Chapter 81 - Video Call

Meanwhile, in the Qin Empire's conference meeting room, the atmosphere was thicker than ever. Lewis's aura suspended the air everyone breathes. They all expected that Lewis' mood would be better since he took a week's vacation, but it seemed the vacation only made his mood even worse!

Since Lewis didn't stay in the office for a long time in the office yesterday, as he had to go to meetings after meetings, everyone only experienced this kind of hell right now. The presenter in front struggled to continue with his presentations as Lewis scratched his temple.

Anyone who worked under Lewis knew that small gesture; Lewis was annoyed. Not long after, Lewis raised his hand and the man presenting immediately stopped — even his breathing stopped momentarily.

"One-week extension…" He muttered in a very low tone, and everyone froze. Lewis leaned back, resting his elbow on the armrest. "… and this is the best trash you all can think of?" His eyes scanned everyone's pale complexion as their hearts sank.

The man presenting the project tried to keep his trembling knees still. They had been working on this project for a month, and Lewis just called it trash! They're screwed, totally, without a shadow of a doubt screwed!

"CEO, sir, this… we," the presenter stammered, hitting his leg secretly as he was just knocking on death's door by stuttering. No one could blame him, though. 

Lewis was not just intimidating, but he wouldn't bat an eye firing those he deemed useless. Even if he fired everyone, many people would still fight and line up just to get hired in this company. No one in this world was irreplaceable to him.

"Sir, this is the best…"

"Stop." Lewis cut him off as he raised his hand. "Don't tell me what you are about to say is, this is the best course method based on the statistics and how other companies did well?"

The presenter's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Lewis guessed it right, as it was an automatic argument to his point.

"Hah…" Lewis let out a short ridiculing chuckle, leaning down his head as he scratched his temple with a finger. "This is disappointing."

Silence ensued as they waited for his royal verdict, but Lewis just remained silent. His silence felt more torturous with every passing second than when he was speaking. Now it was a guessing game who would die first.

"This…" Lewis trailed off as he raised his brow, feeling his phone inside his suit pocket vibrate. Everyone furrowed their brows when Lewis slipped his hand inside his suit and took out his phone.

That was new. Lewis never used his phone during meetings — or rather, no one had ever seen him use his phone inside the company, as he had Derek with him.

Lewis raised a brow, a bit disappointed the message came from Dion. But knowing Dion was the person in charge of accompanying Devon in his stead, he opened the message.

His eyes scanned the message, and he frowned. Lewis frowned. 'I knew she's just trying to act normal.' He thought internally, checking the photo attached to the message.

As soon as his eyes landed on the photo, he froze. Lewis newly dropped his phone as it took him a few seconds to recover. Without a word, he leaned forward, his arms against the table as he bent over, resting his forehead on his arms.

'Damn you, Dion.' He cursed internally. His ears burning red as the heat on his face increased, flustered at the level of cuteness. He even forgot he was in the middle of the meeting for a moment.

"Sir," Lewis snapped back to the current lapse when Derek approached him from behind. "Are you alright?" he asked, worried as Lewis never acted like this in front of his people.

"Yes," Lewis answered, as he dragged himself up to sit upright. "Give me a moment." 

Lewis sped dial Devon's number as he had this strong urge to hear her voice. He didn't care about the people he'd butcher, he could postpone it for later.

"Pick up," He murmured under his breath, listening to the rings in his ear.

Meanwhile, everyone around the table just looked at each other. Their eyes contained the same puzzlement as Lewis was on his phone, waiting!

There were rumors that Lewis' calls could only be answered after three rings! But he was now trying to reach the person for the second time, as the first attempt wasn't answered. Their eyes widened, wondering who was so important for him to break his own rules.

Derek, on the other hand, took a step back, as he had a glimpse of that photo. He knew Lewis more than anyone, and his boss wouldn't continue something if he was too distracted or bothered. 

Derek then glanced at the presenter, raising his brow. A secret message to tell the man to use this time to gather his thoughts properly. 

After Lewis's third attempt at reaching her, Devon finally picked up the phone. Everyone's jaw dropped when his face brightened up.

"My friend!?" Devon's voice sounded as if she rushed in picking up the phone. "How are you?! Did you see me? Do you feel better now?" she hastily asked, hoping he'd feel better and act comfortably around her again.

"Mhm," He hummed, nodding as a subtle smile resurfaced on his lips. "Better now."

"Really?"

"Mhm. You're going out?" he asked, shunning the entire world, unaware of the shock he was giving to others.

"Yes. Your brother told me to spend a day out with him!"

Lewis frowned.  'A date?' he thought.  [ Dion suddenly feeling a chill ran down his spine. ]

"Oh! What?" Lewis quirked his brow, hearing her remarks. "Video call?" she asked someone else, but he couldn't hear anyone else talking.

"Oh, how do I do that?" Devon murmured, drawing the phone away, and followed Ghost Lin's instructions. 

When she pressed the video call button, Lewis checked his phone to see the video call request, and he accepted it without a second hesitation. 

Her bright smile immediately graced his eyes, but by talking through video call, everyone inside the room had to hear everything!

"Oh!! So charming!" Devon blurted out as soon as she saw him. Everyone who heard her voice and comment nearly choked on their own saliva.