“That’s something that you can help me study and while you’re doing that, I’m going to reach out to some experts in this field to ask for their advice. Training courses need to be properly designed. We have money so we can invest in this,” Reiner said confidently. “Ok. Let’s do that. I’ll help you look into what team trainings we have now,” I agreed readily. “Don’t wander around the training grounds or facilities on your own. If you want to go, let me know and I’ll come with you,” Reiner ordered seriously. “Ok. Sure, I’ll let you know…” I promised. Just like that we both focused our efforts on working together to crack the problem in front of us. Despite the unfavorable development that I witnessed between Reiner and his fiancée and my confused involvement with Charles, our work wasn’t affected. Thankfully so. Reiner seemed more open to me at work, and he turned out to be a very supportive boss. How he worked with me was very different from the dynamic that I had working with Edw
“Ok…” I mumbled. The line clicked dead, and I looked around the still-empty office as I tried to collect my thoughts. Don’t panic, Natalia. Reiner will be back soon…How soon? The expert is literally on the way here right at this instant. I looked at the clock hanging from the wall and found out that the expert was perfectly on time. Where is Reiner now?!“Knight? Where you are right now?” I asked after the line connected.“I’m in the car. I’m on the way back to the office,” Reiner replied.“How much longer?” I asked anxiously. “10 minutes or a little more…depending on the traffic,” Reiner replied casually. That’s a long time, isn’t it? “Ok. The expert is taking the elevator up here as we speak,” I reported. “Good luck, Natalia…” Reiner said. I stared at my mobile phone after Reiner had suddenly hung up on me. Guess someone just threw me under the bus here. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The expert is here!This is it, I thought to myself as I closed my eyes and took
“I didn’t know that you were an expert at the things that I asked you about. You must know so much about all this,” I said in appreciation. “Not really. I just know a bit more than the other people…” Charles said humbly. “Knight is taking a while. I guess, I’ll get you some of the cookies that I got after all. I sort of feel guilting for making you wait without offering you anything,” I said. “Don’t worry about that. You talking to me is more than enough,” Charles said with a smile. “Well…” I murmured. “Sit down with me. Why are you still standing up?” Charles said invitingly as he patted the empty space on the sofa next to where he was seated. “Thanks…” I said softly before sitting down on the sofa. There were so many things that I wanted to ask Charles that I didn’t know where to start. I wanted to ask him about what he knew about Reiner, and I also wanted to ask him things related to the project. “You look quite tired. Have you been getting enough sleep lately?” Charles ask
Reiner didn’t seem to like it that I knew Charles or that I was a little close to him, but he was engaged to someone else and wanted me to go away. Charles was interested in me, but I haven’t decided to progress with our relationship yet. Mostly because of my lingering feelings for Reiner. How do I explain such a messed-up situation? The answer was simple: I couldn’t clear up anything. Amazing. Truly amazing. …The hand of the clock is ticking by so slowly today. My eyes stared at the hand of the clock as the seconds ticked by. Was it just me or was the clock ticking much slower right now than on other days? I hated myself and how rotten I felt inside. I knew that it was my fault and not the clock’s fault that time was slipping by so painfully slowly. Since the two men went into Reiner’s office, all I was able to achieve was moving my ass from the sofa to the chair behind my desk. From this location, I could stare up at the clock on the opposite wall like I had nothing else better
**A week later**Although it had been decided that Charles would help out on the project, things didn’t work out quite as I had expected. At first, I thought that he would be spending time working with Reiner and me at the office on the project. However, as it turned out, Charles working on the project meant that he would engage in a few calls with Reiner to give advice each week and if required, he would come to meet Reiner in person. I wasn’t sure if this was the original plan or if this was what Reiner decided afterwards and I had no way of finding out. However, from this arrangement, I had next to no exposure to Charles at all for the project. It wasn’t like I was eager to meet or talk to Charles in the office. After all, I could meet him at the bar or elsewhere if I wanted to. It was just a shame that I couldn’t learn more from him even though he was acting as the expert on our project. Of course, it would be a suicide mission to voice this concern to Reiner because he definite
“Your boss seems overly protective of you. I never imagined that Knight would be a boss like that,” Charles said with a teasing laugh. I served him his beer before he invited me to take the seat opposite him at his table. Charles had probably figured that if he made sure to be the first customer of the night, he could get some time to chat properly with me while the bar wasn’t too busy. I took the seat as invited and smiled at Charles. I knew that sooner or later; he would ask me about Reiner. “You’re right. I’m sorry that things got a little awkward back there…” I apologized softly. “I found it very surprising at first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. I would feel the same way if I had a secretary as beautiful as you,” Charles said and the way his eyes met mine told me that he wasn’t just joking around. I didn’t miss the hidden meaning in his words, and I wasn’t so dumb that I couldn’t read between the lines. Now, what and how much should I tell him? “I’m not so sure…about
The other staff only nodded, and I wasn’t sure whether they didn’t want to speak up or were just too tired to do so. “I get it. I’ll try to hire more hot girls,” Jamie said with a laugh. He was clearly enjoying himself. “I wouldn’t mind if you hired some buff guys who could carry multiple trays of food at the same time,” I suggested. Kat burst out laughing at my straightforward suggestion. “I wouldn’t mind that. We need more hot male colleagues,” Kat agreed a small laugh. While Kat was just teasing and enjoying herself, I was being serious. “Ok…Ok. I’ll look into that, and I’ll let you guys know. I’ll hire two or three more people and see how it goes,” Jamie quickly agreed before the conversation would get out of hand. “Thank you, Jamie,” I said with a sweet smile. With how well his business was doing, I was sure that he could afford two to three more headcount to walk the floor.My body was sweaty from working so hard that busy night that I decided to change into more relaxi
“I could ask you the same thing. Knight, why are you here?” Charles replied casually. However, the way his hand tightened a little around my wrist made me aware that he too was on edge. He was shielding me behind him to keep me away from Reiner as if he was a threat to me. That was the only part that Charles got wrong. Reiner would never do me harm. “I’m here to pick Natalia up and take her back home,” Reiner stated coldly. His eyes searched for mine and I had to admit that I felt very torn in that situation. No matter how hard I thought, I didn’t know what was the right thing to do. I also didn’t know why Reiner turned up so suddenly to pick me up. He had not told me anything at all. “That won’t be necessary. We’re actually on our way back. I’ll drive her back,” Charles replied casually. A very awkward silence settled in again as the atmosphere tensed even further. I could tell that Reiner didn’t like what he was hearing or seeing. Reiner, turning up here and offering to drive m