The Day He Matured

In the following days, Brian seemed to be very gentle, he did not give me too much work anymore. I just remind him of the schedules of the day, of the week.

But that didn’t make me feel better, my footsteps were still heavy when the bus dropped me off in front of the company gate. And as soon as work hours ended, I immediately ran out of the room before the staff in the sales room.

Brian’s sudden change made me worry, I was afraid he would think of another trick to torment me.

Outside of office hours, I will minimize contact with him as much as possible.

Every time he looks at me through the glass of the office makes me extremely uneasy, his eyes seem to be looking at my heart and soul.

Another new day came, like every other day, I woke up early, ate a cake quickly, and went to the company.

The bus had just dropped me off when a luxury car arrived. As soon as the windshield came down, I recognized the driver as Hellen.

“Get in the car, we need to talk.” Hellen said and pulled up the windshield.

If I refuse her today, I know she will come again, she can even go inside the company, ask the receptionist to contact me, or rush into the office.

“You speak quickly, I have to go to work.” I said as soon as I sat in the passenger seat.

“What did you promise me? Did you forget?”

“I don’t forget. I have been working at the AD company for two years and Brian has only appeared here for a few days. I didn’t know this company belonged to Hana Corporation.”

Hellen chuckled. I noticed she was angry. I ignore her. I am now like a leper, no longer afraid of sores. My body is not healthy, the pressure of work, and my heart hurts.

I don’t want to be scared, stooped in front of her like in the past. She’s not my boss, and I didn’t do anything wrong to her. I just feel guilty for betraying my promise to Brian.

“Now you already know. Quit your job and go far away from this city.”

What? Is this girl ordering me? Like that year.

My job doesn’t affect Brian’s bright future, so she has no excuse to threaten me.

“Then please ask Brian to sign the resignation letter for me. If he doesn’t sign, I won’t be able to quit. Or you can tell him to fire me and then compensate me with three months’ salary.”

Hellen’s eyes widened, staring at me. She probably didn’t expect me to dare say those words. Instead of coming here to meet me and threaten me, she should talk to Brian because I can’t decide if I should leave or stay.

“I will give you money, more than three months of that salary. Quit your job.” Hellen rummaged through her purse and pulled out a thick, new stack of cash.

“Miss Hellen, I prefer taking money from Hana Corporation.”

“You’ve gone mad, haven’t you? Brian and I have been together for the past two years. I advise you not to dream anymore, not to destroy our happiness. Brian will become an empty-handed man if you stick to him.”

“Did I eat all his money? Now he and I are just a boss-employee relationship, nothing more. So don’t go crazy with me.”

After saying that, I opened the car door, got out, and walked quickly.

If she spoke softly and politely, I wouldn’t irritate her.

I also don’t want to stay at the AD company. One year from now, I’ll be out of here.

But I’ll still live in the city, I can’t go into the woods or to the countryside. I can’t do farming, I can’t scrape the ground to eat.

As soon as I arrived at the company gate, I slowed down, walked like a turtle, and slowly walked up to the sales office.

I had just ducked into Brian’s room to get a teapot and a cup to wash when I discovered he was sitting behind a stack of documents.

Why did this guy come to the office so early today? Does he know I just met Hellen? Did she tell him? Did she ask him to fire me?

“You didn’t eat breakfast but went to work, right?”

The sudden question made me almost drop the teapot.

“What… what?”

“Why do I always see you walking like a sick chicken into the company? But at the end of the work time, you run faster than anyone.”

Turns out Brian realized that. All because I have a boss like him.

But do I look like a sick chicken? He used to raise chickens, right? How did he know that I was like a chicken?

Besides, no matter how fast I run, I lose to Miss Emma, who sits near the door. I’m not the fastest runner.

“Am I like that? Maybe in the morning, my muscles are still not flexible after a night of lying still.” I smiled wryly, trying to explain.

“Really? I feel it’s because you don’t want to see me. But you can avoid me for a day, or two days, but you can’t avoid me for a lifetime. Tonight… let’s go together.”

Huh? What? What did Brian just say? Do I have to go with him tonight? Where to go? Going to eat? Or drink? Or go into a hotel? What did he mean when he purposely stretched that sentence?

No, I won’t go with him. I have the right to refuse meals that are not related to work.

“We will attend a party organized by Mr. David. He is a big partner of our company, so you can’t refuse.”

“Party?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Right. What are you thinking? You think I’ll take you to the hotel, don’t you?”

I was startled when Brian said exactly what I thought. Did he insert the microscope into the fish meat?

Since the day I went to eat with him and Mr. David, everything I think about, he knows almost sixty percent.

“No, I don’t think at all.”

“I allow you to leave work early this afternoon. Go home at three o’clock, around five o’clock, I’ll come pick you up.”

“Why don’t you ask others to come with you?” I frowned and asked.

“Asking too much. Because you’re my secretary.”

Bastard. You said that I asked too much. Why do you still replying? Why don’t you ask Hellen to come with you? She is famous, beautiful, and also your woman.

You should take her with you instead of bringing someone who doesn’t know anything about super-rich parties with you.

For the next few hours, I worked in an uneasy mood and kept glancing at the right corner of the computer screen.

If I hold my stomach and cry out in pain now, I won’t have to go to the party, right?

Perhaps so. Brian won’t be able to drag me to the party while I was in pain. I’m so smart.

As soon as the clock showed two-thirty in the afternoon, I prepared to play the patient.

However, I just put my hand on my stomach and didn’t have time to wince and complain when the desk phone rang.

And on the other end of the line was none other than the boss, who was staring at me through the transparent glass.

“Are you ready to have a stomachache? If so, go home and buy medicine. Your acting is so clumsy, you can fool my brother, but you can’t fool me.”

My lips moved, but I was speechless. I definitely have to go to the hospital for an ultrasound. I have to find the microscope in my abdomen.

I don’t believe in three years of living together that Brian can understand me like the palm of his hand.

Putting the desk phone back where it was, I stood up, picked up my bag, and went straight.

Okay, I’ll make Brian faint as soon as he comes to pick me up. I will make him ashamed and regret that he took me with him.

I would put on flashy makeup and paint myself as a clown, with a big face, big black eyebrows, and wide lips that reach to my ears.

Yes, that’s what I thought when I was angry. However, after going back to the lonely nest and soaking in the cool water, my head is more relaxed and less burning.

My parents gave me such a beautiful face, how could I make it worse in the eyes of others?

Moreover, it seems that the party is quite important to Brian. In my heart I still think for him, I don’t want him to be affected.

During this time, he didn’t cause any trouble for me anymore.

Thinking back and forth, I just put on light makeup, let my hair down and put on a simple, unfussy dress, then went out the gate to wait for Brian because it was almost five o’clock in the afternoon.

And just five minutes later, the shiny black car appeared. I quickly walked over to the car, opened the door, and got in.

“Hello, director.”

“Uh.”

Oh, this is the first time Brian has responded to my greetings since the day we met again. There must be a big storm coming.

“Fasten your seatbelt.”

“Yes.”

I obediently did as Brian said. From beginning to end, I did not turn to look at him once.

My heart is betraying its master. It was pounding wildly, almost jumping out of my chest just because the minty scent was wafting around in the car.

During the journey, I turned my face to one side, looking at the flow of traffic and the shops along the two sides of the road.

My heart is filled with great sadness when I watch the sunset gradually fall everywhere.

My soul seemed to drift to nowhere, no longer aware of which roads Brian drove through. It wasn’t until he reached out and patted my shoulder that I regained consciousness.

“What… what?”

“Arrived already. Do you want to stay in the car forever?”