Share
XXXIX. Trouble At The Office
Essi should have fled when she noticed Marika was already walking away from Oneil. But she stayed there, instinct giving hints that she must wait for Oneil to realize that she was listening to them. Essi steps back from Oneil. But the man moves closer to her with his sullen face. His eyes are staring at her intently, without a blink and buying no excuse. Is he furious at her?
Essi lifted her head without any attempt to waver. If she would show any hint of being intimidated, Oneil might accuse her of being guilty. She stood proudly while her eyes were retaliating to glare at Oneil. Essi didn’t say a word. She was waiting for him to ask again.
“I don’t think it will be best for us to talk here,” Oneil suddenly said and left Essi standing there awestruck.
Oneil opened the door. But before Essi could follow him, someone entered with loaded equipment. Essi has to turn back and proceed upstairs. If there is one thing that was running in her mind in all these troubl
Related chapters
Look At Me, Oneil XL. Competition
In this age of information, it is the news that is the strongest force. It is an inevitable tendency for everyone to know what happened at the Gautarza Building. The association has called Essi after her appeal for the media to not override the issue. But lobby groups amplified their advocacy in front of the building. 24 hours after the incident, Essi was not given a break to confront the conflict. The last time that Essi saw Marika’s face was in the manner of how she grinned a grim one at her when the press would not give way for Essi to get outside the building. Flashes and devices are around. Essi knew that her warning was not enough for Marika to take the blame. The public asserts that as this situation has happened in her company, she has no other choice but to face it with her legal team. “Let me do it, Ma’am Essi,” Victor pleaded. The sight of Essi perplexed by the unsolicited attention they are earning had wanted him to take care of her. “You don’t have to tr
Look At Me, Oneil XLI. Already Affectionate
Essi was expecting Oneil to pursue her or to at least attempt to communicate with her. She intended to remain in her office right at noon, without lunch, to see if Oneil will check on her situation and will surprise her with lunch packs. But nothing happened. She walks back and forth across her office, peeking at the door like a monkey, thinking that she’s probably making her life a comedy. She keeps on hoping that maybe Oneil will pass by and check the cleanliness of her office or at least wonder if Essi already has lunch yet. But she is still in solitary and her stomach already churns in pain. With her arms holding her stomach, she ran on her stilettos back to her desk with the hopes she might find some month-old biscuits. But there are only sachets and scratch papers inside of it. Her drawer is indeed a hidden world inside her office where secrets are but the foods she doesn’t like to finish, rough ideas scribbled on strips of paper, and her notebook that is filled with t
Look At Me, Oneil XLII. Picking Clues
Essi could never resist the need to look after Oneil. Even at the sting of her wound beneath the bandage, she wanted to check if he was doing fine. Another day in her work passed when she did not even see Oneil. She pleaded with Victor to drive the car across the street near Oneil's temporary facility. But she noticed that the lights were out and it seemed like there were no people in it. Oneil is probably not home yet. "We'll not wait for him, right?" Victor asked while looking at Essi through the mirror. Essi is at the backseat, looking at the right side as if hoping that Oneil might arrive anytime sooner. The orange light inside the car has projected the side features of Essi sparkling along with her amethyst earring. She did not even look away from the facility to answer Victor's reiterated question. “Shall we go now?” Essi finally nodded. While on their way, she is enduring the paradox of tranquility and vague emptiness. She cannot remove from her mind the impen
Look At Me, Oneil XLIII. Redemption
These days, no matter how far Oneil would wish to avoid Essi, he would always end up finding himself next to her. His feet were uncontrollable in pace just to see her. His arrival may seem like a coincidence, but he meant it by following her. Unintended things might include the graceful grant by the heavens for him to see Essi’s silhouette, casually walking the half gates of the rural park. Oneil was able to escape a young director’s appeal for him to join the interns and other workers to have dinner outside. He rather went to a hardware store for canvassing house-building materials. On his way home, the park lamps allowed Oneil to see Essi’s features, radiant in stillness and aimless walking. He was hesitant to walk next to her. He watched first where Essi was heading. Understanding that Essi was walking to the park, his feet drove him to check her. When he went to Essi, his heart was beating in fear that Essi might put him away or leave him hanging. Wha
Look At Me, Oneil XLIV. Among Operations
Essi could be unbecoming when she confronts her people. But she never knew that she could meet the worse of her when it comes to how they treat Oneil. She does not prohibit their ways of bonding. It’s their way to wind up. But maybe her ire got the best of her by questioning why they invited Oneil to drink. She becomes a disciplinarian even outside the workplace. “Tell me, have I done it wrong? Have I become so much of a nagger?” Essi hopes that she will hear another thing. “Yes,” Victor replied without a filter. “People are afraid of you. They wise up when you’re around.” Essi felt shackled by the gravity beneath her chair, weakening her firm soldier’s back. “But that’s alright. Leadership style changes when you take different positions. You handle more than 500 staff. Your case as a disciplinarian shouldn’t be a wrong point,” Victor added. “I’m talking about what I have done at the restaurant.” Victor takes his seat
Look At Me, Oneil XLV. Her Side
After the negotiation, the new CEO of PHYGIN left the building, earning the good service of the famed Gautarza Company. Essi and Victor are still standing at the building entrance. Victor remained a polite smile. But Essi resorted to a serious face, impulsive to reassess the next step of her plans. But this gloom is espoused by the worry that Oneil might think of her being deceptive. For this is the misunderstood side of her character that she never shared with Oneil ever since. It will be another question if she is a villainess operating behind Oneil. Whatever the answer is, she needs to continue. Essi returned to the office with her unusual behavior. She would respond to the people when they called but she would return on looking at the floor with a nonchalant expression. But deep within, her question lingers. How can she face them when she was irate last night? “Madame, how is…” the employee was not able to tell Oneil’s name. “He’s recovering,” Essi still
Look At Me, Oneil XLVI. Nothing to Hesitate
There are no sweeter moments than little things starting to become part of Essi’s life. Oneil’s hug is one of them. She could have stayed in that hug. But it was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Gwyneth who needed more coins to pay the exact fare. “I’m really sorry for disturbing you guys,” Gwyneth said while being chased by urgency. She is already ashamed of letting the tricycle driver wait for her payment when she took the public vehicle to find out how Paco was practicing with his classmates for their street dance competition. The tricycle driver even assisted her in pulling the empty ice cream drums to the front door. “I’m sorry for the troubles,” Gwyneth added after thanking him. “No worries,” the tricycle driver was tolerant enough. Gwyneth nodded and headed back to the front house. “Gwyn, you bought all of this?” Essi asked while pointing to the dreams. “What for?” “I just want to support Paco’s classmates.” They
Look At Me, Oneil XLVII. Where to Go
If fate never plays tricks, maybe Oneil will never realize what great treasures he has after all this time. His eyes cannot believe that a silent mansion was waiting for him. The attendants in the manor are more formal than him. But they were ever so hospitable to him and it scared him that they follow him wherever he goes. “Do you like your mansion, Sir Oneil?” Frederick asked that bothered Oneil. Why does he ask as if Oneil forgot everything? “Sir, I led the effort on renovating this. We called the best interior designers to fuse their talents to make this place more likable to Madame Essi.” Oneil glanced at Frederick. He wanted to ask if Essi has ever stepped in this place. “Don’t worry, Sir. This is still kept from her. We don’t want to spoil your surprise for her. So we diligently renovated the place.” “It’s all great,” Oneil felt relieved. Without bearing any remaining suspicion on Essi, Oneil has often wondered that if he owns a company, why do
Latest chapter
- Look At Me, Oneil CCXI. The Long Wait
- Look At Me, Oneil CCX. Bids of Intentions (Part 2)
- Look At Me, Oneil CCX. The Grounds in Bidding (Part 1)
- Look At Me, Oneil CCIX. Retrieving Treasures
- Look At Me, Oneil CCVIII. Someone is Also Concerned (Part 2)
- Look At Me, Oneil CCVIII. Concerns (Part 1)
- Look At Me, Oneil CCVII. A Deal with the Royalty (Part 2)
- Look At Me, Oneil CCVII. A Royal Compensation (Part 1)
- Look At Me, Oneil CCVI. Formalities and Letting it Pass (Part 2)
