Chapter 18. The Silent Treatment
1089 Words
The weekend was torture.
I stayed home, avoided my phone, and tried to focus on literally anything else but Daniel.
But of course, Monday came anyway.
When I arrived at the office, there was an envelope on my desk.
Inside was the fancy invitation to the company gala.
Tan Industries Annual Gala
You are cordially invited….
I quickly scanned the venue details and everything, then saw a single sentence handwritten right at the bottom.
Save me a dance. ~D
I stared at the card for a long time before finally picking up my phone.
Me: I got the invitation.
Daniel Tan: Good.
Me: Vivian told me you're going with her.
Daniel Tan: We’re arriving together. That's all.
Me: That's all?
Daniel Tan: Lulu, come on. Just trust me, please.
Me: You keep telling me to trust you, but to be honest, I don't know why you won't tell me the reason.
Daniel Tan: Because the truth is complicated. And I need to be able to explain it properly.
Me: Or maybe the truth is actually simple, and you're just stalling.
Daniel Tan: What does that mean?
Me: Will I still want to work here after I understand?
There was a long pause.
Daniel Tan: I really hope so.
Damn it. That wasn't the answer I was hoping for.
*******
I made a decision.
From today until the gala, I wouldn't respond to Daniel. No more falling for his words.
I desperately needed space to clear my head. More importantly, I had to make sure I wasn't setting myself up to get hurt again.
Saturday morning, a week before the big gala, my phone started buzzing away at 7 AM.
Daniel Tan: Good morning.
I ignored it. He had been texting me almost every single day by now.
By noon, he had sent twenty messages.
Daniel Tan: Are you okay?
Daniel Tan: Please answer me.
Daniel Tan: Did I do something wrong?
Daniel Tan: I'm flying to Thailand after I leave New Zealand now.
Daniel Tan: Lulu, you're scaring me.
Daniel Tan: At least tell me you're alive.
What the hell was with that last message?
Frowning, I turned off my phone completely.
I spent the entire day cleaning, reading, or literally anything just so I wouldn't have to think about him.
But Sunday morning, there was a knock on my front door.
I opened it to find a delivery person holding a massive flower arrangement.
“Ms. Wang? Delivery for you.”
I stared at the beautifully arranged white roses he was holding.
“Uh, I didn't order these.”
“They're from a Mr. Tan.”
Yeah, of course they were.
I thanked the guy and brought them inside, then I found the card tucked into the bunch.
Please talk to me. I'm going insane. ~D
I threw the card straight into the trash.
An hour later, another delivery came and interrupted my novel time. This time it was chocolate, and expensive chocolate too.
I'm sorry for whatever I did. Please tell me what I did wrong. ~D
I tossed the box onto my kitchen table, figuring I would give it to the little girl downstairs later.
Another hour, another delivery, this time with a gift box that had a designer handbag inside.
This is too much. I know you won't take it. But I don't know what else to do to make you talk to me again. ~D
I immediately packed it back up and handed it straight back to the delivery person.
Furious now, I turned my phone back on. The constant text pouring in made me feel like my phone was about to explode.
Daniel Tan: Did you get the flowers?
Daniel Tan: The chocolates?
Daniel Tan: Why did you send the bag back?
Daniel Tan: Lulu, PLEASE. Just tell me what's wrong.
Daniel Tan: I can't fix it if I don't know what I did.
All of a sudden, he called me, like he had been watching to see the exact second I came back online.
I didn't even hesitate to reject the call, then finally started typing back my own message.
Halfway through, he was calling me on video call. I grumbled, rejected that too, and finally finished my text.
Me: You haven't done anything wrong. That's the problem.
Daniel Tan: What does that mean? So why are you not answering me at all?
Me: It means I want to be alone to think. Without you overwhelming me with gifts and messages.
Daniel Tan: For how long?
Me: I don't know.
Daniel Tan: Let me guess. Until the gala? Seriously?
Me: Maybe.
Daniel Tan: That’s five days away. I can't wait that long.
Me: You don't have a choice.
Daniel Tan: Please. Don't shut me out.
Me: I'm not shutting you out. I'm protecting myself.
Daniel Tan: From what?
Me: From making a huge mistake I can't take back.
I turned my phone off again.
*******
Monday morning, I arrived at work to find Richard waiting at my office.
“Lulu. We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Your living situation.”
I blinked at him. “My… what?”
“About your apartment. The building you're currently living in right now.”
He pulled something up on his tablet. “It's not suitable for employees at the executive level like you, unfortunately.”
“Wait, excuse me? What are you talking about?”
“It’s company policy. Anyone on the 47th floor or higher has to live in a place with adequate security. Your current residence doesn't meet our standards, apparently.”
“I've never heard of this policy before.”
“It's right there in the executive handbook. Section 12.”
He showed me and there it was, actually written down in the policy book.
“This is ridiculous. I've been living there for years.”
“Yeah, well, now you're in a different position, with access to sensitive information.”
He pulled up another document. “We have already set up new housing for you. It's a company apartment, fully furnished, and move in ready.”
“I don't want a company apartment.”
“It's not optional, Lulu. It's a security requirement.”
He stood up. “The moving company will be at your place Wednesday afternoon. Pack what you want to keep. Everything else will be handled.”
“Richard…”
“I know it's sudden. But it's necessary.” He stopped at the door. “The new place is nice. You'll like it.”
- Writer
