Chapter 12

The next day, we immediately took a shower and had breakfast at the hotel restaurant, then left the hotel and headed for our office. If we were not stuck in traffic, we would be at the office within an hour. At least that is according to Google Map estimates, which I am opening right now because I do not want to be late for work today. There are still unfinished works yesterday, and I am aiming to finish everything this week.

I put my smartphone back into the bag and enjoy the view outside the car with a half sleepy face while remembering what happened this morning. I woke up at 4 am thanks to another nightmare. In my dream, I am in a house that I do not know where it is. There were two adults, a man, and a woman, who were busy sitting in front of the house, while I saw a young boy sitting with the two adults while enjoying a snack with a happy face.

Then the atmosphere that initially seemed peaceful turned into panic. The house, which had been fine, has now become full of flames. Everyone flocked to the house and tried to extinguish the fire that quickly spread to the house until it was completely charred, followed by two fire engines that came and tried to extinguish the fire in the house with the help of residents who had already done it.

"There are still people inside! Hurry in and help them!" shouted a firefighter, who seemed to be their leader, to some of his subordinates, as he returned to directing the growing fire.

"We can not, sir! The fire is too big! We can not see anything!" said one of his subordinates who asked him to enter the house that was still burning the fire, shaking his head.

"Damn it!"

I wondered to myself, worried about the occupants of the house in front of me right now. What about the family there? Are they all safe?

Before I could really get the answer, I felt someone pushing me into the burning house and I began to feel the heat starting to creep up my hands and feet, making me scream in pain.

"No! Don't!"

I immediately woke up while I was catching my breath. Then I looked at Dominik's face, who was still sleeping in front of me, muttering my name. I pulled the blanket towards him earlier and looked at the face of my sleeping dog. Then I got up from my bed quietly because I did not want to wake him, and walked to the bathroom to wash my face.

After that, I took my smartphone that was in my wardrobe and saw that there were several messages. The number that yesterday sent me a message, sent back a message.

Sorry for interrupting your time. It's me, Harris Keith, the person you met at the hotel lobby.

So the foreign number that sent me the message was from Harris? What a strange person. Even though he is the one who asked me to call him when I remember something. But now he is the one who sent me the message.

Just a second. How come he knows my number? I returned my gaze to the smartphone that I was holding right now with a confused feeling, reading the next message.

Leah? Are you sleeping?

I just want to ask if you have time to see me? I have something to ask you.

It is such a coincidence, as I also have something to ask him. I replied to the message immediately.

How about tomorrow afternoon? I happen to be not that busy tomorrow, so I can go home early.

I heard an incoming message from my smartphone. From Harris. He replied quickly as soon as I texted him.

Then, it is 6 pm. I will wait in front of your office tomorrow.

I turned off my phone screen and put it back in my bag. Then I walked over to the table by the window, took the electric kettle that was up there, and poured some mineral water in it. I turned on the teapot and let the water in its start until I heard a hissing sound. I turned off the electric kettle and threw away the water in the electric kettle before refilling it with mineral water that was still leftover from the bottle on the table. My hand grabbed the lemon-flavored tea bag that was by the cup near the electric kettle and put it together with the water that had already entered into the teapot and brought it to a boil.

As soon as it boils, I slowly pour it into a cup and take a slow sip of the lemon tea, while enjoying its sweet aroma with a slightly sour taste that comes to the lemon tea. I looked at Dominik's body who was now turning his back towards me with his eyes still closed. The pajamas he was wearing started to climb up, so I could clearly see the scars of the whip I gave him last night. I put down the teacup and looked at his body covered in lashes with satisfaction.

It seemed to me, seeing the whip marks that adorned his back, made him look many times much sexier than before. I tried to hold back my urge to stroke his back because I didn't want to disturb my dog's sleep time at this time. I decided to keep watching my dog and took another sip of tea that I had left earlier to see Dominik.

As soon as the digital clock that was above the nightstand showed 6 in the morning, I got up from my seat and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. After that, I quickly put on the clothes I wore yesterday and tidy up my appearance.

"Perfect!" I said to the reflection of myself reflected in front of the mirror with a satisfied smile. Good thing I brought my make-up bag. Even though I am not the type to dress up, I always carry some essential items, like CC cushion, lipstick, eyebrow pencil, and concealer wherever I go.

Once finished, I walked over to Dominik, who was still fast asleep and woke him up. He opened his eyes with a lazy face, but immediately woke up from sleep when he saw me ready to leave the hotel where we spent the night.

"Are you ready? Really fast ..." he said as he pushed me towards him and kissed my hair which I deliberately let loose.

"That's why you are also getting ready. After that we have to go get our breakfast, then we continue to go to the office together."

His face looked sad when he heard the word "office". Seems like he doesn't like going to the office by himself that much.

"Leah, I ..." he said before looking at the ring I still pinned on the ring finger on my left. "Are you still wearing the ring?"

I looked at the ring I was wearing while twirling for a moment. "On a second thought, I think it’d better for me to sell this ring."

He prevented my hand that was still busy turning the ring I was still wearing while shaking his head. "Don't sell it. I just asked you."

"Oh, I thought you don't like seeing me wearing this ring..." I said, releasing my hand that had turned the ring he gave me earlier.

"How come I don’t like it?" he asked with a relieved expression because I didn't sell his ring. "So you're going to wear that at work, right?"

I rubbed his head. "Yes, I will use it. I just need to find an excuse so that your fans do not suspect that I am already dating my beloved dog."

"Hmm. In fact, you don't need to do that. Just let them think you and I are dating now."

I pinched his nose. "Who said yesterday that he didn't want to get me into trouble with his fans who adore him in the office?"

He stroked the back of my hand and kissed the ring coiled on my ring finger. "On a second thought, maybe it's not a bad idea to let them know about our relationship. Just let them be disappointed. I don't care anymore. As long as you are with me, that's enough for me."

I just laughed at his words earlier and kissed his forehead. "Come on, take a shower first. Or we won't get our breakfast later."

Then I returned to my senses from daydreaming and gazed at the scenery of the road around me. Around the road where Dominik's car was traveling at high speed, I saw only a few vehicles passing near us.

"It's still not crowded, huh? I think it's going to get crowded." I said, looking at the face of my dog ​​who was still serious about what was in front of him right now.

"Wait until 8 o'clock. It'll be totally a long traffic jam in here." he replied, without even turning his head at me.

"Oh." I replied briefly and I returned my gaze to the window.

On arrival at the office, the clock is already 8:30. There are still 30 minutes before the office opens. I try to untie my seat belt before Dominik's hand prevents me from doing it.

"Let me take it off for you." he said. I nodded my head and let his hands move and let go of his seat belt before his hand moved to caress my thighs which were covered by the dark red midi skirt, making my body feel like I was electrocuted. I can feel my underwear starting to feel wet from his touch.

"I thought it's weird you offered to take off my seat belt. Seems like you had another purpose. Not satisfied with our game last night, huh?" I asked while holding his hand before moving towards my crotch.

"It's just we just had foreplay last night. I still want to continue our game, Leah." he said, trying to get his hand off mine, which of course I wouldn't let him do.

"Do you really want to masturbate in the office car park?" I asked, pulling him closer to me. Then my eyes caught several female employees who always surrounded Dominik in the office, who were already in the office car park as if waiting for Dominik's arrival. In their hands, several snacks seemed like they had prepared to give to him.

"Don't be mad, okay?"

"Why should I get mad?" he asked. I did not answer his question and took off the ring I was wearing earlier, then I put it in the bag.

"Why did you hide it? You said you agreed to continue wearing it."

"When seeing your fans like that, I change my mind. Your fans are really scary. Look, they've been waiting for you." I replied, pointing at the Dominik's fans who were about to head for Dominic's car. "I'll come out first, okay? Please divert their attention away from me."

He turned his gaze to where I pointed and understood what I meant. Quickly, he took off the seat belt he was wearing, then got out of the car. Meanwhile, I immediately got out of Dominik's car while lowering my head so that it would not be seen by his fans.

"Ah!!! That's Dominik over there!!! Dominik!!!" screamed one of the female employees who joined the group as she ran towards Dominik. I took the opportunity to walk to the back of his car and hide behind one of the parked cars looking at my dog ​​from a distance.

Dominik seemed to be doing a good job. He picked up one of the red boxes with a gold ribbon (which I assumed was chocolate) while smiling politely at the female employee who had given it earlier, making the employee's face blush. Then Dominik walked with his stern face back to the lobby of our office, followed by his fans who joined in walking around him. His eyes seemed to be looking around him as if confirming my current position. While still hiding, I let Dominik keep glancing around him before he finally entered the office with a disappointed face.

Sorry, Dominik. I'll reward your efforts today. I said it to myself.

"Heya! What are you doing, hiding here?"

Shelly's voice that suddenly appeared from behind while tapping my shoulders made me almost jump. I looked back and saw Shelly looking at me with an astonished expression.

"Can you do something that won't make people surprised, can't you?"

"Looks like you are really busy hiding from something. Or someone. So I bothered you. Here, for you." she said, handing Soyjoy in a red wrapper to me, which I immediately took.

I opened the Soyjoy package and took a slow bite. "Thanks. I'm avoiding Dominik's fans."

She looked at the inside of the lobby which was closed by a transparent glass door where I saw Dominik still standing in the middle of the crowd of his fans. "Oh, you mean him? Well, that's normal. He's really popular in our office, after all."

"That's why I'm avoiding his fans now." I said, without taking my eyes off Dominik, who looked uncomfortable with his fans.

It feels like seeing an idol, huh? The difference is that he is famous not because he can sing or act. But purely because of his looks and his hard work to build his company I worked for. I shook my head, looking at him in awe of being able to endure being surrounded by so many people every day. If it's me, I'd avoid them as much as possible. I can't imagine having to live with a crowd that looks like a herd of lionesses who are grabbing their food.

Shelly elbowed my arm. "Forget it. I'm more curious about something now."

"What are you curious about?" I asked, nudging her hand that was still elbowing me, that I found it pretty annoying.

"Earlier I saw you get out of his car. Did you go to work together?" he asked. Her mouth seems to be chewing Soyjoy in a blue and white color which will soon run out with a curious face.

I widened my eyes at her question earlier. Then my brain immediately looked for an excuse so that my friend would not be suspicious.

"Yes. He offered me to go to the office together. He said there was something to discuss."

Shelly immediately covered her mouth with both hands. "He must be proposed you earlier! Then what did you say to him? Yes? Or no?" she asked, jumping up and down for joy, half screaming. Then she coughed because the food that was supposed to go down her esophagus, was actually going into her throat.

This is the reason why I tried to find an excuse to avoid his question earlier. It is not that I do not want to tell her about my relationship. But it is because Shelly is really a CEO-related story fan. The films, dramas, and novels she has watched so far are all CEO-themed. Usually, the CEO is arrogant, snappy, but he is actually kind and caring, especially with the girls they like. Usually, the women who would be their CEO's girlfriends in dramas would act as if they weren't kind (to the point of being a fool), then they were too attractive until you fed up with their acts.

The problem is, she always imagined that one day I would be forced to be the girlfriend of a CEO of a well-known company instead of her. That is why she became one of the people who supported Patricia and Norman to force me to give evidence of my former boss's crime to Dominik. Of course, to satisfy her desire.

That is why I was amazed at what she was always thinking about. Usually, people will think that they will be the main character in the story about their meeting with their CEO. Then imagine that one day the CEO they always adore will approach them and finally admit that he has the same feelings as them. But my best friend did not want that to happen to her at all. The reason? Because she already likes Norman, who finally officially becomes her current boyfriend.

"No. You're overreacting. But can I ask you something?"

"What? As long as it's not heavy, I can do it."

I rolled my eyes lazily. "Please don't tell anyone about me was taken with Dominik earlier. I don't want to deal with those annoying fans." I asked, clapping my hands in front of her with a pitiful face.

She immediately pulled her finger from her right lip towards her left lip tightly, as if in front of her lips there is a zipper that can be opened and closed at her will. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

"I don't know if I can trust you or not ..." I said, looking at my best friend with a really doubtful face.

"Believe me! It has become my dream like this, how can possibly I break it? Finally, my best friend is going out with our CEO! Come on!"

I regret that I made her misunderstand even more, even though what she said was all true. While staring at my bag containing the ring he gave, I let my best friend's hand pull me into our office building. Then we pressed the elevator button and waited for the elevator doors to open. We got into the elevator and pushed our destination floor button. The elevator doors were closed and there were only the two of us in the elevator.

"Finally my dream came true. Now I have to prevent Dominik's fans from interfering with my best friend's relationship with our CEO. I must prepare a strategy first."

"Shelly, can you calm down? I'm tired of seeing that you are busy with whatever plans you have."

She waved her hands with her hands on her hips. "I'm helping you so it doesn't stand out!"

"Precisely what you are going to do will definitely stand out later."

"Oh, really? Then you can tell me what I will do to make Dominik's fans not disturb your relationship."

I thought for a moment. "You will openly tell everyone that Dominik likes me, so they can't bother me. Am I right?"

Shelly grabbed my shoulders with a startled face. "How ... do you know it?"

I rolled my eyes with a lazy face. "Because it is you we are talking about. Instead of being quiet, it is better to show it. Right?"

She snapped his fingers. "Exactly! You really know me very well!"

"So you better keep quiet. That is more than enough to help me." I replied, staring impatiently at the screen above the elevator button.

"Leah is not cool!" she said, pursing her lips with an annoyed face. "If you use my method, you are guaranteed to be protected by Dominik anytime, anywhere."

"Who wants to be protected by him? That's ridiculous!"

I let out a sigh of relief as soon as the elevator doors opened because that meant I could put a stop to our useless discussion. The two of us walked into our departmental room and immediately had our eyes fixed on our work before our eyes.