Chapter 9: A strange feeling

An unexpected blessing came so suddenly at a time when Danielle was feeling so down because of grandmother's death.

Her heart leaped with happiness about her new success but that feeling didn't last long. Her success was all for her grandmother to repay her good deeds but she's gone and will never come back. Her feeling of happiness began to fade in a few moment.

Nanang, if only you’re still alive, I'm sure you'll be proud of me again. You use to say that I should trust my abilities. Now, I am reaching my goals little by little. But you're gone.

Slowly, tears ran down her cheeks. She remembered her beloved grandmother. Danielle became upset at the thought that she will not be able to share her success to her grandmother anymore.

Apparently, Anthony is approaching his office along with his bodyguards when he noticed that Danielle didn't move from her seat to greet and open the door for him. He saw her silent cry and was looking in space. He scoff to call her attention.

Hannah stood up and greeted their boss. “ Good morning, Sir!”

“ Good morning, Hannah! What's happening to her? She was so jolly and energetic yesterday. Why is she crying? “

Curiosity made Anthony talked too much. He usually doesn't do that. He felt his heart was peered when he saw Danielle’s facial expression. As if he wanted to touch her face and try to comfort her. He felt strange when he realized what he was thinking just now. He was staring at Danielle closely.

“ I don't know either, Sir.”

Hannah shrugged her shoulders but she was also worried that their boss might get annoyed towards Danielle. She immediately ran to touched her.

Immerse by her thoughts, Danielle didn’t notice the arrival of their boss but when Hannah came to pat her shoulders, she came to her senses. She shook her head hard.

“ What is it, Hannah?”

Hannah didn't talk but she pointed her finger towards their boss's direction.

That's when Danielle realized her mistake.

“ Oh my god!” She panicked. She quickly ran to open the door of the CEO’s office. “ Good morning, Sir!”

Anthony raised his eyebrows. A while ago she was crying and now, she's smiling like she's doing okay.

“ Good morning, Miss Artates!” Anthony entered his office without giving back a smile to his two subordinates.

As soon as the CEO had disappeared from her sight, Danielle sighed.

She sniffed a little to suppress her agony. She closed the door and went back to her work.

“ Danielle, you're lucky he didn't barge on you. Why are you absent minded a while ago? Is there something bothering you?”

“I guess it's okay to tell you my reason. You see...My grandmother passed away last night. She's the only person I had. Now, you could say, I'm an orphan. No parents, no grandparents nor siblings. “

“ Hey! It's not the end of the world yet. God has plans for all of us.”

Hannah went closer to her and gave her a warm embrace. She felt sad to know what she is going through right now. She pitied her.

“ I'm here. Please treat me as one of your family?  Danielle there's great things ahead of you. You're smart, beautiful and most of all a loving and caring person.”

“ Thank you, Hannah!”

Danielle felt her heart was shrinking. Her tears fell down once more. She poured out all her emotions. She held Hannah in her arms too.

Hannah distanced herself a bit to look at her and wipe away her tears. She grabbed a tissue on the table and dried up the her tears.

“ Come on. Cheer up! You look ugly when you're crying.”

Danielle giggled and cheered up a bit.

“ You better prepare the boss's  coffee. Remember not to put too much sugar on it. Just one teaspoon of coffee powder and two tablespoons of sugar. That's the proportion of his coffee.”

Danielle smiled and composed herself.

“ Thanks for the tip, Hannah.”

“ You're welcome. Now, go! Before he explodes like a bomb.”

Walking towards the coffee station near them, Danielle rushed to make a coffee for their boss. After making his coffee, she knocked on the door three times.

“ Who is it?”

Anthony heard the knocking on his door and he got instantly irritated.

“ It's me, Danielle Artates, Sir.”

Hearing his deep gentle voice, Danielle's  heart skipped a beat.

“ Come in!” Anthony instructed.

The door opened and Danielle walked in holding a cup of hot coffee.

“ Your coffee, Sir!” She placed the cup of coffee on the side of the table.

“ Thank you. Can you massage my shoulders?”

Not taking a glance on her, Anthony was focus on his work on his laptop.

“ Hard of soft, Sir?”

Danielle blushed a little when she asked him. He might think dirty about her question.

Surprised by her question, Anthony furrowed his eyebrows. What's that suppose to mean? Is she teasing me? He thought.

Before he could say a thing, Danielle explained. “ I’m talking about the massage, Sir.”

Clearing his dirty mind, Anthony understood it already.

“ Hard.”

Danielle went to his back and gently laid her hands on his shoulder.

She gave all her force on massaging his shoulders. Anthony felt the pressure of her hands and the way she stroke to give him a hard massage. It felt good.

“ You massage very  well. I like it. It feels good.”

Being praised by him, Danielle felt proud of herself as she continued to do him a massage. She never mentioned to anyone that she is also a certified massage therapists. She took the course when she had summer breaks. She thought she could use it in the future.

Now, she’s applying what she had learned.

“ Tell me, Miss Artates, do you have a boyfriend? “ Anthony was curious all of a sudden about Danielle's personal life.

“ I never had any boyfriend ever since, Sir.”

“Oh really? How come? I mean....your beautiful and

smart.”

“ I promised myself that I'll focus only to my studies and work so that I will not be distracted in achieving my dream in life, Sir.”

“ What is your dream?”

“ I dream to become a good teacher and make my parents and grandmother proud of me. To give them a comfortable life. But......”

Danielle paused and tears fell down from her eyes. She remembered her parents and grandmother again. Her heart felt pain and sorrow just by remembering them. It's her weakness.

Anthony felt that Danielle was crying at his back. He wanted to turn to face her and comfort her but he just clenched his fist.

Why do I soften when this girl cries? What's happening to me? My heart felt broken to hear her sobbing at my back. He thought.

“ Where are your parents and grandmother? Are they okay?”

Danielle took a deep breath and stopped herself from crying.

“ They are all dead. They are in heaven now so I guess they are okay.”

Anthony grabbed a box of tissue in front of him and offered it to her.

“ Don't cry. Stop crying. Here!”

Danielle took the box of tissue from him. She wiped her tears with the dry tissue. She silently put back the box of tissue at his side.

“ Thank you, Sir.”

“ You can go now and do your work. Thank you for massaging my shoulders. “

Hearing his concern voice, Danielle felt a little happy. Being with him, She felt comfortable. Strange because she was always felt awkward to any man who approached her. She opened the door afterwards.

Walking out of the office, Danielle felt some part of her heart was left in the office.

Why am I feeling this way towards my boss? This can't be. I'm not going to have anything aside from work with him. Danielle thought and finally sets boundaries on herself towards her boss.

She went back to her desk and started doing her work. Hannah took a simple glance at her when she arrived. She was concern about her.

“ How did it goes? Is the boss got mad at you?”

“ No. In fact, I guess he's in a good mood.”

“ That's great to hear.”

“ Come on! Don't freak out. You're just stressing yourself. “

Hannah laughed at her.

“ Let's have lunch together later okay?”

“ Sure!”

Danielle agreed and smiled at her. Then they continued their work.