Big Shock

Noreen and Jonathan waved goodbye to Ariel, accompanied by two tall, burly men, who appeared to be her bodyguards.

The two men arrived before Noreen could even step out of the bookstore to look for them.

The two men thanked Noreen and Jonathan with a nearly 90-degree bow, causing Noreen to quickly ask them to stand up straight, feeling uncomfortable.

Then, the two men gently led Ariel out of the bookstore. Ariel waved enthusiastically to Noreen and Jonathan and said they would see each other again soon.

"Mom, does grandma Ariel live in the same apartment complex as us?" Jonathan asked after Ariel was out of sight.

"Uh, I'm not sure a woman like her lives in an apartment," Noreen said seriously. "I imagine she'd be suited to a mansion the size of a football field, with numerous servants and bodyguards. Or, a centuries-old mansion that's truly magnificent and luxurious, with a horse installation and beautiful gardens."

Jonathan laughed at Noreen's remark. They continued shopping at the bookstore and returned to the apartment.

"Jonathan," Noreen said after they arrived and finished cleaning up. "What did grandma Ariel mean when you touched her? She said there was electricity in your hand?"

Jonathan, who was sitting cross-legged on the carpet in the living room with a sketchbook on his lap, turned to Noreen as she approached him, carrying a large bowl of popcorn.

"I don't know, Mom, but I felt a little electric shock when I touched her," Jonathan said.

"Hmm, that's strange," Noreen muttered. "I think it might be the magnetic field."

Noreen grabbed her phone and called Lisbeth. Her best friend had texted her this morning that she would be arriving with her mother the day after tomorrow.

"Hi, Lis," Noreen said lightly, munching on some popcorn.

"Tsk, you dirty girl, I've told you many times not to talk on the phone while chewing!" Lisbeth grumbled when she heard the noise on her phone. "Popcorn, right?"

"Wow, you're already a psychic, Lis," Noreen said with a laugh. "So, you're just going to move, right?"

"Hmmphh, I don't think so," Lisbeth said with a frustrated tone. "Dad said there wasn't a position for me at the Canadian branch, so he made me a subsidiary supervisor, allowing me to travel everywhere, supervising his subsidiaries. "So, I can go to your place anytime, but I can't stare as I want."

Noreen chuckled. "That's just an excuse for your dad to teach you to master all the issues in your company. He definitely doesn't trust you, naughty girl."

"Yeah, you're right," Lisbeth said, laughing. "Even though Gerald is helping him at his company, he still insists I study and work."

"Gerald is busy enough, and you're his daughter too," Noreen said. "You have to work, List, don't be spoiled brat!"

"Hmm... Ah, where's my favorite? Does he have any friends at school yet?" Lisbeth asked.

"You can talk to him yourself-" Noreen turned and saw that Jonathan was already asleep in the same position as before, his sketchbook filled with fine, unformed lines. "Apparently he fell asleep. We just got back from the bookstore. Jonathan was praised for his good drawings, so he asked to buy some drawing materials."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Maybe he'll become a designer like you," Lisbeth said. "Have you met your boss? What's he like?"

"No, he's still busy at another branch. But, from what I've heard from the other staff, I think I'll have a bit of a hard time, hopefully only at first," Noreen replied in a low voice.

"Why? Is he fierce? Flirtatious? Angry issue?" Lisbeth asked curiously.

"Not flirtatious, but angry and fierce, maybe," Noreen said.

"Uh, good luck, Noreen," Lisbeth said. "A challenge for you, who's been spoiled by a boss like David."

Noreen laughed, and after a few more unimportant things, the conversation ended.

Noreen gathered Jonathan's drawing materials, then carried him to his room and tucked him into bed.

While she was staring at Jonathan, Noreen's gaze accidentally fell on the painting of a wolf's head above the bed.

She felt goosebumps rise. The wolf in the painting stared back at her with its lifelike eyes.

"I think I should move that painting," Noreen muttered as she walked out and closed the bedroom door.

The next morning, Maya greeted Nooren at the reception counter. She looked ready to go, with a heavy-looking file bag in her hand.

"Ah, thank goodness you're here now, Noreen," Maya said, as she saw Noreen enter the lobby. She took Noreen's hand and headed to the reception counter. "I have to go."

"Business trip, out of town?" Noreen asked.

"It should be," Maya said. She looked nervous and confused. "But I just got a call, just as I was putting my bag down. My mom fell in the bathroom and is on her way to the hospital with my aunt."

Noreen was shocked. "Oh my gosh, is she okay? Nothing serious, right?"

Maya's face fell. "I hope not. I already called the boss and told him you'll be covering for me. These are all the documents you need to bring for the contract signing."

Maya checked her watch. "There's still an hour before the boss arrives. Go through all the files in this bag so you can give them to him when he asks for certain documents."

Noreen took the bag from Maya. "Okay. I hope your mom is okay, ma'am."

Maya nodded. "Thank you, Noreen, and I'm sorry I won't be able to be with you for the next few days. You'll have to learn to be on your own."

"It's okay," Noreen said, smiling. "I'll handle everything as best I can."

Maya walked toward the door, but then turned back. "Noreen, I almost forgot to tell you. When you accompany the boss on business trips, you should wear sneakers. There's a new pair under my desk. I bought them last month, but they're a size too big. If they fit, wear them."

"Okay. Hopefully they'll fit. I'll borrow them today," Noreen said. She looked down at her 5-centimeter heels. "So, the boss is going to make me run around, right?"

Maya laughed and shook her head. "No. He just doesn't like the sound of heels clicking on the floor. He says it annoys him."

With that, Maya left. Noreen's brow furrowed at Maya's words. She was even more curious about her boss, because of his uniqueness.

Noreen found a brand-new shoebox under Maya's desk, and inside was a new pair of sneakers, which when she put them on, fit perfectly.

After changing her shoes, Noreen studied the files in the bag and jotted down memories, while making small notes on her phone.

Noreen had just put the files back in her bag when the phone on her desk rang. It was the receptionist in the lobby.

"Yes, Sandy?" Noreen said, saying the name of the receptionist she had told to call her when the boss arrived. "Is the boss here?"

"Twenty minutes ago," Sandy said frantically. "I was in the bathroom when he arrived, so I didn't have time to tell you. Jessie saw him and she said, the boss seemed to be in a bad mood. Hurry up and go see him, Noreen."

Oh my gosh!

Noreen thanked him and quickly got ready, straightening her clothes and hair, and went to her boss's office.

She knocked nervously on the door. A deep voice came from inside, telling Noreen to come in.

Noreen slowly opened the door, and her gaze immediately fell on the figure behind the chair facing the window.

It turned out the boss was on the phone. Noreen walked slowly over and stood right in front of the desk, waiting.

"Why are you late?"

Noreen gasped, startled by the sudden reprimand, while her boss hadn't turned to face her.

Noreen swallowed. "I've been here for an hour and I'm-"

"Then where's my coffee?" the boss snapped, cutting Noreen off. He turned his chair quickly. "You should-"

His words hung in the air. His eyes met Noreen's.

Then they both exclaimed at the same time.

"YOU!"

"YOU!"