"Yana I missed you! How come you're calling? How come? I really wanted to call you but you know what that stone face says 'Do not call Yana or be in contact with her during her mission or else I'll asdajfkjanas' you know the drill. Gosh, he's so annoying, isn't he?"
"He is," Yana lightly laughed, the female voice on the other end was very chattery, "I missed you too."
"Eh~ If you say that I'll blush. Now, look at me! But-" suddenly the cheerful and playful voice turned serious, "That's not why you're calling me, right?"
"Sorry, it's not," sharp as ever, Yana added in her mind. She could hear the faint sounds of click, click and tap, and the loud noises of a machine running. She was always working.
"Shoot, what do you need?"
"Did I bother you at work?"
"Hmm if you wanted to chat no, if you want me to do something for you, then yes."
"If you do me this favour, I'll ask Mr stone face to allow you that one thing."
"Oh! Really? Really? You promise?"
"I promise!" well Yana would at least try, Roy was really a stone face. Yana might be the last person to pursue him for anything.
"I'd like to get some info from you and look into these three people."
"You met trouble?"
"Maybe."
It was quiet on the other end for a while. Only the tapping could be heard.
"Hm, alright. I'll do my best, send me the details. I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
"Thanks!" Yana ended the call. She has already prepared everything beforehand and with a click forwarded it.
Once Yana got what she needed, she would act accordingly. For now, she still had to deal with a pest that refused to leave her office. Yana rolled on her bed in frustration before she got up.
Meanwhile, Carol was taking care of the children with Seli. It didn't seem like Yana had told the others about it. However, Carol still needed to keep a closer eye on Yana. If that woman ruined everything, Carol would never forgive her.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Carol's phone was ringing.
"Seli, I need to take this."
"Ok, when you come back can you bring the second box with you? There are other toys!"
Carol nodded. Once she found an empty room she checked her phone. There was one message. One particular word was eye-catching 'Banquet'.
A small smile appeared on Carol's face. Things were going good. With light steps, Carol walked down the hallway to get the box when she stopped in front of the office. The door was slightly ajar. She heard a deep voice. It was the CEO's.
"You can tell me as many times as you want but I won't be going."
Then there was a brief silence.
The CEO was on the phone as Carol peeked through the open door. She must admit the CEO was very handsome, no, even more good-looking than he was portrayed in the media. How could someone with Yana's status even hope to woo him? Carol decided to stare a bit more before her ears pricked up.
"You've been trying to get me to the banquet for years and my answer is still the same. No," abruptly Luka hung up and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was Carol's chance. She straightened herself and knocked on the door before she entered.
Luka was surprised to see her but nodded, "Are you here for Yana?"
Carol shook her head. Look at him saying her name so affectionately. This gullible person really couldn't hide his emotions as well as a CEO should.
"I came for you," Carol slightly smiled. It was a shy smile that could prick the protective side of a male.
Carol put a strand of hair behind her ear, looking as vulnerable as possible. If Carol wanted she could easily seduce him, she was sure of it.
But luckily, unlike Yana, that wasn't what Carol was going for.
"What do you want?" Luka's voice was cold.
It was clear what incited this change. Carol got the notion. Luka was his usual cold and arrogant self. What a funny sight. Carol's lips curved upwards.
"You know, Sir. It'd be best if you indeed go to the banquet."
Luka's cold eyes swept over Carol before he narrowed them, "Why?"
"Well, because-"
***
A week passed and Yana has finished the plans for the remodelling of the orphanage. She has forwarded them to the managers and was at the last stage of finalising them. It didn't matter to her if they approved of it or not. Yana had the last say.
She also had Luka, who almost every third day came to the orphanage, look over it. It was a simple plan. There was nothing wrong with it. During the week, as much as Yana kept an eye on Carol, Carol kept an eye on Yana as well. The incident of Carol locking up the children didn't happen again.
Yana has set the children aside to question them a bit but nothing unusual was found. Yana also decided to not inform the other two about Carol's behaviour because it wasn't Yana's taste to make a bigger deal out of something she didn't have evidence for. So she kept quiet. If Carol was going to do something, then Yana would stop her.
Just like any other night, Seli and Melinda came to Yana's room to tease her about Luka.
"And?" Seli bumped Yana in the sides.
"You gave that jerk my number?" Yana glanced at the abundance of unread messages from Luka.
She didn't know if he really had so much free time or just loved terrorising her while he laughed his ass off in secret.
"Not jerk but Mr CEO! How can you call such an important and high-status person a jerk?"
"Because he is. And status doesn't matter."
"Dear, the world's cruel. Unfortunately, status matters," Melinda was back again with her preachers.
"Yeah, I know, I know!" Yana threw her hands in the air when Luka messaged her 'goodnight'. Did he really have nothing better to do than to bully a low status like her into insanity?
Yana thought about replying, telling him to leave her alone but if she threw any crumbs to him, she'd be the one to get eaten. That was why she continued to ignore him.
The clock struck midnight, Melinda and Sally went back to their rooms. All lights ceased in the house. However, Yana waited. Every night when it got quiet she heard noises.
It was no other than Carol. Yana jumped off her bed and went to the kitchen on the ground floor. She took a bottle of water and waited until she heard the entrance door close.
Followed by footsteps going upstairs. Then the click of the door. From the dark hallway, Yana left the orphanage and just saw a black car starting.
She quickly rushed towards it and knocked on the car window before the car could drive away.
As the window rolled down, Yana held up the water bottle, "Mr K, I have some refreshments for you. It must be hard to come here in the middle of the night. Why don't you rest for a bit?"
When Yana put the bottle down, Mr K could see who she was and his face paled.
He quickly stepped on the gas but it was too late, Yana already opened the door and got into his car.