The alarm clock goes off. Asher groans and tries to turn it off but with no luck. He throws it at the wall, destroying it. Zayner enters the room.
“You know, not many people can afford doing that every morning.”
Zayner startles Asher. Asher falls out of the bed and covers himself.
“What the hell, Zayner!?”
“Why are you covering yourself? It isn't like I haven’t seen you-“
Asher yells at Zayner some more.
“No, what the hell are you doing in my house!?”
“You left the door unlocked, and I took a cab here.”
Asher just blinks at Zayner wondering why he just didn’t go to work.
“You took a cab here and not to work? And weren’t you just yelling at me yesterday to be at your place at 6am?”
“Hey, I'm saving you gas money. You should be grateful. Plus, I didn't have enough money to get to work anyways. Also, you know I do things on a whim.”
Asher sighs. He points to the direction of the living room. It’s too early for Zayner’s shenanigans.
“Go ahead and watch some TV. I'll be out shortly.”
Zayner salutes Asher.
“Aye aye, Captain!”
Zayner heads to the living room to watch some TV. Asher Gets ready for work and walks in on Zayner watching a porn movie. Asher’s jaw drops.
“What the hell!?”
Woman on tv speaks in a sexy, seductive voice.
“Is there anyway else I can pay for that?”
Zayner smiles widely and looks over at Asher.
“I know what you do alone at night!”
Man on tv replies to the woman.
“Oh, yes there is…”
Zayner laughs as Asher grabs the remote and turns the TV off. Asher points at the door in embarrassment.
“Time to go. Now!”
“Okay, okay! Don't get your panties in a wad. I'm coming!”
Zayner laughs again when he realizes what he just said. Asher rushes him out of his house. They enter his car, and Asher drives off to work. Asher drives into the parking lot of their jobsite. They exit the car, and Zayner argues with Asher, again.
“I am telling you!”
“Doesn't mean that I have to agree.”
Zayner still argues, thinking that it will change Asher’s mind even though he has failed many times before.
“Still! Megan Fox is way hotter than Mila Kunis!”
“What are you ON?! Kunis has her beat by a long shot.”
They enter the lobby. Frank walks up to the both of them trying to be as friendly as possible.
“Good morning, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Chow.”
“Good morning, Mr. Ray”
Of course, Zayner did not exchange the same pleasant greeting.
“Piss off, Frank.”
“ZAYNER!”
“What!?”
They go their separate ways, and Asher enters the elevator. He gets off his floor and goes into his office. He unlocks the door and enters it. He sees more projects as sits down at his desk.
“What the hell? More projects? Seems they’re trying to make a superhero team after all.”
Asher notices the same formula error on all of the projects. He rubs his eyes in frustration. He sighs deeply.
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“These guys don't know what the hell they’re doing...”
Asher grabs his stamp and stamps "Rejected" on all of the projects without going through them. “DARK STORM”, rejected. “SHADOW BLADE”, rejected. “BLACK ROSE”, rejected. He pauses at the “REAPER” project before rejecting that one as well. He grabs the pile of projects and delivers them to the head secretary. He places them on her desk. She was a middle-aged woman with short light blonde hair that would remind people of a certain woman asking for the manager.
“Morning, Nancy.”
“Good morning, Mr. Jacobson. How can I help you?”
Asher pats the stack of folders on her desk.
“Just delivering some rejected projects.”
Nancy looks through them and looks up at Asher. She talks to him in a concerning way like she was fishing for more information.
“You... You sure you want to reject these plans?”
Asher just shook his head.
“Yes, I am sure. they are just wrong.”
“Wrong, Mr. Jacobson?”
Asher shrugged at Nancy.
“The main formula is just messed up. It will never work.”
“Okay, I'll send these off.”
Asher nods at Nancy.
“Thanks, Nancy. You have a good day.”
“You too, Mr. Jacobson.”
Asher turns around and heads back to his office. Nancy smiles while watching Asher leave from her sight.
“We have a winner...”
Nancy gets up from her desk and takes the elevator. She exits the elevator and goes to Calypso’s office. She knocks on the door and a voice is heard from the other side.
“Come in!”
Nancy enters the office and almost power walks to Calypso’s desk. His office was dark and menacing. There were blackout curtains on his windows with very weak lighting. Calypso is on the phone with someone.
“I don’t care. Get it done today or you might see a certain someone tonight… You know who…”
Calypso’s eyes lightly glow as he said this as Nancy places the rejected projects on his desk. Calypso looks at the projects and sees the red rejected on them. He looks up at Nancy with a curious look.
“I’m hanging up now. Something just piqued my interest…”
Calypso hangs up the phone without taking his eyes off of Nancy. He interlaced his fingers together.
“So, someone had the balls to reject my projects?”
Nancy bows to Calypso.
“Yes, sir! I was surprised myself!”
Calypso takes one of the projects and shifts through them. He notices all the notes that were made on the project. He chuckled at the note taking.
“They even took notes… how cute…”
Calypso noticed that “DARK STORM” and “SHADOW BLADE” didn’t have notes written in them. He cocked an eyebrow at that.
“They didn’t even bother to look through these two… they probably figured that it would have the same problem as before and didn’t want to waste time on it for the same mistakes… they are indeed productive… who rejected them?”
Calypso looked back at the rejected stamp to see it was Asher. Calypso tilted his head trying to remember who he was.
“Asher Jacobson? He doesn’t sound familiar…”
Nancy takes a breath to speak but before she could, Calypso darted his eyes at her like he was challenging her to speak without being asked. She stops herself and raises her hand slowly. Calypso gives her a warming smile.
“Yes, Nancy? Do you have something to share with me?”
“Y-yes, sir. Um… he was just promoted last week. He’s also a hard worker and works long hours. “
Calypso finally remembers who Asher is now.
“Oh, yes, him. I thought that was that Chow guy that I keep getting emails from. Ray keeps reporting him to HR about his behavior, but I don’t have time for whiny bitches like him. Oh, right, Mr. Jacobson. I remember now. He’s been such a loyal dog; I may drop in his office for a visit. Who knows, he may be ‘the one’ I’ve been searching for. Thank you, Nancy, for bringing this to my attention. You may leave now.”
Nancy bows showing respect or maybe fear.
“Thank you, sir! No problem! Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“No, Nancy. I’m fine. Leave now.”
“Yes, sir.”
Nancy bows again and starts to leave the office but stops herself and turns back around to Calypso.
“Dr. Hart?”
Calypso slams his hands on the desk in rage. He looks up as his face starts to twist into a monster as he points at the door. The monster was made of shadows and darkness. It had a large jaw full of sharp teeth. One would might think he was Venom. The monster roars.
“LEAVE, NOW!”
Nancy rushes out the door and shuts it behind her. She breathes heavily in pure fear from what she just witnessed.
“Oh… my…”
Asher goes into his office and sits at his desk. He logs onto his computer and starts on his work. He focuses on his work so that he does not notice the commotion that is going on outside of his office. Two men open Asher's door and enter his office. Asher speaks to them without looking up at them, a little irritated. He always hated people just opening his door without knocking.
“Sorry, guys. I’m extremely busy now.”
The two men look at each other. Calypso’s voices comes from behind the two men.
“Too busy to talk to the boss?”
Asher looks towards the direction of the voice with his eyes widened.
“Dr. Hart!?”
The two men move out of the way, and Calypso enters from behind them with a huge grin on his face. Asher is dumbfounded.
“Dr. Hart! I didn't know you were stopping by today!”
Calypso answers Asher with his deep silky voice.
“No one knows when I’m going to show up at their office. That's the joys of being the boss.”
“Of course, sir. I apologize.”
Calypso holds his hand out to hush Asher. Asher stops. Calypso puts down the rejected project on Asher's desk. He look at Asher with a curious look on his face.
“May I ask why these projects were rejected?”
Asher briefly looks at the project again.
“Because the main formula is incorrect, sir.”
“Can you tell me who drew up the blueprints of these projects?”
Asher looks at the projects one more time. Calypso taps his finger on the name. Calypso was the one who made the project Asher nervously looks at Calypso. He starts to sweat a little thinking that he royally messed up.
“I... I didn't know that it was you who drew them up, Dr. Hart.”
Calypso chuckled and waved Asher off.
“Please, call me Calypso. I was very surprised when I saw that my own projects were rejected. Everywhere I sent these projects, they were accepted within the hour. But not you. You took the time to read them and understand them. Well, not the last three projects, but you even took notes on the first two. That's amazing to me. In fact, I received an anonymous email today saying that you should be Vice President of the company!”
Asher does a facepalm from that comment. He knew exactly who Calypso was talking about. Calypso chuckled a little.
“Judging from your reaction, I’m sure you know who sent that email. In short, I want you to know, I like that you don't care who the designer is. If you think there's an error in the project, you wouldn't hesitate to reject the idea. And that is why I have decided to make you the lead of all these projects!”
Asher’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Wait... What?”
Calypso gave him his best “proud boss” smile.
“You heard right! You are going to the labs and going to work on these projects! Now, get your stuff and follow me!”
Asher quickly grabs his gear and follows Calypso. They head to the elevator and enter it. Calypso pushes the B2 button. Calypso breaks the silence between the two.
“So, Mr. Jacobson… How long have you been working for me?”
“It’s been about 5 years, sir. “
Calypso chuckled at Asher’s answer.
“It’s been that long, huh? I’m surprised that I hadn’t heard about you before then. You’ve been such a hard worker and all. I usually find those quickly.”
Asher answers Calypso sheepishly.
“I… I tend to keep to myself really. I just do my work and that’s it.”
“You don’t have to be nervous around me, Mr. Jacobson…”
Calypso says the next line almost sinisterly and a hint of demonic.
“… I wouldn’t hurt a fly…”
Chills run down Asher’s spine. Calypso laughs and pats Asher’s shoulder.
“Lighten up! The fun has just begun!”
The elevator stops on that floor. The door shuts, and Calypso the B2 button for a little while and then the elevator starts moving again. The elevator stops again, and they exit it. They come to a heavy security door. Calypso does an eye, fingerprint, and voice scan before the door opens. They enter the room. It was very spacious, and all the technology was advanced. There are other people in the room but it still spacious. Calypso claps his hands together.
“Ladies and gents! This is Mr. Jacobson! He’s the new Head of Project. Listen to what he says and do it. He’ll be the unofficial me down here. Do as you are told, or face the consequences…”
The room turned cold as he said that. Calypso then gives a warm smile.
“I bid you all farewell and good luck on this project. Mr. Jacobson, keep me posted. “
“Yes, sir!”
“Good…”
Calypso smiles as the elevator’s door closes. His eyes glows a slight purple hue before Asher could catch the oddity.