Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

"WHAT do you want to talk about, Mr. Villafuento?"

Ivyna initiated the conversation.

Taese escorted her into the parking lot. At first, Ivyna was hesitant to come with him because July was not accompanying her. But when Taese explained that he just wanted to clear out something with her, she agreed. And July forced her to come with him.

They both made their way quietly to the parking lot. At that moment, Ivyna had already idea what he qanted ro clear out something to her. So, she secretly prayed for herself and her work.

Taese, who's leaning in his car, examined her from head to toe. His eyes stayed in her face that made her to be anxious.

'Why he's looking at me like that?' She thought. She felt anxious by his stare. His cold and black stare caused her to look away, unable to look him in the eyes directly.

"What did you see in my office, forget it—"

"I didn't see anything!" She answered quickly.

Their eyes met.

Ivyna felt weak by his gaze.

Minutes passed, they all did was to stared to each other. They even not blinked or moved. It was like they pegged while looking at each other.

Ivyna was the first one who dislodged her eyes out of him.

"W-Why are you looking at me like that?" She said, sputtered.

Taese stood up straight and put both hands in his pants as he looked at her.

"Anything you heard or saw in my office, keep it secret—"

"I would! I don't really care if you did something ridiculous, though. You're just our temporary CEO."

"Really?"

"Yes—"

"Coz, I don't think you're the kind of person who can kept secret of others on your own."

Her eyes widen. "What do you mean by that?!"

"You're a loud-mouthed." His lips curved into grin smile.

Her mouth hung open. She couldn't believe that he said that.

"How can you say so, Mr. Villafuento?" She made a remarked in her words.

Taese then looked at her smiling. He couldn't believe she got some guts to answered him back. It was the first someone answered him back and it was a girl. He couldn't believe it.

"Don't question me, Ms. Employee." He then opened his car door and smirked at her before went in.

Ivyna watched his car drove away.

"He's unbelievable! That guy!" She said irritated while still watching his car.

___

TAESE who's now in his car, driving suddenly smiled. He thought that the girl really had something in her. He didn't know why but seeing her angry made him smile.

His phone suddenly rang. He answered while still driving.

"Yes, grandpa?"

"How's my company, Tae?"

"Great."

"Did you enjoy your first day?" The teased in his tone could heard.

"Not really." He said, boredly. "Your vacation? How's it?"

"Great, too! I'm having fun here. And i feel relaxed all the time."

"Good for you." He said. "Gonna hung up, I'm driving. Bye."

Without any hesitation, he ended up tha call. Then he threw his phone at the backseat.

It took an hour before he arrived at his friend's bar named Jeffrey.

"Good evening, Sir Taese." The guard greeted him.

He nodded. "Where's Jeffrey?"

"He's upstairs, vip room, sir."

He nodded once more and walked into the bar. He smelled the alcohol in the air as well as some cigarettes. He went upstairs to find his friend. He noticed him having fun with a girl inside the VIP room.

He knocked into the door that got their attention.

"Oh, Tae, why are you here?" Jeffrey removed his arm around the girl and sat down properly.

Taese smiled at walked towards him.

"New girl, huh?" He teased him and looked at the girl. "Hi."

The girl shyly smiled and looked at him. "H-hi."

"So, what's gotten in you bring to come here? As I know, you're busy with your grandfather's company, right?"

He sat down infornt of them. "Yeah, just wanna relax."

"Tired of being slave."

"Slave your ass. I'm not. I'm doing that because I want my parents to stop pestering me."

Jeffeey laughed. "Scared, eh?"

He rolled his eyes. "Stop nugging me. Give me something to drink. I want to relax, not to be interviewed by you."

He chuckled "Yes, sir."

He then sat down on the sofa and rested his body. Suddenly, when he closed his eyes, the girl who had he fought with appeared in his mind. He smiled as he remembered how she looked she was earlier.

___

IVYNA, who was waiting for a bus, was still irritated and couldn't move on to what the new CEO had said about her.

"He's rude, arrogant and cold-hearted person!" He shouted. "How can he said that to me?"

Even when she arrived at their home, she couldn't move on to his words.

She opened the light in their house and about to removed his sweater when someone spoke up.

"You're early."

She nervously looked around and saw her mother sitting in the dining table.

"You startled me." She said holding her chest. "Why are you here?"

"Why? Am I not allowed to this house?"

She took a step and walked toward her.

"That's not it. What I mean is, why you're here? Where's father? Astonishingly, you're not fighting each other today. Why is that?"

Her mother took a sip in her coffee before she answer her.

"Don't talk to me."

"Okay."

She then walked towards her room. But, still, she couldn't believe that her parents are not fighting today. What happened?

___

TWO days had passed and Ivyna hadn't returned to the CEO's office anymore. She couldn't stand looking at the guy who had insulted her. She didn't see him after that night and tried to avoid seeing him.

She was eating lunch with July when someone approached their table.

"Hi, are you Miss Ortiz?" He asked while looking at her.

Ivyna gave July a sidelong glance before shrugging her shoulders. She, also, has no clur what's going on.

Ivyna examined the man from head to toe. He's from the first floor department, based on his attire. What's he need from her?

"Yes, I am. Why? Is there a problem?"

He instantly shooked his head while waving his hands.

"No, no. Mr. Villafuento wanted to talk to you that's why he ask me to come and find you."

He gulped at what she heard. "M-Mr. Villafuento?"

He nodded and smile. "Yes."

Her gaze was drawn to July. She, too, was taken aback by what the man said.

"After office hours, he said meet him in his office." He added. "Gotta go?"

Ivyna, who was still processing what he said, nodded unconsciously.

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

The man walked away from them.

"What the hell is that, Ivy?" July burst out. "Is there something between you and the new CEO?"

Ivyna looked at her with widen eyes. "The hell?!"

"Why he's looking for you? And talking to you, AGAIN?!" She said emphasized the word 'again'.

She shook her head. "I don't know too!" She also had no idea at all!

Time flew by, and July never stopped asking her about it. She had no idea what had gotten into his head to suddenly look for her. Was he plotting something?

IVYNA had no idea how many times she had sighed. She was now standing and facing the door in front of the CEO's office.

She tried to convince July to accompany her. But she made a lot of excuses and abandoned her alone.

Now, she was already there. Although she denied it, she was feeling anxious and her mind was constantly imagining different scenarios for the situation she was in.

What if he had something bad planned for her? What if he sabotages her work? That was the thought that ran through her head.

'Just knock and be done with this, Iv. You can do this.' She thought, convincing herself to stay calm.

She was about to knock on the door when it unexpectedly opened on its own. She took a step backwards as a result of the sudden shock.

The door opened and Taese showed up. Like Ivyna, he was stopped halfway when he saw her.

Their eyes met.

They'd both felt as if they'd met before. It was as if they were hungry for each other.

"Why took you so long?" He hissed.

"Why are you looking for me, Mr. CEO?" She composed herself. She held her shoulder bag.

Instead of answering her question, he opened the door wider and motioned for her to enter.

"Come in."

She didn't move an inch. She didn't avert her gaze away from him.

"Sir, I don't have much time to chit-chat with you. What do you want from me? Is there any problem?"

He didn't say a word. He gestured again the way.

It made her furious.

She had no choice but to enter his office. She flounced into his office and sat on the sofa.

Taese shook his head by her actions. He then sat down again in his swivel chair and looked at her.

Ivyna embowed at him. "So? What now?"

He picked up the papers on the side of his table and placed them in front of her.

Ivyna looked at it and then at him before she handed it and started to scan.

Her eyes widened when he lifted the last page and saw a rejected word written in red ink. Her three days of work on that paper were rejected.

Taese interrupted her before she could say anything.

"Your papers are riddled with errors. Did you really work hard on that paper?" His voice was insulted her and her work.

Her mouth dangled as she stared at him. She then returned her gaze to the paper before saying anything.

"H-How? W-why?" She has no idea how to respond. Her thoughts went blank.

It was her first time that her work had been rejected. She was certain that she had done everything correctly. How did it get rejected? Does he know how to check papers?

"Revise it again. Pass it if it 100% okay."

"E-Excuse me, sir. But, as far as I know, I did this perfectly and correctly. How did it get rejected?"

"I doubt that. I read your papers and I noticed a lot of errors in it."

"But—"

"No more but's. Revise it."

"Today?!" She exclaimed.

"Why? I need it by tomorrow, so you should get it done as soon as possible."

"B-But the office hours has ended already, s-sir. Can I do this tomorrow?" Her voice was pleaded.

"No." He strongly ordered.

"But—" She got cuff off.

"No more but's." He gestured his hands toward her."Do it now so that you can finish it quickly."

Ivyna made an unbelievable expression at him.

"You can go now, Ms. Employee." He then gestured the way out.

Ivyna stared at him for a while bofore stood up, bragging, to where she was sitting and dashed the way out. The moment she closed the door, her anger burst out.

"What the hell was that?! He doesn't have any pity! How can he ordered me after office hours?"

The entire time she was checking and revising her papers, she all did was to torture the new CEO by her words. She was by herself in their office. The other office was already dark because everyone had gone home.

She was still killing him in her mind until she finished rechecking and revising her papers.

"I hope Mr. CEO Mion come back fast." She talked to herself.

She was finishing up the papers and then shutting down the computer before leaving. She was now on her way to his office.

"If this got rejected again, I don't know what to do if that happens."

She talked to the papers before entered in the elevator. Minutes before the elevator opened and she walked into his office.

She knocked and once she heard his signed, she opened the door and went in. She saw him still sittting again in his chair while holding a pen in his left hand and checking some papers. He was wearing an eyeglasses. He looked serious.

And hot.

'What?' She thought. 'Ivyna, he's devil. Yes, he's hot becuase he's from hell.'

She approached him and handed the papers she was holding over to him.

"Here. I'm done revising it, AGAIN." She emphasized the word 'again'.

Taese stopped what he was doing and looked at the paper she's handed. His gaze was drawn to her becuase of his bossyness.

"That fast?" He asked while fixing his glasses. "I don't think you did that perfectly."

Ivyna couldn't take it anymore. She burst out her emotions to him. Her head heated up.

"Sir, I don't see you looking over my paper again. I think you have no reason to say that if you haven't already checked this." She then showed him the papers.

Taese regulate himself.

"Are you interrogating me, Ms. Employee?" His dark stared showed up.

Ivyna shook her head.

Taese quietly went over her papers. After a few minutes of checking, he scribbled it on the papers on his table.

"You can go home."

Ivyna locked her gaze on him for a moment. Until she realized what he had said. She had no idea how happy she was. She was finally able to return home.

"I'm going then. Good night, sir." Ivyna bowed a little. She couldn't hide her happiness in her voice.

She turned around and faced the door. She walked out of his office with a smile on her lips.

Taese observed her as she walked out of his office. When she shut the door, he shook his head. Then he went back to checking the papers on his table. When he remembered how her angry voice had transformed into a sweet one, he couldn't help but smile.

'Crazy.' He thought.

___

IVYNA was not far away from her company. She was standing in the street, waiting for a bus. She was concentrating on her cellphone because July had texted him.

Message FROM July:

How was it? What's the problem? Why Mr. Handsome CEO called you?

Ivyna shook her head becuase of her question. She then composed a reply.

Message TO July:

I don't want to share it with you :-P

Just then July messaged her.

Message FROM July:

You had sex?!!!!

She laughed out loud as she heard July's reply. How come she think about that.

Message TO July:

I can't believe you think that :-)

Message FROM July:

We will gonna talk about that tomorrow! Tell me EACH details, okay?

She messaged her okay and that's how ended their conversation.

Ivyna was about to put her phone inside her bag when she heard a horn. She looked to the direction where the sound came from. Then she saw a black honda civic car.

She arched her brows once the car stopped infront of her. She continued putting her phone inside her bag before she looked at it.

The window of the car opened and a familiar face showed up.

"You're still here, Ms. Employee." Taese, who was inside the car, said.

Ivyna made a face. Does he not letting her go?

"Yes, sir." She answered.

"Come in."

"H-Huh?"

"I said, come in. I'll drive you home."

Ivyna, who was perplexed by what he said, stared at him for a moment.

'What gotten into him to let her ride with him? Does he planning another one for one?' She thought.

"So?" He asked.

She shook her head. "No, but thanks, sir. I'm good." Then she roamed her eyes around.

It's already dark. No one's passing by. She and him was the only one in the street. The dark clouds piqued her attention. No stars even moon can saw in the sky.

It's already dark and the only lights on the streest was the post-lights. Nobody was passing by. She and he were the only people on the street. Her attention was piqued to the dark clouds. No stars or moon can be seen in the sky.

"Okay." With that, Taesw left him.

She rolled he eyes watching his car drove away from her. 'What game his playing?' She thought.

After an hour, no one came by, not even a bus, taxi, or Uber. The clouds became darker. And the places also became dark. She felt the cold wind touched each of her that made her cold.

She was about to picked her phone inside her bag when suddenly rain fell down.

"WAHH!" She shouted.

She used her bag to cover her heads. She looked around but couldn't find a place to shelter herself. She was about to flee when she noticed a black car appeared suddenly. She run towards it without a second thought. Without knowing who's inside the car.

She knocked on the window of the car.

"Hello! Hello! Can I take a ride with you?"

She stopped knocking when the window opened. But she suddenly shocked when she saw who's inside.

"Wanna ride now?"

Taese was looking at her with a smirked on his face. She's already drenched from the rain. Her pierced face, however, did not fade away.

After a few minutes, Ivyna was hesitant to ride on it. But she doesn't have much of a choice. Is it about getting wet from the rain, or will she accept his offer?

'Whatever!' She thought.

She was about to open the back door when Taese interrupted her.

"I'm not your handsome driver, Ms. Employee. Sit here beside me."

She rolled her eyes and shut the door once more. She went in after walking through another door.

"I'm wet. Argh—!" She said but stop midway becuase she realized what she said. She then looked to Taese who's looking at her. "I-I mean drenched."

She looked away and wipe herself. While Taese started the machine and drove away.

Minutes of silent, Ivyna looked at him and talked.

"C-Can you lower down the aircon?" She asked. She was hugging herself.

Taese looked at her.

"I-Im cold..."

Taese followed what she said without saying anything.

The car filled by their silence after that. Taese was busy driving, and Ivyna was busy looking at the building they were passing by. Until Taese made a detour in different way in her home.

"U-Uh, this is not my way to home." Ivyna said.

Taese answered without looking at her.

"We're going to my condo."

'WHAT?!'

___

DB

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