The hallway was irritatingly familiar. "What is the meaning of this? Why are these buildings spitting images of each other?" she grumbled, starting to approach the elevator. Reaching out to press the button, she felt reluctant. After standing at the door for too long, she shook her head.
"I don't think I can get on this alone." Even though her limbs were tired, she chose to physically exert herself and not get emotionally and mentally drained by the ride in the elevator.
Argon breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling with anger. He put the notepad back on the desk, briefly gazing at the paper he had previously marked with grey crosses in frustration. But now, the art caught his attention. His brows creased, and he reached out with his left hand, picking up the paper. The jewelry piece depicted was now alive, perfected.
"Did he do it?" he thought inwardly, his eyebrows relaxing. The paper hung in midair, the light from the thunder casting a blue hue onto it. Suddenly, the rain outside became harsher. HIs gaze then fell onto his injured hand and it seemed as if he had hit a jackpot.
Argon turned to look at the clock, noticing it was 3 in the morning. "In this rain, he won't find a taxi," Argon breathed in heavily, then placed the drawing completed by Leo on the table before leaving the room. He grabbed an umbrella from the stand and exited his apartment. He reached the elevator, pressed the button, and headed down to the first floor.
The rain was slamming mercilessly onto the ground. He frowned. "Did he leave already?" Confused, Argon stepped out into the rain, the umbrella covering him, as he looked around.
"Hmm–" he thought to himself and realized that Leo was somehow gone. He turned to go back inside, only to see Leo emerging from behind him, momentarily freezing in his tracks.
"What the–?"
Leo froze too, her gaze widening. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"How did you just arrive here? You took the stairs?" Argon asked.
"Yeah, is that not allowed?" Concerned, she turned to see if there was a sign warning against using the stairwell.
"No! Why would you use the stairs when you could have used the elevator?"
"You know, I'm a health freak, so I tend to work out a lot," she said sarcastically. Argon suddenly thought of Autumn's comment about Leo's physique, and his hand clenched around the umbrella.
"But why are you here?" she asked. "Did you, by any chance, come all the way here to scold me?" Slightly taken aback, she continued, "If that's the case, I apologize for going into that room. I was just too bored, so I was looking around and–"
"Shut it and follow me!" he said stiffly, heading towards the stairwell.
"What are you doing?" she asked, feeling her limbs shaking. She had gone all the way down to the first floor from the sixth and was breathless.
"Do you think you are the only one interested in having a healthy body?" he said, rolling his eyes.
"What has gotten into him?" she thought, having no other choice but to follow. "But why do I have to go back up? Are you going to hit me or something?" she asked.
"Hit you? Do I look like a mobster to you?"
"Then?"
"Have you seen the weather? I can't have you dead on your first day at work, even if you are a hazard to your surroundings," he said stiffly. "I can't let you sue my company that i have built up with my blood and sweat."
"Aww!!" she said, "You are such a softie!!!" She said in a funny voice, making Argon feel like his bones went stiff.
"Don't use that voice! I will kill you if you do that!" HE said in a threatening voice handing the now drenched umbrella to Leo and headed towards the stair room.
"I don't want to walk! Aghh!!" SHe cried inwardly stomping her feet causing Argon to turn around instantly and Leo stopped and looked straight at him stiffly.
"This! Did you do this?" Argon stood in the hallway, holding the paper she had scribbled on a while ago. Leo looked at him uneasily, biting her lip. 'He called me here to scold me? I thought he was genuinely worried.' Her heart shattered for a moment, and her shoulders slumped.
"Why does it matter? You had already crossed it out, so it means it was useless," she retorted. Argon's eyebrows lifted at her defiance.
"You! Did you forget I am your boss? How dare you speak so freely in front of me?!" he growled, making Leo shudder, but that didn't stop her from replying.
"Well, I already apologized, so you should be a great person and forgive me already! It's not like I did it on purpose!" she responded. Argon grabbed his forehead and kneaded it, annoyed.
"I should just fire you," he grumbled.
"No! You can't!" Her complexion paled. "Yes, I did that, and I am sorry!" she said hastily, nervously watching Argon's expression.
Argon rubbed the back of his head lightly, his brows creased, and he looked in Leo's direction with utter anger but seemed helpless at this point.
"I will not fire you then…" He paused. Leo sighed in relief until Argon uttered the next word. "But!" he said.
"But?" Leo echoed, turning her head toward Argon.
"Yes!" he hissed, taking a step closer to her. Defensively, Leo retreated, walking backward while Argon didn't stop until Leo was pressed against the wall, just a step away from him. She nervously gulped her saliva.
"You will have to pay me back for the damages you have caused," he said in a sinister tone.
"Pay you? I don't have any money on me, how am I gonna do that?" she said, pressing herself against the wall, hoping it could somehow absorb her and put some distance between her and Argon, who was too close.
At her reply, Argon gave her a cunning smile. He lifted his hand, pointing his finger at Leo. "You can pay me with your body," he said, leaning in and speaking in a hushed voice.