Chapter 7

We were both too occupied the whole morning especially that there’s still no secretary that’ll train under Andrea.

Also, a lot of papers are currently being processed because of the internal changes of the company, including the marriage dates and the preparations for my inauguration, including the transfer of project titles and other related matters.

Madelle’s resignation was really a huge loss on my part but good thing, Andrea is very efficient. Heck, she is even capable of handling the entire Bach.

"Elle, still busy?" Andrea knocked on my wooden table making my attention drift towards her.

My forehead creased when I noticed her handbag on her shoulder and the smell of her newly sprayed perfume.

“You’re going somewhere?”

“It’s lunch time Elle.” She pouted her lips and point it towards the right side of my office where a huge clock in a unique polygonal shape is displayed. It’s past twelve.

“Oh” That’s why she called me Elle. It’s no longer business hours.

I glanced at her then back to the huge pile of papers on my desk and on the floor beside my desk and on the center table. Time surely flies fast.

“Oh c’mon. We can finish that without skipping lunch.” She said with her arms folded infront of her chest.

“I didn’t say anything Drey.”

I looked at the full body mirror on the other side to check on my appearance. Beside it is a folding cover I usually have in all of my offices so I could change quickly, but of course, there’s also the comfort room but I just find it convenient to have that.

I run my fingers through my hair and wet my lips as I let my tongue glide over it. My lips lifted a bit as I noticed the difference of Andrea’s and my outfit. She looks formal and I look a bit semi-formal. 

I’m taller than Andrea but with the difference of the length of our heels, we almost have the same height.

We just talked about work while on the elevator and since it was just the two of us, we were free to talk about it especially that they weren’t really the important ones.

The elevator door opened when we reached the 8th floor and a group of men and women entered. I stepped back a little so they would all fit in but the strong presence near me can’t just go unnoticed. His stare was too intense making my head snap towards his direction.

Irritation filled my system when I saw two brown orbs but with lots of shade of green making it look more divine than the other eye colors. 

A small smirk was painted on his lips making my brows knot. Conceited. I rolled my eyes at the conceited jerk but it just made his lips stretch more making me look away.

His smile… I don’t like it. Not because of offense but because of something familiar and yet, I don’t know what it is.

“Xander is really getting into my nerves. He’s always with different girls and look at the way he smiles at Doc Rosan.”

A familiar high pitch voice, although she said it in a hushed tone so not everyone can hear, made me snap my head towards Andrea. She’s beside Andrea, on the opposite side, so I couldn’t see her face clearly but I’m sure this voice is familiar. 

Both of them chuckled. The girl in front of them, clicked her neck as if looking at them in side view. I noticed how she smirked and shook her head. The girl beside Andrea even poke the side of the girl in front as if teasing her.

“Where do you want to eat? At the cafeteria or outside?”

I looked at Andrea thinking she was talking to me but to my surprise, she was actually talking to one of the women who entered earlier.

I can’t really see her clearly because Andrea is covering her but her laugh sounds so familiar. She really is familiar.

“We’ll eat outside. You should join us.” She said.

Andrea turned to me. “Is it okay with you to eat with other people outside?”

Before I could even answer, I heard a gasp and a slight shriek making me turn my head towards the woman beside Andrea.

Candy, in wide eyes and parted lips, is looking at me. She then slowly raised her arm with her index finger pointing at me. “E-Elijiah! What a small world!”

“Oh? You know each other?” Andrea asked.

I was about to say no because I know she meant as me, the Elijiah Bach, but Candy already said yes and told her we live in the same condo building.

“Well, that’s great. Elle, let me introduce to you my friends.” I noticed how everyone shifted their attention to us.

Candy is smiling widely and waving at me while the other woman who is wearing a black turtle neck long sleeves tucked in an A-line skirt that’s below the knee looked at me curiously. Oh, Mr. Frue’s daughter. I don’t think she knows me but I think she saw me talking with her father, judging from how she looks at me right now. Rosan. Doc. Rosan.

The other two guys introduced themselves as Xander and of course the conceited one, Zion. Both have almost the same height.

While Xander has a light aura but still with a hint of seriousness because of his eyeglasses that matched well with his straight thick and dark brows. Even with his dark eyes, there is like an invisible smile painted on his lips.

But Zion… Despite the way he smirked when our hands touched for a handshake, it is undeniable how he has a more formal air than Xander, even among everyone here in the elevator. His mood seems light but his presence isn’t. It’s like seeing a person with two completely different personalities but in one body.

I tore off my eyes from his hazel ones because I’m afraid I might dive in too deep and might get lost in the way with no chance of going back.

“They’re all in the cardiothoracic department. They’re good surgeons.”

My brow twitched a bit but I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt. No matter how weird they may be, they're still Bach doctors. The best doctors in the country. And besides since they're from the cardiothoracic department, one or two of them will be part of my Lolo's operation.

When the elevator door opened and revealed the basement parking full of cars, I was about to ask Andrea where we’ll ate but she told me we’ll just convoy and follow conceited’s car.

Oh, I wasn’t informed we’ll dine together. I never said yes but…

I just found myself turning on the ignition of my car as Andrea rode on the passenger’s seat while the other two girls are seated at the back.

“Sleek car miss.” Andrea whistled as she entered making me roll my eyes.

Conceited was driving too slow, well for me, it was too slow so I asked them which restaurant was it and just used Waze. I turned the steering wheel a bit so I can overtake and stepped on the gas. We arrived at the restaurant first. Damn, conceited drives like a turtle.

As I stepped out and closed the car's door, the elegant cursive letters above the restaurant's entrance caught my attention.

La Cuisine Française. French cuisine?

I strutted and felt the French air that I'm used to and I really love. The interior of the restaurant feels so cozy but high-end at the same time. Turns out, they always eat here since conceited introduced it to them.

I was admiring the interiors of the restaurant and also amazed with the familiar feeling it gave me, maybe because it has a touch of French culture when a large and warm hand gripped on my wrist. It wasn’t too loose nor too tight for me to get hurt, just enough to get my attention. 

"Don't drive too fast." His voice is husky and in a cold tone. It was hushed, just enough for the both of us to hear.

I looked at him with my brow raised but immediately lower it as I met with his hazel eyes. My raised brow slowly turned into a knot when I noticed that stare again. It’s that stare – a certain emotion is playing in his eyes but I can’t understand why.

Are his eyes really like this? Does he at look everyone this way?

"I don't need your concern." I said as a matter of fact, clearing my throat a bit to get myself out from the world he created for the both of us with the simple glance he gave.

"I'm not concerned.”

My forehead creased at his statement. Really?

“Just worried your heart will accidentally crash mine.”

My mouth parted at his silliness. Gone was the melancholic guy I've seen through his eyes. Welcome back conceited jerk.

I shook my head and just walked towards the table they found for us. I sat beside Andrea and Doc Candy. In front of her is the conceited monkey while the person in front of me is Doctor Xander Dy and beside him is Doc Rosan. 

I rolled my eyes when the conceited jerk looked at me after he glared at the innocent doctor beside him.

"Bouillabaisse en pressée jus. De taille moyenne." I smiled as Andrea stated her orders. Her diction is better now.

"Rôti de bœuf en pressée jus." The waiter nodded as she wrote my order. She repeated all of our orders before going to the kitchen.

“You speak French fluently.” Doc Candy said in an amused tone.

“Maybe you forgot that my boss is French.” Andrea said making me smirk.

Really Drey? I wanted to tease her about it because she used to cry for getting the pronunciations wrong.

“How about you Elijiah? Where did you learn French? Do you also work closely for the Bachs?”Andrea almost choked on her own saliva when Doctor Candy asked me.

“Yeah, you’re a foreigner?” Doctor Rosan asked as she stared at my ocean eyes.

“Ah yes.” I looked at Doc Rosan and answered curtly. “And yes.” I said as I looked at Candy.

While waiting for our orders, they talk about the anticipated Welcome Party for the only heir of Bachs. I just remained quiet and listened to them.

It's kinda awkward but it's also kinda fun hearing things about me and my family from strangers. 

“Do you know how the only Bach in line looks like?” Doc Rosan asked while Andrea just chuckled. They keep interrogating Andrea because she works directly under the Bachs.

"I'm quite sure you've already seen that Bach." Andrea said with amusement dancing in her eyes.