After washing her face with cold and fresh water, Carla immediately got out of the toilet and headed to the lobby to meet Freya. The calm atmosphere of the office made her shiver and horrify at the same time.
Outside, there were only two security guards who took turns guarding the post, while inside it was only Carla, Freya, Joanne, and Alfred.
She also took Freya's hand because she was afraid of ghosts, but Freya didn't look scared at all in this lonely office. To get rid of the feeling of loneliness, Carla had a conversation with Freya
"Freya, it's cold tonight," Carla said.
"Yes, very cold and calm," Freya replied.
"Aren't you afraid of ghosts?" She asked.
"No, are you afraid of ghosts?" Freya asked back.
"I am a little scared," Carla replied.
"By the way, why are you working overtime? Usually you don't work late, right?" Freya looked very curious.
"I just want to work late so the work doesn't pile up at the end of the month," he lied to Freya.
Freya seemed to be trying to digest what Carla had said earlier. It seemed, she couldn't believe the reason. It couldn't be helped, Carla couldn't tell Freya the truth that she was investigating the relationship between Joanne and Alfred.
As she walked out of the office, she distracted Freya so her friend wouldn't keep asking why Carla was working late tonight.
"What do you want to eat later? I want fried rice," Carla said to Freya.
"I want to eat sandwiches, french fries, and drink hot tea," Freya replied.
"Then let's pack the food and then we eat at the office, how about it?"
"It's okay to pack it up too. The important thing is that I can eat sandwiches and french fries," Freya smiled broadly.
"Shall we walk or take your car?" Carla asked Freya to confirm.
"Just walk. As far as I know, there are several restaurants that are still open until late at night," She answered firmly.
"Okay, then let's just go for a walk," Carla said.
Not long after, they arrived in front of the security post and immediately asked the security guard to open the gate.
"Good Evening, Security," Carla greeted the security guard.
"Good Evening, Ma'am. Can I help you?" He asked kindly.
"We are going to the restaurant over there, can you open the door?"
"Yes Ma'am. Just open the door, it's not locked," replied the security.
"Oh, I thought it was locked at night. Then we go out first and then come back here," Carla explained.
"We go first, we will come back here later," explained Carla.
"All right, Ma'am."
After getting permission from the security guard, they opened the gate and rushed out to buy food at the restaurant Freya was referring to.
It turned out that the atmosphere outside the office building was very different from inside our office. Carla was relieved because on the street like this the atmosphere was quite crowded even though it was almost late at night.
The fear that had appeared in her mind disappeared by itself. Actually, she didn't want to purposely work overtime just to do the daily tasks she could complete during the day.
She had to do this because her heart kept telling her that Alfred and Joanne were hiding something. Her suspicions grew even more tonight after overhearing a conversation between Joanne and Alfred in Joanne's room.
"Hey, why are you daydreaming?" Freya suddenly patted her shoulder.
"What did you just say? Sorry, I didn't hear you," Carla said awkwardly.
"Didn't you say you wanted to eat there? Then, quickly cross to the restaurant while the streets are quiet," Freya's face looked a little annoyed.
"Okay, let's cross over there. You go to Bradley Restaurant and I go to Chinese Food restaurant," Carla replied.
"Okay, let's cross the street now," said Freya while holding Carla's arm.
Then, they crossed to the Bradley Restaurant and the Chinese food restaurant which was lined up right in front of the office where they worked. Luckily, both restaurants were still open late at night.
Arriving there, Freya and Carla immediately rushed to the two places to eat. The Chinese food restaurant that Carla visited was so crowded with diners wanting to have dinner, her heart sank for fear of running out of food.
She immediately stood at the back of the queue to order her favorite food, smoked beef fried rice. While waiting in line, she saw the food menu displayed very clearly on the wall near the cashier.
She looked for her favorite fried rice menu and it didn't exist. Carla was forced to order another menu to fill her sore and nauseous stomach.
A few minutes passed quickly, now it was her turn to order food and drink at the table next to the cashier.
"Sir, I ordered chicken fried rice with sweet ice tea," Carla said to the man sitting behind the counter.
"Fried rice 1, sweet ice tea 1. Is the fried rice spicy or not?" He asked.
"No. Please wrap it up."
"Yes, Ma'am. Wait a minute."
After ordering food, she immediately paid her order to the cashier and then walked towards an empty seat in the middle of the dining room.
Carla pulled up a chair in front of her and sat on it, her eyes fixed on the highway which still looked busy, although occasionally only a few vehicles passed on Arjuna Street.
As she sat down, Carla's thoughts returned to what her boss had said earlier. If her guess was correct, it means that there was a possibility that Joanne was pregnant because as far as she knew, Joanne had never been to a gynecologist before.
Erm ... is she really pregnant? I have to find out the truth from Alfred now, I don't want to wait until I get home later. thought Carla.
Carla took her cell phone out of the small bag she usually took with her every time she went to lunch outside the office.
After picking up her cell phone, she started texting Alfred.
[Hi, Alfred. Where are you now? Are you at home or still at the office?]
Drrtt... drrtt...
[Hi, I am still at the office. Where are you now?]
[I am buying fried rice in front of the office.]
[Why did you buy food there? You are not home yet?]
[Not yet, I am overtime. Sorry, I didn't tell you beforehand that I was working overtime.]
[No matter. Then I will come to you, okay? I happen to be hungry too, how about we eat together?]
[Alright, but I will tell Freya first if you want to come here, so we can eat and talk together.]
"[Wait, I will be there in 10 minutes.]
[Yes, I will wait for you. I also have something to ask you.]
[Ask about what?]
[About Mrs Joanne.]
[Let's talk while we eat, shall we?]
[Yes, Fred.]
After texting with Alfred, she got up from her chair to tell the waiter that the food she ordered was not wrapped because she was going to have dinner at the restaurant.
She also had to immediately tell Freya that Alfred was heading there and would be having dinner with her.
"I have to discuss personal matters with Alfred in front of Freya later. I hope all my guesses about Alfred and Mrs. Joanne are not correct," Carla monologued.
******