"Ms. Claire, are you hiding something?"
Claire froze in an instant. She thought that it was weird for Sharmaine to ask that question, let alone use it as a topic for a hypothetical. Her heart beat fast, but she remained her composure even though she did not know what to say.
"W-Well, all of us hide something, that's for sure."
Sharmaine sipped her coffee. "Fair enough." They looked around the vicinity and saw not a lot of people; frankly, it was quite a peaceful morning, probably because it's still not lunch time for the other workers.
"Well, I too, have something I can't reveal to anyone," Sharmaine said as she bit another piece of her sandwich, taking her time to chew it in her mouth.
"'Anyone?'"
Sharmaine swallowed and then nodded. "Anyone."
She wished that she hadn't just blurted out those words. It was like setting a trap to herself. No one should know her first identity, Sharmaine; her only savior, after all, were the images she created for herself, Shawn Mendoza. The two silently finished eating, so they decided to head up to the office; still, the doors were closed and it seemed like the two CEOs were not finished talking to each other yet.
Sharmaine sighed. "When is this going to end?"
"Maybe for a few more minutes?" Claire shrugged at the thought. They waited patiently and after a few minutes, Ms. Park had left the office. A stroke of relief caught onto Sharmaine and Claire as they stood outside for more than three hours. Their legs were visibly aching!
"Have a safe trip back, Ms. Park," Sharmaine said, "You too, Ms. Claire."
Both of them smiled at her and left their remarks. After they left, Sharmaine sighed as she went back to her desk to finish a couple of reports. The atmosphere contained in the room fell silent—much silent than usual. All Sharmaine could hear was the air conditioner blowing out a cool breeze through her hair.
She glanced at Denzel, who seemed to be getting busier and busier with tons of paperwork, and wondered what did Alexandra and him talk about. The day had passed by in an instant, and it was at this time where Sharmaine prepared to leave by tidying up her desk. She gazed over to Denzel and remembered that she had yet to drop him the reports.
"Denzel, these are the overall reports for the month of May," she said. Immediately, she plopped down a thick stack of papers, fastened together by a paper clip on Denzel's table, and began explaining it in detail, answering every question Denzel had.
"Very well," he tucked the papers in his case and gave it to Sharmaine, "Take this to the car."
Sharmaine nodded and left the office. She headed down at the parking lot, where the car should be arriving. Suddenly, she heard screaming noises not from a far. Her curiosity gave her the courage to go closer and spy on what it seemed like two women talking. Her heart pounded fast as she held Denzel's case close to her chest.
"Miss, the delivery was done."
"What do you mean?!"
"The workers informed me that the delivery was long gone."
"What on earth are you talking about, Carrie?!"