Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Pensil was thoroughly enjoying his new position as Interim CEO of Capsule Corp.
Who wouldn't?
The position came with a host of benefits including a black card, company car, increased salary, and most importantly the admiration and respect of being the leader of one of the richest companies in the world.
He remained in his old office, didn't want to be seen as too anxious as Bulma recovered.
It was an interim role after all. He would work hard to become Bulma's permanent replacement.
It was ironic that the CEO of the company that was one of the first to develop the COVID vaccine was now sick with the virus.
Women.
Lucky for Pensil sexism still existed. Pensil had the virus shortly before Bulma but he wasn't the CEO so his case was not in the spotlight. Bulma's case received more publicity especially after news broke that she was pregnant.
Incubated and pregnant.
Damn.
Pensil felt sad for Bulma. Truly, he did but life was looking good for him. He got his dream job, one that was meant for him but stolen by Bulma. He gave so much of his time and energy to Capsule Corp. while Bulma was away for years at a time doing God knows what. She was so privileged! He worked hard and earned this role. Even though it was interim, he had a strong feeling it wouldn't be an interim position for too long. Bulma wouldn't be returning for some time. She would have to focus on her recovery and her child. Everything would continue to fall into place for him.
Pensil glanced at his left finger. He was married to the love of his life and had his dream job. Pensil recently announced his marriage to Book and she promptly resigned from Capsule Corp. Book took an executive leadership position with rival company Takeda. They decided not to discuss business at home.
Many at Capsule Corp. were happily surprised by Book and Pensil's marriage. While his daughter was hospitalized, Dr. Briefs himself had personally congratulated the couple and sent a gift. Dr. Briefs returned to his office at Capsule Corp. shortly after Pensil became Interim CEO. He continued to mentor Pensil and without Bulma being there it seemed like the good old times.
Pensil had thoroughly enjoyed his honeymoon with Book at Lake Toya. He reminisced on all of their lovemaking before getting prepared for his first meeting of the day. Bulma was occasionally late to these meetings, he as interim CEO made a point to arrive on time to every single one.
With a smile on his face, Pensil walked towards the conference room. The team needed to discuss the continued success of the vaccine roll out as well as plan for future deliveries of the vaccine to third world countries in the coming months. He was still thinking of his wife and how he couldn't wait to get home to her when he opened the door to the conference room. He immediately noticed that something was wrong.
A flare haired man was sitting in his seat.
"How pleasant of you to join us Pensil, have a seat." The flare haired man said to Pensil in a stern voice.
Pensil wanted to look strong, he wanted to look like he was in power, he wanted to show leadership but there was something about this flare haired man's intense glaze and stern voice that told him that he should comply.
Pensil sat in the open seat available at the table before turning and asking the flare haired man, "Who are you and what do you want from us?"
Vegeta ignored Pensil's question before firing away with a question of his own, "I see that you're married, would you happen to be married to a woman named Book?" Vegeta asked while staring at Pensil's left hand.
Pensil was stumbled, how did this strange man know his wife's name. He was starting to become worried, was she safe? Did something happen to her?
"Yes, I am married to Book." Pensil responded with a worried look on his face. "What's this about?"
Vegeta didn't respond. He looked up at the ceiling. One question was solved, Pensil and Book were married. Book probably worked here, Vegeta vaguely remembered Book's name mentioned by Bulma on several occasions.
"I saw how your face changed there, I saw that look of concern, that look of worry, when I mentioned your wife's name. I too am married. I never thought I would be. I never wanted to carry the burden of worry, I never wanted to be concerned about another person. But, alas, here I am."
Pensil remained quiet. He looked at his team. Calcula. Stapely. Char. They all remained quiet.
The flare haired man continued, "When was the last time you or your wife met with your CEO Bulma Briefs?"
Pensil stopped short of reminding this flare haired man that he was interim CEO. He thought about the question for a minute. After their honeymoon he quarantined at home while recovering from COVID-19. He knew that Book briefly met with Bulma to give her the souvenir she insisted on buying during their honeymoon. Pensil didn't want to share this information, he didn't even know who this man was. Before he could open his mouth to lie, the flare haired man had him up against the wall by his tie.
Pensil could hardly breathe. Calcula and Char were visibly shaken. There were tears silently falling down Stapely's face.
"I'm going to ask you one more time. When was the last time you or your wife met with your CEO Bulma Briefs?"
Pensil looked at the conference room door, Security had entered. Dr. Briefs himself accompanied the team. Pensil was flabbergasted, the security officers did not even have their weapons drawn and they looked just as afraid as Pensil felt. Only Dr. Briefs seemed comfortable. He was the first one to speak.
"Calcula, Stapely, and Char, we apologize for the disruption and you're free to go. There are NDA's on your desk, please sign them and drop them off in my office as soon as possible. No one is allowed to leave the premises without these forms being signed. "
The team nodded in fear and rushed out of the office.
Dr. Brief's turned his attention to the flame haired man.
"Vegeta, son, let him go."
"I will, just waiting for him to answer my question."
Pensil finally responded while gasping for breath. "I haven't seen Bulma in months, I was sick with the virus and away from work the last days that Bulma was in the office."
"and your wife?"
Pensil hesitated before responding. The one Dr. Briefs called "Vegeta" obviously noticed this hesitation and tightened his grip on Pensil's tie. Pensil could hardly breathe.
"She met with Bulma the last day Bulma was in the office."
Thud.
Vegeta let Pensil go and he fell to the ground while grasping for air.
"Looks like I have another visit to make old man."
Pensil's eyes filled with worry. He was an athletic man. He engaged in cross training and weight lifting but this "Vegeta" was incredibly strong and Pensil probably couldn't beat him in a fight. He did not want this man anywhere near his wife.
"That won't be necessary son, I called Book here and she's waiting in my office. We can all go speak with her now and get this all cleared up. But I need you to calm down son, Bulma wouldn't like any violence, especially here, at her place of work. "
"Hmm" was the man Vegata's response but seemed to loosen up.
Dr. Briefs walked towards Pensil and offered him a glass of water. Pensil took a gulf before standing up and straightening his clothes.
"I have to apologize for my son in law Pensil, he found a note in Bulma's planner and wanted to ask some questions about it. I told him I had it handled but he got here before me. We'll all go to talk to Book together, I know you would want to be by her side during our investigation. You have my word that you both will be safe."
Pensil finally put the pieces of the puzzle together. This flame haired man, Vegeta, was Bulma's mysterious Husband. He didn't understand why he was asking questions about him and Book's interactions with Bulma. They were colleagues, she was their boss, it was nothing out of the ordinary for them to meet. He would meet with Vegeta and Dr. Briefs as they questioned Book. He and his wife had nothing to hide. He would then use this incident to leverage a more permeant CEO role. Somebody would have to pay for this humiliating incident of workplace violence.
Security stepped aside as Pensil, Vegeta, and Dr. Briefs walked towards Dr. Briefs office.
When Pensil entered Dr. Briefs office, Book immediately ran to him to give him a hug. She was visibly shaken and looked like she was crying. He started to ask her what was wrong but was interrupted by Dr. Briefs.
"Book, thank you for coming in. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I know you're working hard at Takeda, though we all miss you here."
"Enough with the pleasantries." Said the one Dr. Brief's called Vegeta.
Your husband already told me that you met with my wife, Bulma, the last day she was in the office. I just have one question for you, "What was the nature of this meeting?"
"I just stopped by to give Bulma a souvenir, you know Pensil and I, we were recently married. We didn't tell anyone. We just came back from our honeymoon. I let Bulma know that Pensil was out sick but would return soon. And I...I gave her a souvenir, that's all."
Vegeta could tell this woman was lying and he was growing impatient. He looked at Book, he looked at Pensil, and said "If you don't stop lying to me, someone is going to feel some pain, likely your husband."
Pensil said confidently, "We have nothing to hide."
Book started crying, "I'm sorry honey, it was me, I did it, Pensil was infected with COVID, he touched the souvenir when we got home and I gave it Bulma to infect her with the virus. I didn't know she was pregnant!"
There was complete silence.
Pensil was in utter shock as he turned to face his wife. Book loved Bulma, she was in awe of her, she was Bulma's mentee. She almost didn't marry him because she didn't want to leave Capsule Corp. How could she do such a thing?
Book responded as if she could read Pensils mind. "It was for you Pensil. It was all for you, I would listen to you as you talked about how much you deserved the CEO role, and I knew that if I got Bulma sidelined that the position would be yours, I didn't mean for this to go on for so long, I didn't know she was pregnant." She continued sobbing.
It took all the will in Vegeta's body to stop himself from hurting this woman. He couldn't kill her. He was a changed man after all. But he wanted her to feel the pain, he wanted her to know the pain that she had inflected on his family and for what? A job?
"Book, I am so disappointed to hear that someone Bulma saw as family would intentionally hurt her, she's in the hospital not only fighting for her life but for the life of her unborn baby girl…. unfortunately, we can't press any charges, there are no laws in against intentionally infecting someone with COVID but Pensil I expect to receive your resignation by the end of the day."
Pensil couldn't believe his ears. Resignation?
"Dr. Briefs, sir, I had nothing to do with this, I had no idea Book was involved. I have given my heart and soul to you and your company, please don't do this to me."
Dr. Briefs was silent for a moment before he spoke.
"You appeared to support Bulma, to support my family and my company but held a deep animosity for her which led to your wife's atrocious actions. You're just as guilty as she is. Please, pack your office and leave."
Pensil started again, maybe he could get him to reconsider, "Dr. Briefs…"
Before Pensil could finish his sentence, Vegeta was in his face. "You and your wife are getting away really lightly to my chagrin, listen to the old man or you'll have to deal with me. Believe me, you don't want that."
Pensil and Book quickly stood up.
Book turned around to face Dr. Briefs and Vegeta, "I am so sorry, I never meant for it to go this far."
Security escorted Book out of the building while Pensil packed his belongings and submitted his resignation letter.
As he walked out of the building, he spent the majority of his career at he reflected on how much he learned and how much her grew at Capsule Corp. This was truly one of the worse days of his life. He lost his dream job and he had no idea who he married. He promised himself that he would lead Capsule Corp. into new ventures but that promise was broken as soon as his wife opened her mouth. He truly had no idea she would do such a thing. In retrospect, he now understood why she was so anxious to get the souvenir to Bulma. He thought about Bulma too as he left, he hoped that one day she would forgive them both. He wasn't sure where this situation would lead him or Book or their relationship but he would take it one day at a time.
"Well, that mystery is solved." Dr. Brief nonchalantly said to his son in law while fixing his hair and buttoning up his lab coat. "I'm glad I got you to look at her notes son, I just knew there had to be some information in there."
Before Vegeta could respond in a fury of curses to express his anger his cell phone rang.
It was West City Hospital.
"Mr. Briefs, your wife just had an emergency c-section, you're the father of a baby girl."
Guest: Mucho gracias por tus comentarios! Lo aprecio!
Did anyone guess that Book would be the culprit? :)