' Of course, hard is a small word to describe it! ' she shouted inside but controlled herself, not wanting to badmouth the CEO and losing her job in return as someone might hear her which can reach the CEO'S ear at any time.
" No, he is very nice, " she said with a forced smile while emphasizing the word nice.
" That's good to hear." Derek nodded and stood up then went toward the counter. ' Wait, hadn't he eaten?' she stared at him perplexedly as he returned with a plate of food.
" Derek, did you also arrive now? " she inquired. " Don't tell me Mr. Long had given you another pile of work again.".
Derek chuckled and shook his head then started eating with his head down, a small smile appeared on his lips which Clara didn't notice.
After he was done, they chatted a little and she bid him goodbye before going inside the elevator.
She walked toward the Office, ignoring the secretaries again then stopped at the door. She softly knocked with knitted brows as it didn't open automatically like always.
Her feet were sore as she stood there for ten minutes without the sign of the door opening. Did he go home already? why didn't he inform her?. She stood like that for another five minutes and finally shrugged then turned toward the elevator happily. ' It is his fault, and I'll also get to be from his torture.'.
_____
Meanwhile, inside the office, Carl lay on the bed with sweats trickling down his forehead. One hand was pressed on his stomach and he used the other one to fish out his phone.
He dialed her number several times which wasn't picked up and he groaned helplessly. ' Clara! ' his expression darkened and he wondered where she had run off to as almost an hour had passed when she left the office.
He finally dialed David's number which was immediately picked up at one ring and ordered him to come quickly.
After twenty-five minutes, David rang him that he had arrived and he struggled out of the room into the office and pressed the remote while making a mental note to do something about the door.
David rushed inside the office and stared wide-eyed at his boss who was slumping down on the couch. " Sir what happened, are you sick, ?" he asked worriedly as he went and stood in front of him.
" The drugs," Carl muttered coldly while trying to endure the burning ache in his stomach.
David quickly gave him the bag of medicines which he had ordered him to bring and went to the water dispenser then came back with a glass of water. His eyes darted to the two plates on the desk and his brows knitted. 'Did he eat this? who brought it to him and where the hell was the new assistant he got.' His expression darkened and he was sure that assistant was going to get fired tomorrow.
Carl swallowed the drugs and put down the glass then turned to David. " You may leave." He slowly stood up then went back inside the bedroom.
" Huh?". David watched as he limped toward the bedroom with a hand place on his stomach. He had never seen his boss like this ' what was inside the food?' he was sure he was not the one that cooked it. But he also doesn't eat food outside. He sighed and quickly said, " But Sir, you need t.to see a doctor__"
" Go." Carl cut him off and entered the bedroom then lay down again, finally feeling slightly better.
David shook his head and sighed deeply. He needed to inform Zach. He retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed his number why walking out of the office.
_____
Clara skipped happily toward her cubicle as work hours were not over yet. She slumped down on the swivel chair and twirled around with a sigh of relief. How did she fall in love with such a bad person? ' well, it was because of his handsome looks, hehe.' she fantasized about him for some time then saw Derek came in.
" Hey. . ., you're back. what happened,"? He said softly as he stared at the excited girl.
" Yes, I'm freed for today." she nodded and smiled.
Derek chuckled and sat at the empty desk as the computer was already removed. " About the celebratory party, would you come next week, " he asked softly and hoped she would say yes.
" Sure, why not. I didn't know it was next week." She nodded then said.
" Yeah, Mr. Long just told me a while ago, " he replied then paused and added, "when would Mira return?"
" Huh, I don't know lemme__" she trailed off after noticing that her bag was not there. ' Oh, no ' she had left her bag in the office. what would she do now and he had also left. Her purse and phone were inside the bag.
" Is something wrong?" Derek's brows knitted as he watched her panicked expression.
" N..no I just remembered something, " she chuckled lightly and groaned inside. ' that Carl! he could at least leave her bag outside before leaving. 'Argh'.
Derek nodded and just as he was about to say something, Ben, Harry and the other employees barged inside and he groaned.
" Clara, why did you come back?" Ben asked as he reached her side.
" Did the CEO fire you already?" Harry added eagerly and sat beside Derek.
" Tsk tsk tsk, what a pity I knew it. . ."
" No one can last a day with the CEO."
" Wow, you even tried, for being able to stay with him for few hours."
" Are you sure she wasn't enjoying herself, admiring his handsome face... hehehe, right? Clara.".
" Yeah, she's lucky to have the chance to be with the CEO.".
" Argh! leave me alone." Clara was exasperated as the employees kept bugging her. She was sure they were going to have a mental breakdown if they stayed even a few minutes with him. and what was with losing her job? were they praying for her to get fired? Why had everyone become her enemy because of the CEO?.