Part 16

Claire walked into the building while massaging her temples. Her head was throbbing with pain because she had not slept well last night and it was all because the two teenagers staying at her place were constantly harassing her and only stopped at eleven o'clock at night when they fell asleep. While afterward Claire couldn't rest right away because she had to finish her report.

As a result, it was only at two o'clock at night that he could climb into bed and even then he did not know what time he actually fell asleep. Meanwhile, at five in the morning he had to get up again to fulfill his obligations.

Usually, if she stayed up late like that, Claire could steal an hour to an hour and a half to go back to sleep. But this time she couldn't because she had to make breakfast for the two teenagers. And the effects were just now being felt by Claire.

Claire walked into her room. Eight o'clock was only five minutes away but the room was still quiet. Whereas usually at less than eight o'clock people were already busy gossiping. It couldn't help but make her frown.

There can't be an unannounced meeting without him knowing, right? She asked herself. But then she shook her head. If there was a meeting, it would usually be announced through the employee chat group.

Claire placed her bag at the bottom of the table and started to turn on her computer. While waiting for her computer to start up perfectly, she picked up her mug and walked towards the pantry. Hoping that brewing coffee would relieve her headache a little. Afterwards, she intended to print out the results of last night's work so that she could report it immediately when Ms. Shelly arrived.

Claire was heating water in a small pot and pouring her instant coffee into a glass when she heard a noise from the side. She turned around and saw her CEO standing there.

Surprised? Of course she was. In her mind she asked how could a company leader go directly to the pantry, wasn't there an OB or OG who could fulfill all his needs? But Claire tried to keep a straight face as usual.

"Morning, sir." Greeted Claire politely.

"Morning." Antony replied in a flat tone. "Doesn't Flavia trouble you?" He asked, which Claire knew was just a pleasantry.

Claire shook her head. "No, sir. Flavia is a good child, you have nothing to worry about. What you should be worried about is whether or not my niece will be a bad influence." She answered as she was.

Antony nodded visibly. Claire could see how clumsy the man before her was at the moment.

"I like Abigail. She's an honest, real kid. If you mean that bad influence made Flavia a more open and brave person. I will support her to continue influencing Flavia's behavior." Antony replied in a firm tone.

Claire shrugged. "If you like your shy daughter turning into a rebel like my niece, what can I say?" She continued as she poured hot water into her glass. "How may I help you, sir?" She offered then.

Antony looked surprised by her question. The man momentarily looked at Claire with wide-rounded eyes before neutralizing his expression and nodding.

"Can I have a glass?" He pointed at Claire's glass in a low voice.

Claire glanced at her steaming glass. "It's just instant coffee, sir." She said hesitantly.

Claire just assumed that a high society man like Antony would only drink coffee from an expensive café. Or perhaps drinking coffee made from his own grind. Given that last night the man seemed unaccustomed to cheap street food.

"It's okay, I like it." The man said again. Claire could only nod.

"Hot or cold?" he asked again.

"Hot." Antony replied briefly.

Claire nodded again. Boil the water again to make new coffee.

"Do you guys-I mean you, Abigail and Flavia-usually spend weekends together?" He asked curiously.

Claire, who was in the middle of unboxing the new coffee into the glass, paused for a moment. The girl frowned before finally shaking her head. "Not every weekend." She replied briefly.

"But I heard you guys were leaving last night?" Asked Antony doubtfully.

Claire nodded filling a glass with hot water and stirring it. "I only go out on weekends if I need something or if Abigail asks me to accompany her. And it just so happens that last week I made a promise to treat Abigail to a movie she wanted to see." She answered honestly. She then handed the coffee cup to Antony. Antony accepted it while mumbling his thanks. "Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?" Claire asked again.

Antony looked at his steaming coffee and then at Claire. The man's head nodded instantly. "There is." He replied quietly but firmly. "But this has nothing to do with work matters." The man continued. Claire instantly raised one eyebrow. "It's about Flavia."

"What's wrong with your daughter?"

"Can you help me get close to her again?" Antony asked with an expression that Claire found difficult to interpret.

"What do you mean?"

"Abigail must have told you about my relationship with Flavia." Antony's guess was only met with a flat expression by Claire. "Let's just say that I've been too selfish and thought too much about my own feelings that I kept my distance from my own daughter. I came here right now not only to work but also to mend my relationship with her.

"Now that I think about it, other than my family, you're the only adult Flavia trusts. So I thought I could ask you to help bridge my relationship with Flavia besides Abigail."

"Thank you for considering me reliable, sir. But I can tell you in advance that my relationship with your daughter is not that close at all. And to be honest, I don't know how to bring you two closer together. Isn't it too personal for me to get involved in your relationship?" Claire asked back.

"Yes. I mean, I needed a third person to accompany me in my interactions with Flavia. One who could allow Flavia to be more open with me without putting her under pressure."

"Isn't there an Abigail?"

"Yes. But Abigail is just as teenage as Flavia."

"Or are you afraid that my niece will encourage Flavia to take revenge on you because she is also hurt by your behavior towards her best friend?" Asked Claire which was clumsily answered by Antony's nod.

Claire raised the corners of her mouth and then nodded her head. "Well, if you think I can help your relationship to get better, I will." She replied then.

"Thank you." Antony replied sincerely with his heart beating fast as he was mesmerized by Claire's smile.

Claire answered the greeting with a nod. "You're welcome, sir. And I think I should return to my desk to work." She continued when she saw Antony still standing blocking the pantry exit.

For a moment Antony seemed to round his eyes, then he nodded and shifted his tall body away from the door so that Claire could leave the pantry unhindered.

Claire walked quickly back to her cubicle. She didn't want to glance back just to make sure Antony was walking behind her or not. After coming out of the pantry and seeing other humans, the thought of someone seeing her and the CEO in the pantry disturbed her.

So far, Claire has tried not to have a romantic relationship in the office and she has also tried to work as well as possible so as not to become the subject of gossip by her colleagues. And Claire hoped that what she talked to Antony in the pantry or whatever she and Antony would do in the future would not be known by anyone in this office.

The day passed so quickly with seemingly endless busyness. "Is your work done?" The question made Claire look up. Shelly seemed to be carrying her bag and ready to leave the office. Claire glanced at the clock on her monitor and found that it was indeed five o'clock in the afternoon.

"Just a little more." Claire answered honestly.

"Then, I'll go home first." Shelly's farewell was only answered with a polite nod by Claire.

"Your mother is going on vacation?" Claire turned to look at Bella who also seemed to be preparing to go home. She nodded in response. "So are you staying at Abigail's house now or is Abigail staying at your house?"

"The second option." Claire answered briefly. Bella just nodded.

"Want me to stay with you until she comes to pick you up?" Bella, who already knew Claire and Abigail's habits because besides being coworkers, Bella was also Claire's only close friend in this office and almost all of Claire's problems or complaints were told to her friend. Claire answered her best friend's question with a shake of her head.

"You should go home first. I'm sure Abigail will be here any minute." Claire's refusal was subtle. Bella nodded her head in agreement. She got up and tapped Claire lightly on the shoulder before stepping out of their room.

About ten minutes after Bella left, her cell phone rang. Claire saved all her work data and put her shoes back on before picking up the call.

"Wait a moment." That was all she said before hanging up again.

Claire shut down her computer and reached for the bag at the bottom of her desk. She left after turning off the room lights as she was the only person left there.

The sound of her heels echoed down the empty hallway on her way to the elevator. She didn't have to wait long for the elevator to rise to her floor. She stepped into the square space and squealed in surprise when she realized that someone had gotten into the elevator with her.

"My God, you scared me, sir." She shrieked though not too loudly.

Antony was standing next to her and walked in with her. The man he reprimanded just looked at Claire with a frown on his forehead.

"Sorry." She replied briefly.

"Sir, about our conversation this morning." Claire tried to sort out the words. "I thought..."

"Do you intend to refuse my request?" Antony asked suddenly which honestly made Claire shudder slightly in horror.

"No, no. Just negotiating or a little debate." Claire replied flatly. "Now that I think about it, regarding your and Flavia's relationship, why don't you try asking Sir Altezza for help? He's Flavia's uncle and he also seems to get along well with Flavia. Sir Altezza's help seems easier and more logical than asking for help from me who knows nothing and doesn't even know your family history."