Chapter 5 Her "Comfort" Zone

I barely concentrate on my paper works typing, delete, typing... Ugh! I just hate this feeling! I feel I've been looked at or what, I feel someone's eyes on my back always. This is bad my anxiety starts to rush in. I feel my breathing is heavy, my mood already dropped low this early in the morning. I wish I can't see his face again. I faced the computer and proceeded to type the document that was needed today.

"Alisa?" Miss Mil calling me, I stood up and meet her in front of her office

"Yes, Ma'am?" I tried to smile at her. And give me a pile of papers, it's kinda heavy, to be honest, I feel my hand numb I can't lift this heavy. Yeah, I'm weakling!

"Bring that to accounting. Go the 20th floor, Go to Mrs. McHoney to further instruction." He instructed and I just nod my head and walking slowly and balancing the documents in my hands and waiting for the elevator to open as the time passed the paper kinda heavy I can feel the sweat on my body.

"Why this elevator won't work?" and try pressing the buttons finally it was open but 'the elevator is not available right now, please take the stairs! Sorry for the inconvenience.' Oh, nice! What a day, what a day! I cursed in the wind and march my way to the stairs. I tucked an air before starting to go n after 20 minutes I arrived on the 20th floor, I wiped my sweat away and knocks before I entered.

"You must be Alisa from the 25th floor, right? Lemme help you with that, sweetie!" as she lifts the paperwork and as I felt relieved

"Follow me, baby." I nodded and I waited for her to start to walk before I follow her. She's the total opposite of Miss Mil, I bet she's entertaining and enthusiastic about her work and she always smiling and treat her subordinate as a person not his slaves. But not comparing them, okay? This is just pure observation. We went to her office as I can see the tall buildings surrounds the area and the sky. Her office is spacious and clean and comfortable for this field of work, she put down the documents in her office and sits on the swivel chair she gets her massaging kit and lets the operation to her body. Is she the manager here? She's not that uptight as Miss Mil I laughed at that thought.

"Alisa, right?" She said and smiles at me

"Yes, Ma'am," I said formally then she rolled my eyes, looking at me.

"Don't be so formal, baby! Just relax, okay? I'm Celestine Belle the head of this accounting department." She introduced herself and we shake our hands.

"Take a seat." She said while pointing to the chair in front of her.

"This is heavy. I'm surprised that you carry it all." Well, I have to or Miss Mil gonna kill me but I chose to say that and her a smile.

"Thank you, Ma'am," I simply said and nods and gets some pull out a green folder in her table drawer before handed to me.

"Go the CEO and make sure he signed it, okay?" My jaw dropped. What did she fucking said? Miss Celestine said that with a smile.

"That's the raise of the employers in here and another department. If that document doesn't by the CEO we're all..." She imaginary slit her throat it means the death of us (employers)

"And that's classified information. Make sure you brought that to his office, okay? It will be a big help! Our department is really busy right now," she added. So, our department isn't that busy? I wanted to retort, she handed me the folder.

"It will be a big help." She winked at me, I stand up, and escorted me outside of their department. I bid my goodbyes and after a few steps, my heart is racing so fast.

Why is the hell he's working here? I mean? No offense his family owns an empire of business in the field of exporting and importing. But in the business sector, our family specializes that! I ranted while walking and the elevator is working again, I stepped inside and pressed the 20th, waiting for it to open but then the elevator opened on the 23rd floor, some employees joined in on the outside I saw Noctis... with a girl. I cannot see her properly cause the elevator closed again. He looks so happy with that girl. I uttered on my mind I felt a tug on my heart painfully.

Is she the reason that he came back?

But my questions in my mind became a thought I stepped out of the elevator and went to our department and when straight to Miss Mil's office. I knocked and I heard a voice that I can enter.

"Miss Mil, here's the document," I said, biting my lips waiting for her answer.

"And?" Without looking at me, typing on her computer. Grumpy old lady!

"Celestine said you will to Mr. Noctis's office, right?" She asked. Damn... Why she knew that?! I need an escape plan!

"And what you're doing here in the first place?" she stops to type in her computer and she raised her brow at me.

Need to think fast! How can I think of an alibi?

I fake my cough. "Now you mentioned it... I wasn't feeling well, Ma'am!" stupid, redundant excuse. She stood up and feel my forehead.

"I cannot feel any heat for you, Alisa." She smirked. "Back to work and bring that folder to Mr. Noctis! Stop slacking off, kid!" She rolled her eyes and go back to her work, I excused myself and I am going back to my work again. I closed her door office and with a lower head, walking like a zombie to my station.

"Hey? Wanna happen to you?" Giselle asked me while relaxing a bit while her hands on her head.

"Nothing," I simply answered with a timid smile. I feel my head gonna explode at anything moment. Stress! Stress everywhere!

"Did she scold you? Or attack you?" Gis asked again I shook my head as an answer.

Why he came back and make everything so complicated? I stood up and went to the bathroom, I washed my face and look at the mirror.

"You're still that bitch." I chanted myself, cheering myself.

Yes, Noctis gave me trauma that will haunt me forever but he will not stop living my life with the ghost of my past behind. I tucked some air and go back to my station and get the folder and went to the elevator waits for it to open again and went inside.

You're gonna be fine, okay? I said to myself if he did something out of your welfare. Run and go tell the authority! Don't be the dumb bitch you are because loved her before. The elevator opens on the 25th floor. I gather myself up and walking to his office, I heavily sigh before I knocked the door is opening and I see a girl.

"Hi, I am Zary, Mr. Noctis's secretary. What can I do for you?" She asked

I smiled at Zary. "I delivered some folder for him to signed,"

"I can do that for you," Zary said. Oh my god!An angel!

"Zary?" I heard his voice and Zary say sorry to me and before closing the door. I was waiting outside.

"Hello. Sir, you can come in..." As the door are wide open, I entered a wide spacious room. The ambiance of felt intimated and powerful the room shouting like: I am the boss here. My heart is pounding with every step I take in her office and I hear the door shut close. I'm dead! I'm in the pit hole! He was looking in his window with a stress ball in his left hand, I put the documents. Perfect! I'm gonna leave this room in the second!

"Hold up." My system froze, he turns his swivel chair and looking at me boringly.

"Why, sir?" I smiled at him, and make the SIR so clear. He smirked when hearing it.

"While browsing the resume of all the employees I found your resume is something off." And put down my resume on me. And I get it reading carefully.

"And what the problem?" I asked and laughing at me.

"Sorry, it sounded so dumb." Did this jerk insulted me in the right of my face?!

"Done laughing, Nico?" I crossed my arms as a sign of my dominance. I widen my eyes. Nico. Shit! Why did I call him that! Stupid bitch!

He smirked. "You're using my surname, but you're single? Are you my sister now?"

I smiled too sarcastically. "Don't worry. I don't want a brother like you." I gave him my resume again and starts to walk out of the room.

"Your father is getting worse and worse every day..." It kinda hits my heart.

"She wants us together again. Before he died. He wants to see us and apologize to you." he said in a soft voice, but I chose to walk away.

--

I got an early out from our department, our department having games and have fun. But I wasn't still thinking about what Noctis said earlier about my dad and why not is anyone telling me this? I need some answers. I opened the condo's door. It was pitch dark again. Not to mention Kyla is with his "friends" and I see she's having fun on the beach. I wish I can go to the beach again, I miss being tan and all. Not I'm having a problem right, it's too much to handle and I believe it will get worse. I sat on the couch and open the TV, looking for something to watch but it was bored one, I decided to go upstairs to change my clothes and get ready to sleep. I feel a little stressed this day. I go to the bathroom, removes my uniform. Ugh! I feel so free! I put 1tsp of Epsom salt in the bathtub to lessen my stress. I put my phone full volume Clairo's Pretty Girl is playing right now, I went to the bathroom to wash my body and I feel my body calming right now, smiling the feeling of not minding right now, I feel my head empty and reverb.

"Alisa..." His voice is so low and sexy, he grew a more mature man right and he's aging just fine wine - a chef's kiss. I opened my eyes again. What the fuck?! Did I just have a fantasy about that guy? Hell no! I tried to say to myself.

"Handsome? Yeah... But he's a total jerk! A total jerk, that man broke you in piece always remember that..." I said and my heart starting to hurt as little tug to my heart. My phone beeps it was my little brother. I answered it calmly.

"Sis! Come here quick!" My brother with panic and fear in his voice and I can hear the background of my mother's sobbing. I went out to the tub and grab my towel.

"Text where the hospital is. Give me five minutes," I said in a hurry picking quick clothes to fit on

"Sis, we're waiting..." His voice is cracking.

"Ssh. Wait for me, okay?" And went out and lock the door and I stormed off outside.

---

I am feeling mixed emotions right now. It was fear, anxiety, guilt, and anger but this not important right now. I went inside where the hospital resides my father saw my family on the outside of the E.R. Mom is breaking down in tears while my brother is comforting her.

"Andrew..." I called my brother, went he saw me he broke down in tears. I patted his back and whispered in his ears: it's okay, it's okay. My mom saw me but he didn't urge me to greet her. The doctor went outside.

"The patient's family?" My mom quickly to the doctor and we followed her too.

"I am sad to say this... But, we have to assign him to the ICU. His heart getting and bigger. But if we go the surgery, it was hefty like 45 Millon and the meds, too." My mother sniffed and smiles at the doctor.

"Thank you, Doc!" and sit down to the bench. And after a while, I saw Noctis walking to us and giving me a warm hug it was comforting and it feels like home and I broke down in tears.