Chapter Eight: Caught In The Act

Everyone at the company likes their Boss because she treats all of the employees with so much respect and kindness.

Lara silently watches the female CEO as she stands in line with the others, while holding a tray. She patiently waited for her turn to order to get her own food. After a few minutes, Amanda Montserrat and her companions sat at a certain table, and started eating lunch while chatting with each other.

Lara is observing her every move, like a predator eyeing its prey. She studies the way she talks, the way she eat and laugh with her companions.

She was so concentrated with Amanda, that she didn't realized that her lunchtime is almost over. She almost jumped out from her seat because of surprised when she felt someone tapping her shoulders. She looked at her right side, and she saw one of her co-worker from the Cleaning Department standing beside her.

"I'm so sorry for surprising you like that, Lara." Christy said, while looking apologetic.

Lara took a deep, calming breath before she spoke again.

"No, it's okay. By the way, do you need something from me?" she asked, as soon as she regained her composure.

"Uh, well. Our lunchtime is over and we need to go back to work now. The rest of the cleaning department has gone back to our locker to go back to work. I saw you staring into the space so I thought i should remind you of the time." Christy explained.

"Thank you for your concern, Christy. You're right, we should be going back to work," Lara nodded in return, as she forces herself to smile at Christy.

And before she can finally leave the cafeteria, Lara gave Amanda one, last look, then she started making her way towards the cleaning department room. She is now walking back to the harsh reality of life. She is going to scrub toilet bowls and mop the floors again, just like what she usually do everyday...

After a few hours.

Lara is having a 15-minute afternoon break alone at the Etoile Company rooftop. She is having her usual coffee break while enjoying her time alone. Two more hours of cleaning the comfort rooms and mopping floors and throwing away garbages, then after that, she can go back home and finally call it a day.

She was about to take another sip from her paper coffee cup when she suddenly heard a certain male voice nearby. The voice sounded agitated, and she can really feel it.

Her eyes roamed around to see who it was, and she was surprised to see the Head of Security of Etoile Cosmetics, Mr. Oliver Doe. She doesn't have a close relationship with him or anything, but she is quite familiar with him because she saw him on her first day at work five years ago as part of her On-the-job-training. 

Lara got curious because this is his first time seeing the Head of the Security looking anxious and agitated, as he is always known as the calm and collected guy at the company. But now, he is seeing a different side of him.

But one thing is for sure... She is in a middle of an awkward situation because she doesn't want Mr. Doe to think that she's been eavesdropping, but she doesn't know what to do at his moment. Will she just stay put or will she try to escape?

Lara stops with her dilly-dallying when she heard Mr. Oliver Doe's voice again.

"---If you really don't want to, you can always say no. You're always telling me that you want to make your parents happy and you don't want to hurt them but what about your own happiness? Do you think I don't feel hurt as well?!"

She heard all of those things from him, and she can really feel that he is in deep pain. His facial expression shows raw emotions, and it's something new to see...

"Look, I don't want to talk about this over the phone. Let's meet after work, same time, same place. We need to sort this out." 

After a few minutes, Oliver Doe finally ended the call and puts the mobile phone back to her pocket.

Lara groaned inwardly when Oliver Doe and her eyes met.

"Damn, this is so awkward! What am I going to do?" she started to secretly panic.

But before she could say something, Mr. Doe smiled at her and started walking towards her direction.

"You've heard everything, don't you?" he asked her rightaway, while sitting at an empty seat which was beside Lara.

"Well, you got me. But I swear, it was purely unintentional! I promise I won't tell anyone about what I heard!" Lara said it all in one breath.

Lara is starting to panic, but she is trying her best not to show it to Oliver. But there are so many things that is going on with her head. What if Oliver doesn't believe in her? What if he do something to shut her up?

Yes, she heard something, but she doesn't really understand the real context of that phone conversation. And besides, she doesn't know who he was talking to, so there's no way for her to gossip about him!

She doesn't have any idea what is going on to his mind, and she held her breath in suspense, while waiting for him to say something.

But much to her surprise, Oliver Doe chuckled in return, as his eyes sparkled in amusement.

"Why is he chuckling? Did I say something funny?" she asked to herself, while looking confused.

Oliver Doe continues to chuckling, as if someone threw a joke.

"What a weird man." Lara secretly thought to herself.

After almost two minutes, the man stops chuckling and puts his attention back to Lara.

Lara is getting mentally ready as she waited on what Oliver Doe is going to say.

"Wait, you do you look scared? Do I look scary to you?" he suddenly asks her.

"Well, it's up to you whether you believe me or not." Lara responded.