All Novel XO
[80]
“Are you feeling better?” asked Brina while giving a mischievous glance at Giselle who was still enjoying her chocolate ice cream. Today, that’s right… especially today Brina gave so much leniency. Aside from making Giselle feel better, she also couldn’t bear to see Giselle pouting again.
Upon returning from the cafe in the lobby, oh… you know, Brina wanted to go back to her room but she was self-conscious. The guest who came to visit today had a big role to play in Giselle’s mood, though the girl refused to admit it.
“Chocolate helps me get through the day,” she said, rubbing the corner of her lips where she felt a trace of ice cream. “Are you alone? Did you finish your work?”
Brina sneered. didn’t Giselle know that doing a lot of work at a cafe table was hard enough for her? Not to mention that she sometimes had to refrain from talking on the phone at random. Who knows if someone might accidentally eavesdrop and turn it into valuable information? But for Giselle’s sake, geez… should Brina be rewarded for her generosity?
“I don’t think Justin is putting too much pressure on me since it’s the same time you’re sick.”
“I can go back to work tomorrow.” Giselle also tidied up the snack wrappers scattered on the table. preparing to sleep because it was also getting late. “You’ve already informed the team, right?”All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.
“They said it was postponed for the next two days. Aside from the fact that you’re not feeling too good, oh… let’s not pause on this. Justin himself asked for two days of rest, which means you should use tomorrow to rest.”
“But what about Mr. Sergio? I made him wait. You know, we also have professional limits.”
“He doesn’t matter, Giselle.” Brina laughed.
“But I’m fine. What do I do tomorrow? Stay in the hotel room? How boring.” She sniggered in displeasure. The table, which was a bit messy earlier, was back to being neat and clean. Although there were a few jars of chocolate cookies, but at least the table was much better than when Brina came.
“You were inside the hotel earlier too, right?” Brina chuckled. “Is it boring spending time together with Andrew?”
Giselle rolled her eyes in annoyance. “I’d rather sleep than listen to what you have to say.” She headed for her room. She ignored Brina who seemed to be going back to work on her report. But come to think of it, maybe her one more day of rest tomorrow could be used by Brina to loosen up a bit in terms of working on the report. Brina wasn’t just an assistant, she was a jack-of-all-trades, and Justin relied on her.
Once inside the room, he lay down. The abdominal pain that had plagued him earlier, which made him move so painfully, and it felt like he was breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain. This time it was much better and he was able to fall asleep comfortably.
The cell phone on her bedside table buzzed for attention. And when Giselle noticed it, her smile was drawn wide.
[+6108***766]
I just arrived at my flat. Luckily my boss isn’t in the office today, so there’s not much work piled up on my desk. Are you better? How’s your pain? I was looking for info, it seems that monthly pain is quite annoying huh?
Without much thought, he replied to the message just now.
[Giselle. N]
Brina just got back. I guess a lot of work got to her. I’m a bit sorry but what can I do? I don’t really know how to help. My stomach is getting better. I guess chocolate is the best option to calm this pain. Sometimes it’s annoying, other times I guess I should be asked to rest in between the busy schedule.
Giselle spent the rest of the night curled up under the covers. While playing with her phone, or occasionally sitting up and leaning back comfortably so that her stomach wouldn’t hurt anymore, it was probably about an hour before the man on the other end decided to let her sleep.
[Giselle. N]
You know, I’m still not allowed to do any activities tomorrow. As usual, Justin’s a bit over the top about me being sick, but I’m wondering what I’m going to do tomorrow. I can’t just stay in my room, it’s so boring.
[Mr. Secret]
Great Asia has many places you can visit, although it’s not as big as the city of Centralia but I think you’ll enjoy your time here.
Giselle named Andrew like that for a reason. What the man had told her, a wish that was still on hold for some time before the man was ready to return, made her take the initiative to label her contact like that. Andrew’s profile picture was just a sign of the office where the man worked.
Ah… when she met Brina, she should have warned her assistant not to say a single word about Andrew’s whereabouts. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the SEO people, it was just that Andrew had his own reasons for not wanting to return.
“The last time I saw my mother, Hanry was still pressuring her quite outrageously. My mother rarely socialized and isolated herself even more because of that old man. I’m grateful that the pain she’s experiencing hasn’t been affected too much because of what I’ve done. She was very supportive of me and had high hopes for me to live with the happiness I wanted. I also can’t help but see the happiness Fania is experiencing.” Andrew smiled slightly. “What do you think of my actions?”
“Brave and quite crazy,” Giselle replied with a crisp laugh. “But I’m sure the happiness you want can be realized. I’m also glad Fania is happy with her new family. I hear she’s pregnant.”
“Thank goodness.” Andrew chuckled. “But can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it?” Giselle looked at Andrew intently. “As long as I can help you, don’t ever hesitate to ask. I’ll try.”
“I won’t trouble you too much, Nami. The words should be mine.” Andrew sighed softly. “Um… if possible, let no one else know about my being here.”
“But you’re definitely coming back?”
“To Centralia?”
Giselle nodded immediately.
“I will. But I need the right time.”
“Is it back to Kingston?”
“You expect me to go back there?”
Giselle blinked in confusion. “That’s… your family, right?”
They were silent for a while but then Giselle cleared her throat to break the silence. “I don’t know if what I said offended you but… if you’re not happy going back to them, I don’t think there’s any need to go back. Why go back and still be treated the same way? It’s better to live your life without their interference, right? You can still see your mother anyway, right?”
Andrew nodded vaguely.
“I’m sure during your two-year exile, you learned a few things. Just like I begged Justin for help even though I didn’t know what would happen. If Justin had bad intentions back then, I don’t think we’d be in this place.”
The man laughed. “Your dark jokes are quite creepy, Nami. I just found out about this side of you.”
Giselle spluttered. “I’m still not used to you calling me Nami. I feel like I’m back in the days of living under glittering lights full of the smell of alcohol.”
“Alright, I apologize. I won’t call you that anymore.”
Giselle immediately shook her head in affirmation. “I learned enough to get used to it, right?”
The vibration of her cell phone interrupted Giselle’s reverie. Andrew’s message came back with lots of photos and links to destinations around Great Asia.
[Mr. Secret]
I think you can visit one of them.
Giselle smiled cheerfully, her hand smoothly typing the message again.
[Giselle. N]
I’ll try to find out. I also need to improve my mood so that when I return to work, I don’t waste this time off.
[Mr. Secret]
Just in case you’re free until the weekend, I’d like to take you somewhere. That’s if you don’t mind and your schedule is free. And don’t force yourself on me.
Giselle laughed at that. “Gosh, what a confident man.” But then, the girl pulled back the blanket to sit more comfortably. She typed in a reply message.
[Giselle. N]
I don’t know, I can’t be sure when I’ll be free. You know, I was given a rest day tomorrow. I might be asked to go home at the end of the week. That means I’m only free tomorrow. How did it go?