She giggled, then placed a hand on her chest. 'When would he return' she wondered, as he had finally come to her dreams after a long time.
'I hope he returns soon'. She sighed inside while hoping that she could see his face next time or even make out his voice which was always in her head but she couldn't discern.
Her thoughts wandered again to the guy who had slept in her apartment last night, and her expression suddenly turned gloomy.
'Urgh! What do I do?' Another sigh escaped her lips and she slowly pinched the space between her brows.
She needed to do something about sleeping in the same place with him. The first two times, her babies were around. However__ No, she won't allow that to happen again.
'Argh!' The guy really did likes her, seeing how very considerate he was. She could just talk to him politely. 'Yes, I can do it.'
She breathed out another sigh then opened the document and started working on her computer.
After she was done, she glanced down at her wristwatch then noticed that it was only a few minutes to lunch break.
Turning off her computer, she stood up and walked out of her cubicle, toward Derek's cubicle, seeing that he had not come to call her.
After reaching there, a frown settled on her forehead, staring at the empty cubicle. then she shrugged, thinking that he didn't come to work today, and started walking toward the elevator.
______
Inside the cafeteria, the place was already filled up with employees as they spoke happily about the launching ceremony of the new hotel.
Clara walked out of the elevator and her eyes darted around then landed on a table very far away.
'Oh, he had actually come to work.' She chuckled while watching Derek and the two guys who were sitting at the table.
And they seemed to be engrossed in their conversation. She frowned slightly, then walked toward the counter and ordered her food.
Walking back to the table with the food tray in her hands, a small smile appeared on her lips and she joined the guys who had instantly shut their mouths immediately they saw her.
"Hey, guys," she greeted cheerfully while sitting down on an empty chair, then placed the tray on the table.
The guys replied with awkward smiles then Ben and Harry gave Derek a look.
Derek ignored them and glanced down at his food. The guys had been pestering him about telling his feelings to the girl and a chuckle escaped his lips.
Clara looked up from her food after a while, totally oblivious to the guys' thoughts.
Then she slowly cleared her throat and plastered on a sweet smile. "Ehmm... Derek, Harry, Ben." She grabbed their attention and the guys turned to her with questioning looks.
"Hehehe... I noticed that there are__" Clara paused and cleared her throat again. 'I can do this,' she chanted inside, then resumed talking with a sweet smile.
"Uhm... I noticed that few girls in our department are..." she trailed off again.
"Few girls that are what?"
"Yes, Clara, stop putting us in suspense."
Both Harry and Ben asked eagerly while Derek also stared at her with a small frown.
'Argh! those girls.' Clara felt beads of sweat trickling down her back and she inhaled deeply. "I noticed that there are few girls in our department that are really into you guys... Why don't you give them a chance, they're really nice and would take very good care of you__ I'm not trying to force you into this, but you should really consider it," she muttered rapidly and finally managed to catch her breath while groaning inside. 'Now, I'm beginning to sound like Maya. Urgh!'
She carefully watched the guys' expressions as they stared wide-eyed at her, obviously in shock and she felt like burying herself under the table.
The guys broke out of their trance then Ben and Harry burst into fits of laughers while Derek remained silent.
"Hahahaha Clara, you're very funny."
"Yes Clara, you're joking right?"
The guys exclaimed, still laughing and Clara pursed her lips.
"I'm not joking," she grumbled. "I think Linda, Ashley, and Chloe really likes you guys."
"What!!?"
"Those girls!!"
They exclaimed loudly, grabbing other people's attention.
Clara sighed exasperatedly "Of course it's them... They asked me to speak to you guys because you had been evading them," she muttered grumpily then continued eating her food.
"Shit! Don't believe them Clara"
"Those girls are hypocrites."
The guys scowled and also continued eating from their plates. 'Hmph' after realizing that they could never get to even fantasize about the CEO anymore, they finally noticed that there are guys in the company.
Clara rolled her eyes, not bordering to talk any further then shrugged inside. At least, she had tried her best.
Derek, who had been watching her and silent all along sighed inside then also turned back to his food. He glanced sideways and noticed his friends giving him looks then he ignored them again.
After they were done eating, they all stood up and walked to the elevator, then each went to their separate cubicles.
When Clara reached her cubicle, she spotted the three girls waiting for her inside and she sighed exasperatedly.
"Clara, did you speak to them?"
"Yes, Clara how did it go."
"What did they say, Clara."
The girls asked eagerly with anxious expressions and Clara felt a headache coming.
"Calm down girls." She sat down on her chair and muttered, "They didn't believe me."
"What!?"
"How could that be?"
"Please Clara, help us."
The girls gazed down at her with sullen looks as they stood in front of her and Clara sighed for the umpteenth time.
"It's alright, don't worry... I'll try again," Clara said helplessly with her head resting on her palms and the girls nodded rapidly and left her cubicle, after thanking her cheerfully.
********
Walking out of the private suite, Carl glanced around his office with both hands in his pants pockets and a sad smile appeared on his lips.