5. Blue Mark

"Oh God, this is so tiring."

 

 Lydia massaged her throbbing temples. Because of Erika, two of her other best friends had bothered her into the night. They all even came together to visit Lydia's house after office hours.

 

 If the married Cinta hadn't been looking for a husband, Lydia's friends might have stayed the night. Especially since the other hosts didn't mind.

 

 "Good morning. Why do you look so tired?" One of Lydia's colleagues greeted her.

 

 "Good morning too. I'm just still sleepy." Lydia replied as she settled into her chair.

 

 As planned, Lydia returned to work today. And the pain she felt had also diminished considerably. All that remained were the reddish spots that had now begun to turn black.

 

Luckily, all the marks could still be covered with plenty of concealer. Erika, who had the most complete makeup kit, gave her a brand new expensive concealer, complete with sponge and brush.

 

 Lydia was very grateful because she didn't have any of that. Pillows, lipstick, eyebrow pencil and eyeliner, that's all Lydia had.

 

 "Oh dear. We just had some expensive wine and you're already sick. You poor spoiled brat." Lydia's supervisor's insulting tirade made her jump out of her cubicle.

 

 The mid-40s man, who still looked decent, gave Lydia an annoyed look. She didn't know why her supervisor hated her so much, but Lydia remembered that he wasn't like this when she first started working, and Lydia preferred to ignore him.

 

 "Lyd, let's get some coffee first." A young man sitting across from Lydia's cubicle invited.

 

"Great idea, Revan. Do you want to come, Ki?" Lydia asked another friend.

 

She did not want to be gossiped about by her superior for going alone with Revan.

 

 "This old man is really too much. I don't know why he hates you so much." Kiara grumbled once they were far enough away from the room.

 

 "I don't know. I'm confused myself, even though I don't feel like I've done anything wrong." Lydia replied as she shrugged.

 

 "He's just jealous because you're doing so well, Lyd. Not to mention the problem you found last year when you were new. Plus the reward from the boss yesterday." Revan defended himself.

 

 "If the boss is so sentimental about me, don't you think I could be made a permanent employee? Or at least extend the contract." Lydia complained, worried about her financial future.

 

 Just then, the clanking of the elevator taking them down, followed by the opening of the doors, stopped the three from chatting. Lydia was about to take a step when she saw Reino and his secretary along with the deputy CEO in the elevator, making her freeze.

 

"Please go first, sir."

 

 Revan, reluctant to be in the same elevator as his boss, let the three of them go first. And that was an advantage for Lydia, who immediately ducked to avoid her boss's gaze.

 

 

 "It's okay. Just go in, the place is still spacious." The deputy CEO, who was much older than Reino Andersen, kindly invited as he held the elevator door.

 

 "Mr. Reino doesn't mind, does he?" The old man asked again when he noticed the frightened looks of Kiara and Revan.

 

 "Sure," replied Reino, who had been staring at Lydia intensely.

 

  Reino's answer made Lydia growl inwardly. As soon as she heard Reino's answer, Kiara jumped in with a smile on her face. Since Revan had also entered the elevator, Lydia couldn't help but follow. It would be strange if she suddenly left.

 

"Mr. Reino smiles now and then. The employee should not be afraid." Mr. Deputy CEO joked.

 

 "I don't think it's necessary, and I don't care what anyone else thinks, except business partners." Reino replied haughtily.

 

Reino's eyes moved away from Lydia, who had her back to him on the left side. She was staring at her reflection in the elevator door.

 

 Reino did this because he accidentally saw the bluish spot behind her ear when she tucked her hair behind her ear. It reminded Reino of the incident two nights ago, and it made him uncomfortable.

 

 Reino, who was more conscious than Lydia at the time, remembered exactly where he had left the marks. One was behind Lydia's ear. It wasn't very noticeable, but since Reino remembered it, he focused his gaze there.

 

 Reino almost jumped when his gaze accidentally met Lydia's, with the elevator door acting as a mediator. Fortunately, he was able to control his expression and immediately looked away.

 

 "Stop staring at her slender body, Reino. What are you looking for in that skinny body?" He muttered to himself.

 

 "Mr. Reino?"

 

 "Huh?" Reino gasped and reflexively turned to Mr. Deputy CEO.

 

 "What the hell are you dreaming about?" The middle-aged man chuckled at Reino's slightly surprised look.

 

 "Looks like Mr. Reino will have to find a wife soon to stop daydreaming." The middle-aged man continued, still with his teasing smile.

 

Lydia frowned slightly at the old man's joke behind her. As Reino Andersen's ex-wife, she was a little taken aback. Reino's crazy attitude had absolutely nothing to do with finding a wife, and this man seemed to agree.

 

 "Such things have nothing to do with it, sir. That's a very strange way of thinking." Reino protested, not wanting to be contradicted.

 

  Lydia, who already felt claustrophobic in the cramped elevator, was especially close to Reino. Besides, Reino's gaze felt like a hole in her head.

 

 The sight did not escape Reino's eagle eyes. His ego felt piqued because she was avoiding him again and he didn't like it. It should have been the other way around.

 

 "That damn woman." He growled under his breath.

 

 "What is it, sir?" asked Reino's confused secretary.

 

 "It's nothing." Reino snapped, still angry.

 

 "She's a brilliant contract employee from the finance department, right?" Mr. Vice asked curiously about Lydia.

 

 "How do you know that?" Reino's brow furrowed in confusion.

 

 "Everyone, especially at the top, would know the company's savior from last year's huge loss, Reino." Mr. Vice shook his head in surprise at the young CEO's strange behavior.

 

"I've even heard that the audit team is eyeing her to move into their department. With such high accuracy, it's only natural." This time, the old man nodded in agreement.

 

 "And since she's actually pretty, I heard that not only one or two people are interested in her."

 

 "What?" Reino almost shouted.

 

***To Be Continued***