4 No boss, no worries

Finally being determined, Ankin washed her face and headed off to the rest of her classes. Being a shy introvert, her seat was silently assigned at the back of the class, without anyone sitting beside her. Washing her face clear of the dark lines that the tears had made, she walked down the hallway with headphones in to keep the negativity away.

While she sneaked in a few ideas during a lecture, Ankin overheard two girls sitting in front of her whispering that she was too ugly to be a celebrity, however, make-up can do wonders, the other responded. One of the guys whispered that she had an expensive car which was mysterious as she doesn't work. "Probably gotten from having sex." The first girl laughed and earned a scolding from the teacher. Sighing at her stupidity, Ankin decided to concentrate on the things most important to her than to focus on the gossiping.

The sun had already set when Ankin drove her way to her flat. Changing into her comfortable clothes, she headed to the kitchen to prep a snack. As soon as she stepped into the kitchen, her phone pinged with a text, it was Jay. Excited to finally talk to him, she called him and asked how he was doing. At first, Ankin tried to stay strong during the conversation, but when he asked again how she had been, energy left her body with her knees buckling. "I don't know. Hearing your voice makes me want to cry." And filled him in about the newspaper article and how everyone had reacted. "But," she continued before he spoke, "O was thinking of pretending that I wrote a letter to the celebrity about this whole incident."

"Don't," firm, yet gentle voice of his stopped her tears. "That will make you sound weak. Just ignore them like you did today, they'll eventually get tired when they won't be getting any reaction back from you. And as far as the interview is concerned, they'll certainly ask you about that. Don't accept the fact, neither deny it. Your ex will be insulted even more now in his family because I am sure he'd be proudly talking about you, even during your engagement period." A heart beat later, be spoke up again saying that he needs to get back to work.

Cutting the call, Ankin entered into her red and white themed kitchen to prep her snack as her phone pinged again. It was Alice complaining against her boss. While Ankin responded to the bombarding of Alice's messages, she texted one of Jay's friends in private, asking if he could meet up at 10:30 for breakfast.

***

"Hey Dan. Sorry for making you wait." He was mostly quiet whenever she would meet up with the group. Baby blue eyes would always drive attention in aw that matched with his blond hair which attracted the sun's rays. Freshly combed hair and a clean shave, always wearing a suit.

"Not for long. I noticed you were looking for a parking. Why the meeting?" Always getting to the point, fast.

After ordering their breakfast, Ankin began. "I was thinking of starting a business with Alice. She is hesitant about it, so I thought that I'd ask for your help with some things, and not to forget she get extremely tired from her job, so she cannot go hunting for the places."

"You could ask Jay. I am sure he'd be happy to help."

"I didn't ask him because knowing him, he'd take care of everything and then call us for inauguration. And besides, he is currently busy, so I wouldn't want to put more on his mind than what he already has."

"I am not sure. I'll try to help as much as possible. what is this business about?" Happily smiling that he agreed to help, Ankin told him that it was going to be a cafè with a kpop theme.

"And since Alice won't have any boss, she can nicely relax for once." Glancing up, Ankin noticed a change in emotion in his eyes. Tilting her head, she was about to ask, but it disappeared and he asked her a few important question about the business.

***

Three days had passed and Dan arrived in Ankin's flat while Alice had also dropped by. Once the introductions had finished, Dan informed them that he had found a perfect place, and that they can go the next day. "I have an exam tomorrow so I won't be able to make it. Can you both go? Tomorrow is your day off anyway." Despite Alice resisting to go alone with a man she barely knew, Ankin had convinced her that she trusted Dan a lot. Without any enthusiasm, Alice had agreed to go with Dan and said that she'll only visit the place and then be back home. Also Alice said that he should pick and drop her at Ankin's place and no other places, and Dan had agreed to all of her conditions.

When he left, Alice spoke up. "He agreed without arguing?"

"That is because he is a stranger to you. I know him well, but you don't. And besides which, he's Jay's friend. And they all know that if anything happens to you or me, Jay will torture them throughout their lives."

"That's too much." Alice glanced outside, but Ankin knew that she was thinking of Dan.