His cold voice?
'Ohh... Thank God, the coffee in my hand didn't freeze by the coldness of his voice.'
?Madi's POV:??
Answering some phone calls and checking his new schedules, almost occupied half of my day.
I didn't notice how the time passed, and it was already our lunchtime.
Sandy appeared at my office door wearing,g a wasgry smile.
"What's up? Work over food?"
I smiled. "Fine. I didn't notice the time."
"Hmp! That's your dialogue every day," she said rolling her eyes.
"Really? I didn't know that." I said smiling widely while cleaning my table.
I just got my phone and my purse before we walked to the elevator down to the cafeteria of the building.
"You know what, I have a wonderful story."
I glanced at her while entering the busiest side of the building at this hour.
"And what is it?"
"About our boss." she covered her mouth on the other side so no one could hear her voice except us. And it gets me intrigued. I arched my eyes and could
"That's gossiping!" I told her even though it intrigued me to the bones.
"His cold behavior has a story." she continued whispering.
"What story?"
"I heard, he was betrayed by his ex. The one that he loved but also the one who got away. She left him."
I don't know but hearing him already loved someone gives my heart a slight pinch. But I just ignored it and opened my ears to the additional information from her.
"How did you get that?" I asked her all ears.
"I just heard it when I went to the finance department earlier. And you know what, after that incident, that's when he accepted the position from his father to become the CEO of WEC."
I turned to her, trying to gather more of her story.
"Plus... they said, after his ex betrayed him with another man, he became cold and heartless."
"Hey! You heard it from someone who's talking behind his back?" I eyed her.
"Yes, but I didn't mean to. They were already talking when I walked past them. And don't tell me you're not interested, because everyone in this building loves to gossip about his life."
"I'm not interested." I lied. "I'm just intrigued."
She chuckled behind me as I walked inside to where the line started.
"Girl, that's the same. It's a synonym of interested."
So, he was betrayed? I am wondering if the behavior that he's showing us today is different from his personality before he's been cheated by his ex. Wait? What kind of ex? Ex-girlfriend or ex-wife?
"Ex-fiancee." I was shocked and my head immediately snapped at Sandy's direction.
"You heard it?" I asked my eyes widened. I'm just asking it to myself.
She chuckled again. "Of course, silly! You're thinking so loud!"
"Ohh.." that's all I've said and I bite my bottom lip due to the slight embarrassment. I hope no one heard me talking to myself except her.
"So... that's what you're calling 'not interested', huh?"
She's smirking but I rolled my eyes.
"Hi, Madi."
I was saved by the bell when Troy from the HR department greeted me over two persons in the line ahead of me.
"Hi, Troy." I smiled at him.
"Hmmp! The flirting began."
Sandy muttered to herself, but I just laughed. She keeps on insisting that Troy has a big crush on me but I just also keep on ignoring her.
The thing is, even though he has a crush on me, I can't see anything wrong with that. And that's not a valid reason for me to avoid him. For me, as long as I am not giving him any motive to bring his 'crush' on me at any level, I don't need to stay away from him. Besides, I also considered him as my friend.
He joined us at our table as he always did every day. Of course, sitting beside me.
"I really love their chicken sandwich."
Troy said while unwrapping his second sandwich on his hands.
"I can see that."
Sandy said while grinning.
I twirled my spaghetti on my fork and shoved it into my mouth.
"Troy, where are you from?"
Sandy asked him suddenly.
"Me? I came from Florida," he answered and Sandy and I shared a look.
"You also came from Florida?" I asked facing him.
"Yeah, that's where I lived before I tried my luck here in Chicago. Why? Don't tell me you were also from Florida?"
"Well... yeah." I shrugged. "That's my birthplace."
"Wow, great." we both looked at Sandy. She just shrugged and took a sip of her juice. I know that kind of look.
"Yeah, destiny." my eyes widened at Troy's word but widened more when Sandy spit out half of the juice from her mouth and coughed.
"Sandy!" I glared at her. Thank God, I already finished my food.
"I'm sorry," she said still coughing.
"You did it on purpose!" I accused her.
"What? Of course not! Can't you see I'm coughing my life out? Blame him!" She pointed to Troy beside me.
"Wait? Why me?" Troy asked confused.
"Because you mentioned the word destiny!" she snapped at him.
"And so? Maybe it's a real destiny that Madi and I came from the same land." he countered back with a loud voice.
"Yeah! So, it's your fault!" she snapped again with a louder voice than Troy.
"Wait! I can't see my fault for that! What if I said that Madi and I were brought here by destiny?"
-' Oh God!'-
I just bite my bottom lower lip while massaging my temple. I looked around to see almost all the eyes of the people sitting inside the Cafeteria were now on us. And the pair of brown eyes owned by Mr. Wilsons also staring at us -- coldly... well, staring at me.
"Hey! You two, stop bickering over your food. You're creating a scene and gathering attention!"
They looked around and smiled at those who were raising their eyebrows on them. But they didn't notice the cold stare of our boss from the corner--not--so--far from our table.
Sandy continued her food while Troy scratched his neck. After finishing our lunch, we headed back to our desks, while Troy returned to his department.
I didn't find Mr. Wilson where he was seated earlier.
I checked the time from my wristwatch and found it 5 minutes before 1 pm. I need to go to the pantry to make another coffee for my boss. I also bring my notepad to remind him of his scheduled meeting at 1:30 pm.
After 5 minutes, I am knocking again on his office door.
"Come in."
Ohh... Thank God, the coffee in my hand didn't freeze by the coldness of his voice.
-'Why does he have to be so cold?'-
I pushed the door and found him on his phone. He was talking to someone on the other line, so I didn't greet him. I put the mug on his desk and waited for him to finish his call.
"I didn't ask your opinion regarding this matter!"
I gulped as he yelled at someone on the other line.
"I am paying you to investigate her, to monitor her, and not to interrogate me! Understood?"
Maybe he didn't wait for someone to answer, as he ended the call immediately after he yelled.
-'Wow!'- I mentally arched my eyebrow. -' Not so arrogant!'-
"Your coffee, Mr. Wilsons," I said with a slight smile, pretending I didn't hear anything. Liar!
"What's my next schedule?"
He sat on his chair. I remained standing as I opened my notepad.
"You have a meeting with Cordova's Marketing at 1:30 pm. Their COO will be the one to meet you together with his secretary. As per his secretary, they will present their project presentation regarding the new product they want our company to buy."
I stated fluently. As I finished, I looked at him to see him staring blankly at the bookshelves on his left side.
I waited for him to speak, but minutes had passed, and he didn't move any a bit. Then there's a new notification on his phone and he unconsciously swiped it by his arm. And since it's on the table, I can see the picture that popped up on it. I gulped as I saw the picture of a woman with a man's arm over her shoulders.
I averted my eyes away from it and focused on my notepad. I remembered Sandy's story earlier. I looked at him through my lashes, and I didn't miss how he clenched his jaws and his knuckles turned white by the handgrip that he was giving to his phone.
-' Poor phone. I'm sorry for you and for your sufferings.'-
"Mr. Wilsons."
I tried to call his attention. His head snapped towards me, and I flinched slightly at the look in his eyes. But when he noticed that it was me who was standing in front of him, his eyes softened a bit, and he let out a sigh.
"What's my next schedule?"
-' Huh?'-
My mouth fell open at his question. So, I became invisible to him earlier? I just mentally rolled my eyes and repeated what I said earlier regarding his next meeting. As if I had a choice.
"Okay. Be ready at that time."
"Yes, Sir. Anything else?"
"Nothing more."
I nodded and walked out of his office.
Walking back to my desk, my mind was left on the picture of the woman I saw on his phone. I can't help but think again about what Sandy has told me about Mr. Wilson's past.
As long as I don't want to snoop on other people's lives, I can't help myself from being intrigued by his past. Maybe the gossip was true, because of his cold behavior. Was that woman the reason for him being distant?
Does he still know how to smile? Ever since I started working at this company, I have never seen him laugh or even smile. Whenever his employees greeted him, he never even greeted them back. His face was always masked with seriousness and coldness.
My thoughts were interrupted by a text message from George, one of my managers from my second restaurant. She's also my friend from college.
George: 'Madi, can you drop by here before you go home? We just need your signature for the renewal of the permit of the restaurant. Thanks.'
Me: 'Okay... thanks, George.'
I replied. I checked my watch, and it was 5 minutes before 1:30. I gathered my things and walked out the door.
I saw Sandy walking towards me, she came from the elevator. For sure she just checked the conference room where the meeting will be held.
"The meeting room is ready," she said smiling.
"Thank you, Sandy."
Tbc
Hope's copy