In Between

Chapter 18

"Are you nervous that I caught you? That's why you're stuttering?" He wore a small smirk, but his expression remained cold and emotionless. How was this possible? He was clearly teasing me, yet his face still looked detached. I couldn't help but let my frustration show, rolling my eyes in annoyance and forgetting his demeanor. "Excuse me?" I said, my tone laced with irritation.

"Whatever, I know you're going to deny it." he said, chuckling slightly as he stood up and shook his head at me in disbelief. I was sure it was just part of his teasing, so I avoided eye contact. Before I knew it, he had left for the bathroom. As soon as I heard the door shut, I let out a sigh of relief, relaxing from the tense moment. I hadn't thought I'd be caught staring at him like that, and now I felt flustered. I plopped myself down on the sofa, wondering what was wrong with me.

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Red Pov

As I headed into the room, I saw her walking out, likely on her way to visit her family. She was avoiding my gaze, which wasn't surprising after what had happened earlier. "Are you heading out?" I asked, causing her to jump in shock. Had I startled her that much? What was wrong with her? She seemed weird.

"Y-yes." she replied.

"Okay. Ah, anyway, do you want me to drive you there?" I asked her, but she wasn't meeting my gaze, and when she did glance at me, it was brief. "No, I'm fine." she said, quickly looking away again to avoid eye contact. "Take care." were the only words I said before I took my leave, disappearing from her sight.

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"Good morning, sir Theo." a lady greeted him politely as she noticed him heading towards her boss's office. She bowed her head lightly before continuing with her work.

"Are you looking for your father, sir Theo?" she asked.

"Yes." Theo replied, returning her greeting with a polite smile.

"He's inside the office, sir. He's been waiting for you." she added. "Alright, excuse me." he said, smiling at her before continuing on his way into his father's office.

Earlier, while he was out, his phone buzzed, indicating a call from his father. He answered quickly and, upon learning that his father wanted him to come to the law firm, specifically to their company, he hastened his pace. With no choice but to comply, he rushed to his father's office. Upon arrival, he knocked on the door, and after receiving permission, he entered to find his father seated in his swivel chair behind his desk, exuding his professional demeanor.

"Good morning, Dad." he greeted, standing in front of his father's desk. His gaze drifted to the nameplate on the table.

CEO Mr. Derick Ross a reminder of his father's powerful position. "Theo." his father called out sharply, snapping him back to attention. He composed himself before turning to face his father. "Sorry, Dad. Ah, why did you call me here?"

"Nothing too serious. I just want you to visit this place where you'll be working soon. It's good if you're already familiar with what you'll need to know here and how things operate." his father explained.

He paused, letting his father's words sink in as he stared ahead, his mind flashing to the well-planned future that awaited him. A future where he'd work here, grow old here, pouring his time and effort into this place. It was a path his father had built for him, one that he wasn't entirely sure he wanted, but how could he complain when he had allowed his father to control his life?

"Are you sick?" his father's voice reached his ears again, noticing that his son had spaced out, looking lost. "No, Dad, I was just... thinking about something for school." he replied.

"You need to be attentive, Theo. The CEO position requires critical evaluation. You need to be sharp about everything. Did you quit the athlete team?" his father asked, looking at him directly while scanning some files. "Yes, Dad." he replied softly, the realization hitting him that he had once again obeyed his father's words, even knowing it was out of line. His response was laced with defeat, a sign of his weakness.

"Good. You need to focus on your studies and graduate with high standards if you want to be deserving of the new CEO position. This place will be yours soon, so you need to prove yourself worthy of it. Understand?"

"Yes, Dad."

"Okay, you may go. You can observe and visit some places and departments." he said, adjusting his blazer. He then called his secretary to escort Theo on a tour of the law firm building. With a polite farewell, Theo left his father's office.

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Theo Pov

As I roamed around the different departments, observing the surroundings, I noticed the way employees were dedicated to their work. It was clear that they had a hectic schedule, yet they worked diligently, focusing intently on the papers, files, or documents assigned to them. It struck me how crucial it was for them to fulfill their duties, not just for the company, but to support their loved ones or provide for their families, to survive and thrive in this thing we call life.

"Oh, sorry!" I exclaimed as someone bumped into me. I lifted my head to see who it was and recognized the woman looking down, her gaze avoiding mine. I approached her, feeling a bit embarrassed about my momentary distraction.

"Hey, are you fine? I'm so sorry, I didn't see you." I said.

"No, I'm fine. I'm sorry too." she replied, lifting her gaze to meet mine and flashing a small smile. As she looked up, I got a clear view of her face. She was undoubtedly beautiful, with an air of confidence and poise that suggested high standards. Her attire and demeanor hinted that she might be a lawyer, and I assumed she was likely an educated professional working at the law firm.

"Are you hurt or something?" I asked.

"No, I'm totally fine, don't worry. Sorry for the disturbance, I'm in a rush, that's why I bumped into you." she said in a soft tone, cracking a gentle smile that put me at ease. The lighthearted atmosphere between us was refreshing, unlike my encounters with other strangers.

"Anyway, I'm Ella, and you're?" she added, extending her hand for a handshake. I took her hand, smiling back before introducing myself. "I'm Theo. Nice to meet you, Ella."

"Well, Theo, I hope you don't mind me introducing myself. I'm not weird, okay?" she said jokingly, her soft laughter infectious, and I found myself chuckling along with her. Her bubbly personality peeked through her professional demeanor, making her seem more approachable.

"It's fine. So, Ella, do you work here?" I asked, realizing my earlier suspicions might be true. "Yeah, I'm a lawyer. And you? Do you also work here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. I couldn't help but form a sarcastic smile, perhaps because I was standing in front of this beautiful woman and felt inclined to embellish a bit.

"What's with that weird smile?" she asked, laughing at me. I chuckled, took a breath, and began to speak.

"Well, no." I replied.

"No? Then what are you doing here?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "Ah, wait! I know, I know," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with sudden insight. "You're one of the clients, right? So, what's the case? Annulment? Divorce? A company case? A custody case?" she rattled off, her guesses flowing quickly.

"None of the above," I said with a confident smile. "I'm the son of the CEO here; my father owns this firm." My words brought her to a sudden pause, and she stared at me, her gaze lingering as she processed the information. For a moment, she seemed taken aback, likely due to my father's influential position in the law firm.

"W-what? A son of the CEO? I-I mean, you're the son of the CEO?" she confirmed again, her facial expression displaying her puzzlement as she looked at me.

"Yes. Why isn't that obvious?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, noticing her skeptical reaction, as if she wasn't entirely sure she believed me.

"No, no, I'm sorry. I'm just shocked to meet the CEO's son, and here I am acting unprofessionally, talking to you casually. I'm sorry, sir." she said, bowing her head slightly and offering an awkward smile.

"It's fine, drop the formalities, okay? I'm not my father, anyway. I don't see you as less because of that." I said with a smile, not wanting her to feel uneasy. I liked her personality, light and calm, and I enjoyed our casual conversation.

"Want some coffee?" I added. My words caught her off guard, and she paused, looking at me in surprise. However, the surprise slowly faded, and she replied,

"Wait, did you just invite me?" She chuckled, her expression brightening.

"Well... yes, I mean, why not? So, are you in or not?"

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To be continued.....