Chapter 1

I almost choked from my saliva when the car stopped. I immediately stood up and pretended to go to the comfort room since the comfort room is across the entrance. I wanna check closer.

Of course, I walked slowly. Even slower than a snail. I need to get a very detailed point of view so I need to capture things with my very own naked eyes. Well, not naked eyes, I'm wearing my anti-radiation glasses.

I saw a man walking towards the entrance glass door of the coffee shop, I even almost thought that that man was Allistair, but then I realized he wasn't. He's Allistair's secretary, Claude Verganza. 

That secretary is big time. Where can you see a secretary that is as rich as his boss? Yeah, big time right? Another fishy question is that why would he work for Allistair as his secretary if he can even work with him as a businessman? 

My eyes followed his every movement the moment he entered the shop. He bought two cups of smoothie. He ordered a Triple Berry blend smoothie and a Honeydew-Almond smoothie. It's either one is for him and one for Allistair or...

The other one isn't for him but with a person that Allistair is with. Right? There could be a million possibilities, right? 

"What are you doing?" 

A middle-aged woman who just got out of the comfort room got my attention. She's looking at me like some weird woman and when I looked at myself, I realized I really did look stupid.

My body was slightly bent and my leg is slightly stretched, trying to complete another step but only as fast as a snail. Do you know what I mean? Man, it's stupid.

"Do you have a crush on that young man who was over there a while ago?" She said while pointing the secretary's direction.

I was about to prevent the woman from pointing to Claude very specific, but I saw no one! Where did he go? My eyes automatically went to look for the expensive car outside the coffee shop, but it's also gone!

"He left when you faced me. I'm sorry for interrupting, I'm Aurora by the way."

I wanted to be rude to this woman since I missed my chance to stalk Allistair because of her, but I don't want to be labeled as a disrespectful woman. Also, she's being nice to me. I should at least return the favor, right?

"I don't want to be plastic, I'm irritated madam, but you're nice to me so nice to meet you too. I'm Karina," I truthfully introduced myself. 

After all, I'm not gonna meet this woman ever again. Let's be honest with ourselves, should we?

"I'm sorry if you got annoyed, Karina. Can I, at the very least invite you to my humble home for dinner?" Huh? "For absolution to my mistake."

Uh, what should I say? Should I agree or should I decline? I don't even know if she, talking to me is a coincidence, pure curiosity, and now she's even inviting me to come over for dinner. Who would invite a stranger for dinner? 

"I think It's fine-"

"No, please come. I don't want to be indebted to anyone. Please?" She insisted and so I couldn't disagree.

"Must it be tonight?" I asked, instead of making this conversation longer. It's getting awkward for me to talk to this nice woman. She looked very comfortable and hospitable while talking to me. 

"Yes, I'm cooking for dinner. My son is visiting me tonight, join us."

I only need to say yes, right? She wouldn't be able to look for me or contact me for assurance that I would come, right? Please tell me yes.

"That's good, what's your name again?" she asked.

"Karina Allegre, Ma'am."

"Oh, please don't call me Ma'am or Madam, Just Tita Aurora or Mamita will do," she said.

But that's so awkward! We're not in-laws for Pete's sake! I don't even know anything about you aside from your name!

I wanted to tell her those but again, I don't want to be rude. 

"I guess T-Tita Aurora is good."

Good, God!

"Thank you, see you!"

That's all, and she walked out of the glass doors of the coffee shop. Whoo!

I needed to breathe for a few minutes after that encounter because I felt like I was drained. You know the feeling when you want to yell at someone to blow some steam off, but you can't because they're being good to you?

God! That's what I was feeling earlier.

Instead of putting all the blame on that woman, I decided to just walk home. Yes, walk. I don't have a car and also, I don't have enough money for traveling expenses. I can't spend my company's wealth on my trip to the house, since it's not connected to work. 

So, I don't have a choice but to walk my way from Ortigas to Espanya. That's so far, by the way, but what can I say? I don't have much choice. 

I opened my phone to call my siblings, to check on them if they're already in the house. 

I have one house rule since I'm the oldest person in the house and that is to be in the house by night. I don't care if you spend your whole day outside as long as you'll sleep in the house. 

I allow sleepovers, I allow overtime thesis-making, as long as it's happening inside our house. I don't want some magic to happen to other places at night so even though they're in the age now, I want them to be disciplined. 

I don't care if they have secret boyfriends or girlfriends as long as they come home at night no matter how late but they better be at home before I arrive. Because I'm gonna disown them.

"Hello?" I called Shein. 

"Karina? Where are you? Are you coming home soon? What's for dinner? Are you going to cook?"