Olivia reported to work minutes later. She was Giselle and her lips curved into a smile and later turned sour seeing the mark on Giselle's face.
"What happened to you?" Olivia was impatient. She wanted an explanation.
"That's no way to say good morning" Giselle faked a frown.
"You should tell me what happened now before I descend on you" Olivia looked displeased.
"Is something wrong with my face?" Giselle didn't know she had a big mark on her face.
Olivia understood and gave have the small mirror she had in her bag.
Giselle was really shocked when she saw her reflection on the mirror.
"So what happened?" Olivia sounded gentle this time.
"I got into a fight with my step mother " she whispered.
Olivia was really upset. Why would her step mother do something like that to her?
"What reason?" She sounded like she needed an answer right away.
Giselle told her everything that happened since last night and Olivia was really furious.
She thought of doing something to Kimberly but all she could do was comfort Giselle, like a true friend would.
Everyone started coming one by one and as usual, they just couldn't mind their business.
"What's wrong with her face?"
"Did she get into a fight?"
"Do you think this has something to do with what happened yesterday?"
They all talked and talked about her face and yesterday's incident but Giselle didn't react. Olivia was losing it but calmed down because Giselle signalled her to.
"I have to submit this documents to Mr Blackwood"
Giselle excused herself and walked to Roderick who was busy signing papers.
"Here are the designs you wanted" Giselle went straight to the point. She didn't want to waste any time there.
"Hmm. Impressive" he raised his head to look at Giselle and saw the mark he wanted to ask about earlier.
Should I ask her? He was contemplating.
"You face is red" was the only thing he said.
Giselle touched her face and it stung a little.
"Oh..." Giselle didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to reply. Of all people in the world, she didn't want Roderick to see her like that for some unknown reason.
"Did someone punch of in the face?"
He was trying to hide his anger seeing her like that.
"I .... I.."
"Its okay if you don't want to tell me. I won't push it. Just take care of your face."
Giselle left his office feeling awkward.
What's with the CEO so early in the morning?
Giselle wondered if something was wrong with Roderick because he never really cared about her before, or so she thought.
Giselle let Olivia put ointment on her face during their break.
"Tell me if it hurts" Olivia was gentle and it surprise her to the core. She was never good with things like this. She had really learnt a lot from working here.
"Hey, what happened?'' Mr Hart walked to them holding a cup of coffee.
"She hurt her face and I'm putting ointment on it".
"Ohh. Okay." Mr Hart had work to do so he wished her good luck and went back to his office.
________________________
"What do you think happened to her?" He was visibly worried.
"I'm not a seer " Julian sat on the couch looking at his brother who was pacing.
"Ask her"
"I don't think I can " he whispered.
"And why is that?"
"I just can't. Sigh.... "
"Ask her. Find something to talk about and ask her. You're wise" Roderick was still nervous. As much as he wanted to ask her, he didn't want her to think that he was nosy.
"I'll try' was all he could say.
He was going to talk to her. He would try.
Ring.....ring.... ring....
"Yes?"
"Come to my office. I want to talk to about something"
Giselle was confused. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to know what the man wanted to tell her about so she could only reply. "Yes sir".
Without wasting time, Giselle went to his office.
"You call me sir"
"Sit" he ordered and sat on the couch and Giselle followed. Giselle was wondering if she did something wrong. She was anxious
"About yesterday.... I was wrong. I know I hurt you" Giselle was so surprised. Chocked to the core.
"I'm sorry" the last words made Giselle turn and looked at him with a confused expression.
"Why are you suddenly saying sorry?"
"Well...I should have known better before saying those things to you but I let my selfishness take over me"
Giselle lowered her held and suddenly felt guilty. She was hurt and ashamed at the same time.
"I'm also sorry." Roderick faced her and she looked away.
"I was really disrespectful to you"
"But you did nothing wrong. Anyone would have said worse things and I kinda liked it " he smiled at his last sentence.
"Why would you like it?" Giselle wore a confused expression again.
"For the first time in my life, apart from my brother, no one else has ever said their mind to me. I know many people has a lot to say about to me but can't bring themselves to say it. And you honestly said the first thing that came to your mind. I really liked it"
Giselle's face turned red as she turned her face away. "But still..."
"Let me make it up to you" Roderick cut in.
"There's no need for that. If you say you want to make it up to me then I'll have to do the same"
"You just have to accept my offer. Have dinner with me tomorrow and as for today let me give you a ride home".
Giselle looked like she was dumbstruck.
What is wrong with this man?
Is he drunk?
She couldn't stop her self from asking.
"Are you okay, sir?"
Roderick laughed hard even he did not expect to be like this simply because he wanted to make a good impression about himself.
He never thought he would do something like that because he cared about a girl and wanted to know if she was okay.... If her face was okay.
He wanted to know.
Giselle didn't refuse him. She knew what she wanted, and her heart somehow wanted her to go with this man.