CHAPTER 44

“I’ll pick you up later. I don't have anything to do,” Jaxon casually told me when I got out of his car.

I immediately shook my head and looked at him intently. He looks so casual to me. I suddenly remembered what his cousin had said the night before. Everyone knows we have a relationship. Why did they think that? Is it because we were in New York together and we went home together? I doubt it.

“No need, Jax. I will go with Yerim. I know you are busy too,” I told him as I was entering the building of Royale Publishing Company.

His forehead furrowed and he lowered his aviator. He was looking at me intently which made me look away from him.

"Are you avoiding me, Rae?" he asked me a deep question so I winced.

"Of course not."

“Really? Yesterday, you did not agree to take you. I was about to come to your condo but you didn’t let me in. Now, if I haven't been waiting for you outside, you won't let me take you here either. You’re avoiding me,” he stated.

I heave a sigh and just looked at him. Its expression was serious so I felt even more hesitant.

“I just don’t want other people to think we’re in a relationship, Jax. I have a child and— ”

“Lorraine is my niece, Rae. What are you trying to say here? That even I should stay away from your daughter? You?” he couldn't believe he asked me that.

I closed my eyes tightly. I feel my irritation for no apparent reason. I hate to admit it but I think he has something to do with why everyone tells me that. I just don’t want to believe the idea. I can't accept if it's true because I've been with him for five years.

I sighed violently and turned my gaze back to him.

“I’m not, Jax. I’m sorry. Let’s talk later, please. I might be late,” I finally told him and quickly left him there.

I hurried into the building and took the elevator. As I was preparing myself and trying to calm down, it seemed like time suddenly went fast because I got to the floor of our workplace right away.

I miss this place so much. When I was an editor/writer, I was often here because this is really our operation area. Now that I am a writer, my area is different. I only get stuck here when I need something from Miss Rochelle and the department.

“Rae! Why are you still here? Haven't you been told about the shooting of your book now?” Gabbi greeted me as I passed her cubicle.

“Huh? No one told me. Do I have to be there?” Hesitantly I asked her and quickly picked up my cell phone.

When I opened it, it didn't want to open so I frowned.

"Didn't Ma'am Rochelle call you?" Gabbi asked me again then came over to me.

“I’m low bat, Gab. Where are they?”

“They are in the Acuzar Empire. The artists will go there. If you can go now, it probably hasn't started yet.”

How many more times have I wondered if I should go there or not? It’s not like I’m needed there. Why else would I go? I'll just see that man again and maybe he and Jaxon will reach out because he's there now. Damn.

I had no other choice but to go to Acuzar Empire because I felt like Miss Rochelle had been calling me before. When I arrived at the building, I was immediately greeted by that familiar place with the memories I had left there.

“Astraea? Is that you?"

I turned to whoever called my name and saw Pola. Its eyes narrowed even more as it looked at me and gradually grew larger after a while.

“Oh, my g! You are! Long time no see. Seriously, you’re still beautiful,” she greeted me, almost shouting in a very loud voice.

"You still haven't changed," I told her with a laugh before she walked with me.

“Are you Sir Levi's secretary again? I heard since you resigned, he hasn't hired your replacement again until now,” she began as we started to walk towards the lift.

I didn’t know what to tell her so I just kept listening until we got on the elevator.

“When did you come back? That's why...” she suddenly uttered so I looked at her.

She was looking at her cell phone and reading something.

“Just last week. That's why?” I couldn't help but ask her.

She looked at me for a moment before grinning foolishly.

“That’s why Sir looks like that again because you’re back! He looked like a hermit for a few years,” she laughed at me so I couldn’t help but laugh.

I remember that encounter we had at the bar that night. Looks like maybe that’s what she was referring to so I was just shaken. Whatever his reason is, I still don’t understand it. What does my return have to do with his sudden change?

After I told Pola what my real purpose was, she let me go. There were other stories she told me that I didn't really understand because I felt like my mind was flying.

When I arrived at Levi’s office, I was greeted by Kat who was also surprised to see me.

“Oh my god, Rae. Good thing you came. Sir has been waiting for you since earlier— ”

“Where’s my damn coffee?!”

Kat and I both looked at her intercom when it rang and a deep and angry voice came out. I saw Kat grin before pressing that.

"Coming, sir," she acknowledged and looked at me again.

“Rae, can you just bring it? I'm still finishing something. You’re so close...” she hesitated to command me and handed me that cup of coffee.

“Huh? Wait, I'm just here to— ”

“For the shoot of your book, yes. Sir has been waiting for you for a while so you arrived just right,” she interrupted me.

Before I woke up again, she had turned her back on me so I could do nothing. I automatically adjusted myself before I finally headed to his office.

I found him there sitting in front of his swivel chair. His forehead was furrowed and he seemed to be in trouble as he looked at the folder he was holding.

"Uhm ..."

As soon as I sneezed, he quickly looked up at me. For a moment I saw the softness in his expression but it also quickly disappeared and was replaced by a blank expression.

“Good thing, you’re finally here. You’re fifteen minutes late,” he said to me in his cold baritone voice as he looks away from me.

I ignored what he said and placed his coffee in front of him.

“I’m not your employee. I’m here for the shooting of— ”

"... our story?" He uttered, cutting me off.

I was devastated when his gaze returned to me when he said that. He was trying to meet my gaze so I quickly stared at him when he caught my gaze.

“It’s my story. I made that, Mr. Acuzar,” I told him emphatically.

I heard him laugh. It suddenly leaned back in its chair and looked at me deeply. He placed his right hand on his lips and gently rubbed them. I even saw his short grin and raised a brow on me.

“I thought you liked calling me by my name. What’s with that surname basis?” he foolishly told me.

I could feel the pounding of my chest and the embarrassment there when I identified what he was saying. I can already feel the gradual warming of my whole face and I’m sure I’m red-faced now. This asshole was trying to tease me and I’m not ready for it. When we last met that night in the elevator, he suddenly left me after he told me that. Without any explanation, I even asked what he meant.

I sigh violently and suppress the explosion of my annoyance.

“I’m only here for the project, Mr. Acuzar. Now, if you want something else from me, I guess this is not the right time to talk about it,” not in my own promise to him.

I finally thought of what I said because it suddenly stood up and approached me. When he was in front of me, my neck almost choked because I looked up at him. I feel like it's getting taller or I'm just not used to how he looks.

He looked at me intently. I could clearly see how his eyes examined my whole being because of the way his eyes moved. He was scanning my whole face and suddenly stop his gaze on my lips. Out of consciousness, I immediately bit my lower lip and left it open as if waiting for something to happen.

“So... when’s the right time to talk about everything?” He asked in his raspy voice.

“And will you please close your mouth before I suck your lips until you catch your breath...” he also added.

I gasped as I tried to chase his gaze. He quickly disappeared in front of me and I just saw that he was wearing that coat of his. I blinked quickly and shyly closed my mouth. Ask for it, Rae. What's wrong with you?

"Follow me," he said coldly to me and continued walking.

I was finally caught in my chest because of the continuous intensity of its crash before I followed him.

I know it in the first place that it's not good for us to meet again. If not because of this project I would not do it.