Bless The Broken Road

Chapter 5 - Germophobe

Back at the HQ, piles of work waited for the boss. Yet it was as if he didn't know the word rest. Kristoff Hansen was the perfect definition of a workaholic. 

On Ely's side, she already got the hang of working for Kristoff. She no longer cries when he shouts at her. The short two days she spent with him toughened her up. Because after the party, he didn't forget how she 'put' him in a spot that he didn't expect. While going back to the hotel that night, she was reprimanded. 

Like a little sister being scolded by her older brother. 

"Mr. Hansen, here's your coffee," she placed his third cup of caffeine on his table.

"Tell Zack I need that report I asked him to work with," the CEO never took his eyes off his paperwork. 

"Right away, Sir," before she left, she couldn't help but admire Kristoff. 

He already had everything a man could ever wish for. Yet he didn't seem to know when to stop. He had been hard on himself. And he was pushing himself to his limits all for the benefit of the empire's thousands of employees and their families. 

It was a pity that this boy who had so much on his shoulders didn't have a mother on his side while he was growing up. 

"Zack, Mr. Hansen's waiting for your report." 

"Got it," Zack immediately went inside the CEO's office. 

-

"Have you found her?" Kristoff just looked at the envelope that Zack placed on his table. 

"She's not yet found, Sir. But there's a new lead to where she might have lived after leaving the city." Zack answered, expecting the boss to get angry. 

He had been working on finding that girl from seventeen years ago for quite some time now. But still to no avail.

Zack had been doing an excellent job at anything the CEO had asked him to do. But this particular mission on finding a girl with no more details but a nickname of Ely was already pushing him to his limits. He'd already turned the place upside down and found hundreds of Ely but not yet succeeded in finding the girl.

However, at his latest search, he found another Ely who left that city a year after the CEO and his grandfather left for New York.

"Alright, keep searching." He said calmly, making the secretary wonder if he was okay. But then again, he's also particularly patient with him at this certain task.

Kristoff wasn't pressing too much but it's clear he really wanted to find that girl. And Zack must search high and low for her whereabouts. Whoever she was, whatever her relationship with the boss, she was pretty important to him.

"Don't forget the flowers. It's almost that time again." 

"Yes, Sir."

And that also, among all of the secretaries, only he knew about the flowers and where their boss takes them every eleventh of April each year. It was a day reserved for himself. They must not arrange any schedule for him for the whole day.  

He never knew the reason. And he never intended to ask. It's Mr. Hansen's private matter.

-

"Where's the boss? We're already late." Elyana kept pacing back and forth in front of the elevator.

They were going to dinner with an important person tonight. Meg Carter, the owner of Carter's International was known for her value of time. She's never been late to an appointment.

"Quit it, Ms. Green. He's Kristoff Hansen. It doesn't matter whether he arrives on time or not." Zack said as he patiently waits for the boss.

Ely stopped. Right. He was right. But, must he let a beautiful woman wait? Besides, Meg Carter particularly flew to the country just for Kristoff. Because he said he might be interested in the proposed partnership of Carter's International.

A few minutes later, Kristoff emerged from his office like he didn't have a care in the world. It's already seven in the evening but he still looked dashing. For sure, aside from business, Meg Carter was in the country for this privilege to have dinner with Kristoff. After all, having the CEO agree to dinner doesn't happen every day.

They arrived at the restaurant an hour late for their appointment time.

The stunning Meg Carter dressed in a sexy blue dress didn't show any sign of disappointment at the late arrival of Kristoff. However, she was obviously disappointed that the man brought company, but she didn't say anything about it as a fine lady of the high society.

Zack didn't go with them inside since according to the boss, he needed him to attend to something important. So it was just Ely and Kristoff. Needless to be instructed, she must act as the CEO's woman in front of Meg.

Ely couldn't still comprehend why there was a need for such false display when according to Zack, Kristoff didn't mind his company before. He was in fact quite popular as the mighty Kristoff Hansen's secretary.

"Maybe it's hitting two birds with one stone," Zack told her then. "You see, the boss is single. Many women would die to get noticed by him. Most of the time, like what happened in New York, business personalities use their influence to try to make Mr. Hansen date their daughters. If possible, marriage is the goal. Marrying into the Hansens would secure their business and a lifetime of a comfortable life.

But marriage isn't in the CEO's plans right now. So he's trying to avoid complications by having you by his side. You're his sister and nobody knows about it. You'd do a perfect job keeping everybody at bay while at the same time, you're with him as an assistant."

"Then, can I ask for a raise?" she joked. She realized that her job of posing as his woman was rather important.

"Aren't you being paid enough?" Zack chuckled.

"That's for being a P.A." she rolled her eyes. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask this. Why is he still single? Is Kristoff Hansen gay?"

"Cut it," Zack became serious. His boss might not be dating anyone but he was sure he wasn't gay. It's just that the man had so much burden on his shoulders, he didn't have time for his own love life.

Besides, who knows? The CEO might already have someone in his heart...

"Alright." Ely surrendered.

After short pleasantries, they proceeded with the dinner. They were quiet but Ely would often catch Meg looking at Kristoff with admiration. It was like she was having the time of her life.

Ely couldn't tell if Kristoff was oblivious to it or if he's so used to such an obvious display of affection towards him.

"Mr. Hansen, my father was happy that you accepted my invitation tonight." Meg started a conversation. "He asked me to extend his thanks to you."

"He should thank Christopher Hansen instead." Kristoff was wiping his mouth gracefully. "It was him who insisted to give your proposal a consideration." He added, not failing to make his point that he wasn't really interested.

"Then please extend our sincerest thanks," Meg paled a little but recovered quickly. She then proceeded to discuss her proposal.

The next minutes were used for talking about business. Ely watched both of them with awe. They were indeed business people. Meg Carter wasn't only beautiful. She possessed quite an intimidating aura. She seemed to know very well what she was talking about. For that moment, Ely saw how Meg dropped her own interest with the man she was talking to, and instead, she was so focused on getting a good deal with the Hansen Group's CEO.

However, Kristoff was a man who couldn't be easily persuaded to anything. In the end, Carter's International's CEO was forced to agree with Kristoff Hansen's terms.

Ely was very attentive the whole time as an assistant. But she made sure that Meg wouldn't catch her taking minutes of the meeting.

Before Kristoff could call it a night, Ely excused herself to use the restroom. She was a woman after all. Even if Meg would not openly tell her to leave her alone with the man, she quite got the message. And she was happy to grant her wish.

Besides, the female CEO must have looked forward so much for this night to be with Kristoff but her bubbles burst when the latter arrived with Ely in tow.

Ely took her time in the restroom, making sure that Meg could somehow take that time to good use.

Kristoff would surely reprimand her for it. But she wasn't scared. After all, he thought that she was his little sister.

After wasting a considerable amount of time, Ely decided to go back.

"Did you poop or something?"

Ely almost jumped in surprise. The CEO was outside the restroom, leaning against the wall while his arms were folded across his chest. His brows were almost knitted together as he looked at her with utmost displeasure.

"You sure took your time inside."

She smiled awkwardly. How long had he been there? Did he leave the poor Meg Carter alone?

"My stomach hurts," she lied. She wouldn't admit that she deliberately took much time. "It must be the steak." She put a hand over her stomach to sell her drama better.

"Can you still hold it?" His tone softened a little. "We're leaving anyway."

"Where's Ms. Carter?" She asked, looking at the table that was already empty.

"She already left. Did you think she would wait until you finish your business in the toilet?"

She stifled a laugh. Why did it sound so funny to her when Kristoff talks about a disgusting thing? Not that she actually did what he was thinking.

"Let's go." Kristoff walked ahead of her.

Ely walked behind Kristoff but allowed some distance between them. The other diners, especially the women, didn't hide their admiration towards the CEO. There were 'ohs' and 'ahs' and giggles.

Ely rolled her eyes. But then she caught sight of a familiar man inside the restaurant. A tall, handsome Philip Davis was having dinner with a middle-aged man. When he happened to look in her direction, he also recognized her and immediately stood up.

Philip broke into a huge smile like he just won the lottery as he approached her.

"Ms. Green, it was very nice seeing you." He took her hand and to her surprise, he kissed the back of it.

"Mr. Davis- ," she also acknowledged. She was somehow touched that such a man of his status would still remember her after their short encounter.

"What are you doing here? Are you with someone? If not, would you like to join -"

"She's with me." Suddenly, Kristoff who was wearing a dark face appeared beside Ely. "Mr. Davis, what business do you have with my girlfriend?" He pulled her hand that was still being held by Philip.

"Of course, Mr. Hansen, it's you!" He retreated his hands by putting them in his pocket. "My apologies. I saw Ms. Green and I came to greet her."

Ely was oblivious to the tension that was building up between the two men. She just couldn't get over with the 'girlfriend' word. Sure it was an act. But the way Kristoff said it tugged something confusing in her heart.

"Then perhaps, if Mr. Davis has nothing to say anymore, we'll take our leave now." Kristoff's hand snaked around Ely's waist possessively. "We're in a hurry."

With that, Kristoff turned around with Ely.

Ely eagerly looked back at Philip, who was still rooted on his spot when she came back to her senses. She mouthed the word sorry and got a hand wave as a reply from the man.

"What are you doing? Are you that eager to stay with him?" Kristoff asked sarcastically.

"I just wanted to say goodbye. That's all, Mr. Hansen." She answered.

Kristoff gritted his teeth but didn't say anything. He didn't let go of Ely until their car stopped in front of them.

Ely was surprised when Kristoff almost shoved her inside the car.

'What's wrong with him?' She thought.

"Wash your hands," the man threw her an alcohol bottle.

Wash her hands? Ely was dumbfounded. Were her hands dirty? Or the CEO was simply a germophobe?

"I already washed my hands in the restroom." She said, thinking that maybe he was disgusted with her using the toilet.

Annoyed at her, Kristoff sprayed alcohol all over her hands like he could see millions of germs there. She wanted to argue and tell how overacting he was.

But then she noticed that he was particularly spraying the back of her hand that Philip kissed. But why? A sudden pink tint appeared on her cheeks.

Was he jealous? But she was just a little sister to him...

"I'll do it," Ely bowed to hide her cheeks. 'How childish.'

Kristoff didn't say anything. He leaned back and pressed his temples like he was so stressed.