Everyone at the company likes their Boss because she treats all of the employees with so much respect and kindness.
Lara silently watches the female CEO as she stands in line with the others, while holding a tray. She patiently waited for her turn to order to get her own food. After a few minutes, Amanda Montserrat and her companions sat at a certain table, and started eating lunch while chatting with each other.
Lara is observing her every move, like a predator eyeing its prey. She studies the way she talks, the way she eat and laugh with her companions.
She was so concentrated with Amanda, that she didn't realized that her lunchtime is almost over. She almost jumped out from her seat because of surprised when she felt someone tapping her shoulders. She looked at her right side, and she saw one of her co-worker from the Cleaning Department standing beside her.
"I'm so sorry for surprising you like that, Lara." Christy said, while looking apologetic.
Lara took a deep, calming breath before she spoke again.
"No, it's okay. By the way, do you need something from me?" she asked, as soon as she regained her composure.
"Uh, well. Our lunchtime is over and we need to go back to work now. The rest of the cleaning department has gone back to our locker to go back to work. I saw you staring into the space so I thought i should remind you of the time." Christy explained.
"Thank you for your concern, Christy. You're right, we should be going back to work," Lara nodded in return, as she forces herself to smile at Christy.
And before she can finally leave the cafeteria, Lara gave Amanda one, last look, then she started making her way towards the cleaning department room. She is now walking back to the harsh reality of life. She is going to scrub toilet bowls and mop the floors again, just like what she usually do everyday...
After a few hours.
Lara is having a 15-minute afternoon break alone at the Etoile Company rooftop. She is having her usual coffee break while enjoying her time alone. Two more hours of cleaning the comfort rooms and mopping floors and throwing away garbages, then after that, she can go back home and finally call it a day.
She was about to take another sip from her paper coffee cup when she suddenly heard a certain male voice nearby. The voice sounded agitated, and she can really feel it.
Her eyes roamed around to see who it was, and she was surprised to see the Head of Security of Etoile Cosmetics, Mr. Oliver Doe. She doesn't have a close relationship with him or anything, but she is quite familiar with him because she saw him on her first day at work five years ago as part of her On-the-job-training.
Lara got curious because this is his first time seeing the Head of the Security looking anxious and agitated, as he is always known as the calm and collected guy at the company. But now, he is seeing a different side of him.
But one thing is for sure... She is in a middle of an awkward situation because she doesn't want Mr. Doe to think that she's been eavesdropping, but she doesn't know what to do at his moment. Will she just stay put or will she try to escape?
Lara stops with her dilly-dallying when she heard Mr. Oliver Doe's voice again.
"---If you really don't want to, you can always say no. You're always telling me that you want to make your parents happy and you don't want to hurt them but what about your own happiness? Do you think I don't feel hurt as well?!"
She heard all of those things from him, and she can really feel that he is in deep pain. His facial expression shows raw emotions, and it's something new to see...
"Look, I don't want to talk about this over the phone. Let's meet after work, same time, same place. We need to sort this out."
After a few minutes, Oliver Doe finally ended the call and puts the mobile phone back to her pocket.
Lara groaned inwardly when Oliver Doe and her eyes met.
"Damn, this is so awkward! What am I going to do?" she started to secretly panic.
But before she could say something, Mr. Doe smiled at her and started walking towards her direction.
"You've heard everything, don't you?" he asked her rightaway, while sitting at an empty seat which was beside Lara.
"Well, you got me. But I swear, it was purely unintentional! I promise I won't tell anyone about what I heard!" Lara said it all in one breath.
Lara is starting to panic, but she is trying her best not to show it to Oliver. But there are so many things that is going on with her head. What if Oliver doesn't believe in her? What if he do something to shut her up?
Yes, she heard something, but she doesn't really understand the real context of that phone conversation. And besides, she doesn't know who he was talking to, so there's no way for her to gossip about him!
She doesn't have any idea what is going on to his mind, and she held her breath in suspense, while waiting for him to say something.
But much to her surprise, Oliver Doe chuckled in return, as his eyes sparkled in amusement.
"Why is he chuckling? Did I say something funny?" she asked to herself, while looking confused.
Oliver Doe continues to chuckling, as if someone threw a joke.
"What a weird man." Lara secretly thought to herself.
After almost two minutes, the man stops chuckling and puts his attention back to Lara.
Lara is getting mentally ready as she waited on what Oliver Doe is going to say.
"Wait, you do you look scared? Do I look scary to you?" he suddenly asks her.
"Well, it's up to you whether you believe me or not." Lara responded.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about it. I'm pretty sure that I didn't mention my girlfriend's name in that phonecall." Oliver said, while shrugging in return."Don't worry, you're secret is safe with me. I'm a loner after all." Lara enunciated.Oliver took a deep breath before he spoke again."To tell you the truth, I'm getting really tired of keeping my secret. But exhausting as it may seem, keeping this secret is the only way to protect the woman that I love." he said, with a serious look on his face."I'm not really great at giving advices, but I can assure you that I'm a good listener and I'm damn good a keeping secrets." Lara said in return."Well, I believe in you. We've been talking for a few minutes now but we haven't introduced each other properly. I'm Oliver Doe..." he finally introduces himself, as he offered his hand for a handshake."Yes, I know you. You're the Head of the Security here at Etoile Cosmetics Company." stated Lara."Let's just forget about our job titles, sha
EMMETT ALBREICHTAfter Emmett drives his fiancee home, he and his parents finally arrives at one of their mansions at the Metropolitan City. His parents will be going back to the Albreicht Estate in the countryside tomorrow. His parents prefers to live in the countryside area since the noise and the big crowd in the city makes them exhausted."Son, do you have a minute to have a drink with me at the mini-bar? Your mother and I will go back home tomorrow, so I want to have a bonding moment with you before we get busy with the wedding preparations." Mr. Albreicht smilingly suggested to his son."I like that idea, Dad. Let's go." Emmett nodded in approval.After a few minutes, the father and the son duo are now enjoying their own alcoholic drinks. Mr. Albreicht is drinking rum, while Emmett is enjoying his own glass of brandy."So, tell me son. Are you really inlove with Amanda?" the old man gave his son a surprising question."What kind of question is that, Dad?" Emmett curiously asks h
"Oh, you're on your way to the penthouse, too? That's great! You know what, forget about cleaning and let's just hangout in my office!" Amanda suddenly suggested.Lara looked taken back at the CEO's suggestion."But I'm still at the middle of my work, and besides, why would a CEO hang out with a lowly employee like me?" she inquired."Why not? And why would you say that you're just a lowly employee? Look, everyone in this company is equal. There's no such thing as being a higher employee and a lowly employee. We're just normal human beings and we're working to survive in this crazy world. And by the way, I'm inviting you as the company's CEO, but I'm inviting you as a friend. So, what do you say? Wanna hangout with me?" Amanda continues to convince her."Well, it wouldn't hurt to accept her invitation, right? I mean, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance so I should just go for it." Lara said to herself, while thinking hard.After a few seconds, Lara's attention went back to Amanda."Ok
Before Lara could say something else, they heard someone knocking at the door. "Please wait for me, I'm just going to see who's at the door." Amanda told her.Lara nodded in return.Amanda stood up, and walked towards the door. As soon as she opens the door, she was greeted by her fiance', Emmett."Hello there, honey! I just dropped by to surprise you!"Lara discreetly glances at Amanda's visitor. She saw a man who is talking to her Boss. She secretly whistled while staring at the man. He looks like a model who walked out straight from the pages of a men's fashion magazine. He looks so damn gorgeous! His face can make the women swoon and crawl at his feet. He got the most amazing blue eyes and she feels hypnotized by it. He also got a straight nose that ends with a soft, curvy tip.Lara's eyes went down to his lips, and goodness gracious! He got kissable lips, and she can't help but wonder how is it like to be kissed by him. He also got a well-defined jawline, and it made him hotter.
"Whatever your plan is, as long as it's for the benefit of other people and as long as you're not hurting other people, I'll always be here to support you, honey." Emmett sincerely enunciated."I appreciate your support, Emmett. I really want to help Lara, and I'm very excited about her future." Amanda continued to speak."Oh, I almost forgot about this... My parents asked me to give this to you. Mom said should give this to you as soon as possible." Emmett suddenly remembers something. He gave a velvet medium-sized envelope to Amanda."Oh, this looks so beautiful! This is such a perfect invitation for the Diamond Wedding Anniversary." Amanda smilingly explained, while looking at the invitation."Oh, here's another invitation for your parents. Don't forget to give this to them, okay?" Emmett reminded his fiancee."I promise I will give it to my parents. Don't worry." Amanda said in return."And once my parents diamond wedding anniversary is over, we should start making preparations fo
"This ring is an outward reminder of our inner unity, a bond which is stronger than any obstacles. Let this ring always be a reminder of my promise to you, and tbe unwavering bond between us." the bride lovingly spoke, as she slips a ring on her husband's finger as well.Amanda doesn't know why, but tears starts to fall from her eyes."Are you alright, honey?" she suddenly heard Emmett's voice.Amanda quickly wipes away her tears, as she forces an smile towards Emmett."I'm... I'm okay. I'm just touched by their wedding vows." she responded, while trying to control her emotions."Don't worry, I feel the same way, too." Emmett admitted.Amanda just smiled in return, but she didn't say anything else. She turned her attention back to Mr. and Mrs. Albreicht, who are smiling at each other."---With tbe power vested in me, I now pronounce you as husband and wife." the priest finally announced.Everyone at the church started clapping joyously after the renewal of vows ceremony. Mr. and Mrs A
But she can't help herself but to hide their relationship, as she's afraid and concerned on what people will say about it.Amanda lets out a big, helpless sigh after she went back the memory lane. Many years have passed, but her love for Oliver is getting stronger. But the problem is, she is engaged to be married to Emmett Montserrat, and she doesn't know how to get out from this messy situation.She helplessly climbed into her bed and hugged her pillow in a fatal position. She started crying silently, until she was able to fall asleep...=============================OLIVER DOEIt's Friday in the evening, and it's also his day off from work. Instead of just taking a relaxing time and good rest at home, he decided to hit the bar and drink alone, just to forget all the pain that he's feeling deep within his heart, even just for tonight. He's been thinking that he deserves to have a good time, after so long... Everyone at the bar seems to be having a great time, and he feels like he's
But Amanda is still hesitant because she doesn't want to hurt her parents by causing a scandal that could ruin her family's reputation. And he doesn't have any idea what to do at this moment. If only he could be a rich man just like Emmett Albreicht. It would be very easy for him to marry Amanda, and parents will definitely like him as their only daughter's husband and as a son-in-law. He will have a happy-ever-after lovestory with the woman he loves.But the sad reality is, he is just a simple and average poor man, who doesn't have his own house, doesn't have a car, with just a little bit of savings at the bank. He doesn't belong to a rich, prestigious and reputable family and he is not a suitable marriage partner to Amanda.Oliver drank his brandy, one shot, and he asked the bartender for another drink. He wants to drown his sadness and his problems even just for tonight...==============================LARA SMITHLara is at the rooftop again for her 15-minute break. She roamed her