Chapter 47: Behind the Curtains
Morning arrived. The sun had barely risen when Estello stood at the center of the mansion's courtyard, a microphone in hand. Hundreds of workers—construction crews, IT employees, and executives—gathered before him, their faces filled with curiosity and exhaustion. Some rubbed the sleep from their eyes, others whispered among themselves, wondering why they had been summoned so early.
Behind Estello stood Richard and Jack, both silent, watching the crowd.
Estello took a deep breath before speaking, his voice steady and authoritative.
"Everyone, listen up." His words echoed through the courtyard. The murmurs died down as all eyes turned to him.
He continued, his tone light but firm. "For the past month, you all have been the backbone of this company. Because of your relentless effort, our construction site stands at an impressive twenty percent completion." He gestured towards the towering steel framework in the distance. "Hell, we might even qualify for a Guinness World Record for the fastest workers in the world."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd.
"I won't sugarcoat it," he went on. "I've pushed you hard—day and night, overtime, no real breaks. And while I may run a tight ship, I'm not a tyrant."
Estello looked across the sea of tired faces. "You all deserve rest. A proper one."
A wave of murmurs spread again, some in surprise, others in cautious anticipation.
"Starting today, I'm giving everyone—yes, all of you—a full week off. Paid leave."
Silence. Then, a collective gasp. Some workers cheered, others blinked in disbelief.