CHAPTER 43

He didn't lose either. He didn’t let go of that ‘look’ and stared at me even more deeply. I could feel the heat surrounding my eyes due to excessive irritation. Before I finally exploded with irritation, I heard someone sneezing so I let go of that thought.

“Alright. For clarification, everyone. Mr. Acuzar here is your boss on this project because his company will produce this adaptation. They launched this project so he should know everything. Are we clear, Rae?” Mrs. Lim stated so I immediately turned my gaze to her.

"W-what?" I asked incredulously before turning to the man next to her.

He suddenly smirked at me again.

"So, what's the title again, Rae?" He was the one who asked on behalf of Mrs. Lim.

I bit my lip when I remembered the title of my story. Why is he even asking if he has read it? Is he really kidding?

I cleared my voice and tried to find the right answer to his question. Why is that the title of that fucking story?! Dammit, really?!

“Astraea...” he called me again in his raspy voice.

I gasped in the air and then looked straight at him.

“It’s... The Night in Tierra Fima,” I almost whispered in annoyance.

He smirked at me again and even massaged his forehead while staring at me.

“The Night in Tierra Fima. Can’t get over yet, huh” he directly said to me and even bit his lower lip.

Fuck you, Levi.

-

“You haven't come home yet, Rae? I’ll go ahead, Lucas is waiting for me downstairs,” Yerim said goodbye to me so I just nodded at her.

“Go home after that. You are the only one here. Workaholic momma,” she said before finally leaving our workplace.

I just shook my head and turned my gaze to the screen. Trying to understand the terms and conditions that Acuzar Empire gave to me about my story. Disgusted, I stared at that and exit the tab. When that disappeared, I was exposed to the details of my story that I had not returned to before because of that pest meeting. The full name of the two of us is still there.

I was about to erase it when someone snapped from my back so I almost screamed in shock.

“Fucker! Who — what are you doing here?” I shouted at him when I saw who it was.

"So, you're swearing now, huh?" He uttered in his cold baritone voice and averted his eyes from me.

"W-what are you doing here?" I asked him and I could no longer hide the irritation in my voice.

Instead of him answering me, I saw his gaze wandering around our workplace and stopped at my computer screen. He suddenly smirked while staring at the screen so I remembered the open window there.

“Your name is still beautiful next to me. It’s a pity and no...” he whispered something I hadn’t heard before turning to me.

He looked at his wristwatch for a moment and then looked at me again.

“Your office hours are over. Why are you still here? Don't you have... a family to go home to?” he asked me as if he meant something else.

I stared at him as he looked up at me. I almost turned off the computer and grabbed my bag.

"Does it matter to you?" I asked coldly to him before I went on my way.

There weren’t many people on that floor so I accelerated my walk even more toward the elevator. Simultaneously with the crash of my chest was also the sound of his footsteps so I guessed he was following me. What does this man need from me?

When I was almost in the elevator, I pressed it hard just to open it right away, but I was wrong. It just came from the ground floor and we were on the 15th floor so I was just disappointed with the absence.

“Chill, Astraea. I can feel your tension here,” I heard him say in a teasing tone.

The moment he leaned over me, I could barely feel his heavy breathing on my neck. Next, I smelled his perfume. It was the same perfume as before. He still doesn’t change. Why?

“I’m not tense. What else are you doing here?” I couldn't help but ask him.

Before he could answer, the elevator opened. I was shocked again when I saw that there was no one else on board. I was still hesitant if would go there, but later, I went with him because I knew that Ria had been waiting for me for a while.

“Do I have to tell you everything now? Again?” He asked making me shiver.

I could feel the strange coldness that enveloped my body. I don't know if it's because of his question or if it's just really cold. I also couldn't understand what he said so I looked at him for a moment.

Its head is leaning against the elevator wall while facing upwards. His eyes were both closed. It was dusty and there was no trace of any emotion on its face. He’s so... cold.

"I'm just asking. Stop putting malice on everything. I know what you’re doing so stop it,” I whispered to myself and ignored if he could still hear it.

I kept looking at him. By the way, he looks, I can feel the tiredness screaming in his body. His shoulder had fallen and he seemed to want to rest.

"Why did you come back?"

I stiffened when he suddenly faced me. He arranged for us and addressed me properly. I was caught off guard by what he said so I didn't immediately think of the right answer. I couldn't help but look at him. I suddenly felt the numbness of my hands as I repeatedly pinched them with the urge to move from where I was standing, but I was even more shocked when I saw the tears in his eyes as he stared at me.

“I was looking for you but everyone hid you from me. Why did you suddenly come back? As if nothing had happened. That you seem to be very happy now. Does Jaxon make you happier than I do?" full of resentment and pain he asked me.

What?