The gaze can shoot a cupid arrow at the speed of light or even faster.
***
“Make sure all designs are perfect, Ae Ri! No mistake, even a little bit.” Chin Hwa reminded Qeiza once more time.
“I’ve checked them many times,” answered Qeiza.
Chin Hwa was still busy to check the documents he’s going to take with him. He should totally be sure that none of them left.”
“By the way, is the one we’re going to meet a kind of perfectionist?”
Qeiza couldn’t help her curiosity. Even though she’s just been a week working for Chin Hwa, at least eight hours a day, she could analyse that he was a kind of calm person and could control his work rhythm. He never got cracking.
Chin Hwa paused what he was doing. He stood up and looked at Qeiza with narrowed eyes.
“Didn’t I tell you about the person we’re going to meet?”
Qeiza shook her head. “No, you didn’t,” she replied.
“I’m sorry. I should have let you know earlier.” Chin Hwa felt a bit guilty. “The rumors said that the new director is not only a perfectionist, but also very thorough.”
“It sounds pretty scary,” Qeiza commented.
“Absolutely,” replied Chin Hwa. “He’s also hard to deal with.”
“But, you don’t need to worry,” said Chin Hwa. “I won’t let him give you a hard time.”
“I’m not that weak.”
Qeiza went back to her table, sorting out again the designs that she’s going to carry with Chin Hwa.
“Okay, let’s go!” asked Chin Hwa while passing Qeiza’s table.
***
Different from Chin Hwa who looked so sedate, Qeiza felt a bit twitchy while waiting for the arrival of the director of the Company M they’re going to meet, even more when she remembered what kind of person the man was.
A piece of that information reminded her of Ansel. Her ex-husband was also a perfectionist and pretty hard to face. It’s proven by the reality that though she’d been Ansel’s wife for four years, she had never been able to win over Ansel’s heart even if she wanted to talk to him or meet him just once.
Subconciously, Qeiza nipped her lower lip. What a shame! She became a widow at a young age. The worst, she was still a virgin. What did other people say if they knew the truth?
Fleeing to a foreign country with her new identity was the only best way popped up in her mind. She would have no chance to meet Ansel again, right?
Nevertheless, it looked like the universe still wanted to make fun of her with a game of fate. Qeiza gapped in disbelief, looking at two men who were walking closer to their table while Chin Hwa was raising his right hand high, notifying their position.
Qeiza’s face was shortly pale. Even, her sweat began to drip. She stood up and hid herself behind Chin Hwa’s back. Her head bowed in depth. She didn’t want the two men to be able to clearly see her uneasy face.
'How could this world be so small?' Qeiza thought.
She didn’t only meet Chin Hwa who knew her real identity, but she also had to face Ansel, unfortunately, as a business partner as well.
'Wait a moment!' Qeiza screamed inside of her heart. 'Ansel won’t possibly recognize me, will he?'
Remembering that Ansel had never met her, Qeiza’s heart simmered down. Even during the divorce vows hearing, the man didn’t take a gaze at her at all. Besides, at that time she also appeared in disguise.
Qeiza’s heart became calmer even more. There’s nothing to fear now. Though she should admit that there’s still a subtle shiver she felt when she gazed at Ansel’s face, Qeiza forced herself to forget him for the rest of her lifetime.
The feeling of love that affected her heartstrings since the first time she saw Ansel’s face when he was doing the consent granted process of their marriage had to be crushed down to the roots. Four years were enough for her to waste her precious lifetime in futile waiting.
“Have a seat, Mr. Malik!” said Chin Hwa in a friendly tone.
Ansel then sat down and started the conversation about the designs they needed without further ado. He was never interested in observing the atmosphere in the café.
'Tsk! What a very stiff man!' Qeiza mocked by heart.
The corner of her lips curved up a bit, but she spontaneously changed it to a smile when she realized that Ansel gave a sharp gaze at her.
DEG! DEG!
Ansel felt his heart raced. The hazel eyes of the young woman who was sitting on Chin Hwa’s left side looked so lively and bright. He had never found such warm and cheery eyes before.
“May I see the designs, Miss ….”
Ansel clammed up. Suddenly he regretted for not paying attention to Chin Hwa’s words earlier when that man introduced his personal assistant.
“Kim Ae Ri,” said Chin Hwa, reminding Ansel.
“Ah, yes. May I see the designs, Miss Kim?”
Ansel repeated his request. His eyes which were almost pretty dark and gave a mysterious impression had never turned away from Qeiza’s damn pretty face.
“Of course, here you are,” replied Qeiza, handing the tube contained the designs she’s still holding.
Ansel gulped. The small red lips really looked so tempting every time they moved producing the words. Even, her voice sounded pretty sexy in his ears.
For a few minutes, Ansel focused his attention on the designs in front of his eyes in order to get rid of strange delusions that entered his mind.
As long as his entire life, Ansel had never let his mind embrace a wild fantasy of any women. But, the young woman who was sitting in the opposite side of his seemed to have a magical power to tear down his soul fortress.
“I need some changes on some parts,” Ansel said.
Chin Hwa and Qeiza simultaneously took a deep breath. They seemed struggling to hide their disappointments.
“All right, Mr. Malik,” said Chin Hwa. “Just let us know what you want, we will fix them all.”
For a few seconds, Ansel’s eyes splashed in winning euphoria. He had passed the first stumbling block. Actually, there’s nothing flawed on those designs. They all were just so perfect and unique. It was just he needed to find a way to tie her up close to him.
“I want Miss Kim to do and finish all the designs in my office so that I can keep my eyes on her works directly.”
Listening to Ansel request, Qeiza clenched her teeth. Her eyeballs changed colors. A moment they looked green then in a second they got brown.
The changes of Qeiza’s eye colors which were so fast did not escape from Ansel’s observation and he was more and more fascinated.
“If Miss Kim minds, it’ll be fine,” Ansel said.
It was relieving, but also making Qeiza confused. Since when on the hell was Ansel willing to give up on his wishes? Was all the information that Xander gave her at the time they had just got married totally wrong?
As far as she could remember, Ansel was a kind of person who would never tolerate any rejections. Besides, she was also like a hunter who would never let his prey loose so easily. That’s why it’s not surprising he finally rose to the pinnacle of success at a very young age.
“But … I’m not sure to continue this cooperation,” he added.
Ansel read the changes in Qeiza’s face colors with his striking gaze as sharp as an eagle look. A pair of those hazel eyes gleamed fiercely as if they wanted to crush Ansel’s body all over like hot lava melted a piece of iron.
'I knew it!' said Qeiza in silence. 'He would never change in a blink. It’s truly a sneaky trick.'
Qeiza grumbled for so long deep inside of her heart, twitting and cursing how dirty Ansel’s trick was in business.
“It seems that your demand is not pure for our cooperation only,” Chin Hwa satirized. “Are you also inherited the bad habits of the former director, Mr. Malik?”
Ansel’s good-looking face stiffened. His pride felt insulted by the question Chin Hwa asked him. In the contrary, Chin Hwa’s guess was not completely wrong.
He had ever heard a rumor about the hostility between Chin Hwa and the former director. That happened because that man tried to seduce and influenced Chin Hwa’s trusted assistant so as that woman betrayed him and preferred to defect to the company M.
“Haha ….” Ansel burst false hoots of laughter.
***
Life is full of challenges. Just face them all though you’re forced to do so. *** “I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Mr. Song,” Ansel refuted “I just want to make sure that everything runs well.” Ansel disclosed a cold and indifferent expression as if he didn’t need the cooperation. He gazed at Chin Hwa and Qeiza back and forth. “If there’s something to be changed, don’t you think it can be done faster if Miss Kim is available at the same office as me?” he asked. “I won’t bother to call you and she won’t need to go back and forth from your office to mine and vice versa for the same intention. It’s so simple, isn’t it?” The reasons Ansel put forward sounded so logical so that Chin Hwa and Qeiza were speechless. Although they were still in doubts, they didn’t deserve to indulge their prejudice. “Or … lest these designs aren’t Miss Kim’s works?” Ansel accused. He deliberately attacked the ego and pride of his business partners in front of him, primarily Qeiza. Qeiza hel
Whatever you wish, it takes struggle and seriousness to make it happen. *** Xander’s gaze was fixed on Qeiza who was concentrating at her works. He had examined Qeiza’s face for two days from the distance. “I’m pretty sure that she is Miss Qeiza,” Xander muttered several times to himself. He opened Qeiza’s personal data file that he had gathered currently. The last data informed that his boss’ ex-wife had finished her graduate program since a few months ago at one of the most popular universities of this town. Thus, it’s no surprise that she could get job here so easily. The problem was that the young woman he believed to be Qeiza was actually named Kim Ae Ri. Xander had never heard that name before. Was this just a coincidence that those two women had similar face? Or had Qeiza really changed her identity secretly? “Argh!” Xander growled in confusion and bit his fist. How could he let Ansel know if he himself hadn’t been able to gather the valid evidences about his guess yet?
Crossing the line will only cause troubles. *** “Ouch, I felt like I’ve just come back from a battle field.” Qeiza sank her butt on her chair, leaning back lethargic with her both hands dangling limply. She totally felt exhausted. “Did Mr. Malik treat you badly?” Qeiza was startled. She quickly fixed her sitting position. She cursed her carelessness for not paying attention to Chin Hwa’s desk. “You’ve come back?” asked Qeiza. “It’s supposed to be tomorrow, wasn’t it?” Chin Hwa walked up to Qeiza’s desk. “The schedule was supposed so, but the agenda moved forward so I could go home earlier.” “Ah!” Qeiza had nothing to say than ‘Ah’ in silence. She thought Chin Hwa was still abroad. “Tell me!” said Chin Hwa. “Did Mr. Malik treat you impolitely?” Qeiza exhaled hard. “No, he didn’t. But, he made me so tired.” “Huh? He often asked you to work overtime?” “Not really.” “So?” “I don’t know. I hate his dictatorial attitude,” Qeiza explained. “A bit possessive too.” Chin Hwa smile
If you want to catch a butterfly, just grow colorful flowers. Do not ever hunt them because all your efforts will end in vain. *** Qeiza’s heart pumped very fast. She wanted to fight back, but the power of the man that was dragging her was much stronger. When she realized that she was dragged outside of the restaurant through back door, Qeiza tried to elbow that man. “Ouch!” It’s heard the squalled groaning. Qeiza quickly turned around, being ready to launch a follow-up attack targeting the man’s personal asset. “Hold on, Ae Ri!” The man shouted, stopping Qeiza’s movement. “It’s me, Chin Hwa.” “Oppa?” Qeiza was dumbfounded. She didn’t expect that her boss would follow her. “Shshsh!” Chin Hwa hastily dragged Qeiza’s hand, hiding by walking hunched from car to car until arriving at his own car. “Get in quickly!” Chin Hwa commanded. His gaze continued to watch Ansel’s movement in the restaurant. It seemed that he took a glance at his watch on his wrist then rose from his seat.
Love is powerful addiction that can make a man lose control of his senses. *** “You aren’t allowed to park here, Sir!” The young policeman pointed at the blue sign with a circle and a red diagonal line. “Shit! All my lifetime, this is the first time I’m doing a foolish thing and making ashamed of myself,” Ansel grumbled. He leaned back his head on his seat of pride while looking up at the ceiling, still unbelieved that he could be so reckless just because of a woman. “I don’t seem to know you,” Xander commented. He sat on the couch by resting both his hands on his thighs. His fingers interlocked. Meanwhile, his gaze fixed on Ansel who was closing his eyes. “I don’t even know my own self,” Ansel replied without opening his eyes. Then there was a silence. Both of them were busy with their own thoughts, examining Ansel’s first experience that had just dealt with the law. *** “Oh Gosh! So, because of a woman your life could be messed up?” Xander yelled in disbelief after listeni
When you have no intention to find the light, then you’ll forever stay in the darkness. *** “I didn’t think you’re the new CEO of the company M.” “That’s it!” “Oh My God! Should we keep our distance from now on?” Ansel shrugged with a funny mimic. He didn’t also expect that the leader of the company which had become his business rival was his college friend. “It looks like that you’ve already known Mr. Song and Miss Kim very well,” said Ansel. He was affording to dig the information about Dae Hyun's and Qeiza's close relationship in an inconspicuous way. “Of course,” replied Dae Hyun. “We’ve ever become business partners too.” Dae Hyun took a glance at Chin Hwa. “Right, Mr. Song?” “It’s absolutely right!” Chin Hwa replied. Dae Hyun turned his attention to Qeiza. “Ah, Ae Ri … could we talk privately?” Without waiting for Qeiza’s reaction, Dae Hyun dragged her arm, walking fast out of the ballroom. Ansel’s biased eyes darkened. He hated watching that sight. If only he wasn’t
Once in a while, a prey is smarter than the hunter. *** Qeiza left her dresser with a flamboyant face. After she had been working like a prisoner in Ansel’s glass cage for almost a whole month, today she could breathe freely. The fashion show that was performed two days ago had become the finish line for her togetherness with Ansel. Now, she could go back to the embrace of peace, working at Chin Hwa’s office. Qeiza froze in front of her apartment door. A man was standing back to her, but he turned around soon after he heard the sound of the opening door. “Hi, Ae Ri!” Ansel greeted while serving his best smile. BANG! Qeiza reflexively moved backwards and slammed the door so hard. Her heart was pounding worriedly. “Why could he be here in this early morning?” she murmured. “He was absolutely a scary man.” Qeiza peeked through the peeping hole, making sure whether Ansel was still waiting for her in front of the door or had been leaving. “Shit!” Qeiza cursed while seeing that Ans
Lies will never end in happiness until whenever. *** Qeiza’s concentration in working was distracted by the phone ring. She glanced at her mobile phone that was lying on the corner of her desk lazily then continuing to focus her attention back to the designs she was drawing. She thought it was probably a prank call only. All this time, the one who had often called her while she was busy with her works was only Ansel. Currently, she didn’t take part in a design project with her ex-husband anymore. Thus, there’s no reason for him to disturb her perpetually. Unluckily, Qeiza couldn’t ignore that calls for any longer when her phone rang louder without any pauses. Beginning by taking a deep breath, Qeiza finally grabbed her phone. Her eyes narrowed a little bit while finding out an anonymous phone number occurred on the screen. However, she had no other choice than to accept the call. Qeiza’s expression changed all at once. She jumped from her seat. One of her hand moved swiftly, gra