Chapter 4: Meeting Up

Alexandra's POV

I alighted from the taxi, my eyes were still finding it difficult to stay open. I stamp my foot grumpily, whining as I enter the restaurant.

Because I was mad at him and my current sleepy situation, I wasn't able to admire the restaurant vicinity.

The moon isn't up full, the inside was well illuminated with dim light. I sighted the CEO, he kept glancing at his wrist watch once in a while before our eyes met.

“As the CEO, I'm ordering you to get your *ss up and go home now!” His words rang in my head and I snarled, how can he talk about my *ss so casually?

I walked forward, yawning and went to settle across from him.

“Good morning, sir,” I greeted him in a sluggish manner, stressing my words more than necessary.

“I'm gonna get straight to the point,” his voice was laced with urgency and I felt the sleepiness flying out of the window.

“You didn't respond to my greetings. I said ‘good morning',” I repeated and he gawked at me.

I smiled, “You see sir, if it's about last night. You don't have to worry,” I assured, shrugging my shoulders.

“You know, when I was still in highschool, I was the top secret keeper. I'm talking about classified information, eyes-only stuff,” I emphasized on the word classified to make him believe me.

“The principal would whisper secrets in my ear during homeroom, and I'd have to decode them using my advanced algebra skills. I was like a teenage Jason Bourne, minus the cool accent and fancy martial arts moves. I knew who was secretly dating who, which teachers were planning to quit, and even the exact location of the school's hidden pizza party fund. It was a heavy responsibility, but someone had to do it. I was like a human vault, locked and loaded with secrets,” I narrated, adding, multiplying and subtracting what actually happened.

He continued to look at him with a seldom gaze. I was expecting his response but he didn't look like he was gonna say anything. Maybe he needs more assurance or I need to be a little truthful to him.

“Okay. But let's just say, one time, I accidentally spilled the beans about the school play's surprise ending... and, well, let's just say the drama club still hasn't forgiven me. But for you, my lips are sealed,” I dramatically used my fingers to zip up my lips.

“Are you done?” I was embarrassed to hear him say that. I nodded weakly and he finally moved closer, dropping his hands on the table.

“Avoid going home late for the next one month. Well, your work has been lifted anyways so you don't have to keep on working overtime. And of course, you didn't see anything last night and that remains hidden. Are we good?” He asked, looking at me expectantly.

A sarcastic response was about to escape my mouth but I bit my lips to swallow those words. Instead of talking, I nodded without looking at him.

“Good. Order anything you want,” he stood up after that and walked out of the restaurant. I was surprised by this.

‘Did he just ask me to come all the way here to hear this?’ I scrunch my face up before dropping my head on the table.

That could have been said over the phone. Then what he just said sank into my head.

Order anything you want.

I raised my head with a thoughtful expression, is that a way of saying sorry?

A sheepish smile formed on my lips and I went to take my orders. I hadn't had breakfast, so saying no to free food isn't an option.

I arrived at the company at the usual resuming time. I intentionally carried the restaurant bag for my team workers to see it and praise me for going to such an expensive restaurant. I got some chocolates for them also.

Rehearsing how I would tell them having breakfast in that kind of a place is nothing, I strolled in with a sweet smile.

“Ta-da! Good morning, everyone!” I gushed excitedly. They all turned to me before their gaze fell on the bag I was holding.

Miss. Wang hissed loudly before storming away. That was surprising because I made sure to finish her work last night before leaving.

“Morning,” Sarah was the one only that responded. I forced a small smile before rummaging through the nylon and brought out a chocolate.

“I saw you eating this some time ago. So I got this for you,” I passed the chocolate to her but she only stared down at it.

“I don't accept things from favoritism recipients,” she flashed me a fake sweet smile, bumping into my shoulder as she walked away.

I was left in the dark, not knowing what I had done wrong. I went to my desk dejectedly, my mood was suddenly dampened by all these.

I opened my laptop, also taking out my phone to see if I have gotten a text from Sophia. That wasn't the case.

Sighing, I decided to continue with my work when an email popped up on my screen. I clicked on it and my eyes widened in utter shock that I couldn't help the scream that disrupted my throat.

“What?!” my bulging eyes were glued on the “congratulations, Miss Acosta. You have been promoted to be the chief strategy officer of….”

The rest didn't get to me and I squealed loudly. Opening my eyes, I found my team workers were looking at me weirdly. I finally realized what caused the weird vibes this morning.

I was about to talk when one of them beat me at it.

“How long has it been?” Mr. Stephenson asked me. I raised a brow, not understanding what he meant.

“I'm sorry. I don't quite understand,” Sarah suddenly shoved her phone to my view. The screen brightness made me squint at first before I read the headlines.

“What?!” I shrieked loudly, jerked up from my chair and collected her phone to re-read what I just saw.