Boom!
An optical mouse flew across the room and when it hit the wall, the pieces of it dropped to the floor.
Sitting behind his desk, Evan's face grimaced. He just woke up after sleeping in his office. He has so much work today and before his secretary could even bring his coffee, his day has already been ruined.
'The president was saved by his future daughter in law'
It was on the front page of the local news website. He didn't even read the article, the photograph was enough, even with a mask on her face, Evan recognized the eyes of president's future daughter in law.
He smashed a fist on his table, and the sound of it echoed in his office.
He got up, his chest rose and fell with a rapid breath.
"F*ck," he cursed and angrily kicked his table.
He paced around his office, both hands were on his waist.
"Should I call her?" he asked himself.
He heard a knock, followed by his secretary's voice saying, "Mr. Su, your coffee is here,"
"Come in," he coldly said.
His secretary quietly placed the coffee on his desk. Her eyes caught the broken mouse on the floor.
She sighed, thinking that his boss must be feeling stress since the scandal about the politician's corruption was dragging their company's name.
"Mr. Park of Joyful Entertainment is requesting a meeting. He will be here in 30 minutes. Would you like me to cancel it?"
Evan was thinking so deep that he didn't hear his secretary.
His mind battle whether to call Daniella or not.
(Maybe I should call her) he sighed.
"No," he murmured absently.
He walked like a zombie towards his table, he picked up his coffee and drank it in one gulp, not minding the hotness of it.
On the other side, the secretary rose an eyebrow. She has been working in the company for twenty-five years, and this was the first time she saw her boss acting as he had already lost his company.
The scandal about the corruption has made their stock to drop but, it doesn't mean that the Su would go bankrupt.
When she heard him saying no, she decided to leave him alone and inform Mr. Park about the meeting.
Evan sat back on his chair, his hand moved to grab his phone.
He dialed Daniella's number. It rang for some time before someone answered it.
"Ms. Chen?" he calmly said but, his fingers were nervously tapping on his desk.
"Mr. Su, this is Robert. Daniella is busy right now. Do you want me to pass her message?"
Evan went silent, he doesn't even know what to tell her and yet, he called her.
"Mr. Su?"
He blinked and sighed, "I saw the news," he said.
"Oh! don't worry Mr. Su, we are now deleting her name and photos online."
"Do you need any help?" he offered.
"It's fine Mr. Su, Daniella is doing it right now,"
Evan sighed, the impact of his action has caused so much trouble to Daniella and to his company.
"Is she still angry at me?" he asked.
Robert went silent.
"Honestly, I am not sure. She just scolded a chair so she's angry at everyone and everything. So, before she throws her knife at me, I am going to hang up and find a place to hide. Bye,"
The line has ended but, the phone remained on Evan's ear.
He sighed and leaned his back against the chair. His day hasn't started yet but, he felt exhausted already.
--
After some hours, Evan heard a knock on the door.
When it opened, his secretary together with one of their VIP Mr. Park of Joyful Entertainment entered his office.
He got up, even the sunlight passing through the glass wall of his office could not brighten up his dark face.
"Mr. Park," he said shaking his hand.
They seated opposite of each other on the single sofa in his office. His secretary served them tea and later left.
Evan looked at the man, he had his age but, still running his company. And he couldn't blame him, his only son James Park has been abroad and barely gets home.
"What's the purpose of your visit Mr. Park?" he asked straight even though he already had an idea.
Clearing his throat, the man stated his reason, "It's about our new model. We had just signed the contract three days ago and it says there that I have - well if there's an unforeseen incident happen," the man paused to wipe his forehead, his lips were twitching awkwardly.
"So. The manager of our model is backing out due to the bank's scandal."
Evan stared at him. They had just contracted one of the Joyful Entertainment models as the face of their bank. And he understands his point, after all, he's a businessman as well. Protecting the company's reputation is very important.
"Very well, I will send Kirby to cancel the contract," he got up, even though he had just lost a famous model to be the face of their company, there was no regret in his face.
When Mr. Park accepted his hand, Evan's eyes squinted.
"Mr. Park. I have a question," he said as he pulled his hand back. He jammed it in his slacks' pocket and looked at the old man with a serious face.
"What is it Mr. Su,?"
"What do you do when your wife is pissed at you?"
The old man was taken aback for a bit and later chuckled.
"I give her flowers,"
Evan sighed, the thought had been in his mind but, Claire said Daniella hated flowers and he doesn't know why.
"She hates flowers. What else?"
With a faint smile on his lips, he replied. "A simple appearance would be sufficed. Women like their men to be always around them. She might ask you to leave but don't do it because she's just testing you,"
"Really?"
"Yes but, may I ask if it's about your girlfriend? You're not married yet, right?"
Evan shook his head, his eyes were looking past him, directly at the wall, thinking deeply about Daniella.
"You can surprise her. Women love surprises and don't forget the jewelry."
In a short while, Mr. Park left his office.
As he sat back on his chair, his fingers immediately tapped on the keyboard.
He looked for an address of the nearest jewelry store in his office.
After getting the information he needed, Evan got up.
He remembered the earring Daniella always had on her right helix; it was a small round black earring. At first, he thought it was a mole but, later realized that it was an earring.
He sighed as he waited for the elevator, wondering if he should buy her a replacement.
When the elevator door opened, his feet moved to enter, his mind has then decided to buy her a normal earring.
--
Later that night, at Daniella's apartment.
She was sitting with nothing but her underwear on the couch. Her lips twitched as she bares the pain, she's feeling from the silicon skin that was pasted on her body.
She has it on her back today, and now she's getting help from her friend Irene Basan who was just living next door.
They have been friends for two years, and it all started when Irene caught her doing one of her schemes with Robert.
Being able to read her mind, she found out her deepest secret and she used it to get her into her side.
Irene is just as greedy as her, corrupt police.
At first, Daniella blackmailed her for information but, after some time, they became friends.
Irene knows her secret, and she knows Irene's secret. That was the reason why Irene - who was two years older than her, has become one of her best friends.
"Wait, I will get something from my apartment," Irene said. She had a small built for the police but, it didn't become a hindrance to beat up her suspects.
"I won't close the door. Alright?" Irene shout.
"Ahuh!" Daniella replied.
She was sitting on the couch, feet on the ground while her face was lowered on her knees.
She needed to stretch her skin, it's easier for Irene to rip the silicon in this position.
She could hear footsteps, knowing that it's Irene, she didn't bother to look.
Then, she felt a thumb on her back, touching her scars.
The fingers were so gentle and warm, touching her skin gently. Realizing that the fingers seemed to be bigger than Irene's, she got up and turned around.
Her face crept out after seeing Evan standing opposite her – behind the couch.
She gulped hard, she could see his eyes dropping on her chest, staring at the C-shaped keloid scar on her right chest.
Then his eyes lowered to her abdomen, the scars she had from getting her kidney removed – which was long and thick, was so visible in his eyes.
At that moment, she wished she could read his mind so she would know if he feels disgusted after seeing her scars but, no matter how hard she tried to read his eyes, she couldn't. They are the same deep brown eyes as before.
"Please leave" those words let out from her lips in a low and painful tone, her lips shivered, eyes shining with tears of embarrassment lowered to the ground.
She shut her eyes, her ears heard his footsteps.
But the footsteps stopped in front of her, and with that, she opened her eyes.
As she lifted her face, she was met with his eyes.
"I was told that when a woman asked me to leave, it meant the other way." Then he smiled and she doesn't know how but, all her worries and insecurities suddenly melted.
"How can you look at me, Evan? My scars are disgusting," she murmured underneath her breathe, eyes were avoiding his.
Evan chuckled, his finger laid on her chin and lifted her face to meet her eyes.
"I told you it sounds better when you call me Evan."
He pulled her body closer, hands wrapped around her small waist.
He could feel her scars against his palms as he embraces her. At that moment, he felt as if one of the walls that are blocking Daniella from opening up to him was smashed down.
He sighed with relief, eyes shut as he sniffed the vanilla scent around her.
"Why do you always smell like a vanilla?" He absently asked.
"That's just my sweat Mr.Su."
Laying his chin on her head, he whispered, "I got you a pair of earrings. Would you like to try it?"