"What?" Dylan asked, wishing his voice never vibrated that way.
"It's me… Ariel" She said again, this time trying her possible best to remain calm.
"What's with the jacket?" He asked.
"I spilled coffee on my shirt" She answered.
"So, you…" Dylan's voice trailed off as he slowly moved to his desk. He sat on his chair and looked up at her.
"Were you trying to put me into trouble or what, tell me" He yapped.
Chloe eyes blinked a hundred times out of confusion. She sighed silently and shook her head. "Sir, I don't understand what you're talking about"
"I should have fired you right now and right here, but since I already declared you are my secretary in front of my younger sister, I guess it means you'll be working for me, but please don't be annoying. I hate annoying people" He spoke with spite.
"Okay. Okay, sir" She replied fast.
"Start work tomorrow"
"What?"
"You heard me. Or, can you possibly work with me while smelling like instant coffee? Why didn't my sense of smell just go instead"
"Sir?"
"Leave and start work tomorrow, period!"
"As you wish sir" She nodded.
"An email will be sent to you concerning my schedule for the week. Go through it to know what you're supposed to do"
"Okay sir"
Dylan nodded and she turned before leaving the office. He heaved in relief immediately she was out.
*
Chloe alighted from the taxi and entered the hospital. After talking to the nurse at the counter, she went to Ariel's ward.
The instant her eyes met with the unconscious Ariel on the bed, Chloe eyes turned misty. She sniffled and sat close to her.
"Hey" Chloe whispered, holding her hand.
"Wake up already, okay? I'm already having it tough. I'm sure you must be caring about Clover right now, but don't! That jerk doesn't deserve you at all. He hasn't even called once" She was still talking when her phone started ringing.
"Hold on, Ariel" She said and accepted the call. It was actually the landlady, and Chloe wondered what she wanted. She scoffed silently when she realized the landlady might really need – Her rent.
"Hello, Mrs. Pumpkin. I apologize for not paying the rent, but can you give me more time. I'm cashless and-
"Come home now! Its urgent!" Mrs. Pumpkin voice interrupted her and the call was hung.
"Huh? What's going on? Ariel, I'll talk to you later but now, I need to go" Chloe said and rushed out of the room.
*
Chloe ran to the apartment, and she met all her neighbors downstairs with their properties and belongings. She stared confused. She finally saw the landlady talking to some men in suit, and she ran to her.
"Mrs Pumpkin. What's… What's going on?" Chloe panted.
"This building is ready to be demolished"
"What! I don't understand. What…what do you mean?"
"Didn't I ask you to move out?"
"But you said the end of the week and this isn't the end…yet"
"That's not my business, young lady. Go up there, pack out your things and leave. And oh, pay your rent before your departure. Don't think I'll forget about that" Mrs. Pumpkin said and Chloe rolled her eyes.
An hour later, Chloe was down with her things. She later went to Mrs. Pumpkin, whom she transferred the rent too.
"Where do I go from here now?" Chloe sighed, looking very sorrowful. She went through an online app and saw an apartment who was giving just 2 months of free living.
"Wow. So, I can say for 2 months without paying. But after that month, I'll have to pay? Well, at least, It's better than standing here with no place to go" She sighed.
She scrolled down and when she saw the price of the rent, she squealed unknowingly. Many had to even turn to her.
"Sorry" She muttered.
Chloe faced her phone and scowled. "Oh wow. Just look at the rent. I won't have the money for that. Or probably, should I just go and stay there for the 2 months? Maybe, I would find a place cheaper and then, leave secretly? It's better" She thought and called the agent.
"Hi, I'm interested" She said with a fake smile, immediately the call was accepted.
*
"Here, you have it. Your apartment" The agent said and opened the door.
Chloe eyes widened open when she saw how big and complex the apartment was.
"And your keys" He handed a bunch of them to her.
"Thank you" She smiled.
"And you do know this room is a special room, right?" He asked.
"What?" She asked.
"I mean you don't have to pay rent for 2 months"
"Yeah, I saw that online"
"I hope you like here"
"Sure" She smiled.
"Okay then. See you later, and I'll call you when necessary" He said and left.
She only nodded.
"Damn!" Chloe whispered, as she looked around the room. "Well, let start packing in" She thought and raised her sleeves up.
HOURS LATER*
Chloe dropped herself down on the sofa and inhaled deeply. She was feeling weak and hungry.
"I wonder if there's anything I can eat" She whispered and got up. She went into the bathroom and took a shower and finally changed into something simple, leaving her hair down.
*
Chloe was already coming back from the eatery where she bought something to eat. She walked to her door and shook her key into the keyhole.
She was still turning it in there when she started hearing beeping sounds close to her. She turned her face to the right hand side to see her neighbor typing his code to open his door.
"He looks familiar" She thought and looked away.
"Wait" She muttered with raised eyebrows. She slowly turned her head and at that moment, her gaze fell on her boss who had even glanced at her.
She opened her mouth and eyes wide and quickly turned the knob and jumped in.
"Wait…What…What the hell is that man doing here?!" She thought, squeezing her thumping chest.
Dylan adjusted his glasses and shook his head. "What's her problem?" He wondered.He took one last look at her door before entering into his apartment."Home sweet home" He smiled broadly and took off his tie.Dylan moved to one of the adjoining doors and opened it, which exposed his gigantic and beautiful dressing room. It has various brands of clothing, from suits to designed and casual wears.There were also neck ties, bow ties, shoes, wristwatches and all of such sort. He stood at the center of the room and watched everything before him. It was indeed a marvelous sight.*Chloe slurped the cold noodles from the cup and quickly drank water when she tasted how chilly it was."Goodness" She exclaimed."By the way though…" Chloe whispered to herself after remembering who she saw earlier. "What's my CEO doing here? Why…Why" She asked herself."Could he be living here? He had better not or I'll be busted. I'll be in deep shît, I tell you" She sighed deeply."If he's really living here,
Dylan sighed and walked up to the girls, who were smiling naturally at him. He faced the one who had raised her arm and smirked. "Let's talk, Danielle" He said, strictly without showing a tint of his white set of teeth.Jenny blinked her eyes, confusedly. Dylan was facing her, but he was referring to her as Danielle, who was just close to her."Have you suddenly gone blind, brother?" Jenny laughed.Dylan's eyes blinked a hundred times. It was only Jenny that called him brother in that squeaky tone."Oh Jenny" He cleared his throat dramatically whilst running his eyes at the ladies by her side to know who was his younger sister. Seeing nothing was working, he looked away."Danielle? Let talk. Meet me outside" He said and walked away.Danielle was watching him perplexed. She furrowed her brows and watched him leave. Her thoughts were endless."What could be wrong with him?" She thought. "He keeps acting weird or is he pulling some lame childish prank""Didn't you hear what your brother
Chloe quickly got on her feet and ran off without looking back. She ran down using the cumbersome stairs. When she finally got down, she held her chest."I'm going to die at this rate. What is she doing here?" Chloe wondered, pulling away the mask. "She didn't see me, right?" She thought.*"Why did you get drunk? It doesn't fit you" Danielle said as she covered him with the duvet. She had undressed him and arranged the room as well."You" He moaned after catching a glimpse of her."What now?" She asked, placing a flask on the desk. "Mum was worried and wondered why you didn't say goodbye before leaving. You weren't picking your calls either when she called. So, she asked me to come to your place and check up on you. She also made this dishes herself and persists you eat them tonight or tomorrow morning"Dylan only hummed."Since you feel sleepy, I'm going to keep them in the refrigerator. Make sure to warm it later and most especially, do eat it. Thanks" She said and grabbed the flas
From his desk where Mr. Samson sat, he kept peeking from his spectacles at Dylan and a lady who happened to be his secretary. Dylan was sitting on the sofa while Chloe was close to him, on her feet to be precise. "Hmm… Hmm," Mr. Samson cleared his throat and adjusted his spectacles. "What's your name, young lady?" He asked, looking at Chloe, whose eyes seemed to be growing bigger out of nervousness. "I'm Ariel Peterson, sir" She said softly, and a grin enveloped on his lips. "You were the one who replied to my email this morning?" He asked and she nodded. Dylan nudged her and she turned. "What did you both talk about?" He asked in a whisper. "Nothing much" Samson who kind of heard him replied. Dylan faked a cough and looked away. "I asked why you didn't show up, and she replied saying; My boss is sorry, and he promises to show up to apologize properly" Samson quoted and Dylan scoffed. "Indeed, I said… Isn't that so, Miss Peterson?" Dylan uttered and Chloe smiled nervously. "An
Mrs. McCoy raised both brows as she stared back at her staring and confused looking son."Darn it" Chloe grimaced and took her face away."Son? Are you alright?" He heard his mother's voice and his eyes bulged."Mum?" He called swerving his neck a bit like he would be able to see her face."Of course, It's your mother! Or don't I look like your mother any more because of my full makeup?" She asked and he smirked."Not at all, mum" He shook his head. "What are you doing here, though?""You mean I can't visit you?" She frowned and walked up to him."I'm not saying that""Anyway, I came to see you, my dear son. Did you eat the food that I prepared just for you?" She asked."Uh…It's still in the fridge""Oh Dylan! Why didn't you take it? Why?" She frowned and entered the room first, immediately Dylan unlocked it."I have something to tell you, son" She said and slowly sat down. Mrs. McCoy looked at her son, who took off his jacket and neck tie."What's it, mum?" He questioned and she exha
Dylan had met his mother bleeding. He held her finger which blood oozed out from and looked around thinking he would find something to cover the cut with."How did this happen?" He asked, still looking around."I was actually chopping the veggies when it happened. I wanted to make something for you to eat tonight""You shouldn't have done that. Besides, the one in the flask could have been okay. Why bother yourself. For now, rinse your hand in the sink. I'm going to go get plaster to cover the cut so that it won't get infected" Dylan said and she nodded.He went into his room and changed into a casual wear before leaving the apartment.*CHLOE'S APARTMENT ~"Fûck. Why does my stomach hurt?" Chloe moaned, squeezing and hitting her stomach gently.She quickly covered the food since the pain wouldn't allow her to consume it. She got up and walked to the calendar which was hung on the wall."I hope it's not what I think it is" She prayed, scanning her eyes on the calendar whilst using her
Chloe pushed Dylan away as fast as she could and grabbed the paper bag on the floor."I'm sorry, sir" She bowed very low and Dylan wondered why she was doing that."I was almost close" He thought."Dylan!" He heard someone call his name and Chloe raised her head up. It was actually Jeffery who called him. He was driving on the road when he caught the two acting all lovey-dovey. He also didn't fail to take a picture and when he saw they had disengaged, he stopped his car and came out.Dylan turned his head and from his facial expression, he looked confused. He wondered who the person was."Dylan. What's up?" Jeffery winked and stretched his hand for a shake.Dylan looked at Jeffrey from head to toe. "Who could this be?" He thought."Why are you acting like you don't know me?" Jeffrey smirked.When Chloe saw it was a chance to leave, She started walking away from them slowly."Hold on, girl" She heard Jeffrey's voice."Excuse me?" Chloe whispered and turned to them."Do you know this pe
"What… What do you mean by I'm lying?" She inquired, trying her possible best not to stammer, since she could feel her legs getting all sweaty and wobbly. Even her palms were dampened by her sweat."You didn't come to visit your friend" He said, and she quickly turned to look at his face."And what does that mean? Of course, I came to visit my friend. Do you know, think I'm a liar, huh?"He smirked and folded his arms, with his back now to the wall. "So… Where do you stay?" He asked.Chloe gulped hard and scratched her chest. She wondered if Dylan was a flirt. First, he flirted with her at the convenience store and now, He's asking her where she stays?"Isn't he a psycho now?" She thought and shook her head."Well, you haven't answered my question" He said and she snickered."And what makes you think I'll answer that?" Chloe said."I just need to confirm if you're saying the truth""The truth? What truth?""That you came to visit your friend, and you thought this was his or maybe her