Chapter 71

KAREN’S FEELINGS

Diane’s P.O.V.

Oh my God, wait! Should I tell Lorenz about Karen’s real feelings for him or just let their fates bring them back together?

Karen wasn’t actually a man-hater. She just felt suffocated about how men controlled her life. Her father, her uncle, her cousins, and every part of their clan were all men. It prompted her to decide to stay here away from them. But could that be a reason why she was crying last night after going back to her hometown? I hoped not.

Going back to our second-year college life, she divulged to me that Lorenz was her biggest crush from the opposite private university, and when he sat beside her, she tried so hard not to squeal her real feelings. She pretended to be a man-hater still.

It was almost a week when Lorenz approached us, and when he opened his mouth to ask Karen a question, all of my friend’s hopes vanished in the air like tiny orbs. She was disillusioned. She felt so miserable. I remembered that after school hours, Karen locked herself in one of the restroom cubicles and cried long enough. She couldn’t accept the fact that Lorenz was gay, most especially when he started to put makeup all over his face the next day.

Now, of all the people in the world, it was Karen who would first become happy after learning the truth—that Lorenz was a straight guy who even fell in love with her. But Lorenz still lied at all, so even though I used to be Karen’s best friend who knew some of her secrets, I wasn’t sure about what would be her reaction.

“Hmm, what are your plans now? How will you confess to her?” I asked before sipping on the frap that I grabbed from the table. I would wait for Karen’s return, so these two could finally admit their feelings for each other.

“Honestly? I don’t know. God knows how much I wanted to talk to her, Diane. I really wanted to admit my real identity and my true feelings for her, but she was still in Cebu until now. Maybe, when she comes back. For now, I had to save some courage and borrow some time. I would get ready first before finally telling her what I feel for her,” he replied in morose.

Pretending not to know about Karen’s real feelings, I just patted Lorenz on his left shoulder. “I talked to her last night, and she told me that she would come back here real soon. Don’t worry, bro. I will help you confess to her.” I intentionally called him brother as my way of teasing him, but it looked like he didn’t even notice it.

“Really, Diane? Thank you—thank you so much!” To his great delight, he suddenly hugged me. It was quite tight that I could feel my bones were crushing. How would Liam react if he knew that someone hugged me here?

Alarmed, I immediately removed Lorenz’s hug away from my shoulder. I felt like there was already malice in what he did. Damn, because I could remember how we used to do a cheek-to-cheek kiss before. It was funny how the truth could not still sink into my brain. Now, I learned that he was a straight guy after knowing him as gay!

“Yes, I’ll help you sort things out with Karen… just don’t hug me again, okay? Anyway, time is running. I’ll go now because I don’t want to be late,” I declared while laughing before I looked at my watch. I was only left with fifteen minutes. What a waste of Liam’s effort to drive me here an hour earlier, when I wouldn’t be able to get the perfect attendance bonus for this quarter.

“Alright, Diane… but let’s go together. That’s also where I would go—in EGC. My father asked me to attend a business meeting there. I’ll give you a ride if you don’t mind.” Lorenz motioned us to leave together as he even placed his arm around my shoulder while we were going downstairs.

Quite cranky, I quickly removed it as well. Lorenz might have used with too much closeness when he pretended before as gay. But he was still my best friend no matter what. For two and a half years, he respected Karen and me a lot.

“Hey! Stop it, Lorenz… please! It’s awkward, and your hug sends some frightening chills within me. Stop practicing your boyfriend moves on me, is that clear? If you do that again, I will tell Karen your secret!” I laughingly threatened him again.

“Oops… you’re too serious, bestie! Let me handle my confession to her, okay?” Lorenz blurted before we finally got out of Moonbucks and headed straight to where his car was parked.

There were still many pairs of eyes staring at the two of us. I guessed that my best friend just turned from a crazy gay into a stunning heartthrob. I lopsidedly shook my head after, as my assumption could be wrong. Because thinking about it deeply and with the way people reacted here, most of them had long considered Lorenz as a heartthrob for sure.

Lorenz and I separated our ways when we reached the Evangelista Group of Companies’ VIP lobby. I used the elevator to go straight to the Finance Department while Lorenz spoke to the receptionist. I got promoted here as a Payroll Supervisor ever since I graduated. My main focuses were payroll, financial statements, and audits.

The EGC here was only a branch in Quego del Mar. It also had other branches in the Philippines and more branches across Asia, Europe, and America. It was a chain of different businesses from constructions, electronics, gadgets, jewelry, media, hotels, and restaurants.

While EGC had been built and grown by Liam’s parents, the electronics and gadgets’ portions were created by Liam himself with L.A. Gadgets International, as well as the jewelry with D’ Jewelry Business, and hotel and restaurants’ section with L.A.E. Chain of Hotel and Resorts. I hadn’t yet reviewed the media and construction sectors.

Liam was using all of his initials, and I just couldn’t help but think that the D in D’ Jewelry Business stands for Dayanara. But it was quite impossible because it was already established even before the two of us crossed our paths.

“Hi, Ma’am Diane. Good morning! Sir Evangelista’s secretary has called earlier. The CEO would like to see you in his office as soon as possible. She also said to bring the March Financial Report with you,” said Rizza—one of my subordinates. Some jobs appeared to be easy because of her, so I could tell that she was one of my best teammates. She was petite but damn too pretty.

“Okay, copy that. Thanks, Rizza!” I beatifically smiled at her. After that, I quietly placed my bag and my frap on my desk without opening my office computer.

My cubicle was the one next to the sliding glass door of the Finance Department. They even teased me that I was placed here because I could also act as a receptionist in the finance team.

After all, they always believed that I had a pleasing personality. I only laughed at them. Little did they know that I accepted to sit here in this cubicle because I would be closer to our office’s comfort room, and I had easy access to the exit.

I hurriedly grabbed the USB and the hard copy of the March Financial Report that I just finished last Friday—the end of the second week for April. I wasn’t sure if Liam needed the hardcopy or he would require me to present. I shouldn’t let him down, so I had to get ready. Then, I quickly left our office and immediately headed where the elevator was located.

After all, I didn’t want him to wait for too long. The Finance Department was only on the fifth floor, while my beloved boyfriend’s office was on the twenty-second floor.

Oh, I mean… Sir Liam’s office! Excitement crept within me after pressing the twenty-second elevator button.