Chapter 119 - Little Labourers (1)

Mr Wilde dropped the children off at a bus stop where six suspicious-looking boys were gathered under. The CEO didn't recognise them and hesitated to let the four children under his care alight but Alex's happy squeals and Elfie's greeting once they opened the car door made him rethink. Could these be the classmates his girls had been talking about?

"Goodbye, daddy. See you later!" Alex grinned as the car door slammed shut. The chauffeur drove off and Wilmer couldn't help but turn back to see the ten children gathered at the bus stop chat animatedly.

Unaware of Wilmer's complaints in the car, the children were thrilled to see each other after a long week. It was rather unfortunate but not all the students of the E.C. Class could make it. Some of them were overseas on a holiday with their families and others had activities like tuition classes or had to help their parents out with their jobs. Others like Si-Han had to return to work or were working on their individual projects.

From what Scarlet last heard, Mustafa was training hard at a soccer camp overseas, Roy was participating in a sports camp with some other schools in the country and Dragon was undergoing intensive special training to qualify for a spot to represent Singapore in the coming S.E.A. Games in martial arts. The young writer was happy for the martial artist who took his romance to greater heights. The S.E.A. Games was an international competition not paling in comparison to the Youth Olympics that Rebecca was going to participate in. She gave the new couple her blessings and wished them the best. While talent was required to excel, Scarlet believed that it was only a small reason for success. Without the true driving force of hard work and determination, no amount of talent could make an individual shine.

The boys present today were Jeremy, Jeff, Issac, Samuel, Benedict and Rowan. Elfie was asked to give Wilmer a brief background report about these boys who requested for a position of an intern with his company. The hacker didn't leave any stones unturned and Wilmer passed the files to his secretary to look over. Carol made prompt arrangements and decided to assign the boys to different departments.

Alex was a little disheartened when the boys told her that they were all going separate ways at the company.

"The four of us are going to intern at the admin department, I heard that there is a new manager and they are currently severely short-handed," Jeremy said.

Jeff agreed and nudged Benedict. "I heard that they decided to assign you to the logistics department. How nice!"

The punk rolled his eyes when Jeff wiggled his eyebrows at him. "There's nothing impressive there. I'm just going to help with what I can. If there is anyone who is lucky, it's that delusional idiot there. He's going to human resource and public relations. Don't know who thought it would be a good idea to put a nutcase there but if you want the phone numbers of any hot office ladies, you have a better chance by asking him."

Scarlet propelled herself forward with the crutches in surprise. "You're not going to be in the same department? I didn't hear anything about it..."

Jasper looked uneasy. "Is nobody going to the marketing or design department?"

The six boys shook their heads and Jasper inhaled. How could Wilmer leave his two daughters alone without anyone accompanying them? Scarlet has only just recovered and might need assistance moving around. Alex was very dense and slow-witted. Being Wilmer's daughter would only make her a target for bullying. What was the CEO thinking?!

Elfie noticed Jasper's silence and hummed thoughtfully. Although he wasn't very well-acquainted with the quiet boy who often hid his eyes behind his bangs, the boy's worrywart nature that rivalled Mr Wilde's was not a secret. Lin Lin also mentioned it in the passing before and Elfie wondered if that was the only reason why Jasper agreed to become the drummer of the new band.

They walked to the building and reached the lobby where a receptionist was waiting. The pleasant lady recognised Scarlet who was still walking with the help of her crutches and beamed.

"Good morning! You must all be here for the internship? Please wait a moment, Ms Carol will be down soon enough to show you your internship assignment and introduce you to the person-in-charge."

They waited patiently and chatted on lighter topics, trying to ease the nervousness. Elfie reassured the internally fretting Jasper that the girls would be fine. "I will be in the tech department if you need anything. Actually, if you can get some time alone you can drop me a text using the chatroom app on the phone. Let's all arrange to meet for lunch."

Issac agreed. "Should we head over to meet you or wait here at the lobby then head of together? When is lunch anyway?"

Samuel came prepared. He retrieved a neatly folded schedule printed out last night after he received the email confirmation about his internship from Wilde Inc.'s HR. "Lunch is from noon to one in the afternoon. We should gather here in the lobby and go together. I don't know where to go for lunch yet but we can decide that together later."

Alex smiled when she heard that. "I know a few places that we can go to for lunch! Mommy said that lunch will be on us today to celebrate our first day as interns together although it's not the first day for some of us."

Carol stepped out of the lift and saw the group of children laughing away looking very carefree. She smiled. Wilmer had nothing to worry about even if some of the boys looked slightly more intimidating. As it was their first day of the internship, Carol decided to give them all an induction program for formality.

"Hello, boys and girls. I'm Carol, the secretary of Mr Wilmer Wilde. I heard that we will be receiving some rather talented students who wish to experience working life during their end of year break. It's a rather good timing actually because the company is currently short-handed with many staff going on long holidays. Don't worry, the jobs should be very simple and business is usually slower during this time of the year for some departments. If you're all ready, shall we head up?"

Rowan looked hyped up about going on an office tour as Carol explained a little more about the company when they were in the lift. The secretary suddenly felt like a teacher or a tour guide with so many pairs of eyes looking at her. It was an uneasy feeling but not an unwelcome one. Nobody usually paid her much attention because all eyes would usually be on her boss. their worshipping looks made her blush a little especially when they showered her with genuine praises of her knowledge.

"Alright, this is the meeting room that I've booked all the way till lunch. Please take a seat and help yourselves to the refreshments in the room. I'll be back with your access cards and some paperwork," she told the eager children who answered her positively before fighting over who got the last packet of M&Ms in the refreshment tray.

Carol returned to her office and nearly screamed in shock when Wilmer's head popped up from beneath her desk just as she was about to reach it.

"How are the boys? Are they bullying my girls? Do I need to fire anyone?"

The lesbian secretary glared at her childish boss. Screw Wilmer and his daughter complex! What kind of CEO would ambush his employees to inquire about his daughters' first day at work? It was totally inappropriate and Carol wasn't afraid to let Wilmer know what she thought of him.

The CEO visibly wilted when she told him that Orita would be informed of his ill conduct. Wilmer cried and begged but Carol was already immune to this wimpy side of her boss. She grabbed the files she needed, a container full of pen and a box of access cards that the HR readied yesterday for the arrival of the new interns.

With a roll of her eyes, the secretary left her pathetic boss behind and shut the door. The woman received some strange stares from her colleagues but a glare from her made everyone hurry back to work. It wasn't unusual to hear odd noises coming from the CEO's office and his secretary's room but nobody dared to breathe a word about it.

After all, Carol had quite a reputation in the company. Nobody called her Capricious Carol without good reasons. They shook their heads in pity once the lady left the office. Let the Heavens watch over the group of new interns under the demon secretary's care. If not a single one of them dropped out by the end of the week, now that would be the talk of the year.