Chapter 21: Chapter 21

“You will come here while Luna will take Cole for a meeting for the business presentation she has in mind. Well, it’s not a business presentation, it’s more like— ” Adonis pinched his nose and nodded while thinking about what he wanted to say. “Charity — Helping others project.” He scanned his eyes at the map, then circled what he was saying.

We’re here now in the living room and talking about how Mark can get into Cole’s building with no one noticing. They plan to give a virus to Cole’s email that he will send to every business executive. I don’t know how they’re going to do that as far as I know. That’s Adonis’ plan. The map in front of us now is the map of the building. I don’t understand them much because the topic is about the computer. Mark and Adonis just say something about the word “install”, “virus,” and “email”. All I have to do is to buy Mark time.

Adonis closed the red marker he was holding, then faced me. I still don’t know what to say when I’m there. What presentation will I discuss? I didn’t grow up in this thing even though I grew up in a rich family. I did not see any business executives or women in our house. I don’t know how to talk about business when I’m indoors, so I have no idea how to formally talk to those people. Especially with Cole talking and a few with him. Even if I were to prepare a script paper, I might just shudder at the number of people I had to explain.

“Sir, I’ll go out first to prepare and to make sure the codes I can make,” Mark said goodbye to Adonis while Adonis just nodded at him. You get nothing out of this person, even for a short word. We watched Mark get out the door. I know Adonis gestures for him to leave.

I don’t know what the purpose is and why we still have to make Mark leave when, in fact, we will still go upstairs to talk. Then another thing, I thought Mark was just a normal bodyguard? Maybe even Raymond isn’t just a casual guard. So maybe he only has two bodyguards because they have a lot of abilities. It is impossible for him that he has only two guards left with him because of the number of things he does. I looked at Adonis, who was busy putting away the things that Mark and he had used in the conversation. Can I ask him a question? About his life. I can’t even say what’s on my mind for fear that I might step on a topic that shouldn’t be opened.

No matter how much I wanted to ask him, I chose to remain silent. We didn’t converse about finding out about his life. I also can’t be attached too much because he might be awkward and stop helping me. As for the difficulty of my situation, instead of focusing on Cole’s problem, I suddenly deviated and became more interested in Adonis’ life. I want to ask where his parents are, why he is alone in this huge mansion, how he built the big company that he is alone in. I want to know about him. Will he get angry when I do that?

I only came back to reality when he flicked his fingers in front of me. I hit him hard because I jumped at what he did. Am I thinking so deeply and I don’t notice that he’s already done what he’s doing?

“You jerk!” I ran upstairs to my room where we would talk about what I would do inside Cole’s company. It’s just embarrassing that I feel like I’m spitting, staring at him. I hope his expression and his treatment of me don’t change. Ever since we came back from the province, I have noticed that I have often been a dumbhead to him. I don’t know if that’s even right? I also changed my screen lock to a normal wallpaper so that I can’t think of him anymore because as time goes on, my attraction to him seems to grow.

The door opened, and he was carrying magazines. I don’t know where he took them. It built the contents of homes — no. This is the hospital and school that I requested Adonis to do in our province. When else has it been done? It’s only been a week since I got back and are they done already? I can’t say that’s over, but I can’t question Adonis’ ability to build something like this. First of all, I found his company to be trusted, and I knew they were reliable. I didn’t do that much either, but I didn’t expect him to finish that fast. My heart jumped as I thought that children who didn’t know the word dream would now start dreaming.

“This is what you say to Cole and his other business partners or charity partners — whatever you call it.” We are here now in my room while at the table. There is a round table here and a small sofa that fits two people. He put the magazines and the young student’s face there. Did he plan them right away in just a short time? Adonis isn’t just amazing. You can say that when he wants something, he can easily do it or get it because he focuses on it. I just don’t know why he needs to go to this extent for me. He can get nothing from me but a headache. I know I ask him about helping me and getting revenge on Cole, but is that reason enough for him to do all this?

“There you go again.” I was brought back to reality when he said that. I’m drowning in my thoughts again. I feel like I’m floating today and I can’t process what’s happening. Am I lacking in sleep? Fortunately, he put up with me.

“Sorry. I’m so out of it today.” I couldn’t stop apologizing for embarrassing him. He is already making an effort for everything I have to do, but it seems like nothing to me. I just really hope I can fix my brain because I feel like it has shaken me since I came back from the province. How would I do my plan with Cole if I was like this? My brain wonders quickly. What if I was already in the scene itself? I can’t ask for breaktime. I took a deep breath as I let him watch me.

“I am okay now.”

Another loud sigh I made before finally focusing on the object in front of me. I picked up a magazine because there are two he puts there. One is the photograph of the children with the volunteers to teach along with the other adults. Their background is the school that Adonis built. When I looked at the name below, I quickly covered my mouth with a startled expression. They did not credit the magazine to him; They named it to me. When I moved to the second page, I just read that his name was his company.

“Eco-Fri Construction helps the young, beautiful woman who has sympathy for people who need help.” Those are the biggest words placed on the second page. I thought I couldn’t give him anything good because all I did was give him a headache, but I’m happy that the image of his company will be even better because the name of his company is stated in the magazine. My heart seemed to jump as I thought that somehow I had helped him. I hope it’s always like this. He helps me in a way for his company to gain. I don’t want him to spend on me because of my revenge.

“But you will only use my name to provoke Cole. When you do that, he will take the initiative to help you because he will think you are asking for help from someone else instead of him.” Suddenly, all my joy at what he said collapsed. I thought I could help him. It’s only now that I feel useless to him, even though he doesn’t ask for anything from me.

“B-but, why? Isn’t it better that your company helped me? Your image and mine will bloom and as for your firm, even better?” I don’t want Cole to credit the ideas we had when we were in the province. If could, I don’t want him to get involved in things that make his image welfare because he doesn’t deserve it!

“I don’t need it.” After he said that, he put away the magazines and markers he had put down earlier. Why doesn’t he? Doesn’t he want more opportunities for him? I just sighed and didn’t want to talk anymore. I hope we succeed with the plan that Cole will be jealous and he will be the one to offer me about the project.

“Get yourself ready.”

That’s what he said before he left. Maybe next week he will prepare what he says when I go to Cole’s company. As time went on, I became more and more nervous because Adonis and I were getting farther and farther away. Plans get worse and become risky. I lay down on the bed and thought of Adonis. I want to know about him, but I don’t want to because I don’t want him to draw a line between the two of us. Eventually, I was unaware that I had fallen asleep.

I have often been alone at home these past few days. Raymond was the only guard outside. Mark, I don’t see much of him. I never really thought they weren’t just drivers and bodyguards. The quiet house is deafening. It was as if instead of the noise is deafening; the silence was more frightening.

I sighed and sipped the sandwich I had topped with Nutella. Early in the morning, there were no more people. If I don’t turn on the TV in the living room, there is no noise. I couldn’t even talk to Raymond because he was watching outside. I leaned my back hard on the chair while the sandwich was just in my mouth and not eating.

“AHHHH!” I yelled out loud because it was so boring when the door suddenly opened. From the kitchen, I ran into the living room. I saw Adonis with Mark. He loosened his necktie while looking directly at me. I glanced at the time and saw it was only 9 AM to be sure. Why they are early? Raymond immediately took the office case Adonis was carrying. He also complied. When I approached him, he quickly went straight to the sofa in front of a small table. Next, Mark sat opposite him, so I sat next to Adonis.

Surprisingly, I still tried to ask him. “What’s up?” I lifted my foot onto the sofa. I was wearing shorts, and I didn’t know if they could see my underwear, but I was surprised when he took off his coat and put it on my legs to cover my obvious legs.

“I have already booked a meeting. I used your name, so no problem. Cole agreed. All you have to do is deliver the words properly.” He looked at me after Mark. He put his hand together while resting his elbow on his thigh. Mark, on the other hand, just stared at him intently.

“You already know what you are going to do. You can stand anywhere but don’t let anyone catch you.” He told Mark seriously.

Mark didn’t say a word and just nodded. Now I just noticed that he also has an office case, but that’s not the usual case you see. It’s like an armor case.

I just looked at them nervously, wondering if I could properly deliver what Adonis told me.