Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Don't ask about Jess's response when they're in the cafeteria for lunch. Her laughter is so loud and boisterous. Not to mention, she's wiping the corners of her eyes that are wet from tears, not because she's crying. Not at all. But she finds it funny listening to all the stories Fathia just told.

"Can you stop?" Fathia has rotated her eyes in annoyance so many times she's lost count. This time, her lunch isn't extra cheesy pasta. For some reason, the spicy chicken dish is really tempting. Eating at one of the cafes not far from the Energy Building, but with a quick time limit because they both know that eating out in a situation like this could be considered suspicious.

"Ah... if you miss him, just say it honestly, Fathia."

Fathia snorted irritably. Stirring the remnants of her strawberry smoothie, she glanced briefly at the watch on her wrist. "Come on. Let's go back."

With a sigh, Jess finished her meal. Along the way back to the office, Jess chuckled intermittently. "Seriously, Fathia, you miss him, don't you?"

Fathia stopped before passing the entrance checkpoint into the building. She put her mask back on to cover part of her face. "Yeah. Are you satisfied?"

Jess laughed again. "Seriously, you're so fun to tease."

Until they reached the front of the elevator, Jess was still giggling. As they entered the metal box that would take them back to the 31st floor, both Fathia and Jess fell silent. Because Kenzo got in the elevator too.

"I heard you laughing a lot, Jesslyn. You seem really happy?" Kenzo glanced with a disdainful look at the girl who had been smiling nonstop since entering the building lobby, for some reason.

Jess just nodded slightly. "Lucky, sir, there's still something that makes me happy. Better than being grumpy all the time like someone who can't meet their targets."

Kenzo turned and gave a more cynical look than usual. "Are you mocking me?"

"No. Why should I mock you? Do I know what your job is like?" Jess was never afraid to raise her war flag against Kenzo, who was truly annoying. This was outside her working hours. She was free to use the time when she wasn't under Kenzo's pressure like in the days before.

Kenzo snorted in displeasure, his jaw tightened, and his hand clenched in frustration. Only Clara had someone who he considered merely casual confront him so boldly.

"You," Kenzo's voice was sharp. Was Jess scared? Not at all, except she restrained herself because she felt a gentle pull on her arm from Fathia. Her friend shook her head slightly, a sign not to create a scene.

"Be careful later," Kenzo muttered, pulling his blazer roughly. He got ready to exit the elevator as soon as he pointed to his floor. And as soon as the doors opened, he walked out with big strides, his face holding back frustration. Who else would make him angry except Jesslyn, the tactless girl? In his head, he was organizing how to prevent this girl from being as careless as she was just now.

Fortunately, the only person in the elevator was his sister who couldn't speak. If there was someone else? Where would he put his face?

"Don't provoke trouble, Jess," Fathia whispered, trailing far behind Kenzo's steps. Walking down the corridor, Fathia put on her mask again while Jess pouted in annoyance at that warning.

"He's seriously so annoying!"

Their steps stopped as they heard someone calling out to them, out of breath; Biyan.

"Where have you guys been?" he says with an annoyed expression.

"Eating, Mr. Biyan," Jess quickly interrupts Fathia, who is pulling out her notes. "What's up?"

"Anne, come with me right away."

Both Jess and Fathia exchange glances. "What's going on?" Jess voices her curiosity.

"Mr. Sebastian is angry because Anne came down to this floor again."

In Jess's side glance, Fathia can see how her friend is trying to hold back an uncontrollable burst of laughter. Gently patting Fathia's shoulder, she whispers, "Good luck with Mr. Hwat, Fathia."

"Come on, hurry up. Whispering won't help!" Biyan retorts impatiently. His head is spinning, thinking that he'll surely incur Mr. Sebastian's wrath if he doesn't quickly bring Anne to clean Sebastian's office. Just as the company's leader asked while he was enjoying lunch.

Fathia nods slowly and follows Biyan's steps back to the elevator. There's no conversation between them except for the tense expression on her supervisor's face. Is Sebastian really that intimidating? But Jess herself had said that Sebastian was scary. In fact, she'd been worried for Fathia because, at that moment, Sebastian had seemed genuinely terrifying to Jess.

Walking quickly to keep up with Biyan, who seems not to want to be bothered, that's all Fathia can do. She's not afraid to face Sebastian, really, but she doesn't want Sebastian to know that she's still alive. Close by. And looking like this. She's busy thinking about the possibilities because since she entered his room, Sebastian hasn't lowered his gaze from her.

"Whatever you do, don't cause any trouble when you're working in Mr. Sebastian's office. He doesn't like anything out of the ordinary in his space. Arrange what he asks, don't touch anything in there. You have to report everything to Mr. Vino as well. Do you understand?"

Biyan says quickly before they actually arrive in front of Sebastian's office. All Fathia can do is nod silently. As their feet reach the room where, this morning, Fathia had been walking back and forth due to Sebastian's ridiculous requests. Making coffee, trying it repeatedly until Sebastian felt it was just right, even though it was the same measurement as when Fathia first made it for Clara.

"Now... this is the taste I want," he says while closing his eyes slightly. Enjoying the umpteenth cup of coffee that Fathia has made. Even though the measurement Fathia used in the last cup is exactly the same as the first time Fathia made it. Without much debate, even though the desire is really strong, Fathia chooses to nod obediently.

"Where did you learn this?"

Fathia stays silent. Letting Sebastian once again assign her a task that's completely unreasonable in her opinion; organizing files that are already organized, wiping shelves full of dusty files, all things that Fathia considers pointless.

"Sir," Biyan greets softly. He doesn't want to disturb his big boss for too long. Throughout his years of working here, he's avoided interacting with Sebastian. Not without reason, the guy has an aura that makes Biyan's confidence suddenly shrink. Even now, when Sebastian raises his gaze from the report he's reading.

His gaze as sharp as an eagle's, ready to strike him down if he makes a mistake. Biyan nervously swallows.

"Starting today, Anne is in my office. Cleaning the 35th floor, Biyan. Also, place two others here to assist her."

Biyan blinks slowly but doesn't dare voice his confusion. On the floor where all the directors of Group Azure are located, indeed two staff members are assigned to clean and ensure all the rooms are neat and tidy. But if three people are on this floor? Isn't that excessive?

"Understood, Biyan?"

"Got it, sir," Biyan startles but quickly thinks about how to arrange his subordinates on each floor. Even though they've just added two new members, including Anne, if the company leader himself makes a direct request like this, there's nothing Biyan can do except comply.

As soon as Biyan leaves Sebastian's office, where the girl now wearing her mask stands not far from his desk, she catches the tall man's attention. There's no doubt now, the handwriting matches Fathia's perfectly. During lunch, he used the time to call Fathia's luxurious mansion again just to confirm whether Naomi's words are still the same as when Sebastian first contacted her.

And nothing has changed from all of Naomi's explanations about who Anne is; a niece from the village who came to study in New York City. Living with her in the back pavilion while also helping her to take care of the house that Alvin Mehram Claire left behind every weekend. Also, questions about the new staff, who's supposedly also a distant niece of Naomi's. Someone Sebastian can't forget, the blonde girl who cried at the funeral. Her face has scars that are starting to heal, but there are marks on her hands.

Vino said that the girl is the same one they met at the mall when Fathia disappeared. It's likely that she's also the same person who often sent messages about him on Fathia's phone. When Sebastian was handed the application letter from the girl, he never got the image of the girl he'd only met a few times wrong; Fathia's close friend.

Jesslyn Rasopati.

And there's one thing that has been a strong suspicion since the second time he saw the handwriting of the girl who's now standing in front of him. Sebastian isn't foolish, to think that the handwriting of someone he knows very well would be exactly the same. Fathia. The girl who's always lived in his heart, the image of lowering her coffin has haunted him time and time again. The girl he visits every two weeks just to keep himself sane, because losing Fathia has a greater effect than being abandoned by Felice.

"Have you eaten?" Sebastian asks softly.

Fathia raises her gaze in surprise. Her forehead wrinkles as she processes the meaning of Sebastian's question. Slowly, she takes out her notes from her pocket, quickly writing because she's afraid her answer is awaited. Even though she could nod, Fathia needs to ask one thing.

"Yes. Is there anything I can do here, sir? If not, may I have permission to clean the meeting room from earlier?"

Sebastian quickly reads the message. "No, stay here. Once you've eaten, please make my coffee again. Your next task, with my permission. If I don't give you an order, you can sit there," Sebastian points to a corner of the sofa where Fathia was sound asleep last time.

The eyes that Sebastian will never forget in his lifetime blink from behind his thick glasses. There's a noticeable scar that bothers his right temple. Leading Sebastian to assume that whatever Anne—no, if he can hope for it, that she's Fathia—is covering up something.

Sebastian thought the girl would protest, but she doesn't. She chooses to nod and immediately heads to the coffee maker in another corner of the room.

"I'm not too fond of the coffee Nia makes. Just to show appreciation for her work, I accept it. I prefer to brew it myself. Here," Sebastian said the first time he asked Fathia to make coffee for him. And now, Fathia is heading there. Making it according to the measurements she knows by heart.

Turns out... her time in Beverly Hills learning how to brew coffee wasn't in vain. Just as she'd wanted. Someday, her brewed coffee will be enjoyed by Sebastian as he closes his eyes, savoring every sip as though it's truly delightful. A smile, hidden behind her mask, won't fade. She doesn't care if Jess teases her more when they leave. For her, this is already more than enough.

Meanwhile, behind his desk, Sebastian doesn't break his gaze from the girl who's so tall, with a different stature and movement that openly hints that, if it's true, she's Fathia. Not wanting to waste any time, he sends a message to Ronald to find out who's really buried under the name Fathia.

Right. He won't waste the time he has. Uncover the truth and make sure this girl in front of him is no longer in trouble. His heart no longer doubts what has repeatedly pounded in his mind, that Fathia is still alive. Standing near him now. Making him coffee, and soon she'll serve it while waiting to see if there's praise from him or not.

The vibration of his phone on his desk interrupts Sebastian's pleasant thoughts. From Ronald.

Ronald: Don't entertain such thoughts, Sebastian. It's impossible. We saw Fathia's body ourselves before it was laid to rest, in case you've forgotten.

Sebastian doesn't waste time and replies immediately.

Sebastian A.: But we weren't allowed to uncover her face due to the privacy of the deceased. Isn't that, right? I've asked Uncle to help with an autopsy to confirm if the one buried is indeed Fathia Claire. That's all. Do you object?