Chapter 5

I wanted to take time off from work. I was still too shaken by what happened in Alaric’s office. I couldn’t believe he did that! That jerk! What is he planning? Why is he doing this to me? If he’s angry, then he should just be angry. Why does he have to do that?

I asked myself several times whether I wanted to go to work, but my body, mind, and soul all agreed: I shouldn’t, I didn’t want to go.

“She’s been acting crazy since yesterday,” I heard Serenity say to Scarlet, my other sister.

“Really?”

Serenity nodded firmly. “It’s worse today… she’s even holding her lips. Yesterday she was just laughing to herself like she’d lost her mind,” she made up a story.

The two of them laughed. I shot them a sharp look. How could they laugh at my misery?

“Will you please mind your own business? If you have nothing to talk about, don't talk about me!”

“Oh, please… I’m just concerned, Ate,” Serenity said dramatically. “You’re not yourself today.”

I’m the oldest. Serenity comes after me, and our youngest is Scarlet.

“It’s true. You might not realize it, but you keep frowning even when there’s no one to be mad at. Why?”

“I told you already, sis. She’s going crazy!” Serenity cut in.

I rolled my eyes at them. “Will you two shut up?”

Because I was out of my mind, I didn’t go to work. I had no idea how I was supposed to face my boss after he threatened to fire me…and then kissed me!

I wanted to take a whole week off, but my salary would suffer. We’re poor. Goodness! If only my grandparents hadn’t made enemies, life would’ve been comfortable.

We used to be alta. My ancestors were wealthy, but our family fortune began to fade because of the feud. Many lands and properties were sold in an attempt to save my grandparents’ company, but it still failed. Sadly, my grandfather’s rivals grew even rich and influential. According to my mom, that family made sure every Salazar would end up poor.

They succeeded—because I couldn’t even afford to be absent for one more day. We’d fall short on expenses.

The next day, I went to the office, nerves on edge. While riding the jeep, my mind was busy, thinking of ways on how to avoid my boss. Just imagining facing him made it feel like I couldn’t breathe from anxiety.

“Are you okay? You didn’t go to work yesterday,” Sara asked as soon as she saw me, Lina standing beside her.

“Your boss was looking for you yesterday. He asked for you twice. I tried calling when he looked for you the second time, but you couldn’t be reached,” Lina added.

My breath hitched at what I heard. He looked for me twice? What does he need from me?

“You’re sick, right? You look pale,” Sara guessed.

Almost instantly, an idea came to me.

“Yes… I wasn’t supposed to go in today, but I was thinking about my salary,” I said, pretending to be weak. I even touched my stomach as if it hurt. “I have a bad stomach, but I think I can manage, so I came in.”

I saw Sara’s eyes widen. “Oh no, you should’ve just gotten a medical certificate. That might get worse,” she said with concern.

I shook my head. “I can handle it.”

The first thing I did was deal with the unfinished work for Alaric. Maybe that’s why he came looking for me

Or maybe he was looking for me because he was going to fire me. I immediately shook my head at the thought. I shouldn’t run into him today!

My back ached as I finished all the remaining documents. I pretended to be weak as I turned to Sara, and luckily, she was already looking at me.

“Can I ask a favor?” I asked, pretending to be weak again.

“Of course. What is it? Are you in pain?” she asked immediately.

“Well… I need to submit these papers to my boss. But I’m feeling weak,” I trailed off to smile weakly at her. “Maybe you could deliver them for me… if that’s okay with you?”

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw her head toward Alaric’s office, carrying the documents I had reviewed.

I bit my lower lip and leaned back against my swivel chair once she disappeared from view.

It took Sara fifteen minutes to return. She came back with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling.

“Seraphina! I think I’m in love,” she said, blushing. “He’s so handsome up close… If he hadn’t sent me out, I would’ve stayed there!”

I frowned for a reason I couldn’t quite name, but I didn’t show it. At least I didn’t have to face that man anymore.

Or so I thought.

Because an hour after Sara submitted the papers, Basty approached me and said my boss was calling for me. Apparently, I still hadn’t submitted my new project plan!

After printing the documents, I pretended to be weak and went back to my table. I thought I still needed to go to his office, but I didn’t.

“I’ll take that to your boss,” Sara volunteered cheerfully. She didn’t even wait for my response. She immediately took the folder and went to Sir’s office.

This time, she didn’t take long. It felt like she had barely entered before she came right back out. She returned to her desk, sulking.

“What did he say? Why did you come back so fast?” I asked, curiously.

My boss had clearly told me that he would check every revision immediately so I’d know right away what needed fixing. He always stopped whatever he was doing just to review my work on the spot. So why did Sara come out so quickly this time?

“Nothing. He asked why I was the one delivering it and why it wasn’t you. I told him you weren’t feeling well,” she said, pouting. “He took the folder and told me to leave,” she added, sounding disappointed.

She stayed quiet for a few seconds, then spoke again.

“I don’t understand why he got mad. I just said you weren’t feeling well, but it seemed like he got angry.”

…