piercing sound of a commanding voice cut through the tension.

"What is going on here?!" the woman's voice rang out. She stood at the glass entrance, her presence like a thunderstorm breaking through a tense silence.

Her gaze swept over the gathered crowd. Behind her stood COO Isabell, CFO Myiesha, Chairman Danish, Compliance Officer Pavanya, and Secretary Star. Each of them had a stern expression, their eyes locked on the scene unfolding before them.

Callistus's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the woman's face. "Mia?" he whispered, shock and relief mingling in his voice.

Mia's expression remained as everyone in the office was escorted to Isabell's office. As she stood aside, clearly not one of the company's high authorities, Mia's role was to observe. The office buzzed with a tense energy as the senior executives began to assess the situation.

Isabell, Myiesha, and the others gathered around the projector in Isabell's office. Danish, accompanied by Pavanya and Star, stepped forward, holding a tablet with the security footage.

"Jacob started it," Danish stated, his voice laced with frustration as he began to play the footage on Isabell's projector. "They called him a 'memory loss boy' and made nasty comments about him being our favourite." The footage flickered to life on the large screen, showing Jacob and the group of men surrounding Callistus, their faces twisted with derision.

The video captured Jacob grabbing Callistus by the collar and the ensuing struggle as Callistus pushed him away. The scene was chaotic, and the audio picked up the taunts and threats exchanged between the employees. 

As the footage played, Isabell's and Myiesha's expressions grew increasingly serious. Isabell's gaze remained fixed on the screen, her silence speaking volumes about her disapproval. Myiesha's eyes were hard, reflecting her concern for the integrity of the company.

"I see," Isabell said quietly, her voice controlled but carrying an undertone of steely resolve. She turned to Callistus, who stood near the edge of the room, looking both apprehensive and relieved.

Callistus, still processing the sudden shift in the day's events, met her gaze. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble," he said, his voice wavering slightly.

Myiesha stepped forward, her tone gentle but firm. "This is unacceptable behaviour. We have standards, and this kind of treatment is not to be tolerated here."

Pavanya, standing off to the side, nodded in agreement. "No one should be treated that way, especially not because of something as simple as memory loss."

Star, who had been silent until now, looked at Callistus with an apologetic expression. "We'll make sure this is dealt with."

Isabell nodded, her gaze shifting back to Danish, Pavanya, and Star. "Please ensure that all necessary actions are taken. We need to reinforce that our workplace must be respectful and inclusive."

As the senior staff took charge of the situation, Callistus felt a mix of gratitude and anxiety. He was grateful for not the one starting it, but the tension in the room made it clear that the incident had not only affected him but had implications for the whole company.