Lock Me Up

Chapter Two

            I was still stunned as I followed Mr mysterious Guy next door, how was he able to have a meeting with my dad? He was a tycoon; it would take a billion years to actually book a meeting with him.

            "Hey, quit following me, you'll just ruin this meeting for me." He curtly said, his intense gaze bore into me, doesn't he know who I am? Probably, he keeps calling me Annaliese... A name I created last night.

            "Believe me, I won't ruin this for you.." I said, the corner of my lip tugged in a slight smirk as I passed by him. Through my peripheral, I saw him glare, but I could care less.

            I roamed my gaze and saw my dad in one of the VIP section of Fantasia. He was in his suit when he saw me, his face brightens, and this is actually the first time I accepted his offer to meet him regarding about working for him… well if you call this accepting his offer, I mean.

            "Ingrid!" He uttered in glee, he didn't expect to see me here huh? I looked behind me and saw Mr mysterious Guy next door, his eyes widen a little when he saw me and my dad.

            "Oh, Mr Adrien Garcia, you’re here." Dad said, a warm smile was plastered on his lips, he extend his arm to Mr Mysterious Guy next door.

            So his name's Adrien Garcia huh? How could a name sound so hot like him?

            "Mr Adam Krause." He uttered, his baritone voice sends shivers down my spine. Adrien shook my dad's hand, I cleared my throat to get their attention and when I successfully did, a smile was casted on Daddy while Adrien's facade remains stoic.

            "Oh, I forgot to mention, this is my daughter, Ingrid Krause. I haven't told you that she'll be joining us because I didn't know as well." Dad said, I bit my lower lip when Adrien raised his eyebrows.

            "Come on, daddy. You practically begged me last night-”

            "Yeah, and I remember you rejecting my offer." Dad said, chuckling, I was fully aware of the heat that's circling on my cheeks. Gee, so much of trying to act like I'm not some typical party girl he saw last night.

            "But I'm here now?" I said, he nodded but the mischief was still visible on his face.

            "Let's sit." Dad said, Adrien sat in front of dad and I sat beside him, I saw his jaw clenched when I sat beside him.

            Dad already ordered for us, I ate the cordon bleu while they talk about expanding the Krause's Resort, I had found out that Adrien's an engineer, he graduated with Latin honours in a prestigious University in Spain. He’s a summa c*m laude in his batch.

            I may not look like it, but I was a Laude too when I graduated college, I studied abroad, in one of the well-known university in France,  it’s an all-girls exclusive school, mind you!

            I smiled, Adrien and I were a match. He's an engineer, I'm an architect, I also took minors of interior design subjects because it's inter related with my course.

            Since I was a child, my passion was about arts, I may have lack the ability to sing, dance, and to cook, but if we're talking about arts, then that's a whole new level.

            I remember when I was still studying in college I always win every competition not just in school but outside as well.

            "... You see, I have bought the piece of land next to the resort, and I wanted to expand it, put some amusement park and other attractions." Dad said, Adrien nodded his head while I had various ideas in my mind.

            "So, that's why you ask me to be here." I couldn't contain the happiness on my voice. Adrien looked at me, his eyebrows twitched in annoyance as if I interrupted their precious meeting. Well duh, it wasn’t obvious with him, I'm part of this meeting too.

            "Yes, dear." Dad said, "I want you two to work together."

            "Why sir?  She may just slack off in the work. I want an efficient co-worker with me." Adrien said, hah? So was I inefficient? How could he judge me just because I partied last night?

            "That's why I wanted her to work. It would be such a waste if she won't use her talent. You see, my princess is an architect, and she has knowledge in interior designing too. She may not look like it, but she was really good in arts." Dad said, chuckling which made me feel embarrassed, especially when Adrien looked at me, he seems to not believe my dad.

            "Say, Ingrid. You have plenty of paintings on your studio right? I want to use it in the Resort. Don't worry. I'll pay you, even though you're the heiress of the Krause Konzern." Dad said, laughing merrily.

            "I can find my own architect sir." Adrien said but dad just laughed.

            "Why would you find one when we already have one? I offered her this so that she had something to do in her life other than partying. We have our own engineers and architects in the company but I want you two because I know that you'll make both a good job." Dad uttered, although Adrien didn't complained, I knew that he didn't want me to be with him.

            Why is he mad at me anyways? What did I do wrong?

            "So that settles it. I'll be expecting you two to be there on Friday, you will stay there until the project is done." Dad said, he stood and his body guards were already in beside him, Adrien stood as well and they shook hands. Well I guess that's it. The meeting’s over.

            Adrien and Dad had left the room already, that's why I stood and ran after Adrien. I will hitch with him again, just so I could be with him longer.

            But when I saw him, he was laughing with a girl, she was slender and pretty I must say. Her blue eyes sparkles as she caressed his arm, her pale blonde curled hair sways as they walked out of the restaurant.

            I followed them, he led her to the Taxi station near the Fantasia, he makes sure she had taken the cab. He waved his hand when the cab moved. He turned to his car and his smile fades when he saw me waiting in his Audi.

            "Why are you still doing here?" He asked, his lips into thin line as his brows twitched in annoyance.

            "Relaxed, I don't have a car right? I'll hitch with you again." I said but he just shook his head.

            "There's a cab station over there. Go grab one." He curtly said which made me pucker a little.

            "Why would I do that if I could hitch with you? We live in the same towers, anyways." I uttered.

            "I'm not your chauffer, and I am not interested with you." He said, and I was completely stunned. Just how could he be so mean? And why do I still like him despite being an ass?

            "I don't care, I like you." I said when I had recovered on what he said. A sheepish smile was on my lips.

            "Well, I don't." He said.

            I felt a stinging pain in the most inner part of my heart. I had never heard someone hated me. I didn't do him anything wrong. I felt tears on my eyelids, my chest was heavy and I felt a lump on my throat.

            "Oh, I see... I guess I'll just go to the mall then, you can go home. It must be a burden for you because I'm here." I said and walked near the Taxi station.

            I'll just meet my friends there.

            "Wait." I heard him from behind, I looked at him and I was surprised that he was a foot away from me.

            "What?" I asked, clearing my throat so that my voice won't quiver.

            "What are you going to do in the mall?" He asked, his eyebrows still twitched in annoyance.

            "I'll buy new clothes to please you." I uttered, it was purely sarcasm though.

            "You can't please me with your taste of clothes." He said which made me roll my eyes.

            "Then I'll buy the opposite of my taste." I retorted, he sighed in annoyance before turning his back.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go to the mall, I'll be the one to choose what you'll wear. I don't trust your taste." He murmured before clambering his Audi.

            Is he serious?!