36

The next day arrived with a sunny morning. Stretching my limbs, I sat up in bed with my eyes still shut. The morning rays peeked in from the curtains, and I just sat there for a moment, still dazed from sleep, taking in my surroundings. Eventually, I left the bed and started the daily routine with my brain still sleepy.

After some time, I made my way outside, my eyes falling on the Advik's Rolls Royce drop-tail that was just entering the street.

My phone buzzed, and I looked at it to see a missed call from Ruby. I wondered why she was calling me. Maybe she has found something.

My fingers hovered over her name, as I contemplated whether to call her now or not. I looked at the approaching car of Advik.

Maybe I should talk to her alone.

The car halted in front of me, and he appeared with a breathtaking smile. I settled in, a little lost in my thoughts, but my half attention was still on him. He didn't start the car, instead, he turned his body and grabbed something from the backseat. As he did so, I couldn't help but admire the way his muscles moved beneath the fabric of his white shirt, and the way his hair fell across his forehead.

I tore my gaze from him and looked ahead before he caught me staring. I wondered what he was doing, but before I could inquire, he turned back around with a small smile and gave me a bouquet of my favorite flowers. I took it absentmindedly, assuming the flowers were to decorate his car or probably his office desk.

He started the car while I put the flowers on my lap gently making sure not to ruin them.

"You didn't like the flowers?" He asked turning his head to me after some time.

Still lost my thoughts, I blinked, looking down at the bouquet in my lap, and replied, "Oh, They're nice. They would look great on your desk."

He chuckled softly and looked at me with amusement glistening in his eyes, "On my desk? You really think I brought them for office decor?"

I stared at him, puzzled by his reaction. "Yeah. Where else would they go?"

He turned his gaze to me as the car stopped at the red light. A small smile played on his lips, "I got them for you."

I stared at him dumbly.

His words slowly dawned on me, and warmth flooded through me as I realized my mistake.

How stupid of me to assume that.

"Oh," I uttered, looking down, a bit embarrassed, "You... got these for me?"

"Yes," he said, driving on as the light turned green.

"Why?" I blurted out, without thinking.

Dumb question. I know.

He chuckled, "Why? Because I thought they were pretty... just like you."

The warmth spread over my heart. I gently caressed the petals with my fingers with a small smile on my cheeks. They seemed to have a calming effect on me.

I felt his gaze on me and then his voice came, "I just wanted to do something to make you smile. Is that so hard to believe?"

I chuckled and passed him a bright smile, "No, I love it. Thank you." I drew the bouquet nearer to inhale its sweet, subtle scent, cherishing the moment.

"They are my favorite," I expressed, smelling them, and closing my eyes as the strong fragrance hit my nose.

"Yeah, I know." He mumbled, looking ahead.

My eyebrows creased, "How?"

He glanced at me, "You told me yourself."

"Well, how come I don't remember telling you these things."

He was quiet for a second as I stared at him for a reply.

"Because you were drunk at that time."

My eyes widened after hearing him, "What? When?"

"That day at the party."

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

Wait.

I don't remember anything from that day.

There were just little flashbacks that a man was forcefully taking me somewhere and then I fainted.

And I woke up the next morning.

"But I wasn't conscious at that time," I said, glancing at him. He wore a calm expression.

He nodded. "You fainted, but after I sprinkled water on your face, you woke up."

I gulped, facepalming myself.

So that's why he knows so much about me. And here I was, thinking he was some secret stalker or something. I thought so deeply that I wondered if he was there with me in my past.

But anyway, it's clear he wasn't.

I didn't even want to know how much I had revealed about my life to him.

But I needed to know.

Clearing my throat, I asked, "What else did I tell you?"

"Not much. You just mentioned your huge crush on me, how much you like me, and how handsome—"

"Stop lying," I interrupted, turning to look out the window.

I didn't say those things. Did I?

I can't believe my drunk self.

He chuckled softly, "You can admit it. How long will you pretend that I am not the love of your life?"

A small smile crept across my lips upon hearing his words.

Silence enveloped us. After a while, my gaze settled on the nearing office building.

Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message. I checked it to discover a message from an unknown number that read:

Stop the investigation now. Or else you won't like the consequences.

My face paled as I read. A chill ran through me, and my grip on the phone tightened.

I knew it.

There's someone behind that.

"Ria? What happened? Is everything okay?" His concerned voice sounded, and I locked my phone, putting it back in my pocket and passing him a smile.

"Yes, I'm fine."

He didn't look convinced but still nodded.

=================

As I entered the office kitchen, I immediately felt something was off. The two ladies standing near the coffee machine abruptly stopped talking and looked at me with a mixture of annoyance and disgust on their faces. I could tell they had been talking about me, but I had no idea why.

I rolled my eyes, I needed Rosy, I needed to find out what was wrong with people. Or rather if there's something wrong with me.

I looked at my reflection in the cabinet to check if I was looking like an alien.

No. I looked like a human.

I tried to ignore their stares and went about preparing my own coffee, but the tension in the room was too much.

Grabbing the cold coffee, I spun, to find out that those girls were still present there giving me strange looks.

They fake smiled at me, and one of them wearing a yellow shirt asked, "How did you do it?"

I stared at them, wondering if they were asking me about how I made the coffee. I glanced at the cold coffee in my hand. It's not really that hard to make it.

"What are you talking about?" I passed them a small smile as I asked as politely as possible. They rolled their eyes making the smile drop from my face by their rude gesture.

Yeah, keep rolling your eyes, maybe you will find a brain back there.

They both came near with arms crossed, circling around me, "Hmm. Pretending to be innocent." One of the ladies who wore white shirts spoke.

The second one eyes me from head to toe, "I can't believe it. What on earth did he even see in you?"

The white-shirt lady snorted, "Maybe it's her remarkable look."

Wait. Are they indirectly calling me Ugly?

Sorry, But ugly starts with 'U'.

I battled in my mind whether to say it out loud or not. I chose the latter. That sounds childish.

Why waste my time on proving the point on such harsh people?

I'm not that dumb to let their words affect me. I know myself better.

"Could you please excuse me?" I asked, as politely as I could.

Instead of clearing my way, they snickered.

"Oh honey," the yellow shirt smirked, "You really think he's into you for your looks? Please. He probably just pities you or something."

The second one chimed, "It's pretty obvious that he could have anyone he wanted. And yet, he chose...you. It's a mystery, really."

I rolled my eyes, they were testing my patience. I didn't even do anything to them. Why are they targeting me?

But her words keep playing in my mind.

It's really a mystery. Why did he choose me?

Does he really pity me?

Don't think too much.

I glanced at them, "You know what?" I said, my voice steady, "I didn't ask for your opinion on my looks and relationship. You have no idea what's going on between us."

"Oh, like you have any idea? You're just a convenient little plaything for him, and eventually, he'll get tired of you and move on to the next one." They spoke and laughed, making me roll my eyes.

I'm tired of hearing this thing.

She agai. began to speak, "You better--"

I looked down at my cold coffee.

Sorry, dear coffee!

Then, I intentionally but accidentally threw the whole coffee on her oh-so-white shirt.

Enjoy removing the stain.

"I'm so sorry." I pretended to act but my acting skill was too good.

Their expression was of shock, telling me I had put myself in trouble.

"You bitch." The girl to whom I just threw coffee spoke with anger fuming. I could see the smoke coming out of her ear.

I spoke, as harshly as I could. "Don't call me bitch, I am much more evil than that!"

You know you are not.

What are you pulling yourself into?

She grabbed my arm tightly, her grip digging into my skin. I tried to pull away, but her strength was too much for me.

"You think you can just throw coffee at me and get away with it?" She hissed, her voice low and dangerous, but I kept myself calm.

"Touch her, and I will make both of your lives a living hell."

A stern and dangerous voice came from the door.

Rosy.

Relief flooded over me.

We looked at Rosy. She unfolded her arms and walked towards us. They eventually released me and glared at her, but Rosy glared at them harder.

I thanked God that he sent her to rescue me.

After a few seconds of glaring, Rosy smiled, "Leave from here before I fire you both."

They both left as soon as their eyes fell on the card she was wearing. It was a red card, which means she was from the human resource department and had the power to fire them.

After they left, we fell into the silence.

"What was that?" I chuckled, taking a sip of my remaining coffee.

Of course, I won't waste it.

Rosy turned towards me and narrowed her eyes. She then grabbed my arm, and took me out of the kitchen, "You! Come, you have a lot to explain."