Part 13

Fifteen minutes later, Claire had finished her work and shut down her computer just as the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching from behind her back.

Claire turned her head and saw Shelly smiling at her. "Overtime at the end too?" The near middle-aged woman teased.

Claire shrugged. "Do I have any choice but to work late into the night like this? I'm just an employee, if I refuse my boss's orders I'll be fired. And I don't want that to happen." She replied carelessly.

"Good girl." Shelly replied as she patted Claire's shoulder. "Then, I'll go first." She said and Claire just nodded.

The sound of the CPU machine's fan now dominated the quiet room along with the sound of Shelly's footsteps getting further away. Unconsciously, the silence made Claire shudder in horror. It turned out to be creepy to be alone in a silent room.

Honestly, during her time at Coskun Company, this was the first time Claire worked late into the night. Claire is a disciplined and punctual person, so she likes to do the work according to her portion. And if she has to work overtime, she usually leaves the building before seven in the evening.

Claire is not an employee who likes to spend more time in the office. Even if her work piles up, she prefers to do it at home while relaxing. She doesn't like working overtime because according to her, working too long will dull or even damage her brain performance. She prefers to go home on time and spend time entertaining herself. Whether it's sleeping, reading novels or watching dramas she likes. One thing is for sure, she has always said 'no' to overtime.

Her cell phone rang again and Claire saw Abigail's name on the screen. After making sure nothing was left behind, Claire reached for the bag at the bottom of her desk. Replacing the sandals she had been wearing with the shoes she wore to work. After turning off her desk lamp, Claire left to go home.

Just coming out of her room, out of the corner of her eye Claire saw another figure turn the corner and walk together with the head of the company's branch towards her. Abigail was right, her best friend's father was indeed a workaholic. You see, it was the man's first day here and he had chosen to leave work later than he was supposed to even though he knew there was a teenage girl waiting for his return at home.

Do all company CEOs behave like this man who always has a sharp gaze? She asked herself.

"Good evening sir." Claire greeted her two superiors.

"Are you going home?" Asked the branch manager of the company who was younger than Shelly.

"Yes, sir." She replied. She walked after the two men with high positions in her company.

"Shelly?" Asked the man again.

"He just got home a few minutes ago." Claire replied again.

As the only subordinate there, Claire approached the elevator and opened the button for the three of them. She let her two superiors enter first before she went in and pressed the button for the first floor.

It didn't take long for the elevator to reach the first floor. And for Claire, using the elevator is much more efficient and time-saving than having to walk the stairs.

Claire again let her two superiors walk first. Even deliberately buying time just to avoid leaving the building at the same time as them. But again, her cell phone rang.

"Aunty!" Abigail shrieked, clearly sounding annoyed. "Where exactly are you?  I'm already annoyed waiting for you in the parking lot. Don't tell me that you're staying at the office tonight." The teenager grumbled in annoyance.

Claire rolled her eyes as she continued to walk towards the front door which was now open as the big boss came out.

"I was walking. I was right behind Flavia's father, didn't you see him?" Claire replied in a low voice.

"No. I didn't see you. Maybe it's because Flavia's father's body is too big so he can hide your little body." Abigail's mockery made Claire exhale in annoyance.

Claire glanced at the CEO's back and what Abigail said was not wrong. The man's broad shoulders and tall body were indeed able to hide Claire's body that when walking side by side, Claire's head was only at the level of his shoulders.

Claire saw two cars traveling in tandem. She recognized the car behind as Abigail's father's car. Waiting for the CEO to get into his car first so that Claire didn't have to make small talk, in the end she had to keep making small talk because Abigail and Flavia who got out of the car greeted the man first.

"What are you doing here late at night like this?" Antony's heavy voice echoed in the empty air. The man wasn't being reprimanding, instead Claire caught the surprised tone in his question.

"Mmm..." Flavia looked speechless.

"Hello uncle, I’m Abigail. Flavia's best friend." Abigail extended her hand to the man who was the same age as her father confidently. Claire noticed that Antony momentarily seemed hesitant to accept Abigail's hand. "Flavia and I came here to pick her up." Abigail pointed deliberately at Claire who was still standing three meters behind Antony.

Antony frowned and turned to Claire. The man looked confused at her.

"She's Abigail's aunt." Flavia explained in a soft voice.

For a split second, Claire could see one of the man's eyebrows raised before it returned to its flat face.

"I'm staying at Aunt Claire's today. Granny and Grandpa told you about it, right?" The teenager asked nervously.

Antony looked back at his daughter for a few seconds before nodding his head.

"You guys wait here, I'll take my car first." Claire replied as she walked towards the parking lot where her car was.

She no longer warms her car because his desire to get out and get away from the absurdity of the current situation is great.

After putting down her bag, she stepped on the gas and drove back towards the front of the building. Claire stopped the car behind Abigail's parents' car.

"So, are we going to my house?" She asked the two teenagers in front of her in a questioning tone.

Claire glanced at Flavia who now seemed to be biting her lip in doubt. It seemed that the girl was at a loss to decide who to go with. Going back to her home with her father, or following Abigail and returning to Claire's residence.

"If you want to go home with your father, just go home. I'll go to my aunt's house." There was Abigail's whispered voice to her best friend. Again Claire could see the hesitation on the teenager's face.

"If you don't mind, you can decide later." Claire finally made a decision. " Now we'd better eat first because I'm really starving. If after dinner the decision ended with Flavia returning to her own home, then I would drive her." Claire replied again impatiently.

"How about that?" Abigail looked back at her best friend.

Instead of answering, Flavia looked at her father with a questioning gaze. "Can I stay at Aunt Claire's house, Pa?" she asked softly.

" Just discuss it with your father during the trip." Abigail urged softly. " Get into your father's car and follow my aunt's car. You can have a discussion first. If your father doesn't let you stay with me later, then you can go home and send me a message. My aunt is really starving. And you know, if she can't discuss with her stomach she can eat us.”Abigail said flatly. She hurriedly walked to Claire's car and sat beside the driver's seat.

"Come on in." Antony said flatly. "Before your best friend's aunt actually eats you and your friend." His joke made Flavia widen her eyes in disbelief.