Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 51

Crystal immediately noticed the suspicious and mean look from some of the old employees, the moment she stepped out of the elevator and walked onto that floor.

It hasn’t even been a month since she had talked to Larse about the situation within the company, but she didn’t expect that he would actually take her advice and implement it, seeing as there were new and very professional-looking faces.

The change of personnel can be noticed starting from the reception on the first floor, up to some of the table that she passed by while walking along the corridors of the office within the floor of the man’s office.

But what really surprised her was the staff in front of Larses office, it was composed of two women and a man that seemed to be in their mid-twenties, replacing the three middle-aged women that she’d been seeing the past few months.

“Good morning mam,” the lady with bobcat hair quickly greeted her with a wide smile and cheerful tone the moment she saw her.

“Good morning,” she greeted with the same enthusiasm getting a wider smile from the woman.

“Do you have an appointment today mam?” she states though she was already typing on her computer.

“Yes,” Crystal answers.

The woman nods keeping her sunny smile. “May I have your name please.”

“Crystal Aimely,” she says not taking her eyes away from the said woman,

Though she was young she could see that she had been trained properly, as she was both polite yet professional with her approach and was able to multi-task.

“For a moment.” The woman quickly types on her computer before picking up the phone and pressing a few buttons with speed and ease.

Though the receiver was on her ear she was still being very attentive to Crystal, keeping her eyes on her and signaling her for a moment while she was quietly waiting for the other line to pick up.

“Hello sir, yes, there’s a miss Crystal Aimely here to see you,” the woman greets.

Carefully listening on the other line, she gives two nods before looking at her to check if she needed anything.

“Yes sir,” that was the only thing she heard before the woman hangs up and turned to her. “You’re good to go, mam, just please proceed to the door on the left, mister August should be waiting for you in his office,” she waves to where the door to the man’s office was.

“Thank you very much,” Crystal states.

“You have a nice day mam,” the woman says back as she gave her a sort of curtsy.

“You too,” she could not help but smile even wider from the thrill and amusement from the politeness that she received.

It stayed with her up until she reached Larse’s office, seeing as she was still there for business she decides to put her professional persona, she knocked three times before pushing the door open.

The man was in his usual place behind his large desk, but he looked more relax and calm now as he was signing folders after folders in quick succession, as documents and papers that were on his table were more neatly aligned unlike before.

“Mister August?” she calls out to get his attention making sure to stay at the door’s entrance.

The man immediately stops what he was doing to raise his head. A wide smile quickly appeared on his face upon seeing her.

“Crys, please have a seat, and I already told you not to call me that,” he chuckles gesturing her to the sofa chair that was in front.

Carefully closing the door behind her, she immediately proceeds to take her seat, placing the documents that she had on the coffee table.

“Just give me a minute, I’m almost done,” Larse tells her from behind the stack of documents that were blocking him.

“No, please take your time, I’m in no hurry,” she tries to assure her, not wanting to cause any mishap for the man.

Not wanting to bother Larse, Crystal decides to put her attention in looking around the room. Even the place had suddenly changed for the better, the rugs seemed to have been replaced over the weekends, while some of the furniture was rearranged to give more space, other items like large expensive vases, figurines of a different sort that were displayed there, and ornaments had also been removed. Giving the place more of Larse’s personality, since it had some of his trophies during college years and a picture frame of their family along with some other awards, though there was still no wedding photo that could be seen around.

Crystal was only snapped back to her senses when she saw Larse was already standing in front of her. Having that goofy yet handsome smile of his that always made her laugh.

“Sorry if I kept you waiting, I just needed to make sure I’ve finished all my work for today,” the man proceeded to take his coat and attache case that was already on the other chair just in front of her.

Crystal stood up, pulling her pink flared skirt to make sure it wouldn't show too much. Fixing the loose strand of hair to her ear, before looking at the man, who seemed a bit dumbfounded again.

“Not a problem, by the way, I brought you the documents you requested,” she picks up the folder on the coffee table to give it to him.

“Thanks, I’ll sort this out on Monday,” Larse quickly places the said folder on top of the stack of other documents that he had waiting on the table.

“Are you sure this is all right?” she couldn’t help but ask, not really wanting to get the man in trouble.

Larse almost burst out into a laugh at her sudden reaction. “Of course, why?”

She didn’t really want to be this bold, but since the man was the one who insisted on it, she wasn’t able to decline. Though she knew it would cause an issue later on.

“What about your wife? I mean, what would she think?” she just tries to bring that up, wanting to make sure that the man wasn’t going to have any concerns later on.

Larse let out a long sigh, rolling his eyes at the mention of the woman, though she already knew who his wife was, the man hasn’t mention nor said anything about Dana not even once, as he kept avoiding the subject whenever she tries to bring it up.

“She’s on some expensive trip with her friends, so I doubt she’d mind?” The man fans his hand as he said it, seeming indifferent to the woman.

“If you say so.” Crystal seeing as the man seemed quite confident and adamant, just went along with it, not wanting to ruin their day and plans ahead.

That brighten the man up, as he cheerfully galloped around his desk to press the intercom on his phone.

After a short buzz, the line was picked up.

“Rachelle!” Larse leaned down to get closer to the intercom.

“Yes mister August,” a woman answered, it seems it was the other receptionist a while ago since she had a different tone of voice.

“Is everything ready?” the man asked, smiling as he looked at her.

“Yes, sir,” the woman quickly answered.

Larse then pressed his intercom off, before playfully rushing to her side. “Shall we?” he states gesturing his hand to the door.

She did not waver and just gave him a nod then started walking to the door. They were greeted by the two female receptionists on the front desk, between them was a little boy, who was wearing a cute pair of denim shorts, white long sleeves, and a cap. He looked like a cute little skater boy with his high-cut shoes and long socks.

Not being able to control herself she runs towards the child, then sitting in front of him so that she can give him a little pinch on the cheeks.

“Hello Lawrence, how are you cuty?” she greets the boy which makes him giggle.

“I’ll be out for the whole day, don’t call me unless it’s an emergency,” Larse told the two women.

“Yes sir,” the ladies said in unison as they bowed their heads.

“C’mon kiddo, auntie Crystal is going to help us today,” With a cheerful tune Larse reaches for the boy's hand, he waited until Lawrence's small little fingers were properly holding on to one of his fingers before walking along with the child.

Crystal couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sort of ticklish sensation in her chest while watching the two together. Though everyone knew that Larse did not sway from his womanizing ways after marrying Dana, there was in no doubt that he was a good hand’s on father to the boy.

As she promised she agreed to come along with them to the mall, as Larse promised the child he’d take him there for some ice cream that day.

All afternoon they just walked and looked at different stores, chatting, joking around, and catching up on each other.

Though she’d been with the man before on a different timeline, she could not deny the fact that she still felt so light and relax whenever she was with Larse, even though this was the real, womanizing and scandalous one in her time.

Even though some would either be scared of him or throw themselves at him. As the rumors of him would say that he was an easy target for lustful women. She really didn’t care nor was affected at all, as she could see something different with him whenever they were together, something that others seem to never really notice.

“Are you sure there’s a barbershop here?” the man smirked as they’ve been walking for almost fifteen minutes but there was no sign of the shop.

“I always go here, so yes there is,” she giggles.

Another thing that she advised him to do was have his hair cut, as the man seemed to want it long and a bit messy. Though it did give him that bad boy kinda looks, she really didn’t like it, since the man had a position of authority as the acting C.E.O. of their company.

“See, there it is,” Crystal points out at the salon with white and red swirling lights on the side.

Larse turns to Lawrence with a playful smile. “So there is one, huh, you also want to get your hair done kiddo?” he playfully states to the boy.

“I think it would be cute to get matching haircuts,” she says, as she already thought it would look great on both of them.

“You heard that kiddo, we should definitely get matching cuts,” Larse agrees as they were entering the shop.

As the man was having his hair done, Crystal stayed with the little boy to help the barber do the boy’s hair. She could not help but feel a bit jealous, as she always wanted to have a child of her own before. She immediately shoves the idea out of her head as she didn’t really want to feel bad right now.

After getting their haircuts, Larse treated her to dinner before they decided to part ways.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Larse and Lawrence were already inside their car as they still didn’t leave seeing as Crystal was all alone.

“Yes, don’t worry about me, I have a friend who’s going to pick me up,” she assures him, waving him off.

Larse was still a bit hesitant to leave her there but wasn’t able to say much as Crystal started backing away to allow them to move.

“Okay then,” he just states in surrender.

“Bye Lawrence, let’s play again some other time okay,” she waves at the little boy who was peaking on the window, smiling as he also waves at her.

“Call me when you get home, okay,” Larse said as he was maneuvering the car out of the parking slot.

“Okay, drive safely all right,” she just says waving as she kept her sight on the two who were inside.

“Okay,” Larse gave one simple wave to her before driving away.

“Bye,” she shouts while waving.

There was really this part that made her feel good after their little stroll, but it didn’t stop her from doing what she needed to do.

After just a few minutes a car arrives to pick her up in the same parking lot, she quickly gets in sighing in relief that nothing out of the ordinary happened that day.

“Do you have it?” Brittany states the moment she had her seatbelt on.

“Yes,” Crystal grins as she gives her friend four different hair locks neatly sealed in a small zip lock.

Brittany’s face creased upon looking at it. “So, why exactly do you need this again?” she raises a brow at her.

“I just want to confirm something,” she states not wanting to give out too much.

“And may I know who do these belong to?” Brittany shakes the pack in front of her.

She could not help but pout. “I thought you said you knew someone who can do it with no questions asks,” she whines, remembering her friend's promise to help her out.

“I know, but what you’re doing here is upright illegal you know, you better not be trying something here, because I do not want to haul your ass out of jail!” Brittany scolds then pinches Crystal’s nose.

They end up with a childish little slap fight, laughing though she knew her friend was just really worried about what she wanted.

“I promise you, I’m not doing anything which would cause trouble, I just need to be sure about something,” she tries to assure her friend.

“Girl, this better be worth it,” Brittany puffs as she begins to start the car.

“I think it will,” she let out a smirk, folding her arms to her chest as she felt a sort of surge of excitement and adrenaline inside knowing that this was the start of her sweet retribution.