Chapter 31

Everyone screamed when they heard what Shelly said earlier until I felt that right now I was at a festival, not in the office, where we all should be right now. I did not remember having colleagues like them at all.

"Oh, it's good that I saw you two behind Valencia." I said, turning to Shelly and Norman, who were now laughing awkwardly at my words.

I just rolled my eyes with a lazy face and looked back at the document I had closed. However, I have to thank them for their help so far. Especially when they had to deal with those terrible Dominic fans. I then turned to all my colleagues who were still hugging and crying with dramatization.

"But thanks for worrying about me. I really don't know what to repay your kindness with." I said, getting up from my chair and looking at all my colleagues. I bent down and smiled at all of them.

My words managed to stop their dramatization earlier. They laughed in relief and told me not to overthink such things.

"Besides, you will soon be taking Valencia's place as Dominik's personal assistant, right? Think of this as a farewell gift from us." Patricia said with a wink. "How about we go home and karaoke together?"

Patricia's offer was met with shouts from all my colleagues (except me) who agreed with Patricia's proposal earlier. I was forced to nod my head and agree with an offer that I could actually refuse right now. I sat back in my chair as before, as well as my other colleagues. They returned to their respective places and continued their pending work.

A farewell gift, huh? Maybe I need to thank Patricia for what she did earlier, huh?

I couldn't help but smile, remembering Patricia's words about a farewell gift for me and her invitation to join karaoke together. Come to think of it, I did not even remember how I got along with my current office colleagues. I then remembered the first day I entered the office after being discharged from the hospital. At first, I was afraid, thinking that my colleagues might be the fierce or annoying type. But my guess was wrong. They all seemed worried about my condition and asked me not to do heavy work, while they helped me finish some of my pending work because I was still in the hospital at that time.

The only problem was I did not know them at all. I had to glance at the name tags they were wearing and enter their names into my memory every day. Then I tried to observe their behavior, what they were talking about, and the things that caught their attention. Slowly, I began to get used to all my colleagues, who turned out to be not as terrible as I thought. And I was grateful that I have not had to deal with annoying colleagues so far.

When my hand was about to reopen the document that Valencia had given me earlier, my cell phone, which I had placed on my desk, vibrated. I took out my phone and saw Dominik's name on the screen of my phone. Quickly, I ran out of the room to the office balcony, which was not far from my room.

"Hello?" I said after picking up the call.

I could hear he was taking a deep breath before starting to speak. "Leah, looks like I will have to cancel our date next Saturday. I have something to take care of. Are you okay?"

I looked at the ring that Dominik gave me, which was still ringing nicely on my left ring finger. Now I know the reason he took a deep breath earlier, and I took a deep breath too.

"Leah?"

I replied to his question. "Yeah, it's okay. Two weeks later, huh?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, okay? You can ask me anything in return later." he answered. His voice sounded regretful when he said that, and that was enough for me to prove that he was sorry he had to cancel our meeting next Saturday.

Well, what he said earlier was true. I had been waiting for one of the gifts he said he'd show him Saturday, and now he's just canceling it.

"No problem. I'll wait for the payment after you finish your work."

"Payment? Payment for what?" he asked. His voice sounded confused by what I just said.

"Payment for canceling our meeting next Saturday." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, that. Okay, no problem. I'll hang up first, okay?"

"Yes."

I then hung up the phone and looked up at the sky that was visible from the balcony where I was standing right now. Even though the weather was so sunny that it would make anyone outside sweating from the scorching sun, I felt so disappointed. I played with the cell phone that was still in my hand while still looking at the sky. The clouds moving in the direction of the wind made me a little relieved. Unfortunately, I could not get rid of the disappointment that I feel right now.

I took another deep breath. Looked like I had to find some entertainment to ease my loneliness because I could not play with my dog ​​for a while. Now I understood what it felt like for people to be apart from their dog for some reason. It's hard when you get used to it.

The phone I was playing with was now vibrating again. I quickly picked up the phone, thinking that Dominik was calling me again. Unfortunately, it wasn't Dominik who called me this time. But Harris, the person I really did not want to think about right now.

"Hello, Leah?"

"What?" I said in a lazy tone.

"You're still mad huh?"

"If yes, why?"

"Oh." His answer was short. Then I heard his voice sigh softly before he spoke again. "Do you have time next week?"

I pondered the question earlier. "No. Why?"

"I want to take you to my restaurant next Saturday. How about it?"

Next Saturday, huh? It just so happened that Dominik canceled his promise with me. Maybe I need something to take my mind off my dog.

Without thinking, I accepted his offer. He sounded relieved as soon as I accepted his offer. He offered to pick me up, which I immediately declined.

"Saturday night then. See you later, Princess."

"One more time you call me Princess, I guarantee you will regret it!" I threatened, annoyed that he called me Princess.

Instead of feeling threatened, he just laughed at my threat earlier. "Then I'm waiting for the punishment, Princess." he said before turning off the phone.

I stomped my feet, annoyed that he was calling me again with a name I really hated. Hate to the point of wanting to punch him over and over like a punching bag. I tucked my phone in my coat pocket, took a few breaths, and returned to my department room.

Arriving at my department room, I looked around me. All my colleagues are still the same as before, busy with their respective jobs. I then walked over to my desk and looked back at my computer, checking my to-do list on Google Keep for the day and crossing off the tasks I had completed. Then I sent a draft press release to Patricia via email along with the data she requested yesterday. When I was done, I stared at the dark blue document for a few moments and hid it in a place where I did not think anyone but me would find out.