"Is there something wrong?" Emma tilted her head and said after seeing me wearing a mask. "Did you catch a cold?"
"Ah! No, I kind of look ugly today. I feel better with a mask." My awkward smile seemed to convince her.
Standing in front of the elevator, Emma and I kept staring at the numbers as we waited for it to come down.
"Ah! I see. Then I'll leave it to you."
My eyes widened in panic upon hearing that voice just a few steps further from me and I peeked from my left shoulder to see Ethan getting off his elevator. My fingers kept pushing the button nonstop until the elevator door slid open.
"What's wrong, Ir-" Before she could finish, I pulled her inside and closed the door to take a deep breath. Even though it was just a simple incident, my body felt like I escaped from a predator.
Emma caressed her hand and glanced at me, "I noticed before too. Why do you always act weird around the CEO?"
"Didn't you say to avoid him as much as possible? That's what I did." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Yes, but what kind of avoiding is this? It's like you're running away from a zombie. You need to relax."
The elevator hit the 11th floor and I bid goodbye to Emma as I walked towards my office.
My legs stopped moving for a moment to question myself, "Do I still yearn for him? Why does my heart beat so much whenever I see him?"
I looked at the front and saw Noah talking with other employees. "Nah! It's probably from panic. He scares me now."
I went back to work by avoiding the matter.
********
All the murmurs in the room poked in my ear as I kept staring at my computer while typing at full speed, ignoring my back pain and hunger.
"Aren't you going to get up? It's lunchtime." Sophia peeked at me from the other side of the computer.
I stretched my hands as I squeezed my eyes shut and stood up to leave for lunch,
"Umm...Sophia! The CEO eats lunch outside, right?"
"Ah! He normally goes home for lunch. What about it?"
"Nothing. I was just curious." I looked around to make sure no one heard.
"Why're you so curious about the CEO? Do you have a thing for him?" Just the person I didn't want to hear it appeared, the 'model' lady from that day.
"Don't be rude, Amelia." Sophia glared at her and that made me feel satisfied.
"The time is little. You should get your lunch now. We have other works to finish. Don't waste your time." Noah interrupted us.
I saw Sophia leaving for lunch as I walked outside towards my favourite cafe to eat alone.
"Irene!" Hearing the familiar voice, I turned behind and saw Noah waving at me. His hair was bouncing as he jogged towards me.
"I just got out and saw you. Want to eat lunch together?"
"Sure."
I shoved a croissant in my mouth and started working on my laptop while focusing on the screen. After realizing the silent atmosphere, I peeked to see Noah working as well. Ten minutes before lunch break was over, both of us decided to get back to the office.
"You are not much of an eater, I see." I pulled the glass door while looking at Noah and felt a presence in front of me.
"Ms Hensley?" I turned to see Ethan's frowned gaze at me. Before I knew it, my hand moved on its own and smacked his face with the laptop bag, making him stumble in pain.
"Gah! Team leader, let's go!"
Grabbing his hand, I rushed out in horror as if I had confronted a zombie. As soon as I reached the office, I slumped down regretting my deed, "Why did I do that? I was just so surprised I-"
I swung my head towards Noah, "I won't get fired, will I?
Noah covered his face with his palm as his shoulders vibrated from laughing, "I can't tell that for sure but that was good to see. The bag had a laptop. That must've hurt a lot." He smiled radiantly, exposing his dimple.
Seeing him like that, I felt the urge to share my secret with him.
"Can I share a secret with you?"
"What is it?"
"The CEO...was actually my first lover." I glanced at him to see his widened eyes with his slacked jaw as if he'd seen a ghost.
"....You're not joking, right? How? That guy knew how to date?"
"He wasn't like this before. He was my junior at school." I told a brief summary of our past until the break was over. Noah kept on listening with his jaw slacked which made me feel a little light, thinking, "Ah! Finally, someone who can help me."
********
The room was filled with the sound of paper and keyboard taps as everyone was focusing on work including me. A person with glasses, holding a bunch of reports in his hand appeared in front of me. "Are you Ms Hensley?"
I looked up at him while blinking as I glanced around in confusion, "Uh...Yes?"
"The CEO wants to see you. Please come with me." He sounded and looked just like a neat butler out of a comic. After hearing this, my palms got sweaty and I felt my heart rate increase as well as my anxiety.
On my way to the CEO, I kept thinking about what I did, "I won't get fired will I? He can't fire me. I need this job." An uneasy feeling took over my mind.
As soon as he opened the door for me, I saw Noah standing in front of Ethan's desk. Noah glanced at me in confusion.
"Ah! Come in, Ms Irene." Ethan stood up while he brushed his fingers through his slicked-back hair.
I stood there frozen while squeezing my lips together when I saw him getting closer to me. He leaned in and stared right into my eyes while showing me that smirk, "Did you think I'll fire you? Why're you trembling like a leaf, Ms Irene?"
A big gulp went down my throat as I spoke, "Sir! I was surprised th-" He touched his lips with one of his fingers and pointed me to stop, "I didn't call you here for an excuse or apology. Good thing Mr Noah is also here."
He walked towards his desk and brushed his hand against it then glanced at me from his left shoulder, "Ms Irene, from tomorrow, You'll work as my secretary."