Chapter 6. Special Parcel

Nina was stunned; she tried to remember who knew her number because she had separated unique and work numbers.

"Ah, maybe it's a wrong number or a prankster," she muttered. Nina hurried to the bathroom, cleaned up, and changed her clothes. But when she returned to bed, her cell phone rang again, an incoming call from an unknown number.

The girl was stunned; she hesitated to pick it up, worried about pranksters or marketing offering goods or services. Finally, Nina picked it up; if it was a prankster, she was ready to block it.

"Hello," greeted Nina, "excuse me, who is this?"

Silence, no answer from the other side.

"Hmm, okay, maybe you have the wrong number, good night." Nina was just about to disconnect the call when suddenly, there was laughter on the other end.

"Hello, who are you? Please don't play the fool!" Nina scolded irritably.

"Yes-yes... so fierce, dear."  There was a voice on the other end. Nina was stunned by that familiar voice.

"Hello, Nina. Don't you recognize my voice, hm?"

"Na-Nathany?" said Nina hesitantly.

"Hehe, why are you so nervous, Nina? Do you think I'm a prankster who's bothering you? Okay, I'm closed," Nathan teased.

"Oh no, hehe." Nina blushed, "I mean, I'm just confused as to where you got my private number, because I don't usually use it for work."

"Hmm, it's not that difficult, Nina, to get your or other employees' personal data." Nathan replied casually.

"Is this your personal number?" asked Nina curiously; all this time, she knew Nathan's number but a different number.

"Yup, save it with a special name," said Nathan with a smile, "by the way what are you doing, honey?"

"Just finished taking a shower, I'm getting ready for bed," Nina said.

"Hmm, if I were there..."

"Hey what ... don't think about anything," Nina interrupted.

"Hahaha, I don't think anything, just one thing." Nathan chuckled; he relaxed with Nina, even if it was only over the phone.

"What are you doing anyway, Nathany?"  Nina asked back.

"Thinking about you," Nathan teased.

"Tsk, exaggerate. Just like a kid." 

"Haha, can a kid think about his girlfriend?" laughed Nathan. Nina laughed, too.

"By the way, Nina. Tomorrow you'll be ready to present the report you made earlier, in as much detail as possible." Nathan's voice was a little serious.

"Tomorrow?" repeated Nina.

"Yeah, show your talents and abilities, if you are worthy of this project, remember, there is someone you have to beat." Nathan encouraged Nina.

"Someone? Who?" Nina asked, confused.

"Tomorrow you'll find out, and it will answer all your confusion and questions."

"Okay, I'll do my best."  Nina replied firmly.

"Good, that's my Nina," praised Nathan with a smile, "Okay, sweetheart, now you rest. Have a good sleep, don't forget to dream about me. Love you Nina."

"I love you too, Nathanny."

Nina smiled, even as the call ended; she lay back on the bed clutching her cell phone to her chest, her beautiful face shining brightly. As for Nathan, he was smiling to himself. He felt a shiver of warmth run through the recesses of his long-frozen heart.

The next day, Nina woke up early and made beef sandwiches for Nathan, as well as for herself and her aunt. Auntie Shopia wanted to help, but Nina refused; she wanted to make it with her hands.

"How is it, Auntie? Is it good?" Nina asked her aunt.

"It's good, dear, very good. You are indeed dexterous like your mother." Auntie Sophia praised the dishes Nina made. The girl smiled; since she was still in elementary school, she had often accompanied her mother, who was a chef. Mom tried to teach Nina to cook, even though the girl was uninterested. But at least Nina knew how to cook well, although not as well as her mother.

Nina went to the office earlier than before; employees still needed to arrive so Nina could meet Miss. Emmy, Nathan's assistant. She hoped that her boss's confidante had also come.

Nina's guess was correct; when she arrived near the side door, a woman wearing black pants and a black blazer was standing waiting for her; it turned out that the woman had arrived earlier than her.

"Good morning, Miss. Emmy," Nina greeted her.

"Good morning, Miss Nina," the woman replied politely. "Are you prepared?"

"Sure," Nina said, taking a flash disk from her bag and handing it to the woman.

"Okay, thank you," the woman replied.

"Miss. Emmy," Nina called out as she saw Nathan's assistant about to turn around, "Yes?" the woman said, looking at Nina questioningly.

"I'd like to leave this for Mr. Nathan," Nina said as she handed him a tote bag containing a food container.

"Oh, okay. I'll convey it," Emmy replied as she accepted the bag, "is there anything else?"

"No, that's all," Nina replied with a smile.

"Okay, then you'll have to excuse me."

"Thank you, Miss. Emmy." Nina smiled, and the woman nodded in return, then passed through a hallway. Nina sighed. The woman was very stiff, but her movements were fast. She seemed very focused on what she was doing. She was not random because becoming a trusted assistant for someone like Nathan took work.

Nina quickly left the place; it seemed to be a unique door to Nathan's room that only a few employees knew.

"Nina!" called someone whose voice was familiar to Nina; she immediately turned and smiled at Laura, who was walking towards her.

"Good morning, Miss Fussy. It's unusual, that you're here at this hour. Usually, it's late before you arrive at the office." Nina chirped to greet her best friend.

"Hehe, got a free ride, Nin." Laura chuckled.

"A free ride?" asked Nina, intrigued, "from who?"

"From Benny, not from Mr. Nathan, haha," Laura joked with a giggle.

"Huss, don't mention the boss' name," Nina teased her best friend.

"Oops, hehe."  The two friends laughed and headed to the cafe for a cup of coffee.

"Today feels like a good day to me, Nin." Laura sipped her coffee, "Ben doesn't usually want to take me."

"Yeah, it's normal for him to take his girlfriend, right, Ra?" Nina said.

"Yep, it is. He doesn't mind, it's me who can't bear it, because the distance from his office to here is far and in the opposite direction, through traffic anyway, it's a pity if he's late every day because he has to drive me."

"Well, it's called love, so it's okay to sacrifice once in a while, right?" said Nina.

"Wow, you can already talk about love, mommy's girl." Laura was a little surprised because Nina was usually ignorant when discussing boys.

"What mommy's girl?" she asked, "My mommy passed away." Nina said.

"Oh yeah, so sorry." Laura was worried about upsetting her best friend, so she quickly corrected her words, "I meant auntie's love."

Nina smiled, "Auntie Sophie is at home, she just arrived yesterday afternoon."

"Oh really? Say hello to Auntie Sophia."

"Just come to the house, say hello yourself." Nina and Laura laughed, the two friends engaging in their usual lighthearted banter. Suddenly, Nina's gaze was drawn to the outside; through the glass wall, she could see someone coming inside.

Laura was dumbfounded; she immediately followed the direction of Nina's eyes, and suddenly, the girl's eyes widened.

"Oh, Nina!"