I’ll Sing To You, Mr. CEO

CHAPTER 20: RED BOOK

Holding a packed meal for two, Lhan entered the 20-storey building owned by the Frost Company. She immediately saw the reception desk on the left side while on the right side was a long couch and a center table made of glass were placed for visitors, and ahead were three elevator doors plus an emergency stair on the very left corner. Near the entrance was another side door leading to a smoking area with several pairs of table and chairs.

The reception was in a minimalistic design. The walls were painted with grey and white, the tiles used for flooring was like a black marble and indoor plants were placed in corners exuding a very warm and cozy place. Hanged behind the reception desk were four large wall clocks of different time zones and a very big Van Gogh painting on the right side was mounted.

On top of the reception desk were two blue and one red logbooks for visitors, two sets of wide screen computers and at the very end was a coffee vending machine. As Lhan approached the Reception Desk, two ladies clad in a three-piece office uniform greeted her politely.

“To the CEO's office please.” She politely said.

The two ladies looked at each other and Lhan could feel the hesitance in them. “Do you have an appointment with our CEO, miss?”

“Ahm...none.” Lhan wasn’t shy but not so proud either. She appeared as if she was there to visit a friend and not a CEO.

“Sorry but you can only meet the CEO by appointment.” One of the receptionist apologized.

Lhan did not feel offended. She knew they were just doing their job. “Ahh....can you call him and tell him my name, Lhan Avila.”

“I'll call her secretary mam. We are not allowed to directly dial his number unless it is an emergency. May I know the purpose of your visit, Ms. Lhan?”

“Dunce, I mean the CEO asked me to come here. Tell him that I brought Dunce’ request.”

The two ladies wondered what their CEO could possibly request from such a young girl. The short haired girl whose name on her nameplate was Diana dialed the phone while, Fern, the other receptionist offered her a coffee to which she refused.

Despite their hesitations towards Lhan both were trained not to be uncourteous and always treat visitors fairly no matter how young or old they looked, or how they dressed.

The call made by Diane was received by Secretary Mia, the one who filters all calls intended for the CEO.

“MRB, this is from the reception. A certain Ms. Lhan Avila wished to see, ARA.” To avoid unintended discourtesy, the company instructed all employees to call each other by their initials. For Dunce, his name was Ardunce Russell Arbiz thus he was called as ARA, which was pronounces as A-RA. Others were enunciated by letters.

“Wait for a moment.” Mia, who they called as MRB, professionally said. She temporarily hanged the receptionist’s call and dialed Dunce trunkline. “Dunce, a certain Lhan Avila wished to see you. Should I let her in?”

A smile flashed in his face. “She is so early, it’s only past one. Anyway, tell the reception I'll fetch her.”

Mia was caught off guard. “Really?”

Never did Dunce came down himself just to greet a visitor even if that person was a VIP. He would always asked Leif and some Directors to accommodate or fetch their VIP business clients or partners.

Mia returned to the receptionist’s call and said, “ARA will fetch her personally.”

Just like Mia, the receptionist could not believe what she just heard as well. “Oh! Noted MRB.”

She put the receiver back on its place.

As soon as Dunce entered the elevator, Mia went to looked for Leif who was currently reading some paper works. “Who is Lhan Avila?”

Leif was surprised upon hearing Aunt Mia’s inquiry.

‘How did she learn about Ms. Lhan?’ He asked himself. Aunt Mia knew her first name and never did he mention her last name. His boss would not do that either.

Aunt Mia seemed to read his mind. “She is at the reception and Dunce just went there to personally meet her and escort here.”

“Aunt Mia, Ms. Lhan Avila is our CEO’s love obsession. The Lhan that we are talking about before.” Since Dunce brought her here, then it was no use hiding the truth, Leif thought.

Aunt Mia was glad to hear Leif’s answer. She was curiously excited to meet the girl who made a big impact and change in Dunce behavior.

Back at the reception, as Dianne ended the call, she told Lhan. “Miss, the CEO is on his way here.”

They became more polite upon learning that Dunce would come down himself for her.

“Thank you!” Lhan sat on the couch and waited for Dunce. Not too long, the elevator dinged and there came Dunce strikingly gorgeous, wearing his business suit.

Lhan stood up and hastily welcome him. “You should have waited for me. Why do you have to come down?”

The people in the smoking area discreetly observed their CEO and his young visitor, including the two receptionists that were pretending to be busy, and employees who passed by the hallway.

Of course, for them this scene was very unusual.

Dunce shook his head when he saw how Lhan was dressed. She’s wearing high pigtails on both sides, a very thick eyeglasses, light blue windbreaker zippered up to her neck, a navy-blue jogging pants and a gladiator like black sandals with velcro strap and an-inch-high sole.

“Why are you dressed like that?” He wondered pinching his glabella.

“Elise said I need to look good so, she instructed me to dress like this.” Lhan.

“Does your friend hate me?” Dunce removed her very thick eye glasses and hair ties. The pigtail was turned into artfully disheveled hairstyle. “Are you wearing something inside aside from your bra?”

Lhan just let him be. She trusted him that he would not do something scandalous in front of his employee. “Yeah. A regular black tank made of cotton.”

Dunce opened her windbreaker’s zipper, then he half kneeled to slid her jogging pants a little higher looking it more like capris. Good thing she was wearing a fashionable thick Velcro strappy sandal.

“There. Now no one will accuse me of pedophilia.” He said feeling satisfied with the transformation he made himself.

The people who witnessed the transformation gasped in fascination. Truly the young girl’s beauty was enthralling. Who would have thought that behind those thick glasses hid a very captivating face.

“I’m nineteen.” She reminded him.

“I know and your good friend just dressed you like a nerdy high school student. Wait, you look so pretty. Wear this pair of eyeglasses back.”

With furrowed brows she obeyed before asking. “Do you care that much about my clothes?”

“Of course not, you are always pretty no matter what clothes you wear. But I want my employees to know that you are my girlfriend not my niece or sister.” He held her hand, “Let’s go to my office.”

“Shouldn’t I log in? Visitors who passed the reception logged in.” Lhan pulled Dunce back to the reception as she handed the packed lunch.

Dunce squinted, “You are not a visitor. You're my wife.”

The receptionists were astounded to hear their boss.

Lhan felt awkward seeing their reactions. She tip toed to reach Dunce ear and whsipered. “We are not yet married. How can you say that?”

Dunce did not care. “Why do you have to argue with me. I'm already hungry.”

“Who told you not to eat on time?” Lhan complained.

Running out of patient, Dunce left an order to the two receptionists. “Next time just let her in. You write her name in the Red Book. She's my wife, if you can’t remember her name Mrs. Arbiz is fine. Dunce’ wife is also good.”

“Yes, sir!” The stunned receptionist answered in chorus. On their desk, the two blue books were intended for regular or normal visitors who signed for themselves while the red one was for VIP who need not to sign, the receptionist just wrote their names and the time they arrived.

The two entered the lift, but before the door closed Dunce intimately reached for the bag that she was carrying while he hugged her waist with his other arm. And all of that scene didn’t escape the furtive eyes of people present on the floor.

When they reached the CEO’s floor, a prominently-looking middle aged woman was standing beside Leif intentionally waiting for her arrival. Her aura was welcoming and warm.

“Hello Ms. Lhan. Welcome to our office.” Leif greeted.

Aunt Mia on the other hand approached Lhan excitedly and seized her hands. “Hello! I am Mia, Dunce’ secretary. You can just call me Aunt just like Dunce.”

Lhan bowed and introduced herself as well to the middle-aged woman.

“Leif, you can take your lunch. But be sure to come back after an hour.” Dunce commanded hinting the two to dispersed.

“I brought enough for both of you. I know brother Leif haven’t eaten a lunch as well so…”

“No!” Dunce cut her sentence. “I’m starving.”

The moment Dunce said no, Aunt Mia and Leif knew instantly that Dunce would like to have a lone time with Lhan. Aunt Mia uncontrollably giggles softly while Leif found a good reason to refuse. “It’s okay Ms. Lhan. I also need to buy something outside.”

“You can call me Lhan. Also, I brought a lot. Aunt Mia, why don’t you join Dunce?” Lhan had a friendly tone when talking with the old lady.

“Oh, too bad I’m done with lunch. Go ahead!” Aunt Mia gently pushed them both to enter Dunce’ office.

Inside, her gazed explored his office before she sat at the chair pulled by Dunce. The design was modernized and the room’s theme was mostly black. The adjacent offices were separated by glass so people from those department near his office can clearly saw what or who were inside. There was just a blinds Dunce could use if he wanted some privacy.

“What did you buy?” Dunce asked as he opened the bag after he cleared his table with all the paperwork he was working with.

“I cooked. Remember you told me before to cook for you at least twice a week.”

“Great! Actually, that was just an excuse so I can see you. But now since you are my girlfriend, why don’t you just bring me my lunch on daily basis.” Dunce gave her a big smile waiting for Lhan’s commitment in preparing his food.

“It will no longer be lunch. My class usually ended at around 3pm. I can’t always skip classes you know. This day is an exception since this is your first time to request for a lunch. Eat on time. Why don't we do it like this, if you eat lunch on time, I'll reward you with home cooked dinner. Sent me videos of you eating.” While explaining, Lhan took out the food boxes.

Dunce felt warm at what Lhan said. ‘She sacrificed a day class to accommodate my request. Sweet.’ Dunce hugged and gave Lhan a kiss on her forehead. “No going back on words. Promise me.”

“Promise. Come! Eat now.” Lhan had already opened the bento boxes. There the aroma of Sweet and Sour pork, sautéed vegetables with quail egg and plain rice filled the air. She also brought thermos with egg and corn soup. For drinks, she made a cold melon with milk. Dunce was amazed and immediately grabbed the utensils to gobbled the food.

“How was it.” Lhan asked after he almost half emptied the dishes.

He swallowed the food first and drank a glass of juice before he answered, “Tastes good. Let's get married.”

Lhan was dumbfounded. They were new as a couple now he was already asking for her hand. And she was too you g on top of it. “I'm only 19.”

“Some married at the age of 15 or younger.” Dunce said as he continued to devour the food.

“I am not one of those 'some'”

“Of course! You are 19.” Dunce said wittingly.

From time to time, Dunce fed Lhan. In no time all the food were gone. Lhan stood up to clear the table. After putting all the vento boxes and utensils back to the bag, Dunce took a wet tissue to wipe the table.

Dunce asked Lhan if she has important things to do to which she answered none.

As so, Dunce suggested “You can walk around the company if you if you want, or use my laptop to play or take a nap behind that door. It is my sleeping quarter. I’ll finish my work and I’ll take you home.”

Lhan just borrowed his laptop, sat on a coffee table and logged in to a website where she wrote her stories. Both were silent but quite pleasing to see.

Occasionally, Dunce would glance at Lhan as the latter was too absorbed composing a story. Dunce hated noise while working, but somehow the tapping sound as Lhan typed somehow became a very enjoyable rhythm that calmed his overworked brain.

As the two were silently working, the whole company was busy with a beautiful tale engulfing their message box. Some made an excuse to visit secretary Mia or Assistant Lief just to catch a glimpse of their CEO’s amorosa.

It was past five when the two left the Frost Company, and his people gathered to chatter.