Chapter 9
988 Words
They went inside the mall and Tovi was dragged by Cole in the arcade. He played the dancing stage game and Tovi was amused with his full energy. Then Cole lent his hand at her. At first, Tovi refused it but then she smiled, removed her high-heeled shoes, grabbed his hand then jumped on the dancing stage and danced. Both have smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the game that they were playing right now.
After the dancing stage game, they went to video games such as street fighter as they laughed and teased each other. They went inside the karaoke room and instead of showing off how good their voices are, they messed around with the songs as they both laughed.
Afterwards, they stepped outside the arcade and saw a hamburger stall. They went there and bought hamburgers with coke in plastic cans. Then they sat at one of the pavements in the middle of the mall where the events are usually being held.
"It's been a while since I had this kind of fun," Tovi admitted.
Cole chuckled. "Told you. You needed some of that."
Tovi smiled then she took a bite on the hamburger. Then she spotted a familiar guy who was wearing a light blue polo shirt, neat-looking and naturally-striking guy. Her eyes went round with her mouth full as the guy turned his head in their direction. Cole raised an eyebrow as he began to wonder what Tovi was staring at.
"Adam!" Tovi shouted. Cole’s eyes fixed on the guy who was smiling at Tovi.
The guy flashed out a charming smile as he walked towards their direction. Tovi was smiling as she stood up.
"Tovi! Long time, no see!" Adam said.
"Yeah, I know!" she said as she took a glance on Adam's whole body. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh. I just finished my shift," he said as he put his hands inside his pockets.
Tovi's eyebrows furrowed. "You're not working at Valley Global anymore?"
He shook his head. "Nah. The pay there is s**t. Plus, Lorica gives a lot of benefits more than any BPO industry here in California."
Tovi's eyes widened. "You're working at Lorica?"
"Yeah. Just started a week ago. I'm in training," he said. "So that means, you're working there too?"
"Yeah!" Tovi said while nodding with a smile on her face. "I'm a secretary."
"Really? How is the boss? Is he a bit . . . strict?" he asked while thinking of a word.
Cole sighed then he stood up and went so close at Tovi while his eyes never left Adam. "He is. He's a bit sensitive to people who like to mess around his father's company."
Tovi scoffed as she stared at Cole and gave him a mocking smile then she glanced at Adam. "He's also a bit irresponsible and childish to begin with."
Adam's mouth opened as he didn't leave any words from his mouth and just nodded.
"Cole Lorica, by the way," Cole introduced himself as he lent his hand at Adam.
Adam's eyes grew. "You're her boss?"
"Yeah. Don't I look like one?" Cole said with a stiff tone.
Tovi could feel the tension in Cole's aura while Adam seemed not to look bothered with Cole's intimidating presence.
"I'm not sure. You look really young. I thought you're Tovi's brother," Adam said as he crossed his arms across his chest.
Cole c****d an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Tovi forwarded and had to break the awkward situation. "Okay! I know you're supposed to be back on time, Adam. And I'm expecting to see you around on the floor sometime next month."
Adam smiled. "Sure, Tovi." Then he gave her a light punch on her arm that made Tovi smile. He turned his body around then darted his eyes at Cole. "Nice to meet you, Cole."
"It's Sir Lorica," Cole corrected him then crossed his arms.
Adam scoffed while smiling and shaking his head. "Whatever, dude."
Cole glared at Adam who turned his back on them and walked away. "What a prick. How come you're friends with him?" he said with an irritated tone with his eyebrows knitted together and his nose flared.
"Oh, we're not usually friends. But he's my team leader when I was working at Valley Global before." Tovi explained.
"He doesn't look and act like one," Cole said with a bitter tone then he walked into the opposite direction. Tovi was wondering with Cole's behavior that she had to chase and tail him.
"Why are you acting weird?" Tovi asked as she followed him but she couldn't keep up with Cole's walking pace that made her breaths quickened.
"Nothing," he said, sounding bored while avoiding his eyes from her.
Tovi pouted as they stepped out of the mall. They didn't utter another word since Tovi didn't want to add fuel to the fire. Minutes later, they both arrived at the Lorica Inc. building then went back to the office. Tovi sat on her desk and turned on her computer's screen. Her working email received a lot of emails and she checked it one by one then took notes of it on her scheduling pad on her computer. She noticed Cole approaching her.
"I'm sorry if I ignored you earlier. I just got stressed lately," he said in an apologetic tone.
"It's fine. You lack sleep and I bet some of the alcohol hasn't left your system," she said then she glanced back at the computer.
"Yeah," he said. "We should do that again."
Tovi didn’t leave her eyes on the computer. "Do what?"
"Hanging out. I don't have friends," he said as he lowered his head.
Tovi glanced at him with a grin. "I can tell."
Cole chuckled then as soon as Tovi glanced back to the computer, she saw an odd email:
Sandy Wilkins
Good day, my future husband's secretary! I would like to set an appointment with him as soon as tomorrow. Make sure to give me a slot at three o'clock in the afternoon, sharp. Cancel his plans and his other schedules at that time if it's already occupied. Because that's the only time that I am available. Thank you!
- Writer
