(Currently on hold) Their little trade of hearts

17 - Dinner

"Thank you miss Arther," the dean nodded at her. Stacey left the room, her stance is unmoved and as cold as she usually is. It makes people think that nothing in the world could move her since she had never shown to care about anything.

That morning Stacey had left the apartment, and went to the university early. She has an appointment with the dean and now that it's over, she would leave right away. She called for a taxi, and get in. She stared at her phone for a while, and when twenty minutes have passed, the car comes to a halt, and she got out.

Stacey is dressed in dark jeans, with a shirt topped with a white suit. She looked too simple when everyone in the office is dressed extravagantly to show off their ability to work in such a famous company. Inevitably, she seemed so out of place with how casually dressed she is compared to the other.

Stacey walked straight to the elevator area, and the female reception ran after her, stopping her in her tracks.

"I'm sorry miss, can I help you?"

Stacey has just turned to look at her when she continued, "This is is a private company, miss. Please go through the formalities, and we'll see if we could help you," the receptionist told her with a forced smile on her face. Having worked there for years, it's the first time she had found someone so uneducated to just wanting to run into the elevator when she has nothing to do in the company. It's too much.

She pointed her hand to the reception area and tried to persuade Stacey into following her there. "How about I help you find an appointment miss? who would you like to meet? Would you like to sign for an internship-"

She goes on and on, then walking forwards without paying more mind to Stacey thinking that she would follow her. But to her surprise, Stacey had ignored her and continue to walk to the elevator area. She took a fast pace forward, and just when she's about to yell, she found Stacey casually tapping a card to the elevator magnet, and the elevator to the president floor opened. She walked in casually while the attendant stared at the whole thing mouth agape in shock.

Who was that girl? Why does she have the company's access card? what's more, how could she get into the president's elevator so casually?

The elevator itself is usually opened by the first floor for the cleaner team to clean. While the upper office, there are only a couple of cleaners who are allowed to enter, and that's only at a certain time when their card would have access to the floor. The cards have been programmed that other personnel, without an appointment, their elevators wouldn't go up to the top floor.

Upstairs, the elevator door dinged before opening. Philleas could hear the sound faintly, and just when he lifts his eyes, Stacey had pushed the door open and entered the room. She took a seat at her usual place, and took the files from the tea table, and started to scroll through it.

"What time did you leave this morning?"

"Around six, before you woke up for a run. I took taxi," Stacey informed him.

Philleas frowned at her. He doesn't understand why she always insists on doing everything on her own. "If you won't take the car, let Vince drive you from now on. You no longer stayed in the dorm. It's more convenient," he told her, not taking no for answer.

Stacey sat in place with no question asked. She knew it's useless to argue with him with the tone he used.

They later leave the office together when they're done with their work. Philleas took her to a fine dining restaurant for dinner. The place has a different atmosphere from the place they last visited, This place seemed relatively new, and the design is more modern. She followed Philleas in silence, and they both sat down at their arranged table, which isn't inside a private room.

Stacey excused herself to the bathroom, and when she left, a girl came approaching Philleas' table.

"Mr. Wynham, It's a pleasure seeing you here," the girl giggled.

Philleas is an investor in one of the growing food chain, and his partner has invited him to see the results of his heavy investment. He had met this daughter once before at a hotel opening party when her father had greeted him, but he had never paid much attention to her.

He frowned at the girl, and unexpectedly, the girl sat down on Stacey's chair and started to get cozy. Just as his frown gets deeper, Stacey had returned and found the girl in her seat. But the girl doesn't notice a thing and kept on enthusiastically telling Philleas some information about herself. She doesn't even realize that Philleas' eyes are darted to the figure behind her, not towards her.

Her grin grows bigger, but suddenly Philleas stepped out of his chair.

201020