NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

After the first batch left, Kyle glared at the ones left behind.

"The group who presented Project C is blacklisted not only from Company LV, but all companies under Smith Industries," Kyle said ruthlessly, "We do not entertain anyone who tries to make fools of us."

"As for those who supported Project A and D, you are under probation for one month," Kyle said, "If you fail the evaluation at the end of that month, you will be fired."

Kyle threw his files of all the proposals onto the middle of the table. The same files that he had been scribbling on earlier.

"Here are my notes on the weaknesses of the Projects. Projects A and D are rejected. Look at my files to understand why it was rejected. Project B is better but still requires work," Kyle prattled on.

He then looked at the group that had presented Project B, "You have one month to correct its deficiencies and resubmit."

Kyle glared at everyone in the meeting room and said, "My Team Zero will be monitoring Company LV in this one month. Those who survive the first purge today ... are only on probation. Whether you stay or not will depend on your performance at the end of the month."

He then got up, fixed his jacket and said, "Of course, you are more than welcome to resign if you cannot stand the heat. Smith Industries are not for the weak and we are not here to force you to stay. For those who survive, your basic pay will be increased by 10%."

The old 'smash-them-then-reward-them' tactic. Kyle had no use for weak, spineless people so they could go if they cannot work. On the flip side, he would reward those who performed well.

"I'm hungry," Kyle declared suddenly, looking at Charles, "I need to refuel before I fire more people."

Everyone in the room - excluding the Elite Five, of course - gulped again and stared at the domineering person standing there.

Kyle made it seem like firing people was as normal as going to the store.

"What?" Kyle asked when he saw Charles not moving but just staring at him, "Is there a problem?"

Charles broke out of his daze and shook his head quickly, "No, no. Yes, lunch."

"Director Kyle, I've already ordered some boxed lunches to be delivered to CEO Charles office. It should arrive in ..." Sam said as he looked at his watch, "10 minutes."

"Perfect," Kyle said with a grin, "Shall we?"

Again, Charles was impressed by the group. Without any instructions, Sam had already arranged lunch for them. It saved time, and if Charles was to guess, the food ordered would suit the group's preference. He sighed when he thought again of Pauline. Such a thing would never have been initiated by her.

The moment Kyle and his group walked out, everyone in the room let out the breath that they didn't realise they were holding. Some began wiping the sweat that had formed on their foreheads.

Their eyes landed on the files on the table. One by one, those files were taken and looked at.

15 minutes later, everyone that was still in the room, were shell shocked beyond belief.

They had seen him take those files, flip through the page and make all sorts of scribblings on it. They didn't think he was doodling to while away the time but certainly, what they saw in those files were beyond what they could ever imagine.

It wasn't scribbles. It was detailed and concise edits. It was littered with huge Xs and circles, and also question marks on unclear statements. There were even exclamation marks with comments and corrections, even towards pricing. The notes were detailed and appeared as if it had been looked at and studied for days.

Yet, Kyle had only done it in the time the presentation was being done. 10minutes. That's all it took.

A monster. That's what he was. Everyone was thinking that in their minds.

The Smith Heir may be domineering and look upon them like ants, but just like the files clearly showed ... he had every reason to be.

Some started having determination being forming in their hearts, fostering a feeling that they would take this opportunity to learn and improve. Some started getting depressed, feeling that all of their efforts and hard work was nothing when compared to a genius. So why even bother trying?

The latter were the type of people that Kyle wanted to weed out.

Word got out.

Devil Director Kyle Smith was doing the purge.

In two hours, 6 people had already been fired, 6 were under probation - and he had just started.

The news spread within the Company like wildfire. Unrestrained and created intense fear. Perhaps the only one who wasn't worried was the receptionist, for Kyle had actually praised her that morning. She was happily humming at the table, oblivious to the panic that was permeating in the Company, feeling all safe and warm.

Everyone didn't even go for lunch. They were too scared and could hardly eat. Instead, they huddled around and gossiped, with the employees from CEO Charles office being the starts of the show.

"Don't let that young face fool you," one said as he shook his head.

"Don't look at him in the eye," another said, "He has this killer gaze that will freeze your soul!"

"What do you mean, not look at him in the eye! Heck, don't even be close to him," yet another shouted, "He's so scary! He's like ... like ... a Handsome Darth Vader!"

Suddenly, it was as if everyone that had been in contact with Kyle, had an epiphany.

She was right!! They could even hear the Darth Vader theme song with Kyle walking in ...

"Poor Ben," one said, patting the poor Ben on the shoulder, "Once lunch break is over, you're showing him around."

Ben was internally screaming. What Darth Vader theme song? He could hear the theme song from Jaws!

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in CEO Charles' office was 180 degrees different.

The curtains were drawn so no one could hear what was going on, but everyone felt that the door appeared like the Doors to Hell.

Inside, however, everyone was smiling and laughing.

Xing Han was pointing at Kyle with his chopsticks while saying with a piece of chicken wing in his mouth, "Doesn't it get tiring for you to have to keep up that 'killer aura' of yours?"

Kyle took a spoonful of fried rice and shook his head, "Nope, not at all in this case."

"Why's that? You mean, normally, it would be?" Ali asked.

"If I was putting on an act, any extended effort would of course be tiring," Kyle said, "But when I'm angry, it's not an act. I can't stand stupid, incompetent people and in this case, I don't have to hold back."

"So ... you're saying at school, you've been holding back?" Xing Han asked tentatively.

"Gah, of course not! They're kids! How can I be angry at kids?" Kyle scoffed.

Charles shook his head at that. If any other kid said that about kids, he would be laughing but somehow, when Kyle said it ... Charles was quietly observing and eating his own lunch.

Then Kyle said with a smiled, "But they are fun to tease."

"You mean, being utterly shameless," Kay pointed out, eating her spaghetti.

"Hey, it wasn't ME who had that sexy picture posted," Kyle countered.

"Well, it wasn't ME that was posing in that sexy way," Kay retorted with a smile.

Charles found it very hard to keep up with the conversation that was going on. Is this what secondary school kids were like nowadays? He shook his head again. No, most likely it's just that these kids were the abnormal ones.

Just then, Kay's phone beeped. She scrolled through the messages and announced, "Zero asked if it's okay to come in this evening to set up. He wants to check out the place before officially starting tomorrow."

"That's fine," Kyle answered, "1600 hours, one hour. Then he's to join us at dinnertime. No excuses."

Kay grinned at that and sent the message. She could actually visualise how Zero would be cringing at that message. It was most likely he stated he wanted to come earlier to set up so as to avoid meeting up at dinnertime.

He was like that. A recluse. Kind of like Beatrice, which was probably why Kyle seem to have taken her under his wing, too. Zero truly did blossom under their guidance but he still preferred to be indoors and not mix around.

After everyone had their lunch, and Ali performed his afternoon prayers, they started again.

Ben was waiting (albeit, managing to keep his shaking down) outside CEO Charles office 10 minutes before the lunch hour was up. He spent the 10 minutes just taking deep breaths and reciting nonsensical things in his mind to calm down.

The moment the door opened, however, Ben yelped a bit.

Kyle just looked at him, unflinchingly. "D-Di-Director Kyle," Ben stammered, gathering himself, "Which Department would you like to go to first?"

"Accounts," Kyle answered, walking to him, "Then IT, Security, Secretary and finally, Marketing."

"Yes, Sir," Ben replied respectfully, sending a prayer to all of those in the Department, "Follow me, Sir."

"Walk beside me," commanded Kyle, "And try to keep up."

Ben nodded quickly, looking like a chicken pecking for food.

The moment the group left, everyone started calling up the Departments that Kyle had mentioned. Wails were heard.

This time, Kyle was like a tidal wave as he went through all the major Departments.

The Accounts Department was the first and had it the worst. When the discrepancies in the accounts were revealed, heads rolled. Kyle never raised his voice but it was chilling enough to stop anyone from protesting. In the end, only 2 were left standing.

It was terrifying.

The moment Kyle turned up, people shook. He would point at people, fire questions and if the answers were not satisfactory, they got fired. Although he was targetting the Departments, he would seemingly randomly pick on people that he passed. There were even people who cried and tried to plead but found that they couldn't say a thing.

He caused so much fear that when they heard his footsteps, people ran away from him. Only those in the Departments he was going to could not escape. By the time 4pm arrived, those who survived the first wave of purge felt like they got a second chance at life.

Then, a whole new scene made them realise that it wasn't over yet.

Precisely, on the dot, at 4pm, the doors slid open and a group of striking young men walked through. Every single one of them were dressed identically: black suit, crisp white shirt and black tie. Even their steps were synchronised and those that were there ... felt like they were looking at an elite army force.

They didn't look like bodyguards but like soldiers. Well-dressed soldiers, but soldiers nonetheless.