5. Can't Avoid

Life is full of challenges. Just face them all though you’re forced to do so.

***

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Mr. Song,” Ansel refuted “I just want to make sure that everything runs well.”

Ansel disclosed a cold and indifferent expression as if he didn’t need the cooperation. He gazed at Chin Hwa and Qeiza back and forth.

“If there’s something to be changed, don’t you think it can be done faster if Miss Kim is available at the same office as me?” he asked. “I won’t bother to call you and she won’t need to go back and forth from your office to mine and vice versa for the same intention. It’s so simple, isn’t it?”

The reasons Ansel put forward sounded so logical so that Chin Hwa and Qeiza were speechless. Although they were still in doubts, they didn’t deserve to indulge their prejudice.

“Or … lest these designs aren’t Miss Kim’s works?” Ansel accused. He deliberately attacked the ego and pride of his business partners in front of him, primarily Qeiza.

Qeiza held her fists tightly. He knew that Ansel intentionally provoked her as a strategy to reach his objective. What a damn! She felt helpless to keep rejecting his demand because Ansel played a subtle trick behind that logical reasoning.

“All right,” said Chin Hwa.

He had to give in for the sake of defending Qeiza’s pride. He was not willing if someone had some doubts about her abilities.

“Miss Kim will work in your office until this project ends, but remember to treat her well,” asked Chin Hwa. “She is the worthiest assets for our company.”

“You don’t need to teach me how to treat a woman, Mr. Song!” said Ansel. He was obviously offended by Chin Hwa’s warning.

“Well, I think the meeting’s over,” Ansel decided. “I want you to start working today, Miss Kim.”

Xander who always kept silent while observing the progress of the tough negotiation elbowed Ansel after leaving Chin Hwa and Qeiza.

“Why did you make such a ridiculous request?” he asked in surprise. “Didn’t you think that it would be better for Miss Kim to work in her own office?”

Xander had worked for Ansel for years. It couldn’t be counted how often they worked with female designers, but just this time Ansel demanded such a strange requirement. Even, it’s a bit crazy according to Xander.

Sitting beside Ansel, Xander was thinking of Kim Ae Ri during on their way back. He felt like he had ever seen that woman. When and where, that’s still hazy in his mind.

***

“Take care, Ae Ri!” adviced Chin Hwa shortly after Qeiza got out of his car, precisely in front of Company M.

“Don’t be so gentle with the man like Mr. Malik!”

Qeiza slightly glared at Chin Hwa, feeling disbelief that he would treat her like a teenager who would go out with a man for the first time.

“Sure,” answered Qeiza. “You don’t need to worry about me, Oppa. I must be able to defend myself.”

Chin Hwa shifted into the gear and drove his car back to his office after seeing Qeiza walked into Ansel’s company.

“This way, Miss Kim!” welcomed a receptionist. “Mr. Ansel has been waiting for you.”

It’s for the second time Qeiza was dumbfounded by Ansel’s behavior. She didn’t predict that he would leave a mandate to his receptionist and asked her to escort her directly.

“Please come in, Miss Kim.”

The receptionist invited Qeiza to come in soon after she reported the presence of that special guest to her boss.

Ansel’s pupils splashed in joy, seeing Qeiza’s attendance in his office. His gaze rolled over Qeiza’s appearance from top to earth. The young woman’s ideal body shape was covered by a maroon blouse, layered by a navy blazer with the buttons that left open.

A pair of trousers that Qeiza wore was in the same color as her blazer. She also wore a hijab and the color was like her blouse. It was really a collision of colors that made Qeiza’s beauty and charm even more indisputable.

Ansel even didn’t blink like he wanted to strip Qeiza and prey her right then and there.

“Ehem!” Qeiza cleared her throat. She felt uncomfortable to be looked as Ansel did.

Qeiza’s voice brought Ansel back from his trance. He quickly pretended to be busy by correcting his tie that felt like it choked his neck.

“Take a seat, Miss Kim!”

After being able to control himself and neutralize his nervousness, Ansel asked Qeiza to sit on the North side of his office.

“I’ve asked Xander to prepare a special room for you,” said Ansel.

“Thank you!” Qeiza replied.

She left her seat right away. Earlier, she had a small talk with the receptionist who led her to Ansel’s room and she had asked her where her room was. Though Ansel didn’t tell her, she wouldn’t get lost in finding her own room.

“Where are you going?”

Ansel questioned her while holding back his anger. He had never been left like that by any women, except Qeiza.

“Of course I’m going to my room,” Qeiza replied in a casual way. “Didn’t you want me to finish those designs ASAP, Mr. Malik?”

Qeiza deliberately gave a stress on her last sentence and her way to call Ansel as well.

“Not that quick, Miss!” Ansel prevented. “There’s still another rule that you should know and keep in your mind well.”

“Just tell me! You’re the king.”

Qeiza said in a cold voice and flat tone. Even, she looked like that she wasn’t patient to wait for Ansel’s explanation because she wanted to get lost from the man who had given her a status as a virgin divorcee.

Ansel stood up from his seat and walked slowly to close Qeiza. That woman really hurt his pride and made him feel challenging to conquer her even more.

Seeing that Ansel shortened the distance between them, Qeiza stepped backward. Hurriedly she turned the doorknob. Unluckily, her movement was slower than Ansel. That man had pushed the door strongly with one of his hands.

All over of Qeiza’s body suddenly got goosebumps. Her nape was so cold like it had just blown by an astral creature. Yet, she tried to control herself, keeping calm as if she wasn’t affected by Ansel’s treatment at all.

She turned around in a slow motion, venturing to defy her ex-husband’s dark eyes.

“Why? Are you scared?” Ansel asked, fighting hard to control a strange desire that arose out of him.

Qeiza took a deep breath to relax her tension.

“Scared?” What’s for?” she asked. “Most of this room has glass walls. Whoever will be able to see everything’s happening here.”

Ansel stared fix at Qeiza’s face. Once more time he got a big surprise from the woman he had just known, a brave young woman who hadn’t been intimidated by his behaviors. In contrast, she even counterattacked him.

'Shit!' Ansel cursed in silence. 'How could I forget those glass walls?'

He should have scrolled down all curtains before Qeiza arrived there. By doing so, there would be no one who could peep into his office.

“If there’s nothing you want to say more, let me do my tasks, Sir.”

Qeiza spoke in a stern tone. It’s more of an order than a request. Her hazel eyes also stared sharp at Ansel.

Oddly enough that Ansel obeyed the instruction without any rejection. He pulled his hand away from the door.

“Okay. This time I gave in,” Ansel said. “Take my kindness as an introductory gift from me.”

Qeiza stood frozenly. Still, Ansel could catch the gleam of scornful gaze splashed out of her eyes just by identifying how their colors changed. They were earlier brown then changed into bluish.

“You should keep in your mind that you can only go home if I allow you.”

Qeiza turned the doorknob and opened it. She still took a chance to poke her head after getting out of Ansel’s room.

“I’m not your full-time employee, Mr. Malik!” Qeiza talked back. “I’ll leave this office whenever I want to.”

There’s a quite loud of ‘Bang’ sound when Qeiza slammed the door right in front of Ansel’s nose.

“You—”

Ansel kneaded his fists very tightly, causing his muscles stuck out like banyan roots that spread above the ground. He followed Qeiza’s steps with his furious stare through one of his office transparent glass walls.

***