Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15: Meeting Abroad

Two days had passed but Ivyna couldn't bear looking at or talking to Taese. Every time she looked at him, the memory of what she had done kept coming to her mind. And it made her even more embarrassed.

"Ms. Employee."

Ivyna was taken aback by his voice. She was always startled when he called her name. She felt like every time he called her, he'll open the topic about that embarrassing night.

She glanced at him. "Y-Yes, sir?"

Taese furrowed. "Coffee."

Ivyna stood up. "Coming, sir." Then she ran out of the office.

She let out a sigh as she shut the door. She walked over to the coffee area and brewed him a cup of coffee. She handed it over to him once she was finished and came back to office.

"Here's your coffee, sir." She put down the coffee.

"Thanks."

Ivyna froze. 'Did he just say thanks to me?' She thought.

Taese noticed her that she didn't go back. So, he looked up and saw that she's zoning out.

"What?"

"A-Ah, no, sir!" She then walked towards her table.

Taese watched him and shook his head. He continued his business.

Days passed, and the awkwardness between them remained. And grew even more. Taese could tell Ivyna was having difficulty communicating with him. But he has no idea why. So he confronted her as she walked into the office one morning.

"Good morning, sir." Ivyna greeted and about to walked towards her table when Taese stop him.

"Ivyna."

Ivyna froze at where she was. She slowly looked at Taese, widened eyes.

'Did he call me by my name?' She thought. 'Am I still dreaming?'

"Ivyna." He called out again.

"S-Sir?" she uttered. "Why, s-sir?"

They both stared at each other. A minute a while before Taese spoke up.

"Do we have a problem?" He asked.

"H-Huh?"

"You were spacing out everyday," he said. "Do we have a problem?"

Ivyna shook her head. "N-No, sir. Nothing!"

Taese just stared at her and furrowed.

Ivyna bit her lower lip. She could feel her body was shaking by his stares. His dark eyes was like touching her inside.

"Is it about that 'night'?

Ivyna gulped.

"N-No, sir. It's really n-nothing! I'm just a bit off these days becuase I... I hade some problems from... home. T-That's it."

Taese just stared at her.

Ivyna gave him a fake smile. "I-I'm gonna do my work now, sir. G-Good morning again." She bowed and walked towards her table.

She heave a sighed as she sat down. Her heart was beating so fast and loud.

'What's wrong with me?!' She thought. She place her hand onto her chest. 'What's wrong with you?! Stop beating!'

Hours had passed and they're both busy working. Until the telephone rung. Taese immediately answered it.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Villafuento, this is my Yokoi."

He then put down the pen he was holding.

"Oh, Mr. Yokoi, why did you call?"

Mr. Yokoi was one of his friend from Japan.

"Did you forgot?" Mr. Yokoi asked.

"Forgot what?"

"Oh, my friend, you forgot." The man in the line chuckled. "Tomorrow is our meeting in my company, remember now?"

'Oh! Shit!' Taese's thought.

"O-Oh, yeah, I remember..."

The man chuckled. "I hope you book your flight, Mr. Villafuento."

"Of course!"

"See you, then. Have a safe trip." Then the call ended.

"Ivyna!"

Ivyna who's being serious revising the document got startled by the sudden called. She stood up and faced him. The chair she was sitting fell fown and made a small sound.

"S-Sir?"

"Cancel all my schedule starting from tomorrow until one week." Taese said without looking at her.

"O-Okay. Got it." She was about to do what he said when he spoke up again.

"And be ready and prepare yourself," he added.

Her gaze drawn to him again. "Be ready ang prepare myself? What do you mean, sir?"

Taese looked at her. "We'll attending meeting abroad. So bring your things for one week stay there."

Ivyna processed all he said.

"WHAT?!" she finally shouted after she realized what he meant.

"What what?"

"I-I mean, sir... Why I'm going?"

"You're my secretary, right?"

She nodded.

"Then, you'll come to me."

"But—"

"No more but's." He cut her off. "You can go home. Come back before 10."

Taese stood up. He was about to walked passed by her when Ivyna grabbed his arm that made him stop. He then looked at the hand holding his arm and then shifted to her face.

"What?"

Ivyna loosened her hand to his arm. "Meeting where?"

"Japan."

"T-That's too far—"

"You can't do anything about it." He turned his back to her. "Go home and prepared yourself. If you are not in time to comeback here, I'll fire you and your friend."

"What?—"

Ivyna wanted to rant but Taese walked away and went outside the office. She was zoning at there for a minutes before she fixed herself and went outside the office.

While walking towards the stairs, she looked at her watched. It's quarter to eight in the morning. She have almost 2 hours to get her things and comeback to office.

'That bossy!' She thought.

___

DB