Chapter 43: Chapter 43

"Is that Mr. D?" she asks.

"He is," I answer, then pause to look at her, my left brow raising. "You know him?"

"I met him once at the coffee shop," she says, glancing at him. "He looks-"

"Eccentric," I finish it for her, laughing.

I don't know why, but I harbor no hatred for Ella. It hurts to see her taking my place in Zed's heart, although I have no right to feel that way. Yet, she's also the reason I've been stripped of my guilt for leaving Zed. I'm a human, after all. But even if this stupid jealousy makes me feel like an idiot, I am truly happy for Zed. I just don't want to see them together. It makes me regret the things I failed to do as his wife.

Ella's lips twist into an amused but confused smile. "Eccentric?"

"You'll get to know him soon since your office will be in this building with him."

I lead Ella to a hallway on the ground floor and stop at the last door of the left wing. I glance at her, and our eyes meet.

"Is this the room you will give me?"

I nod while reaching out for the doorknob. I have this room prepared ahead because I know this is what she will need. This is also where Sweet and Spicy, the previous food catering company, held their office. I have no idea why they suddenly withdrew from running Kim Yuan's cafeterias, aside from their claims of financial setbacks, but it sounded lame to me. The company has thousands of employees per branch who eat three meals a day, not to mention snack periods and meetings over cups of coffee.

"Yes, if you like it."

I open the room, and her eyes sparkle upon the spacious room before her. It has a receiving room with a settee and coffee table, then a row of cubicles with wooden desks at the center. At the far corner are two private rooms intended for the owner and the manager.

"You may have it rearranged according to your taste," I say, interrupting her focus on surveying the area.

"Thank you," she says, a look of admiration gleaming on her face.

"At the back of this building is another gate for private entry and exit."

"So much better," she exclaims. "I will come back later and plan for the setup."

"Anytime."

"Darling, are you done?" I look over my shoulder and see Kim walking toward us.

"Yes. Why are you here?" I ask.

"Is it surprising to accompany my wife?" he says, wrapping an arm around my waist. "I really intend to go with you, but I need to go through a document right away."

"Mr. Mori," Ella acknowledges Kim and smiles.

"Ella, if you want paintings or framed photographs, I have someone I can recommend to do it for you. When he's not doing a project, he paints."

"Landscapes, seascape, portraits, abstract," a voice from our back has all of us turning in its direction.

"Speaking of the genius," Kim chuckles, his eyes moving between Ella and Dennis.

"You may have it in oil, acrylic, watercolor, spray, charcoal…"

Ella looks at him, nodding. But Dennis continues, making Ella's jaw drop.

"40x4o, 24x24, 18x24,16x20…"

"I've seen you before," Ella smiles, extending a hand to him. At the coffee shop?"

"Coffee shops, museums, hotel lounges, parks, malls, offices, companies…"

"And the list goes on," I say, chuckling. "You're good at that, I know, but don't bore Ella with your statistics."

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. D," Ella smiles at him. Miss Yen says your office is also in this building."

"Fourth floor, 1o meters from the elevator door on your right, and 10 meters on the left."

Ella laughs but stops when Dennis glares at her. He lifts his wrist and looks at the time on his watch.

"30 minutes before lunch, 20 minutes delivery time."

"What's for lunch?" I ask, having become accustomed to Dennis' eccentricities.

"Two cups of Japonica rice; two steamed Cream Dory fish fillets with twenty fermented and salted black beans; five chicken wings in soy and herbs, garlic and parmesan, chili and sour cream, honey and mustard; 500 ml carbonated drink with 20 ice cubes in 700 cc capacity disposable cup maintaining an initial temperature of 0°C, and steamed spinach with ten minced garlic, ten onion rings, a pinch of black pepper in 50 cc soy sauce."

"Okay, Den. My head hurts," I laugh, shaking my head. I glance at Ella and see her looking at Dennis with parted lips.

"Paracetamol is a medication for mild to moderate pain and fever and is safe for pregnant women in any of its forms. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine and is taken with caution, especially in people with gastric irritation syndrome."

"I'll take Paracetamol," I say.

Dennis stares at me for a few seconds, then shifts his gaze to Ella. "5 pm coffee, 7 pm dinner. Come in between. Extra people not allowed."

Den turns to leave, leaving Ella marveling at his attitude.

"What did he say just now?" she asks.

"If you want to see him for design, go to him at seven in the evening, but don't bring anyone with you."

"He's a bit creepy. Does he talk like that all the time?" she says, staring at Den's retreating figure.

"He can be normal at times. You'll get used to him," Kim butts in, smiling.

We walk back to the office in silence with Kim's arm over my shoulders, securing me to him. Ella looks lost in her thoughts. Perhaps because Dennis scares her with his eccentric side.

"What is Mr. D's position in the company?" Ella finally asks.

"He leads a team of software engineers," I answer.

"Is he good at his job?"

I laugh at her question. Everyone who hears Dennis thinks he's crazy.

"Very well. He already works for the company at the age of 13 years old."

Ella's eyes beam at my reply, and she says, "Amazing. He surely has lots of achievements already."

I smile and glances at Kim. Dennis is the company's main intellectual asset. Every product that Kim Yuan launches comes from his creation. And to keep him from getting pirated by other companies, Kim pampers him with a high salary rate and several commissions and incentives.

None of us realized we were already at the office until we saw Zed standing by the door looking at us. Ella throws herself right away into his arms, making Zed chuckle as he pats her head. Then he glances at us, his eyes moving down to the arm Kim places around my shoulders.

I steal a glance at Kim and see he follows Zed's gaze. He then tightens his grip and secures me close to him.

"If there's nothing else you need to ask, Mr. Ramos and Miss Ella, we have to go ahead. I need my wife for myself."