With the Company's Management Team behind him, he held the door knob and twist it open. His face immediately turns cold and sour when he saw his Secretary inside his Office.
The Secretary was petrified when she saw him and the other Company Directors.
"What are you doing here?" He asked. The Management Team behind him also felt the coldness in his voice. They gulped but still they choose to stay.
When the woman did not answer, he said, "Are you deaf? Or just dumb? What are you - - "
"You're being grumpy, Mister." A sweet and familiar voice aired in the room. His heart thump excitedly, his eyes lit up. The coldness in the air suddenly vanished. The temperature rises in an instant.
She rubbed her eyes then poke her head. "Hello. I'm back." She said and smiled widely.
Ezekiel's face warmed up. But before he walked towards her, he turned his gaze to his secretary then to the people behind him. His gaze is telling them to get out. After the people left, he sighed and sat beside the girl.
"Didn't I told you that you should inform me when you get here?" His voice is calm and full of worry.
"It's not a surprise if I told you, right? Why? Am I also not allowed here? That woman told me - - "
"You're an exemption." He smiled. "You can come here anytime you want. "He added and pinched her cheeks. "Did Michael lead you here?"
"Em." Then she told him what happened earlier. Ezekiel's eyes turned cold when he heard about the woman in the Information Center. "Don't worry about it. Just look at me, they will really doubt if someone unknown asked them where their boss is." She laughed.
He looked at her then sighed. "I think I should get you some new ones." He said and slyly smiled.
Her eyebrows rose and she pursed her lips. "What? Am I not pretty because I'm wearing this?"
Ezekiel laughed after seeing her cute expression. "No matter what you wear, you are always look pretty. But, this is not the Forest anymore, right?" Then he pinched again her soft cheeks.
"Well… I think you're right. It'll be troublesome if other people saw me only wearing like this."
"Wait." He pats her head then stood up and took his phone.
After several minutes, they heard a knock on the door.
The door opened and the smiling Michael and straight face Lawrence went in.
"Yow. Here it is." Michael said and he placed the paper bag on Rin's foot.
She looked at him with curious eyes then Ezekiel opened the paper bag and sort everything out.
Her eyes lit up. A pink coat and pink bucket cap were inside.
"Is this for me?" She asked.
"Em." Ezekiel nodded then he took the coat and made her wear it. The temperature outside is getting colder as the winter is approaching. He took the bucket cap and placed it on her head.
From a simple looking pretty girl to a cute pretty doll.
"Thank you Zhi, Thank you Mr. Michael and also Mr. Lawrence."
Zhi and Michael nodded while Lawrence is still on his poker face.
Ezekiel turns his gaze to Michael then to Lawrence. "What? Do you have anything to say?" He asked.
Rin most likely knew why the other person is not saying anything. She pulled Ezekiel's right arm then she smiled. "Looks like it's my fault. I still haven't formally introduced myself to him." She remarked and turn her face to Lawrence. "Sorry, my name is Eyrhin, as I don't live in any of the Empire, I don't have a surname. But, you can call me Rin." She said then slightly bowed.
Ezekiel and Michael then looked at Lawrence. Both are expecting him to respond. But as for Lawrence, he still doesn't know how to answer the little girl.
Ezekiel sighed helplessly. "She is the one who saved me." He explained. Lawrence eye lit up. "Can I tell him about your identity?" Ezekiel draw back his gaze to the girl beside him.
"Em. He is your aide, so he should know about me." She answered casually.
He nodded then turn back to Lawrence. "And she is the current Ruler… Of the Forest of No Return."
"Eh??" Lawrence poker face crumbled. She looked at the girl, then to his boss and Michael.
"Boss… Looks like Lawrence has been petrified." Michael said laughingly.
Ezekiel just sighed then he took Rin's right hand. "Let's go. Leave that idiot alone." He said pulling Rin's hand and they leave the room.
"Re-"
"Ruler of the Forest…That girl is the Ruler of the Forest of No Return? That dangerous forest? She's the Witch of the Forest of No Return? The one in the Legend?!!!" At last! Lawrence pulled back his self to the present. "Hey Michael, tell me. The Boss is just joking right?"
"Do you think that man knows how to joke?"
"F*ck. Did I mess up?"
"Whatever. Let's go or the Boss will kill us." Michael said and walk out. But before he entered the elevator, he saw the Secretary in a dazed mode.
Before coming up earlier, he heard about the things that transpired when he left Rin on the room. He looked at the woman then stood on her front.
The woman immediately straightened her back and could not know how to face him.
"I have heard what you did. Next time, you should listen more. That simple girl is not someone you can just make trouble. If you don't want to be replaced like the woman in the Information Center, next time treat her well. Good thing is she has kind heart." He warned the Secretary. Lawrence caught up with him and both of them enter the elevator.
"Where are we going?" She asked. She's sitting beside Ezekiel, while Michael is in the Passenger seat and Lawrence is the one driving the car.
Ezekiel look at his watch the he turns to her. "Are you hungry?"
It's almost 7pm. Even if she ate her fill of cakes earlier, her tummy now is almost empty. She smiled then nodded.
Ezekiel instructed Lawrence to drive to the Premiere Mall. He then told Michael to call someone and prepare them the place.
After 20 minutes, they arrived on their destination. They all got off the car and someone greeted them.
"Good evening Your Grace, My Lords and - - "He looked at Rin and he hesitated for a moment. It was his first time seeing this group having a female companion. If they are with the other Bachelors, he would not mind. But since it's only the three of them…
The three men understood his reaction immediately. Ezekiel grabbed Rin's hand and he nonchalantly displayed his intentions.
Lawrence and Michael snorted after seeing their Boss moves. The Middle Age Man in front of them was surprised for a second.
Michael coughed and tried to stop himself from laughing. "Our Lady is hungry, bring us to our reservation. "He said and the middle age man immediately escort them.
Rin just looked at them with bewilderment in her eyes. Then, she got something on her mind. "Zhi, if people saw you holding my hand, won't they make trouble for you? I mean, what if someone gets jealous?" She understood that a man like Ezekiel is the dream of many woman in the empire. And seeing someone like her beside him, someone might really be jealous.
"You don't have to worry about that. If they get jealous, just let them be." Ezekiel answered.
"Our Little Lady is quite sensible." Michael remarked.
"Well, I thought that someone like Zhi has a fiancée. I read about it in the novels. That mostly Noblemen has someone like that. "
Lawrence stopped from walking then he looked at her. "His Grace is still single and doesn't have any fiancée." He then looked at his boss trying to ask for a compliment.
"Oh. Why? I bet there are a lot of beautiful and pretty girls in the Capital." She said.
The elevator opened up, and they enter.
Ezekiel then glance at her then pinched her cheeks. "But they're not like you." He said and Rin suddenlu was taken aback. Her cheeks turned red and but she didn't avoid his eyes.
Hey boss. Is that really you? When did your mouth knows pick-up lines?
Looks like sooner or later, someone will finally be sat as the Archduchess.
Michael and Lawrence looked at the ceiling of the elevator pretending they didn't hear him.
While the Middle Age man was trying to calm himself.
"Em. Because I'm a special case. There is only me in this world." She answered back and chuckled.
"Em. You are the most special." Ezekiel remarked.
Boss, please stop. We can't take it any longer. Damn! Why is the elevator so slow?!!
Michael's pats Lawrence shoulder as the two of them can't stand their boss being on lovey dovey.
I know what you feel man. This is just the beginning. We will be facing more soon.
Both of them sighed helplessly.
When the elevator door opened, the three people inside breathe in relief. While the other two seems to not notice how they suffered inside.
They are on the 5th floor of Premiere Mall. It is a popular private restaurant that caters to High Ranking Nobles in the Capital. From the elevator, they immediately went into a private room, located at the left side. This room is exclusively for Ezekiel only. As usual, it is decorated according to his own taste.
"This is just like your office. "Rin said pointing out the style of the room.
"Em. I like it this way. Don't you like it?"
Michael kicked Lawrence' foot below the table. And his eyes are telling him that their boss is starting again.
"I don't have any knowledge about it but I think it really suits you. So, I like it." She responds.
My lady… Your Grace… Please spare us singles. Michael said to himself.
Ahh… Why is the food not yet served?!! Why is everything so slow today!!!
First, Lawrence got angry with the elevator. And now, he's angry with the food. Ah. Poor them.
Minutes later, the door opened and several people came in holding different kind of dishes.
Lobster, shrimp, steak, veggies and salmon. Lastly, wine was poured on the men's glasses. While juice for her.
"Please eat well, Your Grace, My Lords and my Lady." The middle-aged man bowed and he left together with the several crews.
"Let's eat. After this, we will head to the 4th floor for your garments."
She nodded. Ezekiel elegantly took a piece of meat of the Lobster and gently placed it on her plate. Then he took the steak, sliced it into pieces and again, placed it before her. "Eat."
Michael and Lawrence pretend that they did not see anything in order for them to enjoy their meals.
While eating, she observed the three men inside the room. It's not only Ezekiel is elegant, but is also Michael and Lawrence.
Then she remembers something in the novels that she had read.
"Since I will be living in the Empire, should I improve my knowledge about everything?" She asked out of nowhere.
Ezekiel put down his fork and drank his wine. "What do you mean?"
"I was living almost my whole life in the Forest. I think, I should try and improve myself. Like knowing the proper etiquettes, learning other things."
"You mean, you want to attend a University?" Michael said.
"University? Em. Just like that. Zhi, can I?"
Ezekiel thought that she really doesn't need it. He can arrange a private tutor for her. But looking at the girl's expectant eyes, he just can't say no. "You can. But since it's now almost winter, you will need to pass the examination. And that examination is ranging from previous academic lessons, history to current events." He said trying to dissuade her.
Michael drank his wine and refill it. Boss. Your intention is obvious. Why don't you just tell her directly? That you don't want others to discover her. Oh, that sounds mean. Erase… Erase… What I'm saying, that you are being jealous knowing that she will be surrounded by other foxes. Tssskkk…
"Does it come with notes? Or books? I can memorize them within a day. "She smiled feeling proud of herself.
Lawrence frowned. "Using magic?"
"No. It's just one of my personal abilities. My memory is the best." She explained. "And besides, I don't just depend on my magical abilities. Having magic may be good. But too much depending on it is not good."
Michael kicked again his leg then glared at him. He then coughed, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything bad My Lady. "
Rin smiled at him and shook her head. "It's okay. No worries." She said then turn back her eyes to Ezekiel. "What do you think?"
Ezekiel: "Then, do you have any degree you want to take?"
"Degree? You mean a course?"
"It's something that you want to do. Like Business Management, Finance and Accounting, Engineering, Architecture and a lot more." Michael said giving her insights.
Hmmn… She fell silent and her expression turned serious. What she wants to do. What she wants to do is… "Is there a degree on writing novels? I want to be a writer!" She said seriously and excitedly.