04 : Celestine?!

Ten years later. 

Time quickly passed by, people changed day by day. 

In a blink of an eye, ten years had already passed. 

It was seven in the evening, the sun had long settled and the sky was already pitch black. The stars and moon were shining in the sky, trying their best to light up the dark night. 

In one of the offices on the top floor of the Lawless Law Firm, there was a twenty-eight years old woman, who had medium-length wavy hair dyed with a galaxy blue and purple color which made her more stunning and gorgeous together with her beautiful face. 

The woman was sitting on the black leather swivel chair, while one of her elbows was placed on the table, supporting her chin. It seemed that she was thinking about something deep, immersed in her thoughts, and didn't even care about her surroundings. 

The woman's train of thoughts was interrupted when a man's voice resounded in her ears. 

“Boss,” the man said. He looked at his boss but it looked like she didn't hear him and didn't even react. 

“Boss,” the man repeated but still didn't get any response. 

The man who was standing near the door finally lost his patience, he had been calling his boss a few times now but he didn't even get an answer! 

He took a deep breath and exclaimed in a loud voice, “Attorney Zryshiene Mindale!” 

Hearing her full name, the corner of the woman's lips subconsciously twitched. Her pair of emerald green eyes fell on the man. 

“Secretary Vinley Nuerva,” Zren gazed at her secretary and forced a smile but it didn't reach her eyes. She was not sincere at all. 

“How many times do I have to tell you that, it's Zren, okay? Zren, not Zryshiene,” she even emphasized the name Zren. 

Vinley couldn't help but rolled his eyes as he complained, “I know, you don't have to tell me anymore, I just did that to get your attention. I've been calling you so many times but you didn't even respond.” 

“Can't you see I'm thinking something! How dare you interrupt my thoughts!” Zren refuted. 

“There's no time to think about something else, you still have a dinner meeting together with Mr. Lazuli at Valley Hill Restaurant, eight-thirty pm [8:30], which is scheduled half an hour from now.” 

Zren's sharp eyebrows knitted, confusion was written all over her beautiful face. “Wait,” she raised one of her hands and asked in a confused tone, “Who the heck is Mr. Lazuli?” 

Zren didn't know who was nor ever heard of him. 

Vinley took a deep breath and patiently explained, “Mr. Lazuli is one of the Big Boss' old colleagues.” 

The big boss that Vinley was talking about was the person who held the highest position in the law firm. And also the owner of it. 

Everyone called him big boss because he was less formal and more friendly to the employees. However it was different for Zren, she didn't care about anything, so she gave the Big Boss nickname Old Man because it was true he was indeed an old man. 

Zren shrugged her shoulders. “So what? If that Mr. Lazuli is one of the Old man's friends, does it have to do something with me?” 

“Don't you remember? Big Boss went here earlier to tell you about sending you to meet his friend, Mr. Lazuli because he has some important matters he needs to do?” 

Zren looked at Vinley, she clearly had no idea about what he was talking about. She couldn't remember that the Big Boss went to her office earlier. She couldn't help scratching the back of her head and tried her best to recall something however, she failed. 

Seeing that his boss was spacing out again, Vinley could only sigh helplessly, “Boss, stop trying to remember, you're just wasting time. We must arrive at the restaurant before Mr. Lazuli.” 

Zren was pulled back to reality after hearing her secretary, she nodded at Vinley and gestured to him to wait for a moment. 

Zren stood up from her seat to change her footwear, from crocs to black formal heels. She then walked towards the coat rack placed not so far away from her table and took her coat. 

“Let's go,” Zren spoke, just as she was about to walk out of the office, only did she realized how messy her workplace was. 

On the wide polished beige wooden table, there were stacks of papers that were thick as several encyclopedias put together. While the small trash bin placed beside the table was overflowing with crumpled papers, some were even scattered on the floor. 

Infront of the table was a small sofa and a rectangular mini table made of fine glass. There were cans of soft drinks and an empty bag of chips that haven't been cleaned up yet. 

Seeing that her office looked like it suffered from a super typhoon just how messy was it, Zren looked at her secretary and squeezed out an awkward smile. 

“Don't worry I promise I'm gonna clean it tomorrow, okay?” Zren patted Vinley's shoulder and gestured to him to go out first. 

Vinley naturally nodded and walked out of the office. 

While Zren locked the door and made sure that it was not broken. 

———— 

The two chose to use Zren's car not the one owned by the firm, because not only that her car was smaller but also faster compared to the large van of the firm. 

Zren who was sitting on the passenger seat of her sports car kept coughing non-stop. It felt like something was stuck in her throat that she couldn't get rid of. 

“Ahem!” Zren cleared her throat uncomfortably. She even scratched it to relieve the itchiness. 

Vinley who was driving glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror. 

“It seems that you have a mild cough or sore throat?” 

“Yeah, maybe,” Zren answered in a hoarse voice. 

“You should wear a mask so you won't gonna infect others. Prevention is better than cure after all,” Vinley reminded. 

“I know right,” Zren rolled her eyes. She took out a black surgical mask from the car's glove box and put it on. 

When Zren and her secretary arrived at the Valley Hill Restaurant, they went to the VIP passage of the place. 

There were already two staff waiting for them at the VIP entrance and leading them towards a private suit, that was reserved for them. 

Zren went inside while her secretary, Vinley, stayed outside. It was a private meeting after all. 

The moment Zren entered the room, Mr. Lazuli was already there, sitting on the chair. 

“Good evening, Mr. Lazuli,” Zren didn't remove her face mask as she greeted the old man. 

When Mr. Lazuli saw that Zren was wearing a face mask he didn't bother to ask anything and just nodded. 

“Ms. Zren Mindale, right?” 

Zren responded with a nod and pulled the opposite chair to sit. 

———— 

The two didn't discuss something. While eating, Zren only explained why the Old Man of her firm couldn't attend because of some important matters. 

On the other hand, Mr. Lazuli gladly accepted her excuse and continued to eat. 

After eating Mr. Lazuli decided to leave immediately. 

Zren also didn't want to stay anymore, after the Old Man's colleague left, she put on her face mask and ran to the nearest comfort room. She didn't even bother to tell to her secretary where she would go. 

After finding the cr, Zren immediately entered one of the cubicles. She took a deep breath and started coughing non-stop. 

The itchiness of her throat felt like it became worse as if something was stuck there, scraping her throat, was very uncomfortable. 

Earlier when she was having dinner with Mr. Lazuli, she freaking tried her best to suppress herself to cough. She didn't want to leave a bad impression on Mr. Lazuli just because of her it. 

Zren coughed like there was no tomorrow. In the empty comfort room, her coughs were the only ones that could be heard, they bounced from the wall back to her, creating several echoes. She didn't stop until her eyes slightly turned red and tears started to form in the corner of her eyes. 

After she calmed down, when she took a deep breath, only did she realize that her nose was also clogged. 

“D@mn! Now I also have flu!” Zren cursed. 

Irritated, she went out of the cubicle, washed her hands, put her face mask on, and walked out of the cr. 

Zren received a text message from Vinley saying that he was waiting where the elevator was. She didn't reply to him, instead, she directly went to find her secretary. 

———— 

Zren stood infront of the closed elevator, she had been waiting for Vinley for a while now but didn't even see not even a shadow of him. 

Zren took her cellphone out and just as she was about to call Vinley, she heard a light “ting” sound, in meant that the elevator's door opened. 

When Zren saw the person inside the elevator, she was stunned and rooted in her place. Her emerald eyes slightly widened.  

It was a man, wearing an exquisite formal suit, his hair was neatly combed, and had a very handsome face. He has a very striking and handsome appearance, tantalizing ink-black phoenix eyes, well-shaped sharp eyebrows, a pointed nose, and a very attractive jawline. 

Seeing the man, Zren unconsciously took a few steps back to give way. Thankfully she was wearing a face mask, covering half of her face, or else, people would be able to see her shocked expression. 

The man only threw a glance at her and walked out of the elevator. 

When the man passed by, Zren could smell the strong scent of rosin on the man. It was so fragrant that it could make someone intoxicated or even addicted to it.  

Zren stared at the man's broad shoulders, her eyes were glued to the man until he was gone out of her sight. 

On the other side, Vinley who walked for a distance to answer a phone call finally came back. Seeing his boss' dumb expression he couldn't help but frown but he didn't dare to ask. He decided to keep his mouth shut and stayed silent. 

“Let's go,” Vinley said. He lead Zren inside the elevator and pressed the button directing them to the ground floor. 

Only did Zren, came back to reality when she realized that she was already inside the elevator. 

She looked at Vinley who was busy fixing his tie and asked with a voice full of excitement, “Did you see that handsome man earlier?” 

Hearing his Boss's question, Vinley couldn't help but the shook his head. “Tsk! You're always excited whenever you see handsome guys.” 

Zren raised one of her eyebrows. “So what? It's not your business anyway, just answer my question okay?” 

Vinley took a deep breath and answered, “Yes I did.” 

“Then by any chance do you know his name?” 

“I'm sorry but I don't know...” 

“Aww, Really?” Zren pouted.  

Zren looked at Vinley, expression full of disappointment. 

Vinley walked out of the elevator, he then faced Zren, “Someone will gonna fetch me here, so you can go now.” 

Zren nodded, before walking away, she glanced at the elevator for the last time. 

Zren got in her car and stepped on the gas. 

When she was finally outside the underground parking lot of the Valley Hill Restaurant, she slowed down a bit and glanced at the certain floor of the building. 

Disappointment flickered in her pair of emerald eyes, she let out a very deep breath before driving away. 

Too bad, she wasn't able to get the man's name. 

When Zren again, remembered the man's handsome appearance earlier, the corner of her mouth slowly curved up, revealing a sweet gentle smile. 

She bit her lower lip and mumbled under her breath. 

“Sheez so handsome!” 

————

On the other side, Vinley blankly stared at his boss' departing car. 

He lied.

Actually, he knew the man's name that Zren was asking about, it was none other than...

“Weidon Galcon.” 

The CEO of Galcon Development Corporation. 

————

Zren who was currently driving and got lied to by her own secretary unconsciously glanced at the passenger. 

Her sharp eyebrows knitted together as she continued to drive. It might be weird however from the time she got in her car she felt there was something amiss. It looked like she forgot something. 

Zren shook her head and cleared her train of thoughts. She glanced outside and saw a woman carrying a bunch of eco-bags walking at the side of the street.

Seeing the woman Zren finally remembered something. 

“D@mn! My bag!” Zren screamed and immediately stepped on the car's brake, the friction between the wheels and the road created an ear-deafening screeching sound. 

Zren stared at herself through the rearview mirror, expression full of regret. She couldn't accept the fact that she had actually forgotten her bag, where her personal belongings were placed in. 

Zren took a deep breath, she turned the steering wheel and made a u-turn to go back to the Valley Hill Restaurant. 

When she arrived, she parked her car and ran to the passage where they went earlier. 

Zren was walking in the hallway when someone approached her. It was a man with a tall build, half a head taller than her. 

Zren looked at the man, it was none other than the one of the staff who guided them earlier. 

Zren removed her facemask, put it in her pocket, and smiled at the man, she asked, “You're the one who was assigned to us earlier, right? May I ask if you have seen a bag left in the room? It was a two-way black bag, it could be turned into a backpack or a sling bag.” 

“Yes ma'am, Please wait, I'll let my workmate bring it to you,” The man answered. 

Zren let out a deep sigh of relief. After a few moments, another staff walked to them and gave her a bag. When she received the bag, she thanked the staff and walked away. 

While walking where the elevator was, Zren opened her bag to check if something was missing. Her attention was focused on the things that she didn't even look at her way. 

When Zren turned at the end of the hallway, she accidentally bumped into someone. 

Zren raised her head and immediately said sorry. “I'm sorry.” 

Just as the person was about to say something, Zren saw the elevator was about to close. She didn't waste any second and ran as fast as a bolt of lightning so she could get in. 

The person that Zren bumped into was a woman. 

On the other side, the woman was stunned when she heard Zren's voice, she looked back to check if she really heard it right. However, when she saw Zren's face, she was even more shocked to the point that both of her amber eyes went wide. 

The woman was about to chase Zren but she was too late, the elevator's door already closed. 

The woman couldn't help but shout. 

“Celestine!”