Chapter 2

“Are you okay, Cielle?” Felicity asked me while holding her own cup of coffee and slowly sipping from it.

I slowly averted my eyes from her and opened my mouth to speak up, but whenever I remember what kind of life I would have after telling them what just happened to me, I would always end up not letting out a word. I shake my head at her and force myself to smile.

“I am,” I answered timidly and sipped my own coffee.

Felicity didn’t say anything, but I know that she’s probably thinking now and wondering what’s been happening to me. Of course, she wouldn’t say a word about her thoughts and keep it to herself.

“There’ll be a party tonight. Wanna come with me?” She suddenly asked after breaking a long silence between us.

I wanted to say no and just stay in my house to hide under my sheet, but after thinking of that man watching me in my bedroom, I quickly nodded at her, afraid that she might take back her offer to me.

Felicity smugly smirked at me, having her conclusions filled up and I just realized that she planted a bait under my own nose! 

“So, who’s been bothering you?” She leaned closer, holding her cup with both of her hands while eyeing me straight.

I cleared my throat and looked away from her. I wanted to remain silent and not say anything, but it’ll be useless. I’m too kind for Felicity to take.

“Just a random guy..” Who came to me the other day. “I met at work. He was weird, that’s all.”

“Hmm..” My body felt cold after hearing her humming, as if I also heard that man’s voice doing that even though I can’t clearly remember how he sounds anymore. I balled my fist under the table, preventing myself from having a breakdown. “The same guy you kissed the other night?”

I threw sharp glances in Felicity’s direction. “Hell, no! I can’t even remember that man anymore!”

Felicity bursted out laughing and he shook her head at me, “Whatever you say!”

“‘Licy—”

“And the party would be around ten in the evening. We shouldn’t be late, alright? I heard hot guys are coming over to entertain us.” She stood up and took her bag before winking at me. “Wear something seductive. Maybe that way, you’ll get yourself a new boyfriend!”

“What?” I asked her with disbelief written on my face, but Felicity only laughed and left me alone in my office.

I shook my head and I stood up too before going back to my working table. The new designs that we’re offering for our clients are out and ready to be shown in the market. However, the only problem I have is my schedule. I messed it up after not working yesterday and missed a lot of appointments. Now I have to take care of everything at once.

But if this will help me to forget about that man and divert my attention, I’d be much willing to do this one instead. While in the middle of finalizing the wedding planner my new clients are asking for, I heard when someone knocked on the door.

“Come in!” I said in a low voice without lifting my gaze from the folders I’m writing at.

“Miss Mitchell, your meeting appointment is ready. The guest is here and waiting for you at the conference meeting.”  My personal assistant said with hesitation in her voice.

“Hold on a sec!” I continued to sign the folders.

“Should I ask our guest to just move here in your office, Miss Mitchell?” I closed the folder and looked at her direction before I nodded.

“Yes, do that. I still have a lot to do to waste my time walking.” Turning my laptop sleep. I cleaned my table while my PA went outside to call the guest.

I took my pad and scanned through my schedule while waiting for them to come back. Owning a business in holding events and projects is really challenging whenever we have big clients. Their events and every whole detail shouldn’t match with each other. It’s companies against one another and honestly, I clearly understand why.

Someone knocked on the door and when it opened, I put my pad down and stood up to greet our guest. My eyes fixated on him the moment we held each other’s gaze. I felt nervous and I even took a step back from him.

W-What is he doing here?

Sebastian, my ex-boyfriend, was standing in front of me with a serious look on his face. He was wearing complete working attire and his eyes and physical looks… he changed. He looked colder and dead.

He wasn’t like this the last time we met just a week ago. Now, he looked as if he lost all the happiness inside him, leaving him like an empty vessel with no soul walking around and interacting like a living person.

I was surprised when he nodded his head at me and went to the couch in front of my table. He put down his bag and opened it.

“These are the demands our company is looking for, all came from your original designs. Just sign the agreement contract if all the materials are ready for next month.” Even his voice sounded different.

I sat on the chair in front of him, not taking my looks away. “Are you okay, Seb? Honestly, you look stiff and dead.”

Sebastian didn’t respond to my joke so I ended up clearing my throat and reading the agreement contract. We have already discussed everything last week and all we’ll do now is to sign. Fortunately, we’re not going to take long here and I've confirmed that when I handed the contract to him and he quickly packed up to leave my office.

I was left dumbfounded by what he did. Sebastian had always been flirtatious around me, so it feels different to have him in this mood. Maybe he’s busy? Doesn’t matter. I am too, anyway.

I went back to working all day. Attending meetings and discussing with my team about the branch expansion I’m planning to do a year from now.

When my working hours were over, I had overtime work and after hearing my phone call and seeing my cousin calling, I suddenly remembered that I agreed to go with her tonight. Oh, I’ll be dead meat if she finds out that I’m still here and not ready for the party!

While biting my lip, I picked up the phone and answered her call. “Don’t you dare tell me that you’re still at work, Cielle! I’m on my way to your house now!”

I took a deep breath and released it before I heard Felicity cursing to no end in her line.

“D*mn you!” She hissed at me. “I’ll just send you the address of the party’s location and you better be there, you got me?”

“I will, ‘Licy. I’ll just wrap up here.” When the call ended, I quickly stood up and made my way to my PA’s table. “Megan, I’m going now! Check everything first, al—” 

I stopped talking when I suddenly smelled a stinky scent from behind the table. It was so strong that I had to cover my mouth to prevent myself from throwing up, but with every step I got closer to Megan’s table, the smell would just intensify. 

What was that?

“Megan—F*ck!” I quickly turned my back to her and held my chest when she suddenly appeared from under the table. I released a deep breath and looked back at her. “What the hell was that smell?”

Megan sheepishly smiled at me. “That’s my.. Dinner, Miss Mitchell. I’m sorry it’s not to your liking, it’s a different meal.”

I frowned at what she said. How can she eat something that doesn’t smell pleasant at all?

“Whatever! I’ll go now.” I clicked my tongue and went out of the building.

Megan was eyeing me even until the elevator’s doors closed and I still saw her smile. Was it just me or did she look a bit pale than earlier? She’s probably tired from work too, just like me.

I went to the parking lot and just drove away from my company to get to the address Felicity has given me. Nevermind the seductive clothes. I can still charm everyone with my knitted dress, that's what I'm confident of.

The drive was longer than I expected, but the place was a bit better. Except for those men who were eyeing every man who walked past them and to whatever kind of bad luck I have, their side was the only place I could park on.

Having no choice, I turned my car and parked near them. Their eyes quickly settled on me and for a moment there, I wanted to drive away from them and ensure my safety first, but I was cornered when another car just parked from behind me and the driver quickly ran outside with two women in his arms.

Great! Now I have no choice but to go out and show myself to these men. I tried to reach for my phone, but I couldn’t open it anymore as the battery was drained already. I sigh and pick up my handbag to go out.

Whistles were following every step I made and when I walked past them, it was fortunate for me to not feel them touching me even though they looked different to me. At the entrance, I was quick to spot my cousin, but my feet froze on the ground when I recognized the man standing just a few steps away from her, leaning on the wall while looking in my direction.

His black hoodie jacket was covering half of his face yet I am sure that he can see me perfectly. I tried to take a step back, but I bumped into someone who held my waist.

“Hey, pretty girl. You alone tonight?” A smudged smirk was visible on the man’s face while looking down at me.

“N-No.” I tried to take a step and distance myself from him, but he pulled me much closer and I quickly felt his arousal. “D-Don’t touch me!”

I pushed him hard, enough for me to have distance from him, but his hand was still holding me. He laughed and tried to pull me in for a kiss when a fist landed on his face and he fell on the ground.

I gasped, but wasn’t surprised at all as I faced my cousin. “Felicity!”

I ran to her side and she immediately shielded me. The moment they saw Felicity, recognition and fear crossed their faces and they ran away, leaving the man on the ground who was the last one to run.

Felicity was about to run after them when I held her hand to stop her. “Stop, ‘Licy! I don’t want any fights!”

“What the hell, Cielle?” She hissed at me, but I just shook my head at her. I can feel her getting furious at me before she walks past me. “This is why people take advantage of you! You are so freaking kind!”

Pain crossed my heart after hearing what she said and I feel like not wanting to go inside anymore and just go home to sleep in my bed. I couldn’t even smile anymore when people tried to greet us and I had started thinking of negatives inside my mind.

When we got to the entrance, my eyes averted to that spot but didn’t see him anymore. I tried to look around me and there he was, walking away with the same direction the creepy men had taken earlier.

“Ah, ‘Licy?” I grabbed my cousin’s hand to have her attention. “I forgot my phone in my car, I’ll just go and grab it. Okay?”

“Be quick, Cielle! You’re always taking a long time!” She hissed and straight went inside.

I sigh and look in that direction again, but I can't see the man anymore. What was he doing there? I kept on asking myself and I really want to know the answer! So I did the most stupid thing I could ever do. I followed him in that place while roaming my eyes around me. And what I saw next made me still while looking at them.