Chapter 7 Employee and Employer's Dinner

Being on the same space with him is the last thing I wanted to happen. But I have nothing to do when my pride is benefiting me. I had no ride home, and he was challenging me. Besides, he'll just take me home. Nothing else. I focused my attention outside the window, momentarily amazed at the towering structures.

"BGC."

I simply said, I know he got it. Silence is almost making me throw up. This is probably the longest time of my life. I looked at his stereo but I decline the idea. I'm just keeping up, I don't want to act anymore. Who would have known that I will end up here? Some days I thought our paths would not meet, something will make the situation worse when we meet at VREC.

We were completely out on the highway when his cellphone rang. While I was trying to compose my self looking so uninterested and gloomy, I side eyed the screen of the phone. I groaned inside when I didn't see it because he answered it Immediately.

"Yes?" His husky voice is a bit exhilarated. I can't help but to eavesdrop, wanting to pinch myself for the stupidity being done.

"Uh-huh ... No, I haven't."

He said nonchalantly. I think he's his girlfriend. Tss. The exact moment I wanted to be deaf, my phone beeped. Oh thank God!

Justine: How's your day, my precious?

I was shocked to read his text. He's using that adjective to me now?

Me: I'm fine Justine.

"Oh, just drop it to my office, please." I stopped when I heard the loud answer of the person next to me.

His laugh was almost ... sexual. Lately he didn't seem to care about the person he was talking to so now that's how his speech grabbed my attention.

"Katrina, you're not new to me. Stop it." He laughed again.

So Katrina huh? I gritted my teeth looking at the screen of my phone in front of me. My pupils are shaking and the familiar heat seems to rise to my face. It was the same feeling I felt when I saw him next to the perfectly shaped woman.

Justine: I miss you. Can I call?

My attention was disturbed when the screen changed and I saw Justine calling there.

Even if I was divided because I still wanted to listen to what the person next to me had to say, I answered it like my life depends on it.

"Hey, I'm sorry I can't wait for your reply." Justine. I can feel the sudden stiffness of the man beside me.

"Uhm, it's okay."

"Where are you? Am I disturbed?"

"No. I'm on my way home." I bit my lip and look at the buildings from afar.

"Oh, good to hear that. I'll be there in a few weeks."

He said in a tone as if he's promising a child to bring some candy when he go home. I smirked and chuckled at his sound. The same playful Justine I know.

"Then I'll wait."

With humor I said. This is how we really joke, really sometimes he just crosses the line I drew between the two of us. For me, he's a great friend of mine. I was shocked to see a cellphone flying in the car compartment.

I grabbed my hand where his car suddenly sped up. My eyes widened to look at him while he muttered tons of curses. His eyes are on the road but it feels like he's a bull chasing for his prey. His jaw are clenched and the veins on his hands are popping holding the steering wheel. I lowered the cellphone and grabbed the side of the seat and seatbelt at its speed. I was holding my breath as the car passed by.

I shut my eyes so tight when he's about to counter flow a bus that's way more intimidating than he's car. Is he insane !?

"Fuck!"

He growled and in seconds, I felt the normal speed of his car. I opened my eyes, and my chest heaved at what had happened. I think the blood ran down my face because of the cold I felt. What just happened?

"I'm sorry."

The eyes still widened as I turned to him. I didn't nod to myself, my soul was still at the speed before.

"It's o-okay."

I'm not! What is his problem? Does he want to kill me !? Without saying a word, I looked at the cellphone that was still on call. I quickly put it back in my ear.

"Hello Justine, catch up with you later. I'm sorry."

When I turned off the line not waiting for his answer, the car maneuvered fast in a building. I only traveled for a week, even though I hadn't memorized the route yet, I knew it wasn't going to BGC. It turned into a tall building, in my peek was the screaming name of a high rise hotel. It's not them.

"Why are we here?" I hissed.

"To catch up?" He said sarcastically, he said it emphatically as if he was disgusted by that word. I was thrown into the air. This brute!

"The talk is you'll take me. Because. I wanted. To go home."

I shifted on my set and really emphasized what was said. Juts to prove my point t o this merciless man beside me! He smirked and gave a glance at me.

"Why? Am I not allowed to have some CATCH UP with you? I'm sure we've missed a lot to do some CATCHING UP, Ava."

My teeth clenched at the annoyance being suppressed. My head heats up again because of what he said and mentioning my name. How dare him say that? We have nothing to talk about. My interruption of our communication was enough for him to understand that I didn't want to talk to him or talk to him again. He almost melted in the heat when I looked at him but he was still focused on the road. Entering the Entrance of the hotel space. I counted three and took a deep breath and adjusted myself to sitting. This is not worth it Ava, investing any kinds of feelings is just a waste of time.

Even if it was still angry, this man did not deserve to be betrayed. My flesh are shaking due to the suppressing anger but I looked calm and blank. I was disgusted at the possibility that he could talk, I was disgusted at the thought that it took me so long to forgive but here he is and giving it all back to me. I heard him sigh.

"We'll just have dinner. I'm famished."

I didn't say a word and focused myself outside, the valet meeting at the entrance clearly visible. The valet opened the door and I had no interest in coming out. I did not forget to thank him while I'm remaining the straight face I had. I am angry but I know how to be grateful. Our eyes met as he handed his key to the valet and approached me. I averted my eyes from him and focused on something else.

Praying that he would understand that I hate to be with him now. He glanced at me and I saw the weakness in his eyes. What now? If only he could take me home so that he wouldn't have a problem with me. Not many but also not a few people in the restaurant. I could clearly see how the gaze of a few followed us. Or nah, how to follow him in the eyes of the majority. It's famous this one as well as his most beloved family. After a minute of sitting, a waiter approached us asking for beverage.

"A glass of Lapostolle Cuvee and ..."

He looked at me waiting for my choice of drink, I can sense that he is hesitant talking to me, as if he is weighing the reaction and I will say.

"Just water, please."

I smiled to the waiter. He smiled at me too and left. Levi cleared his throat and I saw how his jaw moved into motion. He focused his attention on the menu he was holding. Holding the menu I can feel him glancing at me every now and then. I had no appetite staring at the table where the menu sat. European and Spanish cuisine huh? He seems to be a regular here. I'm not very fond of it but I'm not a picky eater, I just don't like the situation I'm in right now.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I'm not hungry."

Which is true, I have a maintaining diet it's not new to have it when you are one of the most eyed person in the modeling industry. Even if you shiver with hunger, if you can't, you can't. He raised his eyebrows at my answer. "What? I don't eat dinner." His confused eyes grew, gently laid down the menu he was holding.

"You what?" I cocked my head. What is his problem?

"You don't eat dinner."

He uttered the answer to his question, as if he knew the answer but he did not understand it.

"I'm being honest." I shrugged. It was also his fault and he brought me here without even asking me. Well, if he had asked me we would not be here.

"Oh really? Well starting now, you will."

He said and glanced to the menu again. What the? I laughed without humor feeling so done with him. He always thinks that he's the boss in here huh?

"You don't decide for me like this."

"I'm not deciding for you. I'm just filling you up. Look at yourself, you don't eat dinner really? And how many years have you been doing that?"

"I don't need to explain myself to you, why did you even bring me here in the first place?"

"I'm sure I've answered that question a while ago."

"Oh really? To CATCH UP? Well, just to inform you Mr. Vidalio we have nothing to talk about." I swallowed the anger ready to be fired up because of the waiter's interruption. His eyes are like flames burning me to ashes. And I know I'm boiling up not because he brought me here but because I'm denying the fact that all I do was running. All I do was to escape the reality of him entering me to depths and lock me up in his system.

The waiter poured the red wine on his glass. That's where I focused my attention. I gritted my teeth, unable to wait for it to end. "We'll have dinner. Seems like things are not clear for you." He sip on his glass and my lips rose at his statement. He sure knows how to play with the flames he made.

He's so different, this is what I'm sure of. The man I met in Mar De Vena is gone, he just stayed in the past like an extreme lie. Who is this man again?

"Ruby pickle." he turned to the waiter. His eyes narrowed when he glanced at me. Of course, Cyreese. Of course!

"Any Salad will do." You can do nothing but follow him. He nod his head lightly.

"She'll have Russian Saladilla."

He shifted on his seat when the waiter left. His attention is on his hands holding a glass of wine, he's quiet playing with it. If only my stare hurt, he would have bled earlier. Emotions are overwhelming just now, seeing him is hard time form what more sitting in front of him having some "Boss" and "intern" dinner? All that rage I've wrecked years ago keeps on rushing just looking at him. I'm good at enduring but how can I be so strong when he's the one making me weak?

His family, everything about him left a scar of me. It has been healing for a long time but the trace is still here. With so many people in the world. Why would he take me to eat here? Does he have no friends? Or a co -worker, like the woman he was talking to in the VREC Building? Oh right! His girlfriend or wife!

"Why me? You have tons of employee under you company and you chose an intern just to accompany you with your fancy dinner?"

I watched his eyes reflected on me. Behind them was something more intense and his protruded jaw are dangerous as it is.

"Every time I open my mouth, you grow far out of me."

I blinked a lot of times as he said those words lightly, his soothing husky voice sends shivers all over my spine. He said those words so gently, so different from his dangerous aura. The way he looks at his bordeaux glass is a puzzle to me, his deep brown eyes looks heavy and sorrowful but menacing at the same time.

"So It's either I answer your question, or we'll have our dinner at peace."

He said and sipped his wine glass again.