I FILLED my lungs with glassy air and gripped my shoulder bag tightly. I looked up at the tall building in front of me, at the same time my heart was pounding. I didn’t notice the critical look of the employees who just passed me by after looking at me. "Ma'm where are you?" a security guard stopped me from trying to enter. "To the president's office," I answered timidly, not taking my eyes off the luxurious office. "Ah, any appointments ma'am?" he asked again. I turned my gaze to the information desk, before answering. "I'm the new hired secretary of Mr. Gabriel Magnus." The guard frowned, "Ah, just wait ma'am, I'll just check," he polite answer before leaving me. I gasped, I would not have refused Alessandra's offer to take me here. I just don't want the employees to give a different interpretation of my coming here with the owner of the company, especially since I know that even if Alessandra doesn't tell me that she only le
I WAITED for a while outside Marcus’s office, I don’t know how many minutes she took to walk before she came out. "Just leave the folder, then come back later after lunch," she said to me while combing the hair wheel with his finger. I swallowed forcefully, I couldn't voice what to say. Her red lips before seemed to have lost color even the blazer she was wearing before is no longer wearing now. "Didn't you hear me? Come back this afternoon after lunch," she said irritably. "Mr. President is waiting for that," I said in my casual voice. Instead of answering she just laughed at me. I tightened my grip on the folder as I watched her do so. "I'll deliver that to Gabriel, so you may go..." She declares. I shuddered at the last thing she said. "Gabriel told me to wait for the folder to give to him before lunch." She was momentarily stunned by what I said, but she also recovered immediately. "It's really good that Alessandra
"DAMN IT..." I massaged my temple before sitting on the secretary's chair. I wanted to get rid of these fucking lies, I'm tired of all this shit... I want my husband back. I want him so bad... My warm tears flowed down my cheeks. I cried silently, because crying is the only thing that I can do when I can't take the pain. "Excuse me... ma'am?" I raised my head where I saw a delivery boy in front of me. I wiped my tears away before facing him with a smile. "Yes?" I responded after taking a breath. "Delivery for Mr. Gabriel Magnus?" he said while reading something from the note he's holding. I stood up to assist him and to get the lunch from him since he said it's already paid. "Sir, here's your lunch delivery," I informed him through the intercom. "Come to my office and put it here," he ordered before ending the call. I fixed myself first to look presentable in front of him. I cleared my throat bef
"WE NEED YOU here, Meredith," Ellwood told me. "Yeah, I know that," I replied in a hoarse voice. "Hey, are you alright? You're not taking care of yourself, are you?" I shook my head at the tone of his voice. His voice lowered one decibel due to the sudden fluctuation of his emotion. "I'm fine, Ellie." I said in a whisper-like voice, stopping myself from coughing. I felt really heavy these past few days, I'm just pushing myself to still gi to work despite having a fever. I leaned against the sofa when I heard him heave a deep breath. "You're lying," he stated. "I'm fine, I swear..." I lied but he didn't respond. I sighed frustratedly and lolled my head at the sofa. With his attitude right now, I feel like my fever just broke the mercury thermometer. "Tell mom, I'll be home next week." "Make it as early as you could, I'm running out of reasons. Tita might find out if you'll stay there longer." Ellie sounde
HER MOUTHED pointed towards a table in the corner where there are loud chatters. There are two girls sitting at the table, and it looks like they're in their late twenties. "Okay," I agreed after I received my lunch and medicine. "Guys, this is Meredith, my newfound friend!" she introduced me when we arrived at their table. "Hi! I'm Zaya!" a girl with curly hair greeted me. I beamed and offered her a warm handshake before glancing at the bespectacled girl beside her. "Cheney! Nice to meet you, Meredith!" she also introduced before waving at me. I smiled at them in response before sitting beside Reena. "You've been working here for two weeks already, right? Why did you come down to have lunch just now?" Reena asked. I swallowed hard due to embarrassment. I have my packed lunch every day so there's no need for me to go to the cafeteria, I only came down here because I failed to cook my lunch due to being sick. "I'm not feeling well so I haven't cooked my lunch for today," I shyl
JUST LIKE EARLIER, my eyes blinked repeatedly in bewilderment. My heart pounded so loud that I almost couldn't hear anything but its beating. "Don't worry, it's a business party." He maliciously chuckled. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't," I abruptly refused. Why doesn't he just invite Alessandra instead of me? "Again, it's a business matter," he clearly said to me. "Why don't you present your wife instead of me?" His brows creased and looked at me darkly. "Alessandra has nothing to do with this, besides, Marcus and Sarah will both attend the party tonight. I sighed heavily at that, if I didn't know Alessandra or if he was another person, I'd probably go with him. But hell, yes! He is my husband, and as the world gets smaller between us, the more I want to just go away. This is what I wanted in the first place, to be close to him. But not that way, I don't want to put him at too much risk just because I can't decide what's better for us both. "I'm sorry, I don't really feel well tod
I CHOSE to sit at the table in the far corner of the hall. From my point of vision, I can see every person in the place. My heart is still pounding as I try to see their faces, checking if there's someone familiar to me. I was too busy wandering my eyes around that I didn't notice the waiter placing the main dish and a bottle of wine on my table. "Do you have company ma'am?" the waiter asked me respectively. I looked up at him, "Yes, I'm with my... husband," I said quietly, mind zoning out. "Oh, I'm so sorry..." he mumbled before setting up the table, putting in two wine glasses before walking away. My eyes stayed at the center of the hall, everyone started dancing to the music of a big band. I spotted Reisha somewhere in the crowd, her black dress billowing out as she moved sexily and spun like a free spirit. My eyes searched for Gabriel but I can't spot him, Sarah and Marcus—who were dancing—was the only ones whom I saw. Until a familiar figure sat beside me. My posture strai
I FROZE in my seat, suddenly feeling warm all over. I remained silent, stupefied, and baffled at his compliment. The fiery warmth blazed on my cheeks, creating a red powdery tint from being flustered. I was relieved because the lights were a bit dimmed, the disco ball was the only source of light emitting. "Uh, t-thank you..." was the only thing I replied as I tried to recover. I straightened my body as I coughed the clog inside my throat. I thought he'll sit properly as well, but I was wrong when he held my wrist tightly yet gently. "Dance with me..." he uttered. Before I could even refuse his offer, he already pulled me softly from my seat. He's too strong and dominating that even though he's just gently leading me to the dance floor, I just can't get out of his grasp—or maybe I chose to not get out of his grasp. He can surely hold me effortlessly, even my heart seconds the motion. Because of the big crowd on the dance floor, no one noticed us coming to the center. Despite that