Chapter 14

Angela’s POV

My boss, Carson, and I were in the car on our way to the airport. We're going to Japan on my boss's plane. Carson told me that my boss was going to buy a hotel in Sapporo.

I'm so happy I can't stop smiling. I feel like I'm having a sweet dream right now. My boss sitting next to me didn't pay attention to me. He focused on reading the document in his hand seriously.

I suddenly sneezed. My boss turned to me with worried eyes and placed the document on the seat. My heart suddenly pounded as my boss's warm hand held my cheek and then my forehead gently.

He looks relieved that I don't have a fever. He moved his hand from my forehead and looked me in the eye. “Are you alright?” he asked in a gentle voice.

“I- I'm fine. I'm just cold,” I replied, avoiding his eyes.

He took my hands, rubbing his hands against mine. Then he blew his warm breath onto my hands to make me warm. “Feel better now?” he asked into my eyes.

I stared at him without blinking. I couldn't open my mouth to speak and could only nod with my thudding heart.

He smiled gently at me before he took his hands from mine. He then took and read the document back seriously.

I kept my eyes looking ahead, avoiding eye contact with him. I don't want him to know how I feel.

Carson, who was sitting next to the driver, smiled at me. He can tell how I feel. I tried to smile back at him and looked down to hide my red cheeks.

******

Angela kept asking herself why she was always like this when Vincent treated her gently. He made her so happy that it made her forget her fear of him. She felt something she had never felt before was growing in her heart.

******

We got out of the car when we arrived at the airport. My cheerful smile disappeared when I saw Amanda standing near the airstairs. She is wearing a white fur coat. She looked so beautiful, with her long hair flowing down to her waist.

“Good morning, sir,” Amanda greeted my boss with a pretty smile.

“Good morning,” my boss replied, smiling gently at her. Then he walked up the stairs into the plane.

“Amanda, why are you here?” I asked into her eyes, curious. She said nothing, just gave me her angelic smile with her devil eyes.

“Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you. Olivia is sick, so Amanda took her place to go with us,” Carson told me, smiling.

I can't say a word I can't even smile. Sadness and worry gripped me firmly. I'm so afraid she will turn my sweet dream into a nightmare.

******

We are now having lunch in the dining room of a luxury hotel in Sapporo. We arrived at this place last night and stayed here. This morning, my boss has signed and bought this hotel.

My boss who was sitting beside me took the miso soup with ginger from the dining table and gave it to me. “Eat this. It will keep you warm,” he said.

“Thank you, sir,” I said as I took the soup from his hand. 

He smiled at me and watched me eat with his gentle gaze. I feel nervous but also happy. My heart is beating happily.

Carson, who was sitting beside Amanda, pretended not to see us. He just smiled as he continued to eat.

When I looked at Amanda, I saw anger and jealousy in her eyes. I avoided her eyes and looked down. Her gaze freaked me out, as if she wanted to eat me alive.

 “Angela, it's been a year. Why don't you come back home? Mom missed you so much. She really wanted to see you," Amanda said in a sad tone.

I looked into her eyes with my mouth closed. It confused me to hear what she said. It was her and her mother who had kicked me out of the house.

“Are you still living with David?” she asked.

“David? Who is David?” I asked back, curious.

She smiled in surprise, as if she was telling me I was lying. “He's your boyfriend. You lived with him since you left the house a year ago,” she said with a serious look.

“What are you talking about? I don't get what you mean,” I said. I'm so confused right now.

Amanda shifted her gaze to my boss, who was looking at her curiously. She suddenly looked taken aback, as if she had just remembered something. She immediately looked at me and said in a panic, “I-I'm so sorry, Angela. I-I shouldn't have said that.” She then looked at her plate nervously, as if she was hiding something.

I was speechless as I stared at her without blinking. I just realized that she was setting me up. She lied to my boss to make him angry and hate me.

“I-I'm sorry, sir. I have to go to the bathroom,” Amanda said to my boss with a nervous face.

She then stood up from the chair and walked out of the room.

I quickly held my boss's arm while looking into his eyes and said in a panic, “Sir, please. You must trust me. I really don't know who David is. I've never had a boyfriend. I've never kissed or slept with anyone before. You are the only one-”

I didn't continue my words and just stared at him with my donkey face. I just remembered that he was the one who took my virginity.

He held back his laughter with his eyes, teasing mine. Likewise, with Carson, he held back his laughter while looking at his plate.

I quickly looked down at my plate with my burning cheeks, avoiding their eyes. I closed my eyes while biting my lip, holding back my embarrassment.