"Uhmm." I don't know what to say. The last time we are together is awkward and embarrassing. I suspect him for planning badly for me where I was wrong.
"How are you?" He asked me.
"How much does it cost per line?" I covered my mouth when I realized I said it out loud.
His eyebrow furrowed. "What?" He asked, confused.
He is wearing a stripe, from his polo down to his pants. Maybe he likes zebra.
"Is your favourite animal a Zebra?" I asked innocently.
He is confused and after minutes he laughs. "Hey, I don't have to wear that's why I am all stripe." He explained. Really? I do not believe him. Lame excuses.
"I swear. I forgot to do my laundry. I have been busy." I raised my two eyebrows and started to fix my things.
He changed the topic. "Someone helped me in the road and I tried to find you, so, I guess, Mr. Saltzman saved you." I didn't answer and continued my business. I open my computer. I want to roll my eyes at him. He already said that to me.
Because of his presence I forgot to call my mom.
"Have you heard the news about Ms. Tina?" I stopped what I was doing and looked at him. "She died." He said nonchalantly.
"H-how?" The last time I saw Ms. Tina is, when she saw us in the meeting room.
"She was healthy and she's still young."
Why did she suddenly died? This is sudden and fast. She was okay and healthy.
"Rumors says she sleeps and never wakes up... Everyone doesn't know whether to be happy or sad. Knowing Ms. Tina watches everyone and scolds us as if she is the head manager."
RIP
"Ah. Her family must be sad." I sit and start to work.
I am assuming I thought they were talking about me and my family. I am being paranoid.
Jake laughs. "Did you ever see a family happy when one of the members died?" He asked.
He pulled the available chair and sat on it.
"Yeah, in another country. They are hiring crying ladies." He chuckled at my answer.
"Ms. Tina may be a bitter woman but she's actually a kind person." He shrugged.
I don't know about that woman. I am not talking to anyone here.
"By the way. Are you related to Mr. Saltzman? When he saw me in the road that night, he asked me about you." He asked while thinking deeply. "When I said that you left me ,he left me there without helping but thanks God someone help me."
I have a lot of work needed to do.
I look at my phone and until now he hasn't messaged me. Since we talked on the phone yesterday.
"I was really wondering if you two are related or you just have the same surname." He stops to think again. "But it doesn't look like you two are not related. He knows you and he wants you in his company." He repeated again.
"Instead of being curious about my life, why don't you do your work? Our boss shower us again with a lot of works." I am nearly to resign. Actually, the environment is good but I don't like the fact that they treated us like robots. They gave us too much work.
But this company is not bad when it comes to bonuses. I received a lot of bonuses and they are giving incentives to employees who are working well and perform well. Not bad but it drains me.
"Uhmm, yeah right. I was actually have a meeting. I have to go. I have three businessmen need to meet." He winked at me before he stormed out.
I shake my head and focus on my work.
I stare at the computer because my brain is not working. I keep on looking at my phone. Is he asleep? What time now in Europe?
"Ms. Saltzman, can you buy us a Starbucks coffee?" I lift my head to see the devil who commands me.
Why me?
We are not close and why did she suddenly approach me?
She gave me a fake smile.
"Starbucks is just near the company, two blocks away. C'mon don't stare at me like you don't know where the Starbucks shop is." She's still giving me a fake smile.
I looked at her back and I saw her friends.
"Uhmm. Lufita... I... Uhmm. I am busy." I shutter.
"Me and my friends are really thirsty for Starbucks coffee and we can't leave our desks. We are in charge of the promotion of our new product and a lot of companies are calling." She make a pity face.
I had been working here for a long time and why out of sudden and why now? I am not feeling well.
"Don't worry, I will treat you. Order what you want, it's my treat." She stands me up and I am really confused.
"You're the one who is not doing anything here. Please." She held my both hands.
"O-okay. What flavour and si-size?" I shutter. Why would I say yes? I want to pinch myself.
She smiled widely. "Six grande and sex coffee americano."
"Huh?" Did I hear it right? I heard that. I must get away from that naughty man. I got infected by his dirty mouth. I am hearing different things.
I nodded my head and went out when I got her money.
I sighed. It's so hot.
I walked. Starbucks is just walking distance from the company.
I heard a car. I am in the middle of the road. I don't know how to cross by. There's a lot of cars.
They drive too fast.
I close my eyes and cover my ears using my two hands. I sit down and cry.
I don't like this. I am scared and I don't know how to cross.
I don't understand the traffic light here. Every time that I am crossing here, I am with the other employees and now, both sides are empty and I only see cars.
It's not lunch time yet.
I am not yet ready to die.
I heard a long and loud horn. It's just near to me.
I close my eyes deeply.
The money that I am holding, they were dented.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Someone grabs me and gets me out of the road.
I was shocked and I couldn't blink my eyes.
His voice is familiar. Very familiar.
"What are you thinking, huh?!" His raging voice. He is mad. He clenched his fist. His jaw tightened
He is giving me a dagger look. He is mad, again.
I made him mad.
Everything is still in process. I thought, I am going to die.
I can't stop myself from crying.
"God! Shielyn! What if someone bumped you?! Be thankful, I saw you!" His voice hears out loud.
His veins come out, I am seeing his veins in his neck.
I smelled his manly perfume again. The smell that I always remembered. I inhaled his scent, trying to inhale all his scent.
I saved all my confidence to look at him.
He is here. He saved me.
I finally looked at him.
Too tall, I tiled my head to see him more clearly.
When I finally see him, I hug him and cry harder. His hard face and his aura is dark.
"Hush now. I am here. Don't cry, baby." Whispered in my ear gently.
I felt him caressing my back. His voice became soft and he calmed himself.
He caresses my back at all costs, and it is like he caresses me the way he cherishes and treasures me. His embrace is so light and secured, giving me assurance.