The silence before the storm. Have you ever heard that term? That's what Adaline feels right now. There's an uneasy feeling filling her chest. A feeling Adaline can't quite interpret. Restlessness, discomfort, feeling off. Things like that, but she doesn't know what it's all for.
There's nothing wrong with her job. Everything's going smoothly. There are no problems at home either. Although she noticed Altezza has been a bit quiet since their return from Antony's house. But Adaline thinks it might be because of work matters.
There are no issues with her mother either because she just got a call from her to check on the routine checkup results. And her mother said everything's fine.
So what's this feeling for?
Adaline decides to have lunch outside the office area with Tessa. However, when it's time to return, Tessa has a bit of business to attend to, so Adaline ends up returning to the office alone.
As Adaline enters the lobby, she's quite surprised to see Jovanka there. Even her fellow coworkers who are about to return to their rooms seem held back. Just like her, they seem to wonder what Jovanka Lawrence is doing there.
Soon Gian appears, looking puzzled.
"Jovanka Lawrence?" Gian greets the woman warmly, although there's confusion in his expression. Jovanka lifts her head towards the greeter, also looking puzzled. "Did you request to meet me? Is there something I can help you with?" Gian asks politely.
"Who are you?" Jovanka asks back, clearly confused.
Gian looks stunned. "Didn't you ask the receptionist to meet with me?"
"I asked the receptionist to meet with Mr. Quirino. The COO here," Jovanka still looks perplexed. Gian, hearing that, is equally confused.
"Yeah. You're looking for Mr. Quirino, and coincidentally, I am Mr. Quirino. And coincidentally, the Mr. Quirino who serves as the COO here is only me."
Jovanka shakes her head in disbelief. "No, you're not the person I'm looking for." Once again, she shakes her head in confusion.
The woman looks around the lobby area. Her gaze falls on one point. Right onto the highest authority figure.
Antony, walking accompanied by his personal secretary and Duncan, appears to have just returned from his lunch event. The strides of the bespectacled man halt. His forehead creases, and his gaze sharpens. And instantly, his stare disperses the frozen employees. Only Adaline remains standing there, hiding behind a pillar with great curiosity.
"Miss Jovanka Lawrence," he greets with a cold tone.
Even Adaline, who stands quite far away, can feel the displeasure aura emanating from the man.
"Can I help you?" he asks skeptically. "I must say I'm quite surprised by your presence here. This is Coskun, not Kralligimiz, and Coskun has no dealings with you." He continues with his cold tone. There's a subtle dismissal in his spoken words.
Getting no response from the one he asked, Antony directs his gaze towards Gian. Gian shrugs. "The receptionist told me I had a visitor. And she's the visitor. But when I asked what it was about, she seemed a bit confused," Gian replies flatly.
"I want to meet the COO," Jovanka answers.
"You've met him. He's our COO. Gian Quirino," Antony replies again.
"You know he's not who I'm looking for!" This time Adaline hears Jovanka's voice rising.
"If it's not him, who are you looking for?" Antony maintains his flat and cold demeanor.
"You know who I'm looking for, Antony. Don't pretend not to know!" she yells irritably.
Adaline is startled to hear Jovanka's tone towards the highest-ranking person in the company. And it seems Adshkan heard it too because he immediately turns towards where Adaline is hiding.
Is this Adaline's hallucination, or is her brother-in-law actually smiling at her and even winking mischievously? If it's Gian, Adaline might not be surprised, but Antony? The man's attention returns to the guest, and his face returns to its flat mode, making Adaline sure that what she saw a few moments ago was just her hallucination.
"I clearly don't know who you're looking for, Miss Jovanka Lawrence," the man says in a low, cold tone. "You told the receptionist to meet Mr. Quirino, who serves as the COO of this company, and you've met him. Because he currently holds that position and he's also a Quirino."
"You know it's not him I'm looking for!" She points at Gian.
"Then who?" Antony seems to be testing the supermodel's patience.
"Altezza! Altezza Quirino!" Her raised voice echoes in the almost empty lobby area.
There's only Gian, Duncan, Antony, and Adaline there. Adaline is startled again to hear her husband's name mentioned. Once again, she sees Antony grinning.
"And may I ask for what matter?" His voice sounds soft but somehow makes Adaline shudder with fear.
"Where is he? I want to meet him." Jovanka still looks at Antony with emotion, occasionally scanning the area with her beautiful face. Perhaps hoping to find Altezza hiding somewhere.
"He no longer works here, Miss. Why don't you try contacting him?" Antony suggests. The woman frowns.
"I've tried contacting him several times. But he avoids me, he doesn't take my calls!"
"In that case, he clearly doesn't want to hear from you," this time Adaline hears Gian speak.
The voice is so calm and controlled, yet somehow it also sends shivers down Adaline's spine. Both Quirinos are indeed...
"Don't interfere!" she snaps at Gian. And in the next moment, she looks back at Antony with cold eyes. "And tell me where he is, and don't even try to hide it!" Jovanka sounds impatient. Her voice demanding.
"I'm not hiding him, Miss. Besides, why would I? He's grown up. But if there's something you want to convey, perhaps I can help," he says, once again with a very soft tone.
"I know from the start you don't like me and don't approve of our relationship. But I want to start everything anew. Please tell me where Altezza is now." The woman pleads, begging.
"And my answer is still the same as it was before, nothing has changed. I don't approve of your relationship.