Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Alex sat on the edge of the bed while cutting fruit for Precious. He looked lethargic and his gaze was sad perhaps because he was sad to see the girl he loved lying weak on the hospital bed wearing patient clothes. Alex looked at his watch and it was already  10 am. Alex got up from his chair and said goodbye to Precious because he had to go to work.

"Just take a rest today, no need to come to work." Said Alex and Precious answered with a nod of her head

" Then I'll go now." Said Alex

Precious paused and shook her head, Alex then left to go to work. Meanwhile Robert and Claire, who had arrived at the office, immediately entered the new room that had been prepared to be Claire and her team's workspace.

Robert proudly shows the room in a beautiful and simple decor according to Claire's taste so that she can work comfortably. Claire looked at all corners of the room then nodded her head with a smile that indicated she was satisfied with the room that had been prepared for her.

" What do you think?" asked Robert

"Yes, this room is not bad either." Said Claire

Robert immediately smiled broadly at Claire's words because not bad means very good and satisfying Claire's standards. Claire then walks and sits in her chair which directly faces the work table and heads straight for the door.

"Now there is only one thing left. What about my team list? I have come to work now, is my team not available yet? " said Claire

"The team list has been prepared and is on Alex , but Alex hasn't arrived yet." Said Robert

"Why hasn't he come yet? I really want to meet him. Call him now. " Said Claire who looked impatient

"Always Alex, I should just call Stella and ask whether the fashion team list has been sent by Alex or not." Said Robert

Robert then called Stella and asked for the fashion team list to be printed. And after he hung up, Alex came carrying a file with the fashion team list. As soon as she saw Alex enter the room and stand in front of her, Claire immediately smiled broadly she was so happy that she stood up from her seat and take some quick steps to  hug Alex tightly.

"Bad boy, what keeps you so busy that you don't pick me up and make me wait for you in this boring office." Said Claire, hitting Alex's back with her hand

"Sorry, sorry, but can you let me go first." Said Alex

" Why?" Claire asked, looking at Alex with her hands still wrapped around Alex's neck

"If other people see us like this they can misunderstand." Alex said, bowing his head

"Why should I care about what others think? Besides, making other people misunderstand is fun, especially if there is an office scandal that will be very exciting. " Said Claire, smiling broadly as if she really wanted a big scandal to occur

Robert immediately released Claire's hand which wrapped around Alex's neck. And Robert also pushed Claire and Alex to stay away with him standing in the middle while stretching his arms between Claire and Alex as a barrier.

"It's true what Alex said, there shouldn't be a scandal in the office let alone in my company. So it's better now that we sit in the chairs and discuss the fashion team list. " Said Robert

Robert also forced Alex and Claire to sit around a work desk. Alex then gives Robert and Claire the fashion team list file. Robert and Claire very seriously check the list of candidates for the fashion team for Claire. One by one they check the list in detail and make sure nothing is missed.

"What do you think of the two of you? I made this list by considering various things. And also actually I want to add one person who is not on the list. " Said Alex

"Who is the person you want to add?" Claire and Robert asked together.

Alex then took a portfolio that he held and put it on the table. Claire took the portfolio that contained Precious's data. Claire read Precious's personal data and then looked at Alex with a serious look.

"Why do you want to add her?" Claire asked

"I just felt she was a match. Please, thanks claire ... I'm sure she can really help you. " Said Alex

"Ok, I'll accept her on my team." Said Claire

Alex looked so happy that he smiled broadly and Stella, who accidentally saw it all, put on a glum face. Deep down, Stella felt jealous of Precious who could make Alex smile like that. Stella released her hand from the door handle and chose to retreat.

With a document in her hand Stella went to the canteen to comfort her sad heart. Stella then ordered a cup of black coffee and then sat in one of the chairs right next to the window facing the street.

Stella put the document she had brought to the table and sipped her black coffee. She then looked at the road and watched the cars passing by with her sad eyes. Stella even sighed when she remembered the words Alex had said when he refused her.

"What are you thinking about putting on such an ugly face?" Claire asked, suddenly sitting in front of Stella,

Stella was a little surprised but she tried to ignore Claire. Stella remained silent and stared at the highway as if she thought Claire was nowhere to be seen. But Claire also did not give up, she tapped the table with her fingers repeatedly until finally Stella could not stand and looked at her.

"Can't you leave me alone? Why do you like to bother so much? " Stella said, bending her face in annoyance

"Why are you so upset? Is this because of Alex again? " Claire asked

"Why do you care so much ..." Stella said curtly

"Is this the file you should give me? Why don't you give it and instead sit here while enjoying black coffee and the view of a boring highway? " said Claire

"Didn't Alex come and give the file earlier? Why are you bothering me for this? What exactly do you want from me? " said Stella in an annoyed tone

"Nothing, I just want to know you further." Said Claire

Stella was very upset. She felt that Claire really wanted to play with her and that made her patience run out. Stella then moved away and left Claire alone. Whereas Claire could only smile faintly with one corner of her lips rising when she saw Stella who left because she was very upset.

In the ward with medicinal aromas that fill the entire room. Precious sat on a hospital bed, leaning on the pillow she was holding. Her eyes seemed to hold a lot of sadness and various problems that filled her mind.

Precious looked very agitated to the point where she could not hold back her tears to flow. She could only cover her face with her hands and tried to bury her tears even though her tears could not stop flowing.

"I'm devastated, look at how you are now ... You're very bad Precious, you're very bad." Said Precious to herself in between tears

Precious felt very devastated and she felt she was at the lowest point of her life. She could not imagine how people would see her especially Alex who now knew the facts she wanted to hide.

The high wall that she built in the name of self-esteem has now collapsed in front of the person she most didn't want him to know.