Starting Fresh (Lorica Series #1)

Chapter 12

Tovi tried her best not to get affected with the situation but for some reason, her annoyance with Sandy was getting over the line of her patience.

Even when she was working, Sandy would barge in through the glass doors and called for Cole while shouting. Cole would get out of his office and Sandy showed her the clothes and other stuff that she bought and repeatedly saying that it was for their wedding.

"Aren't your mother hired by someone to do all the wedding stuff? You don't have to buy it for yourself," Cole said.

"But I want to! I'm just excited. Plus, I'm getting bored here! Can we go out and buy some cake?" she asked as she flipped her hair.

Cole partly glanced at Tovi whose eyes were locked on the computer. Then he glanced back at Sandy. "What flavor?"

Sandy took out a lipstick from her purse and applied it on her lips with a small mirror on her other hand. "Anything, sugar."

The two of them got out of the office and Tovi sighed in relief that Sandy was gone once again. It's been a week since she came barging here in the office. She completely forgot her secret feelings for Cole and decided to move on instead since she knew that it was just a mistake to have a crush on someone like him. She was doing her job well that Ramon told her to attend the meetings instead and just provide the reports to Cole through email. It felt like Tovi was acting as the Director of the Operations, not Cole, at this point. And she kind of likes it.

"So with the statistics like this, don't you think it's enough for this site to release another Mil to improve WiseLine's market?" one of the Operation Manager said while Tovi was at the meeting.

"I can pass the message along to Mr. Lorica and we'll wait for his reply," Tovi said while holding a clipboard.

"Thank you, Ms. Reese," the old man who was also the Operations Manager said in a polite way.

The managers stood and walked out the glass door. Tovi placed the projector back to its place then went outside the conference room. She heard footsteps approaching in her direction and she saw Cole walking through the hallway.

She didn't expect this but her heart skipped a beat as her eyes with Cole's ocean eyes. She looked away then bowed her head.

"The meeting's done, by the way," she said as Cole stopped in front of her. The atmosphere was odd for her and she felt like she was trapped in this place with the least person that she wanted to see.

"I'll be heading to my office," she said in an almost whispering way. Cole remained standing, his feet frozen on the floor as Tovi turned around and left him. Tovi couldn't understand why Cole looked at her that way even if he already had a fiancée. But she didn't want to make assumptions anymore.

After her shift, she called for Amy and Tiana and asked them to have a drink with her. The two agreed so they met at the Cuco's bar which was just a few miles away from Lorica Inc. building. The tables were full and there was a band singing live as people cheered for them. The three of them ordered drinks and talked about their life and work.

"I swear. If Amy uses my credit card without my consent, I'm gonna kill her," Tiana said then they all burst out of laughter.

"No you wouldn't!" Amy teased her and they leeched each other as Tovi awkwardly watched them while drinking her glass of beer.

"Say Tovi, why did you ask us to have a drink with you?" Amy said while grinning.

"That's rare," Tiana said. "Is it because of someone you like?"

Amy gave her a disgusted look. "Tovi doesn't like anyone."

Tiana pouted her mouth as she gave Amy a glance. Then Amy gaped at Tovi. "Is this about Cole?"

Tovi almost spilled her drink then she scoffed. "What? No!"

But Amy and Tiana just gave her a stare. "Like, duh? It's obvious!" Amy said.

Tovi sighed. "I don't know guys. I really didn't want to."

Amy's lips turned into a wide smile. "You girl! I knew that there was something going on between you two! I can feel it!"

"Yeah, I can smell your jealous scent whenever we saw Cole and Sandy walking all over the place!" Tiana said then they laughed.

Tovi just avoided her eyes on them as she scoffed. "I mean, how can I forget about all of this and just see him as a boss again?"

"There's a saying that once you fall from their trap, it's hard to get out," Amy said after she took a bite from her barbecue.

"Aw, is that what happened between us?" Tiana said sweetly to her girlfriend. And the two of them teased each other again while making cat sounds.

"Okay guys. You can stop now," Tovi said with a blank expression on her face.

"You've been hanging out with us for three years and you're still the third wheeler!" Amy teased her while Tiana burst out of laughing.

"You guys are assholes sometimes," Tovi said while maintaining herself to laugh then as she glanced to her right, she saw Cole and Sandy stepping into the place. Tovi let out a groan as Amy and Tiana's jaws dropped after seeing what Tovi just saw.

"Why does he always end up being in the same place as I am!" Tovi said in a fretful tone as she buried her face with her hands.

"It's called destiny!" Tiana said then Amy nodded as Cole and Sandy took a table away from where they are. After they talked to a waiter, their eyes met.