There was pin drop silence in the boardroom of Elrod Enterprises, as all those present, waited with bated breath for their boss to react.

Treyton Elrod was quiet, and still.
A tic beating at his temple, was the only sign that he had even heard what his accountant had just announced, as he continued leaning back in his plush armchair.
'A leak?'
His voice sounded loud in the tensed atmosphere.
'Wie zum Teufel? How the hell did this happen?'
The accountant almost shook in his shoes, although the CEO had not raised his voice.

'Herr Elrod..'
The accountant began.

'This is unacceptable!'
Treyton's chair straightened, and he slapped only one hand on the long table, causing the entire table to shake with the impact.

All of the ten people sitting there, felt their heart race, and they bowed their heads, unable to meet the eyes of their now furious employer.

'Never in the ten years that my company has been around for, have I ever heard something so scheußlich! Ridiculous!'
The fact that he kept switching from English to German, indicated how angry he was.
He turned accusing eyes back to his accountant.
'Has there been a lead, as to who..'

'I'm afraid we don't know that yet, sir..but..we do know who bought the property before you were due to...'
He paused, and took a deep breath, before speaking in a rush of words.
'It's the Hubers..I'm sorry!'
He staggered a bit, as Treyton suddenly stood up, his armchair almost falling backwards behind him.
All those present, quickly rose as well.

'Verdammt! Dammit!'
Treyton exploded, hitting his fist on the table again, this time causing a water glass to skid across, and crash to the floor, shattering into pieces.
'How could this happen?'

The Huber Company was his biggest rival in the city, a rival who held almost as much as, but not even close, the credibility that the Elrods did.
Elrod Enterprises had been built solely by him, and he was proud of his achievements. He was the only thirty year old who had attained such heights not only in Vienna, but in the whole of Austria as well. It meant a great deal to him, because he had started from scratch, and built it to its' former position today.
Whenever a new project began, or a property was up  for sale in the city, it was usually Treyton's company who obtained it, fair and square.
To hear now, that information had been leaked to David Huber, the owner of THC, and the land he had wanted, had been bought by his competitor, just a few hours before he was due to, was the biggest blow.

'I want to know who is responsible for this! And I want to know it, as soon as possible! Verstehe?'
His tone heeded no compromise. What he wanted, he got.

'Understand, sir!'
The accountant stood ramrod straight now, a look of determination on his face.

Treyton walked out of the room, followed by his personal assistant, Irma  Wagner, who hurried to catch up to his long stride.
He reached his office, and she entered too, as he moved to sit on the chair behind his desk.
The light from the morning sun, cast his face in a shadow, as he sat facing away from the huge picture window, that was situated behind his desk.

'Irma! I need my lawyer on the phone, right now!'
Treyton barked out, already busy typing something on his laptop.

'Yes, sir!'
Irma hurried over to his desk, and put him through to the lawyer, before walking towards the door.
But her boss was already speaking rapidly into the phone in German, as she shut the door behind her.

Treyton watched his young, and pretty assistant walk to the door, as he spoke to his lawyer, and couldn't help but admire her long legs, very much visible beneath her short, slim skirt. Irma was in her twenties, attractive, with brown, wavy hair, and a slim figure that hinted at full curves, underneath the short jackets she usually wore to work.

Treyton had always been partial to brunettes, but he didn't believe in mixing business with pleasure. He already attracted his share of female attention, not only because of his good looks, which were a plus, but also because of his wealth and standing in the country.
He was popularly known as the 'Most Eligible Bachelor' by the leading magazines.
But Treyton was not interested in marriage. He didn't even believe in love as a forever thing..it was too overrated in his opinion.

Irma was the best assistant he had ever had, and he didn't need an affair that would jeopardise that. He trusted her, but right now he had to be careful, and he needed to speak to his lawyer in private.

'Herr Elrod, should I get the private detective to start?'

Treyton turned his thoughts back to what the lawyer was saying.
'Right away! I need answers. And quick!'

'Right, sir!'

Treyton put down the phone, and leaned his head against the back of his chair, rubbing his thumbs over his closed eyelids.
How did this happen?
Treyton had a reputation for being cutthroat and running a tight ship, but then, that was what was responsible for his success. A breech of confidential information was just not acceptable to him.

His cell phone rang, breaking into his thoughts.
He picked it up from his desk, a frown marring his brow, as he saw who it was. The thought of ignoring it was great, but he knew the caller would keep calling again and again till he answered. He swiped it to attend.
'Hello.'
His voice was terse.

'Schatz! Darling!'
A sultry voice came in his ear.

'Hello, Marissa..'
Treyton replied, his attention not really on her.

'Were you thinking of me?'
Marissa gave her voice an extra sensousness, and Treyton almost rolled his eyes.

'No!'
He said, and he heard the woman sigh.

'That was blunt!'
She chuckled to cover her disappointment.

'Well, I am at the office, and busy. And you know I never mix business..'

'With pleasure..yes..I know..'
Marissa finished his statement.
'But..I am your business, and I do give you pleasure..'
She said seductively.

'Marissa!'
Treyton interrupted her, getting irritated.
'Was there something important, because I'm really busy..'

'Okay, okay! I just wanted to remind you of that new year party you are throwing on the weekend. And also, that you had promised to pick me up from my studio.'
Marissa was a dress designer who owned a prestigious studio in the city, and Treyton's current girlfriend.

Treyton threw a new year party every year, and it was a grand event in the social circles.
'Yes..sure..'
Treyton was distracted, and so quickly agreed.

'Great!'
Marissa was happy at having it confirmed.
'So will I see you tonight?'

'What's tonight?'
Treyton shook his head, fast losing thread of the conversation, his mind on more important things.

'Well..'
She paused.
'I was hoping for dinner tonight..my place..'
Her tone suggested of an invitation for something else.

Treyton rolled his eyes this time, not in the mood to even think about sex.
'Marissa! I have something really important to do, and I wouldn't be the best company..'

'Oh..'
There was dejection in her voice.

'But..we will meet at the party, right? We can have drinks later..say..my place?'

His words pacified her, like he had intended them to, as she quickly agreed. He was a smooth talker, and could get away with anything at the best of times.
He cut the call, and threw the phone on his desk.
Marissa was beginning to get clingy, and he did not appreciate it. Just the last date they had had, she had gone on and on about how her friends were getting married or engaged. Treyton had heard alarm bells in his head, but had smoothly changed the subject.
He was not interested in marriage or all that it entailed. He liked being a  free bird, and believed in being control of a relationship. The moment a woman got close enough for comfort, he cut the ties so fast, that even the woman didn't know what hit her.

Marissa was a beautiful woman, and she looked good on his arm when he needed it. She was great in bed too, and he too enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh, like any red blooded man did.
So it was all well, till a 'wedding' came into the picture. Then it was time for goodbye.

Treyton stood up suddenly, unable to sit for longer. He went to stand by the picture window, his hands in the pockets of his extremely expensive suit trousers. On the outset, he looked relaxed, but his mind was running to employees in his company, trying to think of who could be the traitor.
Of who had had the guts to betray him. When he found out who he was...

The view of the entire city soothed him, and he would often stand here, just looking. From the fifteenth floor of his office building, he could see as far as across the Danube River, and his accomplishments too. Atleast half, if not more, of the land and property that could be seen, belonged to him. The sense of satisfaction he got everytime, was something else, indeed.
He looked out at the new property across the river that he had been about to buy, and anger flared again.

I'll find out who your link is Huber! You just wait and watch!

***************************

'Treyton Elrod gives the best parties ever!'

A woman looked around at the grand set up, the tasteful decoration, and the glamorous women dressed to perfection, before she glanced at where Treyton was standing surrounded by several men, talking.

'Ofcourse! He does it best!'
Marissa lifted the champagne glass to her lips, as she watched her man in the limelight, a flock of people drawn around him, like a moth to a flame.

'You are so lucky!'
The woman said, a slight envy in her tone.
'He's filthy rich, not to mention hot to boot!'
She leaned towards Marissa.
'I bet he's great in bed, too!'

'Well, that darling, is for me to know, and you..never to find out!'
She said that in a joking manner, but she didn't really know it to be true.
Marissa knew that, although she was Treyton's current lady, there had been several before her, and if she didn't do something, then would be more, after her too.

Treyton had seemed to be in good spirits, when he had picked her up for the party. But it didn't take a minute for his mood to change, so she had to be careful around him. He had seemed a bit on edge for the past three days, and she had no intention of getting on his bad side. She needed him to stay in a good mood tonight, as she had made plans with him for later.

She kept her eyes on him from afar, as several women came to greet him, touching their bodies close to his, and kissing his clean shaven cheek, as they greeted him. She heard him laugh at something one of them said, and felt a flash of jealousy pass through her. She quickly moved towards him, excusing the women she had been making small talk with.

He looked gorgeous tonight, dressed in a black suit and a pristine white shirt, a black  bow tie at his throat.
Marissa knew the body behind that fitting suit, which consisted of spectacular abs, and a washboard chest. The tattoo of some tribal design on his upper arm made him look dangerous, but sexy. His short brown hair, and green eyes oozed sex appeal, making him one gorgeous specimen.

She moved to his side, smiling at him, as she handed him a glass of champagne. Treyton gave her a glance, nodding, as he took the glass from her. He took a sip, before looking back at his associates, and continuing his chit chat.

It was a couple of minutes, before she realised that his attention wasn't on any of the people surrounding him, but beyond where they were standing. She quickly ran her eyes around the hotel's ballroom, but couldn't seem to find what had gained his attention.
Suddenly, her gaze zeroed in on a woman standing far away from the crowd, but still inside the circle, so that she didn't look odd. She wasn't alone, she had a companion, yet looked distinct.
The woman's attention wasn't on the guests or Treyton, and if truth be told, from this distance even, she looked bored.

But, as Marissa turned to look back at Treyton, she saw him move, his gaze fixed on the woman, and she knew she had been right in her assumptions. She quickly hooked her elbow in his arm. He looked at her arm pointedly, raising an eyebrow, and the look in his eyes, made her quickly remove it. Marissa knew he didn't like public displays of affection, and she didn't want to anger him.

Treyton moved away, and she could only stand there and look. He stopped to greet several people, so that to anyone watching, it looked like he was being the perfect host, mingling with his guests. But to Marissa, it surely meant what she was thinking.
Her apprehension was confirmed, as Treyton Elrod finally headed in the woman's direction.

To be continued...