" Sure." Mira chuckled and stared at the picture then sighed. Her heart was finally at ease after letting it all out. " Thank you, Clara. thank you for understanding. I'm really going to miss you."
" Me too, Mira." They held each other's hands and Clara added. " The celebratory dinner, I guess you won't make it then."
Mira nodded with a sad smile. She was going to leave in the morning.
" Hmmm, okay. I'll tell the rest that you've quit."
" Thank you."
After some time, Clara bid her goodbye and left. The whole thing was still playing in her head.
********
__ Two Days Later__
" Are you sure you don't want me to go in?" Jack stared at the gorgeous girl who was dressed beautifully with light make-up and smiled.
" Yeah, don't worry I'll be fine. Besides, you'll creep them out if they suddenly see the great CEO appear in front of them, to eat dinner. . . Hehehe." She chuckled and attempted to go out of the car while unbuckling her seat belt.
" Clara wait." He stopped her and took out a credit card from his pocket. " Take this and pay for the dinner."
She stared at the black card with wide eyes and quickly shook her head with a smile. " It's okay Jack, you don't have to__"
" I insist." He shoved the card into her hands and got out of the car, then walked to her side and opened the door.
" Huh?" She stared at him in astonishment while getting out of the car. " But Jack__"
" It's nothing Clara, it's just a little money inside. You can take as much as you want." He laughed lightly and closed the car door behind her.
Clara sighed and put the card inside her bag, then made a mental note to not spend even a penny. It would be so embarrassing, leeching off her friends every time. She smiled and nodded at him then got inside the huge restaurant.
Jack sighed contentedly and stared at her back until she entered the restaurant. He went inside his car and parked it in a corner, and waited for her inside.
______
When Clara entered the place, calm and soothing music filled her ears and she smelled the sweet aroma of different types of delicacies. Her eyes darted around the place filled with people, with only a few tables left unoccupied. Then a woman dressed in a smart business walked toward her, who she had guessed was the restaurant's manager.
" Miss Clara, right?" The woman greeted with a professional smile and Clara nodded.
" Please follow me, " she said and Clara followed her upstairs and entered a private room which the lady opened for her.
" Wow, Clara you look gorgeous," Ben shouted from the huge table that was filled with their colleagues.
" Geez." She rolled her eyes with a chuckle and walked toward them.
" Sit here." Derek stood up quickly and drew out a chair that was close to his.
" No, come sit close to me. You're a very special guest tonight" Mr. Long shouted from the middle and everyone burst into laughter.
Clara smiled at Derek apologetically and he nodded with a smile then sighed inside.' this old hag'
" Wow, Clara I love your dress."
" Yeah, this little black dress, fitted you perfectly."
" Shut up, she's beautiful that's why everything looks good on her."
" Hey Clara, any buzz about the CEO?"
" Hmph, I thought he really fired you that day."
" hehehe, no offense, but I don't think the CEO will like__"
" Stop it, everyone, let's continue what we're here for." Mr. Long suddenly interrupts them and the chatter continued.
Clara sighed and wondered why their compliments had suddenly turned into ridicule after the CEO was mentioned. ' Argh, that Carl.' she rolled her eyes and continued eating.
" It is a great honor to have someone from our department, promoted to the CEO's assistant. Everyone, let's give a toast to Clara." The manager stood up and said cheerfully and everyone stood up and cheered.
" Clara, won't Mira come.?" Harry suddenly asked.
Clara looked at Mr. Long who stared back at her with a nod and stood up again then cleared his throat. " Your colleague, Mira, got a new job__"
" What!... What do you mean?" Ben stood up while the others stared at the manager with wide eyes.
" Shit! That's cruel. how can she leave without notice?"
" Clara, where is she working now?"
" Huh?" She looked up from her food and stared at Derek who had suddenly asked her.
" Yes Clara, tell us."
The other people watched her expectantly and she groaned inside then quickly gulped down her drink.
" Clara__"
She held up her hand and drank another cup again. And that was what she did each time they asked her about Mira and before she knew it. . .
" Clara?.. ., is she asleep?" A female employee nudged her slightly.
" hehe, she's drunk." Mr. Long shook his head and watched as her head slumped on the table. " It's only a few glasses of__" he gasped and almost jerk up when the girl suddenly looked up and stared straight at him.
" Geez, she's so creepy__" Ben had not finished his words when a spoon dashed across the table and landed on his forehead. " Clara!?" He shouted perplexedly.
" hehe, you're creepy. . . your whole family is creepy." She slapped the desk clumsily and drawled.
" Wow, that's so brazen."
" She looks more gorgeous when she's drunk."
" hehe, Clara, you want more wine?" One employee said and extended a glass of wine toward her.
She slowly up with half-opened eyes and held one hand up while struggling with her bag with the other then brought out a black credit card and shouted, " More wine!!! Everything's on me.!!!"
" Yay." They all chorused including Mr. Long and Derek shook his head with a sigh then stood up and went to her side. " Clara, let's go. . . you're drunk."
" L..let go." She struggled out of his grip and he almost fell while wondering where she got all that strength.
" Geez, Derek, leave her alone." Harry quickly snatched the card from the table and called for the waiter.