Chapter 13

The next day, I came to the office earlier than usual. Indeed I told Harris that today I'm not busy. But in fact, I still have a lot of work to do and demanded that I immediately finish the pile of documents that are on my desk this week. In my heart, I regret that I asked Harris to meet me today because I also don't know if I can go home before 6 p.m. However, the curiosity that arose from the flashback that I saw yesterday was much stronger than my desire to cancel. I promise to meet the person who I will meet later.

There was a vibrating sound from the smartphone that I placed beside my desk. I took it and opened my smartphone. 1 message from Harris.

Have you eaten your breakfast?

I replied to the message.

Yes, I have eaten it. How about you?

A few moments later, Harris replied to my message.

Hmm, me too. So, it's today, right?

I quickly replied to the message.

Yes. I remember it, don't worry.

Not long ago I put it on the table, my smartphone vibrated again, making me check it again. Message from Harris.

Okay. Then, this afternoon at 6 p.m.

I put it back on the table and my eyes refocus on one of the documents that I am working currently on.

"From whom?" whispered Shelly, pushing her chair toward me while holding a bar of chocolate from her brand favorite Silverqueen with matcha flavor. Her hand opened the wrapper chocolate and took a bite slowly while enjoying the taste of her favorite chocolate.

"Nobody. Why?"

Shelly brought her face close to mine. "Not from Dominik?" she asked in a hushed voice after confirming no one in our room was watching us at this time.

I took her body away from me and returned to focus on the document that I am working currently on. "Yes. Not from him."

"What is he doing right now? How come he didn't ask my beloved friend what she is doing, have she eaten her breakfast yet, is she thinking about him or not. Or ask for lunch together."

"He's our CEO, Shelly. He must be really busy with his job. It's normal for him not to ask small matters like that."

I caught a glimpse of Shelly's face, who frowned at my explanation. "But, in a drama I recently watched, the main character's boyfriend, who is the CEO of a big company, still has time to buy the main character a drink, follows the main character using a drone, and then brings the main character's favorite chicken popcorn."

I turned to look at Shelly while rolling my eyes. "You mean the Taiwanese drama called Lost Romance?"

She nodded her head. "How come you know it? Could it be that you also watched it?"

I stared at my friend's face half annoyed and went back to my job. "You forgot? You forced me yourself to watch the whole episode a few days ago."

"Oh, right. How could I forget? But seriously, how come he didn't even contact you at all?"

Right after my best friend finished her sentence, my phone vibrated again. This time not from Harris. But from Dominik, who called me at this time.

"Who?" whispered Shelly, peering at my smartphone.

"Dominik. I'll go out for a moment, okay?" I replied in a whisper so that no one else could be heard. Shelly nodded her head with a muffled scream. The movement of her mouth seemed to say that Dominik would definitely say that he misses me now. I rolled my eyes and immediately came out of my room, looking for a balcony near my room which is usually quiet during office operating hours. After glancing around me, then I picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Leah. What are you doing?"

"If it's not important, I'll hang up." I threatened, followed by Dominik's voice asking me not to hang up.

"No, please don't do that. I miss you, Leah. Can we go home together this afternoon? Please?"

It turned out that Shelly's words were right. I muttered to myself when I heard Dominik's words. I rocked his offer for a moment, then answered his offer earlier. "Sorry, I have an appointment with someone today. How about next Saturday?"

"But I want to go home with you today, Leah." His childlike voice made me want to tease him.

"Okay then. Our date on next Saturday is cancelled. How about it?"

"No. Please don't cancel our date on next Saturday."

"Well then. What else? I still have work to do." I said, getting ready to hang up.

"Oh, right. My personal assistant will come to your room later."

"What are you doing this time? An impromptu inspection?"

"No. You will find out for yourself. I'll hang up the phone first."

I haven't had time to ask further as he already hung up. I wanted to kick him so many times because he casually called me and hung up on me without explaining anything.

"He really asked himself to be punished, huh? Ah, never mind. I'd better focus on my work, so I won't think about it later."

When I returned to my room and sat at my place, Shelly, who was now back in her place, immediately pushed her chair towards me.

"How? He said that he missed you?" she whispered, handing me the Oreo-flavored Pocky box she'd opened. I took some of the biscuit sticks and took a bite.

"Yeah. You're really great at knowing what he's going to say."

"Of course I'm always right! What did he say?" she asked with a proud expression. "Did he ask you to come home together today?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, but I refuse it."

Her face was suddenly shocked when she heard my answer earlier. She immediately shook my body until the biscuit stick in my hand almost fell. "Why did you reject it? You should just accept his offer!"

"Because I already had an appointment with someone."

"Who? Could it be Dominik's rival again? That can't be tolerated! How could he interfere my best friend's date with our CEO!"

I took a deep breath and took another bite of the Oreo flavored Pocky she gave me earlier. "I personally asked him to meet today, really. Anyway, just stop your delusions."

"What delusions? Isn't it true that you're dating him, is it?"

"Ssshhh! Valencia is coming!" whispered Norman, who was standing at the door of our room at this time with a panicked face. He immediately returned to his desk, followed by the rest of us, hurrying back to work with anxieties.

Valencia, Dominik's personal assistant whom Dominik had mentioned earlier, now comes into our room and stands at the door. She glanced around our room with those cold but sharp eyes, then nodded in satisfaction.

"I would like to inform you of Mr. Dominik's decision regarding a replacement for Tony Franklin, your previous manager." she said, then looked around the room again. I felt the atmosphere around me turning into tense and heavy, to the point that I could feel several sacks of rice weighing on my body so that I almost slid from the chair where I was sitting. I glanced around me and it turned out that all my colleagues seemed to feel the same way as me because I saw them repeatedly correcting their sitting positions.

"Based on the decision of the board of directors, including Mr. Dominik, the new manager who will replace Tony Franklin is Patricia Friedrich." Dominik's personal assistant said, looking straight at Patricia. My colleagues who got a promotion looked puzzled at what she had just heard. While we all give applause as a form of support for Patricia, as well as our way to make her realize that it was not a dream.

"Patricia Friedrich, you've been asked to come with me to Mr. Dominik’s room to discuss this matter. And Leah Mitchell, you also come as well. That's all and thank you for your time." said Valencia, leaving this room and waiting for us to come with her to Dominik's room.

The two of us walked following her at a distance of barely two meters from her as if we were both going to be stabbed to death by her gaze like sharpened swords if we got too close to her. Patricia then shoved my arm while whispering back at me.

"What mistakes did I make? Of course I feel happy because I can finally get a promotion. But not like this situation. I was afraid I was going to get yelled at by Mr. Dominik. Especially remembered your story at the time. I'm afraid, Leah ..."

I grabbed Patricia's hand, who was trembling with fear, smiling up at her. "Calm down. You have me, remember? I am sure it will be fine.”

Patricia kept staring at me worriedly until the three of us arrived at the door of Dominik's room.

"Mr. Dominik, I've brought Patricia Friedrich and Leah Mitchell at your request."

Dominic's voice was heard from inside the room. "Good. Let them in."

Valencia nodded her head and opened the door to Dominik's room, then ordered the two of us to enter. Dominik's eyes, who had been staring at the documents in his hand, glanced at us and led his personal assistant out of the room. The personal assistant nodded and left the room, which made the atmosphere in this room even heavier. The two of us stood at Dominik's table, and we were allowed to sit on the chairs in front of us with worried faces.

Dominik put the document he was holding on to the table and looked at the two of us. "Valencia told you about the new manager of your department, right?"

We nodded our heads together. "Yes, Mr. Dominik."

"Good. Now there is a new assignment for you, Patricia. I want to see your performance in the next few months. If you do not show any positive results for the company ..." he said, deliberately not continuing his words. He took a pencil that was on the table and broke it in half. "Your fate will end up like this pencil. Got it?"

Patricia nodded her head with a scared face. I just nodded my head while rolling my eyes with a lazy face, looking at Dominik who is currently acting like our boss, which is actually true.

"And you, Leah Mitchell." he said, glaring at me, causing me to automatically straighten my back and correct my current position. "Yes, Mr. Dominik?"

"I have a special assignment for you." he said, looking straight at me. "I want you to replace Valencia's job as my personal assistant."

I looked at Dominik with a look as if I couldn't believe what I just heard? I, who is a Junior PR, was asked to replace Valencia as his personal assistant? Want to know what I'm feeling right now? I am so happy! My body seemed to float in the air, imagining what I would do with my dog in the future.

While hiding the pleasure I feel right now, I stare at Dominik's face earlier. "If I may know, why did you ask me to replace Valencia’s place as your new personal assistant?"

He gets up from his chair and leans toward me. "What right have you to ask that question, Leah Mitchell?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He gave emphasis when he said my name earlier as if telling me not to ask that. His gaze affirms me to just accept his decision.

Of course something like that I can't take for granted. I stood up and leaned toward him, put both my palms on the table. "I have a right to ask you about that, Mr. Dominik Lawrence.” I said, addressing his full name. Then I cleared my throat. "I don't want to sound like I'm taking someone else's position for outward reasons."

After saying that, I returned to my chair and looked back at him. Patricia tugged on my coat quietly, begging me not to oppose him, but I didn't care.

"You really want to be fired from your current job, don't you?" he asked, glaring at me, which had absolutely no fearful effect on me.

"If you want to fire me, then go ahead. I happen to be tired of having to do the same things over and over again. Especially considering that you even hired someone like our former boss in our department who didn't contribute anything to the company."

My answer seemed to irritate him. He rose from his seat, clenched his fists, and hit against the table with an annoyed face. "Fine. If that's what you want. Now pack your belongings and get out!"

Without being affected by his yell earlier, I replied to his words while standing up from my seat right now. "OK. I'll find a better job than my current one. And I will make sure that you will regret your decision today." I said, getting up from my chair. Patricia looked even more terrified by the content of our conversation, which was more like a fight. She tugged at the bottom of my jacket, asking me to do what Dominik wanted, to which I only replied by shaking my head and telling her not to worry about me.

"Sit." he ordered. I immediately sat down as he ordered. Likewise with him, who is now sitting in his chair massaging his temples. "This is the first time I've met a stubborn employee like you."

"That's why I want to ask the reason why you asked me to replace Valencia's position. As I said earlier, I don't want to take someone else's position without a reason. Besides..."

"Besides?"

I swallowed my saliva and continued my words. "I don't want to deal with your fans who might not like the decision you have made."

He seemed to think for a moment hearing my reason earlier, then put his hands together on the table. "She submitted her resignation for personal reasons. And I feel like you could be the right replacement to take her place, given your performance so far and also because of your courage to report Tony Franklin to me last week. Are there any problems?"

I nodded my head. "If that is the case, I am ready to fill the position."

"Good. Now you two are back in your room. Tomorrow Valencia will give you instructions for your new assignment, Leah Mitchell." he said, then motioned for us to get out of his room. After bowing, we both left the room and closed the door to his room.

Once we were far enough from his room, Patricia immediately pulled me near the emergency stairs with a terrified face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, trying to get her hand off mine.

"I understand why he violently slammed the door in front of you last week."

"What do you mean?"

"You were really brave enough to challenge our CEO. I couldn't even move because I was so scared."

"But if I did not do that, he wouldn't talk about the reason why he asked me to be his personal assistant." I argued.

"Still, Leah. What you did earlier…" she said, looking at me while nodding her head. "was very cool!"

I raise an eyebrow with a confused face. "What do you mean?"

"We'd better go back to our room and tell us what happened to the others."

Without waiting for my approval, she took my hand until it reached our room. Then she recounted what had happened eagerly. After hearing Patricia's explanation, everyone looked at me with faces in disbelief at what I had done.

"This is the first time anyone dares to challenge Mr. Dominik. I admire your courage, Leah." said Anna, giving me her thumb.

"I'm really grateful that Leah was the one we sent to report our former boss to our CEO. Who would have thought that Leah would actually have the courage to say that to our CEO?" said Norman, patting my shoulder proudly, followed by nodding heads from all my colleagues.

"If you saw Mr. Dominik's face annoyed by Leah's words, you are guaranteed not to be able to move because of the fear." said Patricia, shivering with horror at the thought. "That's why I feel that Leah is really cool. If you two were dating, I wouldn't be surprised."

Shelly, who had been quietly listening to Patricia's words, cleared her throat at us while winking at me. Looks like I already know what she will say next.

"Actually, Leah and Dominik are already dating." she said in a half-whispered voice so as not to be heard from outside. As soon as I heard Shelly's words, the whole room fell silent, staring at me sharply.

Damn Shelly. What a traitor. Even though she said she was going to shut up, now she was telling what should be the secret to all my colleagues in this room. I moved my hand anxiously because I was worried about the reaction of everyone in the room. They looked at each other and nodded their heads. Then the atmosphere in our room turned chaotic. Everyone seemed to be dancing happily while screaming with joy as if they were watching the World Cup final and one of the soccer teams supported by them managed to become the winner of the World Cup which actually ended 2 years ago.

"What did I say? Mr. Dominik will definitely go out with Leah. It's not in vain to tell her to send the document to Mr. Dominik." said Norman, who was still dancing happily.

"Finally our dream of pairing Leah and Mr. Dominik came true." said Olga, one of my colleagues who was usually quiet, now unable to hide her expression that seemed happy with what she heard.

I looked at all my colleagues with faces in disbelief at what I just saw earlier. "So, you mean… you really wanted to pair me with Mr. Dominik all this time? I thought it's only Shelly who thought about that." I said, glowering at Shelly, who was smiling awkwardly at me as she rubbed the nape of her neck.

"Precisely! You just never realized it. He has been watching you all this time, Leah. That's why we wondered when he would ask you to be his girlfriend. And finally our hopes came true." said Patricia, elbowing my arm with a happy laugh.

"You all… are so mean. Really." I said, shaking my head. "Even though I purposely told Shelly to shut up because I was worried that you would get angry and thought I was getting his attention so he could make me as his girlfriend."

Now they all look at me with astonished faces. "Why do we have to do something like that? We already think of you as our own family. We have seen you work too hard so far and we all worry that you will continue to be single for a long time." said Patricia, representing the views of all my colleagues, followed by nodding heads from all of my colleagues.

"As for the Dominik fans, don't worry. We'll keep our mouths shut about this. If they dare to bully you, Leah, they'll deal with all of us." said Norman, clenching his hands together.

"Your stares are undoubtedly mean. But, thank you everyone for your support." I said, feeling happy with their reaction. Then I just remembered something that had been stuck in my mind. "Wait a second. You said he had been watching me for a long time? How come I don't know about that?" I asked, giving Patricia a probing gaze.

Upon hearing my question earlier, everyone in the room immediately looked at each other. Then they immediately returned to their respective desks and returned to busy with their pending work. I looked at Shelly's face, asked her to explain what Patricia meant, but my best friend pretended not to listen to my question and returned to focus on her work.

Shit! How come I never know about this?! I will ask Dominik if there is a chance! I thought to myself, as I continue to do my tasks.