The words EMPEROR GROUP are displayed on the tall building in the middle of the city. A slender-legged girl walked into the building with definite steps. A girl walked to the reception desk and said
"Hello, excuse me." She said.
"Good afternoon, Miss, is there anything I can help you with?" The receptionist replied.
"I want to see Axel, is he there?" asked the girl.
"Do you mean Director Axel?"
"Yes, right."
"Have you had an appointment with him?" asked Brenda, the receptionist.
Brenda is just doing her job and doesn't allow anyone to enter the company.
"No, not yet."
"Sorry, Miss. You have to make an appointment if you want to see Director Axel."
"Just say I, Alice, want to see her. If it's still not allowed then I'll leave." Said the girl named Alice.
"Very well, Miss Alice. Please wait a moment, I will call the secretary."
"Yes, please." Brenda pressed a button on the phone, dialing it to Anna.
"Hello."
"Secretary Anna, a person named Alice came looking for the Director but she hasn't made an appointment yet," Brenda said.
"Alice? Why such a coincidence? Is it the same Alice?" Anna thought.
"I'll confirm with the Director first, I'll call you later."
"Okay, thanks, secretary Anna." The phone then disconnects.
"Please wait a moment longer, Miss. secretary Anna is in contact with Director Axel."
"Okay, thanks."
***
Anna stepped into Axel's room, she deliberately wanted to talk directly, not by telephone.
Knock knock!
"Come in!" Exclaimed the owner of the room from the inside. Anna went straight in as instructed.
"Sorry, Sir. Someone came looking for you but she said she hasn't made an appointment with you, would you like to see her?" Anna asked straight to the point.
"Who's she?" Axel asked nonchalantly as if he thought that person was not important.
"Brenda said someone was named Alice."
"What? Who are you to say?" Axel immediately changed his expression. His face was thick with shock.
"Her name is Alice, Sir," Anna repeated. Axel massaged his temples.
"Are you going to let her in?" Ask Anna one more time to be sure.
Axel let out a shaky breath. "Please take her downstairs, bring him here." Axel finally said.
"OK."
***
"Brenda." Anna walked over to Brenda at the reception desk.
"Ah, Secretary Anna." Brenda got up and bowed politely.
"Where is Miss Alice?"
"I told hee to wait in the waiting room." Brenda reply.
"Okay, I'll be there."
"Please, Secretary Anna."
Anna walked towards the waiting room that Brenda was referring to. Anna could vaguely see someone sitting there. Anna didn't want to guess, but she seemed to know the person. Anna drew closer, closer to Alice.
"Are you Alice?" Anna said after seeing Alice with certainty. Anna was quite surprised by the existence of Alice, the Alice she knew, the Alice who had dinner together last night.
"Annalise? What are you doing here?" Alice was as surprised as Anna.
"I should be the one asking like that. I work here." Reply to Anna.
"Gosh, the world is so small," Alice said. Then the two laughed together.
"So it's you who wants to meet my boss, Director Axel?"
"So you're the so-called Secretary Anna? Oh my gosh, I didn't think Anna was Annalise." Anna smiled and nodded.
"Alright, let me take you to Director Axel's room," Anna said. Anna walked first into the elevator. "He's been waiting." Added Anna.
"Really? He's waiting for me?" Alice asked excitedly.
"Yes, maybe," Anna replied, then they both laughed again.
They joked like they had been best friends for a long time, although they had only just met.
"No, he must have. Because yesterday he seemed indifferent to me," said Alice.
"He's inside," Anna said when she arrived at the door of the Director's room.
Knock knock!
"Come in, Anna," Axel exclaimed knowing that it was Anna outside.
"Come on in, Alice."
"Okay." Alice entered after Anna.
"Director Axel, here it is Miss Alice."
"Hi, Axel." Greeted Alice unconcerned with Axel's displeased expression.
"What did you come here for?" Axel asked not friendly.
"Ahem. Miss Alice, what would you like to drink? Let me make it." Anna asked.
"Yes, just plain water, please." Reply to Anna.
"Okay, I'll get it ready right away. Would you like a cup of coffee, Sir?" Asked Anna again.
"No, later."
"Then I'll excuse myself." Then Anna came out of her boss's room.
On her way to get a drink, Anna thought. "Seems like Axel doesn't like Alice, what's the matter with them? I think Alice is quite fun."
***
"What are you here for?" Axel asked.
"I'm just following Uncle James' request," Alice replied honestly.
"That old man is stubborn." Axel cursed in his heart.
"Then what did he tell you to do after you got here?" Axel asked without even looking at Alice.
"Uncle James asked me to take you out to lunch."
"I'm used to eating the lunch Anna prepared," Axel said so smoothly.
"Your secretary? Turns out he's very competent, I didn't pick the wrong friend," said Alice chuckling.
Axel frowned. This time his attention was distracted, Axel looked at Alice probingly.
"Friends? Since when are you guys friends?"
"I just found out that someone like you is very curious about his secretary's business." Alice mocked.
'Oh, looks like they haven't known each other long. She only knows Anna is my secretary.' Axel said in his heart.
"I don't have so much free time that I can take care of other people's business," Axel said nonchalantly.
"Yes-yes-yes. You are a great and professional Director." Alice praised but there was a mocking tone.
"If I refuse your lunch invitation, will you insist?"
"That is for sure."
"Tch. I want to be my Daddy's orders." Axel pout.
"No. That's not the reason."
"Then what's the reason?"
"If I say I'm interested in you, what will it be?"
***
Anna came with a glass of water according to Alice's request. When she opened the door, she accidentally overheard Axel and Alice talking. More specifically, to hear Alice's confession.
"If I say I'm interested in you, what will it be?" Alice said casually.
Anna froze in the doorway. She was confused whether to stay in place or continue his steps in there. Until finally a voice interrupted her.
"Anna, why are you standing there?" Axel exclaimed ignoring Alice's confession.
"Come here, Anna, I'm thirsty." Alice jokes.
"Ah, yes. I'll be right there." With that Anna walked in.
"Here's your water, Miss Alice."
"Yes, thank you. But please just call me Alice, aren't we friends?"
"You are Mr. Axel's guest now, it's only right that I call you by that title," Anna said politely. Then Anna drew closer to Alice and whispered.
"Outside the office, it's different again." Anna's whisper was purposely a little louder so Axel could hear. Then Anna and Alice giggled.
Axel looked at the two girls, his eyes narrowed, and then said in his heart.
'They look very close, is what Alice said true, they are friends?'
"Axel." exclaimed a person who had just walked in without permission.
Who else had that habit if not Edward? Axel raised his head to look at Edward fiercely.
"Haven't you ever learned manners?" Axel's sneer was sharp.
"O-ow, there's a guest appearance," Edward said realizing there was someone else in Axel's room. He ignored Axel on purpose.
"Hello beautiful lady, what's your name?" Edward approached to invite Alice to meet him.
"My name is Alice."
"My name is Edward, nice to meet you."
"Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Edward."
"Just call me by my name, Edward," Edward asked.
"All right, Edward."
"You came looking for Axel?" Edward asked as chatty as usual.
"Would she be in my room if she came looking for you, Edward?" Axel said full of sarcasm.
Axel looks angry, is he jealous?
***