His slander hands in neatly cuffed sleeves were pouring coffee. The veins on the back of his hand were so clear that I was able to count them from this distance as he sipped into the cup.
"How long are you planning to stalk me from behind, Ms Hensley?" His deep voice once again made me flinch as I looked away while squeezing my lips, "Crap! He saw me."
I let out a sigh and set foot in the room, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, sir! But isn't it unusual for a CEO to get coffee by himself?"
"It's nice to get coffee by myself. I get to see familiar faces. As for you, I hope you're working instead of gossiping." A thin orange ray reflected on his face exposing his smirk clearly, which triggered my violent mood.
"Excuse me, sir! I always separate my private and work life. I'm here to work so please, I would like it if you stop bringing it up." I politely smiled at him while holding back my inner thoughts.
"I hope you keep your word. Since you have an issue with mere words." my body halted hearing this from him as I stared at his wide back while he walked out.
"Who...are you?" I mumbled in the empty room when my heart beat fast until a lavish lady entered to get coffee.
"How long do you think the break lasts? You're taking your sweet time here." She flipped her dark blond hair backwards and the room got filled with her dense perfume.
"Ah! Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts for a moment."
As I was about to walk out, I heard her asking, "Are you dating the CEO?"
"What? Where did you get this idea from?" My brows twitched from her question.
"It's the first time I saw him talking to an employee. Not to mention you're a new one."
".....Can you tell me his full name?" I asked since I had a feeling she might know and she proved me right by saying, "Ethan Marc."
The name tingled in my head, making me unable to hear whatever she said afterwards.
"I see. Thank you!" I walked towards the hallway without looking back and bumped into Noah. He grabbed me by my shoulder to ensure I didn't fall, "Sorry, I didn't see you there. I was looking for you."
"Oh! Is there any problem, team leader?" I pulled back and that lady from before appeared with a stunned look on her face,
"Ah! Team leader! Good to see you here. Ms Hensley must be popular. First, the CEO...Now even the team leader is looking for you." She covered her mouth with her palm, making her blue eyes go widened.
I frowned at her silently, not understanding why she brought it up there.
"Then, have a good day!" She put on a grin and patted my back before leaving.
"The CEO? Why did he look for you?" Noah tilted his head while squinting his eyes to glance at me.
"He didn't. I just ran into him while getting coffee. So...You wanted to show me something?"
"Ah! Yes, About the report...." Noah Kept on talking about work and it stopped my bizarre thoughts. Yet my uneasy mind refused to stop there.
*********
I strode to the CEO's office with a crumbled piece of paper in my hand, avoiding the receptionist who was trying to hold me back. Hearing a knock on the door, he called the receptionist from inside.
She picked up the call with a panicked expression, "S-sir! I tried to stop her. But Ms Hensley insisted on seeing you immediately."
".....Let her in!"
My eyes captured the sight of that man sitting on a big chair with his legs crossed as the door in front of me extended.
"All of you, Get out." He commanded as soon as I set foot inside the room.
"So what brings you right into my office, Ms Hensley?" Gathering all his fingers together in front of his lips, he stared at me for an answer.
"Drop the act, Ethan Marc! Or should I say, Ethan Henry?" I held out the crumbled paper containing his identity.
"...Is that why you rushed here?"
"Huh?" A brief silent moment passed by while we stared at each other.
"Pfffthaha! Ms Hensley, you're such a dimwit." His small laugh lingered in the room as he covered his mouth and his shoulders twitched from laughing.
"Excuse me! Is this a joke to you?" I frowned in shock seeing his unexpected reaction.
"Ms Irene! There's particularly nothing wrong with my name. You should be careful with what you say." He stood up and started to walk towards me. I flinched back as he leaned closer with his hands jammed inside his pockets and Whispered, "Wasn't it Ms Irene who said she keeps her private and work life separated? I'm so disappointed in you, Ms Irene."
My cheeks turned red from embarrassment as I saw his cornered smile and gaze at me.
"But You were my-" I stopped myself from getting more ashamed. His words certified me that he was that Ethan but those words also notified me that I'm unable to do anything regarding that.
"I was your?" He raised one of his brows and glanced at me, which made me get irritated on myself.
The man in front of me was my junior ex. Even though I was 100% sure about that, there was nothing I could do. The fact that he's avoiding it made me furious. So I decided to act along and forget all about that as I let out a long sigh and fixed my composure, "I sincerely apologize, sir! I'm a new employee, so I made a mistake. Please, consider it this time. I'll work hard for this company." I politely gave a slight bow and my side bangs covered my frowned brows.
"Hmm... You were bold to talk that way with your CEO. I can't just let you go. You can leave for now. I'll let you know what your punishment is later." I peeked at his face to see him grabbing his chin while smirking like a devil.
With a smile, I rushed out of the room with humiliation and frightened, thinking about what this crazy guy might do to me.
"That face...! He's enjoying this. He's looking at me like a toy now! What have you become, Ethan?" I placed both of my palms on the wall while looking at the ground and clenching my teeth.
"I'm going to ignore him from tomorrow as if my life depends on it. Ethan Marc, that jerk!"