Clara did not dare to glance at him as she knew she can't control herself from gawking.' Argh, this is pure torture.' She sighed inside while pretending to read the paper which was still in her hands.
The awkward atmosphere inside the office intensified and Clara finally mustered up the courage and looked up. She had to get some fresh air.
She gradually looked up and their eyes met then she quickly glanced away. ' Oh no, this is bad.'.
Carl frowned and wondered what was wrong with her. " what is it, " he inquired while staring at her fearful expression.
" I.... I need t.to to pack my th..things from. . . " she stammered and paused.' Argh, I can't do this.".
Carl nodded, understanding what she was about to say. " Okay, " he muttered and looked down at the documents again.
" Th..thank you.". She heaved a sigh of relief then stood up quickly and left for the door.
" Huh?" She stopped in front of the door and stared at it perplexedly, after noticing that it didn't have a handle.
Carl stared at the girl who can't wait to get away from him and sighed inside and took the remote then pressed it and watched as she scrambled out of the office without even glancing back.
_____
Clara sighed deeply with her chest rising up and down as she got out of the door. What just happened?. She splayed a hand on her chest while trying to control her erratically beating heart then rushed into the nearby washroom.
She rinsed her face quickly and stared at the mirror. ' No, this is all a dream. I'll wake up soon. Wake up, wake up please.' She pinched herself and winced.
She stared at the red spot on her arm where she had just pinched and sighed helplessly.'It is really not a dream'.
' Oh my god, what have I gotten into?.' She stepped out of the washroom and sauntered toward the elevator. The things that just happened still playing in her mind.
" Did she just come out of the CEO's office!.". One of the Secretaries gasped.
" I thought I was seeing things. . . wasn't she fired, the other day?.". Another secretary exclaimed.
" I guess not, I think the CEO spared her that day as she kept coming to work..". Another one chimed in.
" Hmph, don't be ridiculous. . . Why would the CEO spare her, who knows what underhanded trick she used.".
" Yes, You're right? She's a total bitch. . . I won't forgive her if our CEO falls for her.".
" But why did she come out of his office. . . and when did she enter?.".
" Didn't you see when her department's manager came out? . . . Won't you girls just face your work. If the CEO catch you gossiping about him like this, hehe. . ."
" Argh, we were just saying what we saw, can't you be a little bit cooperative for once?"
" Yeah, as far as we knew, the CEO never call any employee to his office. . . Why would he call her and even twice? "
Clara glanced back at the employees who had gathered in one place and whispering loudly. She shook her head and entered the elevator then sighed. She was more confused than they were. if only someone could give her answers to those same questions.
She soon reached her cubicle and slumped down on the chair. " knock knock knock ". she heard a knock from beside her and looked up with a gasp. "Oh, Derek, it's you." She heaved a sigh of relief.
" I heard you got promoted to the CEO's personal assistant, " he muttered softly and looked down.
' Oh, the news had already spread. great, just great. Argh, this company.' And here she was trying to come to terms with it. " Yeah, I guess so..." She turned to him and chuckled awkwardly.
" Well. . . congratulations, I guess." Derek adjusted his glass clumsily and Clara noticed the gloomy atmosphere around him.
She sighed again and wanted to say something when she was suddenly interrupted by loud noises coming toward her cubicle.
" I can't believe it, this is insane."
" Yeah, we need to confirm again. . ."
Those were Ben's and Harry's voices. Clara watched as they staggered into her cubicle with all the other employees from the department standing behind.
' Argh, that Mr. Long.'.she didn't know he was such a blabbermouth. Now her cubicle had become a marketplace.
" Well, Clara is it true? were you really promoted to the CEO's assistant?" Harry ran to her side and asked expectantly with sparkling eyes.
She nodded her head slowly then looked toward the other employees and said, " Hmmm, It's the truth."
" But how,? why?"
" Why did the CEO choose you out of all other employees?"
" Do you and the CEO perhaps know each other?"
" Is there something going up between you two?"
" Was it true that last month you almost got fired by him?.".
" Well didn't they say you tried to__".
" Stop!!!." Clara felt her whole energy depleting and she covered her ears as the employees bombarded her with a barrage of questions one after another. They could as well pass as paparazzi.
" Now, everyone go out. out, out please. . ., thank you." Derek shoved all of them outside and turned back to the girl who had both hands splayed on her forehead.
" It's alright, they're gone." He muttered in a slow tone and Clara nodded a thanks then stood up and started parking some papers in a box.
Derek also took another box and started helping her, he chuckled, seeing that she had also put her bag inside the box, as there was not much to pack.
After a while he sighed and said, " C..can we still hang out sometimes? . . . I mean after you leave, like during lunch. . ."
Clara turned to him and smiled half-heartedly with a nod." Sure, since I'm still in the company, I guess so, " she replied and continued parking.
" Mmm, that would be great." His expression turned bright a little and he closed the small box.
" Thank you, " she said while holding both boxes in her hand after they finished parking.