Before lunch time, Danielle was about to go ask Hannahto go out. Unexpectedly, someone blocked her way. It was a beautiful girl dressedin a summer girly outfit. Danielle was stunned by her.
“ Excuse me, is your boss inside? “
Her voice was quite arrogant. Hannah came closer to the lady.
“ Miss Celine, how nice of you to drop by. I'm sorry butthe boss is away. I think he'll be coming back later this afternoon. “
Hannah signalled Danielle to pretend to do the same. Hannahlooked a little odd with the way she act. But Danielle helped her out instead.
“ I'm sorry, Ma'ambut I think it's best if you could come backthis afternoon. “ Danielle made herself looked convincing.
The lady gnarled and frowned.
“ Tell him that I have come and meet me. Understood?” Celinepointed her finger towards Hannah giving her a hint of a warning.
“ Yes, Ma'am! We'll do that.”
Danielle answered for Hannah. She glanced at Hannah whowas practically feeling uncomfortable right now.
Soon, Celine glared at them and walked away. Hannah tooka deep breath and sighed.
“ That was close. Thanks for backing me up.”
Danielle smiled and patted her right shoulder.
“ Don't mention it. Who was that lady anyway? “
Curiously, Danielle made an intriguing look on her.
“ That's Miss Celine. A famousfashion model who was dumped by our boss but shekeeps on coming and try to make up with the boss. But the boss doesn't want to seeher ever again. She's a vicious girl. If you know what I mean.”
“ I see. So should I go inside and inform it to our bossabout her coming?”
Danielle asked for her approval.
“ I guess you should go inform him. So that he'll knowwhat to do.”
Danielle nodded and knocked on the CEO's door.
“ Who is it?”
“ Sir, it's me. Danielle Artates. “
Standing in front of the door way, Danielle felt nervoussomehow.
“ Come in!”
When she heard his permission, she opened the door andwent in.
Anthony was sitting on his swivel chair and was currentlylooking at the files on his hands.
“ What do you want, Miss Artates?”
“ Sir, Miss Celine came a while ago to see you.”
“ If she comes back, tell her to go away! “ Anthony clenched his fist in anger.
His voice raised that startled Danielle from where shewas standing.
“ Don't ever let her come near me. Understood? “ His glaremade Danielle wanted to back out. It was fierce.
“ Yes, Sir!”
“ If you had nothing more to say, you can go now!”
Danielle bowed her head to hide her embarrassment. Sheopened the door and walked out of the office.
Noticing her pale looking face, Hannah took Danielle'shand and bumped her elbow to Danielle’s side.
“ Hey! It's okay! He's not mad at you.”
Hannah cheered her up and Danielle nodded and smiled.
“ Come on! Let's have our lunch!” Hannah encircled herhand over Danielle's arms.
“ Okay. Where do you like to eat?”
“ I'm going to eat on a plate, of course!”
Hannah made a joke on her. Danielle laughed at how sillyher friend is.
“ That was funny. Silly you! Your joke is already old.”
“ At least, It made us both laugh. I know a placewhere we can eat good food. There's a Greenwich branch just near here.”
“ Great! I'm craving for a pizza just now!”
They walked together in going to the elevator.
Inside the elevator, they bumped in with their fellow colleaguesat work.
“ Are you girls going for lunch too?” Edward, one of thehead supervisor asked them.
“ Yes, Sir.” Hannah replied with a wide smile on her face.
“ Can we join you, girls?” Another staff asked them. Itwas Gerald.
The marketing director of their company.
“ Sure, Sir!” Hannah answered again but Danielle was justsmiling at them while listening to their exchanges of conversation.
“ You’re the new personal assistant of the tiger, am Iright?” Gerald glanced at Danielle.
“Tiger???Whose that?” Danielle was bewildered.
“ The CEO. Everyone called him as the tiger.” Edward explainedwhen she had a confused look on her face.
“ Oh???” Danielle mumbled.
“ I know it's quite rude to call him that. But that suitshis character. He is hard to please. “ Gerald explained.
Danielle just nodded her head but in her mind, they misjudged their boss personality.
“ By the way, I'm Gerald.”
“ I'm Edward. “
“ I’m Tiffany. “
They introduced themselves to Danielle.
“ I’m Danielle Artates. It's nice to meet you all.”
“ Me, too. So, why don't we go to the same place to eatlunch. My treat for the new personal assistant of the Tiger.”
Edward insisted and everyone laughed happily.
“ Okay.” They all agreed.
As the elevator door opened, they happily get out and wenttogether to Greenwich.
“ What shall we order, guys?”
Edward looked at them happily.
“ Why don't we order two large pizza's that has 4 differenttoppings ? ” Tiffany suggested.
“ That's right. Then, let's add somebundle fries and fried chicken. “ Hannah eagerlyadded.
“ What else do you like to order, Miss Artates? “ Edward stared at Danielle withsparkling eyes.
“ I'd like to have spaghetti please. And please do callme, Danielle. It soundsawkward to say myname in a too formal way when we are outside work.”
“ Oh, sorry! From now on, I'll call you, Danielle.” Edwardsmiled. He stood up and went to order on the counter while the others were waitingfor the food.
“ So tell me, Danielle, do you have a boyfriend? “ Tiffanyasked with a teasing look in her eyes.
“ No. I don't haveany. Would you like to give me one?” Danielle joked to make herself at ease.
“ Oh really? Can I be your boyfriend? “ Gerald laughedbut he was also joking.
“ Well, you should court her first and get my approval.“ Hannah joked too.
Everyone laughed as their conversation lightened up theiratmosphere. They didn't take their conversation seriously. After a few minutes,Edward came back to them. Their food was delivered into their table and they atetogether while discussing their own personal issues.
After eating, they went back to their work. Danielle hadfun being around them. Somehow, her sorrow faded while she was having conversationsand laughing at Edward and Gerald's jokes.
While everyone was busy doing their own job, Danielle got an intercom call from the CEO.“ Get inside quickly, Danielle!”
When Anthony sawthe blood flowing down from Danielle's arms, he was shock. He calmed himself andthe expression on his face changed.“ Why are you so stupid? Come here! Let me see your arms.”Danielle looked at her wounded arm but she didn't moveeither. Rushing towards her, Anthony's facial expression softened.
Feeling dizzy, Danielle stopped drinking and stood up.“ Hey, why is it that everything turning around and around. “Seeing her almost can't stand straight on her feet, Anthony went closer to her.“ Danielle, come on! I'll send you home.” Anthony carried her in his arms in a bridal style.
After filling up her empty stomach, Danielle felt satisfied. She took also her medicine for her headache and dizziness and drank it.“ Thank you for the food.”“ Your welcome, ma'am. I'll go now.”
As soon as Danielle has delivered Jenny to her grandmother in her mother side, Danielle felt lonely inside. She was sad but also felt relieved to see Jenny staying somewhere safe. She smiled with a hint of pain on her lips. Is she destined to live alone forever?Was she cursed when she was born into this world? A bitterness swept on her heart. Now, she must continue living with no one by her side. She travelled back to the city alone again.
Feeling exhausted, Danielle sat down on a bench. She went searching for job for almost two weeks but there was no luck at all. She was becoming impatient and irritated. While she was resting, her phone rang.“ Hello?” Danielle answered the phone call. “ Danielle, it's me. Hannah.”“ Oh, Hannah! How are you? What’s up?”
Every one was busy preparing for work, Stella noticed Daniellewas preparing herself too.“ So, you found a new job already? “ She asked Daniellewhile zipping the front of her blouse.“ Actually, the company I recently resigned before, theycalled me yesterday to tell me that they want me back.”“ Is that mean...You're going to be with that boss devilagain?” Stella got worried. “ Don’t worry.
Chapter 18: Dumbfounded, Anthony stopped their argument and he recalled what Danielle said to him. “ What did you just said?”“ Never mind! I'm not going to repeat whatever I said.” Danielle turned her face to the side.But Anthony touched her face, forcing her to turn her head to face him.“ I’m sorry.” His grip on her arms was loosened. “ I'm sorry if I got je