Date The CEO.com

``Has Director Sam sent a report about Define Love?``

Eve paused from typing out an email. She pulled up the company chat, composing a response, ``Not yet. I will be sending an email in a minute and call him about it.``

The chat window closed again after she sent it. Her fingers flew across her keyboard and finished the email to the studio heads for the new series. The past week had been packed with work. She barely conversed with anyone unless necessary. 

There had been a leak about the script.

Still in the drafting process, nothing had been finalized as of yet but they received a set back. 

The book's fans did not take the changes lightly. Countless comments about their direction popped up. They had openly stated their decision to make a series instead of a movie—explaining how it would do the narrative better justice this way.

But the draft didn't give them that impression.

To see the current progress without approval gave them a blow. 

As an avid reader herself, Eve understood where they were coming from. The only thing that irked her was the person behind the leak. They hadn't found a trace of it. The studio stopped operating in line with the incident. 

They focused on damage control first.

Ambryan H: ``The PR Team has arranged a press conference for later. Inform Director Sam and Director Rowan about the event. They will be attending alongside Madison and I. This is our biggest project to date. We will not take chances.``

Eve took a deep breath and nodded, agreeing silently. She could feel his frustration through the screen. He often sent numerous messages just to make sure everything was in order. And she executed them diligently.

Everlee H: ``I shall retrieve the details and contact them right away.``

Pushing her chair back, Eve reached for the handset. She speed-dialed the Public Relations Department and asked about the press conference. She wrote them down on a pad. She repeated the words back to the PR Team, confirming her notes.

Then, the elevator dinged.

Madison entered the floor, his long albino ponytail swinging behind him. He raised his hand when Eve stood up. He nodded at her once before entering the CEO's office. His carefree personality was absent. The usual small talk was skipped over.

Today, he came as the company president and not as a guest.

Eve flinched as the door closed. 

They hadn't had a scandal for months. Everyone was on edge—but what aggravated them was the culprit. The lack of evidence made them suspect that an outside party was involved. Either someone sneaked in or they had a spy. 

Whichever it was, the security team would handle it while they addressed the public.

Eve prepared refreshments in the pantry. They still had a few hours before the press conference. The directors would also turn up soon. She debated whether to order in some pastries. There should be a shop nearby. It won't take long before the delivery to arrive.

Meanwhile, she should serve some iced tea.

Luminous green eyes snapped in her direction when she entered the CEO's office. 

Madison rose to his feet and walked over to her, taking the tray from her hands.

"President!" Eve protested and tightened her grip.

"Nonsense! I wasn't able to greet you properly. This is the least I could do!" Madison scoffed. He succeeded when the pitcher almost tipped over. Eve had straightened the tray and let it go, knowing he wouldn't give up.

Ambryan frowned from his seat. "Do you want to become my secretary now, King?"

"I don't have a death wish."

"Does that mean I have one?" Eve covered her mouth, realizing her mistake. She bowed her head for speaking out of turn. "Apologies, Sir Hathaway and Sir Madison. I will keep my words in check."

Madison laughed heartily. It reverberated around the room, bouncing off the walls and echoing. He set the tray on the desk before he could drop it. He had felt his muscles weaken from the laughter. 

If he had any tension left, it had evaporated at this moment.

Even Ambryan cracked a smile. 

"Oh, Eve. I could just tie you up and kidnap you." Madison sighed dreamily, sitting down. His eyes glanced up at the ceiling as if imaging the whole scenario. A playful smile stretched on his lips.

A pen hit him on the shoulder. "Don't say things that can be taken out of context."

Madison flinched and rubbed the sore spot. It was tiny but it bumped his skin at the right angle. He glared at Ambryan, pouting a little. "Who is being unprofessional now?"

The CEO returned the pout with a sarcastic smile. "I only returned the behavior that you emit." 

Eve coughed to hide her amusement. When Ambryan looked at her, she fixed her glasses and said, "Should I order some food? The directors will arrive within the hour."

Madison was the first to react. He rubbed his stomach and grumbled. "Yes, please. I'm famished. I need to replenish my energy for the reporters later."

"Then, shall I call in from Lil' Qxi-Qxi* a few blocks away?" Eve suggested, knowing it was the President's favorite restaurant. They had eaten a few times before.

"That would be lovely! They make the best chicken sandwiches. Actually, they make the best chicken anything. Their roasted chicken is a staple of mine," Madison gushed. His mouth watered just thinking of the food. "They have several finger foods we can enjoy as an afternoon snack. What do you think, Yan?"

"Fried food?"

The President opened his mouth. 

Then, he closed it again.

Why was the CEO such a picky eater?!

"I believe they are air-fried," Eve shared, trying to help. "If you are still uncomfortable, I believe they have soft chicken tacos on the menu. The meat is boiled instead of fried."

"Hmm," Ambryan contemplated. He started at nothing as he assessed the food option. Based on the meal amount, they would have to move to a better location. "Alright, order for five. Prepare the conference room next door. We will eat there."

"Five?" 

He scowled in her direction. "Yes. You will be joining us, of course. You'll also be at the conference."

"Understood." Eve nodded and spun on her heel. She took out the business mobile as she left the room. Her mind arranged an order, noting to ask for the food easiest to eat. This way, there would be less of a mess to clean up. 

"Can't you look a bit friendlier?" Madison commented after Eve left. He gave the CEO a side-eye look of disapproval. "It makes me wonder how you even managed to get a girlfriend. Any girl would be scared shitless from your permanent scowl."

"What did you say, person-who-haven't-caught-the-traitor-yet?"

"Really now… who is older? Me or you?" 

Where was the show of respect? As soon as he entered, Ambryan had treated him like a criminal. It wasn't him who caused the leak! Why was he the one punished? He had taken action as soon as he heard about it. Where was the acknowledgement for his efforts?

"You mean mentally?" Ambryan clarified. He poured two glasses of iced tea and claimed one for himself. Although a bit sweet, Eve managed to brew the right ratio of tea leaves vs water. It refreshed his throat nicely.

Madison chose not to answer the question. It was hopeless. His mere presence always triggered the other party's obnoxious nature. Sometimes he found it flattering. Sometimes he found it tiring.

This moment belonged to the latter.

Well, more like—in between?

He shook out of his daze and explained the situation. "We are tracing all the places the script could have gone. Whether as a hard copy or a soft one. Everyone who had seen even one page of it had been piled into a room. We're looking into each one as we speak."

Ambryan swirled the liquid inside the glass. He detected a hint of lemon in the taste. The dark look on his face had faded away. He cleared out the frustrations from his thoughts. They were useless towards the situation. They would only hinder him from finding a proper solution.

"What about you? What do you plan to appease the fans?" Madison asked, trying to resume the conversation. He reached for his glass and sipped the iced tea.

"I have one in mind." 

The President choked on his glass. They had discussed the implications and effects of the incident just a few minutes ago. Now, there was a solution? How sure was Ambryan that this was the best move to make?

"Well…?" Madison goaded for more information.

Ambryan finished the rest of his iced tea and placed the empty glass back on the tray. "I am not sharing it with you until the conference happens."

"So stingy." Madison tsked, shaking his head. He raised the glass to his lips and mumbled, "What does E see in you?"

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing." He swallowed his drink in one gulp and glanced at the door. A sigh exhaled out of his nose. His eyes pierced through the door as if he could see the other side. "I just wondered when the directors will arrive."