A month has passed, and Faye has finally recovered. Lake tried to start the conversation with Faye multiple times through text, but Faye was like a wall and only replied back with a few words. She found the kid to be such a determined and amusing person. He kind of reminded her of Ian, like a little brother. Even though both of them were 20 years old in this life, her 32-year-old self couldn't help but treat him as a kid.
During her recovery, the Green Star company had just started working on their project, and at the end of the week, they would be launching their project.
"Faye, Dave had informed me that we have to be there tomorrow to see how Green Star's project is going so far before making the approval with them that they can launch their project," Eve reported to Faye, as they were in their office in the Lon Company.
"Alright," Faye answered back while leaning against the chair and looking at the progress report of Green Star's project. Eve was working on the next project as she was constantly looking up from the laptop. "Who are you looking for?" Faye asked, noticing Eve's weird gesture.
Her face flustered before saying, "Um, nothing."
"Don't lie. I can see you are popping your head up and down for a while now," Faye answered as her eyes didn't leave the progress report.
"You caught me. I was looking if I could spot Dave," Eve said with her cheeks reddened.
"So, are you two a thing yet?" Faye casually asked. Eve lowered her head in disappointment, "No... He won't let me cross the line between business and personal relationships yet. However, I don't know what to do anymore." Faye finally stopped looking at the report and looked at her.
"This is not like you. You never lose hope that quickly. You always try your best," Faye said.
"Really?" Eve's face lit up instantly. "You are right. I will continue to try my best," Eve said.
"Just don't lose yourself, though. Since you are lying to yourself and making yourself someone you are not," Faye said. Eve's face toned down a bit before saying, "I know...."
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"How is your arm?" Leo asked Faye. It was the next day, and they were in the car, driving to the building site of Green star's project.
"It's fine," Faye answered back, looking out the window. It was only Faye and Leo in the car. Earlier, all four of them were ready to leave together, but Eve had forgotten to grab some documents, and Dave volunteered to go back with her. So, both Leo and Faye headed out first.
In the quiet car, Faye continued to stare out the window and felt it was uncomfortable being together. Since they haven't brought up what happened the last time. She also felt it odd that he hasn't irritated her lately as he did before. He silently drove, and she was the one that felt irritated. "Are we not going to bring up what happened?" Faye said, not understanding why it was bothering her.
"It's not my decision to bring it up, or not," Leo calmly said. She glanced at him, sizing him up. "Is there a problem," he calmly said again, with eyes still on the road.
"I find it funny that you haven't done anything to irritate me lately," Faye pointed out.
"Why is that? You clearly stated that you dislike me, so why continue," he said unfazed.
"I didn't say I didn't like you," Faye said, without realizing what she was saying as if it unconsciously came out of her mouth. "What... I mean is... I don't like seeing your smile," Faye tried to correct herself. Leo chuckled before saying, "is that so..." Faye was amazed to see Leo's face brighten and his face looked refreshed as he chuckled with his fist covering his smile. In her heart, she couldn't describe it, but she felt this warm discomfort heating up inside her. She tried to ignore this discomfort as he said, "why do you dislike my smile?"
"I don't know...," she unconsciously said again before resaying, "Just cause."
However, deep down in Faye's heart, she never saw that kind of genuine, sincere, loving smile he was showing her. In her past, there was not a single person who would smile at her sincerely, so she doesn't know how to react. His smile was sharp as it was an arrow shooting into her heart and sending such gentle and warm feelings that covered the heart. She never felt that warmth before, and it felt frightening and unusual. She didn't want to know that feeling any further.
"Alright, then I tried my best to contain my smile," he softly chuckled. Once again, she felt annoyed by him. She remained silent and went back to looking out the window. He does a quick glance at her before quietly smiling without her noticing.
They drove out of the city. They had a couple more miles left before they reached the Green Star's project site. However, luck was not on their side as the car started making a weird sound, and smoke was coming out from the hood. Leo pulled to the side before the car gave up and died. After checking out the car, Leo called Green Star, telling them that they won't make it today and informing them that tomorrow they will show up instead, as he apologized and hung up. Then he called Dave, informing him that their car died in the middle of the road, but Dave informed Leo that they are stuck in traffic and probably will get to them late at night.
"We will be here for a while. Dave and your assistant are stuck in traffic, so they will take a while. Go ahead and relax," Leo reported back to Faye. Faye looked around, noticing where they were. She exited the car before Leo said, "where are you going?"
"The sun is going to set soon, and I know somewhere we can stay. Since it's going to take a while for them, we can just spend the night at my place," Faye said.
"Your place?" Leo said with his eyebrows raised as he didn't see any houses in sight.
"Yeah, you coming or not? Unless you want to stay in your car, then see you tomorrow," Faye said as she started walking. "How far is your place?" Leo said as he locked the car and headed after her.
"Around a mile and a half," Faye estimated. "Alright," he followed behind her.
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In the quiet car Eve and Dave silently sat there, waiting for the traffic to move. Eve glanced at Dave and wondered if she should make her move or not. He noticed her expression.
"Is something the matter?" he asked. Her face lit up before she remembered to control herself and act shy. She lowered her head and toned her expression and said, "Umm... no, it's nothing..." She clasped her hand together and thought, I have to do something. I can't lose this chance.
"Well... actually, I wanted to know how long you work at the Lon Company? Why did you decide to be an assistant?" Eve started creating small talks to build up a longer conversation to get to know him better and then go from there.
"Oh," Dave said, slightly confused, but willing to continue the conversation.
During their little conversations, Eve was extremely happy that they are finally starting something as she bottled up her excitement and continued their conversation. Meanwhile, Dave didn't understand why Eve would pull up at a wall around him as if he had done something to her. He had noticed how friendly and energetic she was when she worked with Faye. She would always have a bright smile and great ambition in her eyes when she was in the office, but when it got to him, she became quiet and shy and always looked at the floor. He thought it could be that she was just not familiar with him yet. However, it wouldn't matter since business is just business, and they won't see each other once the contract is over. He was glancing at her before his phone rang.
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"Dave, Faye and I are going to spend the night at her place. Therefore, you two can go on ahead and go home to rest for the night. I'll send you the address so you guys can pick us up tomorrow morning," Leo informed Dave through the phone, once Faye and Leo had finally reached her grandmother's place as the sun had just set. While Leo was on the phone, Faye was greeted by all the farmers, who were finishing up their shifts.
"Faye, haven't seen you in a while," a person said.
"Yeah, what brought you here today?" another one asked. Faye casually answered with a smile, "Just spending the night here since our car broke down not far from here."
"Your car broke down! Where? We can bring it over, and then you can call a tow truck to bring it to the shop," said one of them. "That would be nice of you if you can. If you can't, then that's not a problem," Faye said in gratitude.
"Of course, that's not a problem," one of them said as Leo reached them.
Leo left with the two of the workers to go get his car as Faye quietly stared at her grandmother's place. She hasn't visited this place for a while, and it still brought back memories. She walked into the walkway garden again, and everything looked the same. All the flowers were still blooming and bright. Everything was the same as it was left. A couple of minutes had passed, and Leo had arrived back with them. Faye and Leo thanked them before they were leaving.
"Also, thank you guys for watering and tending my flower garden by the house," Faye said as her eyes showed great emotion.
"Not a problem!" the man said with a great smile. "We know how important they are to you," the other one said. "Yes, they are...," Faye said with a sad smile as she looked toward them. Leo quietly watched Faye.
Soon it was only Faye and Leo, "I didn't expect that the property that the Ming company uses is yours," Leo said as his eyes told something else. Faye found it somewhat suspicious as it felt like he already knew that, but didn't bother to say it.
"Here. Let me show you where you will be staying for the night," Faye said, changing the subject. There were only two bedrooms, her and her grandmother, and since her grandmother's death she hasn't gone into that room, but she didn't feel it was right for Leo to go into her grandmother's room, so she opened her bedroom door instead.