Stalker

"What kind of clothes do you need? Like formal clothes or something comfortable?"

"Hmm... Something fashionable but not too much. The trainees I'm with are rich and are sent by their families to train to be ready for the inheritance they'll get. It means they are already rich."

"So you don't look like a struggling businesswoman whose driving is her dream?"

"Exactly."

Isabelle chuckled at my answer. We were looking around the boutiques and clothing stores to buy the clothes I have to pack during my two-month stay at Produce Company. I couldn't lose to those fashionable sons and daughters of rich company owners.

It was already Sunday, and tomorrow would be the official start of our program. I was preparing the things that I would bring last night but then I saw all my clothes, they were very ordinary and casual compared to the clothes of the others so I decided to shop today.

"Are there chances that you'll go earlier than the others if you, for example, disappoint them? Or you are fixed and whatever happens, you will get the benefits of being part of the program?"

"There is a chance that I might get eliminated. There are competitions and there will be scoring of points of potentiality. It's needed to determine the standing, like the top one and the person who has the most potential. If I always fail, then you'll see me sooner than the original two months."

Isabel took one dress and checked if it would fit me by putting it in front of me. "I hope I won't see you until two months, then. But knowing you, you won't go home until you're satisfied so I'm sure after two months, you've already succeeded."

I chuckled, very touched by her support. "Ahh, my best friend is so kind and supportive right now, what could it be that she wants right now?"

Isabel laughed but rolled her eyes. "I want you to succeed because that means you'll be able to treat me all the time!"

"Okay, I'll treat you to lunch later since you won't see me for two months."

Isabel was my closest friend. I have other friends but she was the closest that we're almost attached to the hip, so her success is my success and my success is her success. The support I was getting from her along with my family was really enough for me to keep going.

"That's what I'm waiting for you to say," she joked, looking at her with a mischievous smirk. "Anyway, you've seen your future workmates, right? Are there very handsome or famous trainees? Or the first person that caught your attention?"

The first thing that came to my mind was that person, and I couldn't help the smile on my face as I nodded at her. "There is one. She's interesting and a meanie, but she's so beautiful like you wouldn't imagine how. I think I like her already."

"She? Her? A girl?" Isabel asked in confusion. "Who?"

I dreamily sighed and shook my head. "That's a surprise. You would know it soon, though. Once the Produce Company released the list of participants. But she isn't the only one who's famous, rich, and good-looking. There were actually a lot, probably I was the only one who isn't."

"But I know how hard you work in things and how good you are in everything. If not, you wouldn't pass the evaluation so believe in yourself, too."

"I hope so, too."

My goal in life is to succeed. I want to do it not for anyone else, but for me. It had been my lovely dream to become a CEO, and I have been very involved in businesses since I was in college. My business where I recommend clothes setup for others was a startup, and this decision of joining the program was another step toward that dream.

I seriously have to do well and I don't care what I have to go through in the future, I will overcome all of them.

We continued looking for clothes. I bought dresses, skirts, long sleeves, and other formal clothes. I didn't buy pants. Since I was used to fashion, I could wear any type of clothes. My business was on a fashion course so I really had to set an example first.

After we bought clothes, Isabel chose a Chinese restaurant in the mall. I wasn't really expecting to see anyone I knew here but as soon as we entered the restaurant, I immediately spotted that straight, shiny black hair, that slender, sophisticated back, and her beautiful side profile.

She was talking to a man who seemed to be her father. I mean, they had the same pointed nose, and their aura was similar. Their table was in the middle, causing a few people to look their way because almost all of them were big people figuratively. They were seated with a few old men and only Evie was the lady. A business meeting perhaps.

Isabel pulled me to the table just behind this casual business meeting. There were no other people sitting at the nearby table probably because they were scared that they would disrespect them, but Isabel just didn't care. Those were the tables that were available. We didn't have any choices.

I tried my best not to be seen by her. Though I badly want to tease her again and make my presence known. Yes, I kind of want her attention. But the atmosphere around them was just tense and very pressuring that if I would sit with them, my nose would probably bleed. How could Evie handle that?

I sat just behind Evie's seat. Her flowery scent once again got acquainted with my nose. It has been almost a week since the orientation, and I must say that she never left my mind. I even searched about her on the internet and oh my goodness, I secretly put her as my wallpaper. That picture where she had her back turned while she was wearing an elegant dress. She wouldn't find out about it so it's okay.

I tried so hard not to listen to what they were talking about, but I just couldn't help but maybe slightly lean back and try to get a hint of what kind of business they had here. But something made me glance at the back slightly.

"I really think you're so beautiful. I have this private resort that only elite fellows can afford. I can bring you there if you want to see it. It's picturesque, and you will enjoy it today, I'm serious, Miss Evie."

It was a man. Even when I could only see his back and his sleek hair that was seemingly licked by a dinosaur with how shiny it was, he was still young, but certainly older than Evie. And he was apparently flirting with Evie.

I waited for Evie's response, but it never came. I also glanced at her shortly, she was just acting busy with her plate, but for all I know, she was just playing with the food.

"So, are you coming? Won't you talk?"

I scoffed.

Hah. Ice and stone don't talk. Nice try, though.

I've heard that Evie didn't really like to talk, or she didn't like people in general. I've read her interviews and she directly told the interviewer that she didn't like people talking to her since they ask a lot of questions and sometimes were rude or just saying nonsense. It was so cool, and I think my interest in her doubled, though I kind of felt bad toward the interviewer at that time.

"Excuse me, Dad. I will just go to the comfort room."

I heard the chair behind me screech. It was loud, and some of the people nearby looked at it. And I knew by then that this man probably pissed Miss Evie.

I glanced behind, partly because Isabel was also looking at the person behind me. Her eyes were squinted as if she was trying to recognize this girl. I was a little curious about how Evie looked when she was pissed, but when I turned my head, cold eyes met mine, and my heart beat rather irregularly.

She was looking at me... and she had her brow raised at me, but then after a few seconds, she rolled her eyes and took her bag, strutting toward the comfort room.

"What's wrong with her?" I muttered to myself as I followed her with my gaze.

"Huh?" Isabel asked. "You were saying something?"

"Ah, no," I replied but my eyes were still on the way to the comfort room. "Anyway, I'll just go to the comfort room. I'll come back quickly."

I stood up quickly and followed Evie. I don't know, I just felt like checking up on her when she probably didn't even know me. I mean, I didn't introduce myself.

I was hesitant if I would really come to see her, but oh well, I was already here. When I opened the door of the comfort room, I was expecting Evie to be inside one of the cubicles, but I was surprised when I saw her standing there in the middle, her arms crossed on her chest with her bag slung on one of her arms, her weight on one foot, and she was looking at the door as if waiting for someone.

And that someone turned out to be me.

She scoffed as soon as she saw me enter the comfort room, and she immediately opened her bag and said, "I'm calling the police."

"Huh? Why?" I asked, genuinely and cluelessly curious. "Are those people you're with bothering you? Did they do something? I'll call the police, too!"

Evie looked at me from head to toe, her face was like she had just seen the weirdest person she had ever seen in her entire life. "Are you stupid?"

"Me? No. Are you?"

"What- Argh!" She rolled her eyes. I didn't know being a meanie could be attractive. "You're stalking me, so obviously, I'm calling the police because of you!"

I gasped. It was just one time and one night. "How did you know that?"

"See!? I knew it! You're a total creep!" she exclaimed, shocking me because of how loud her voice was.

"I'm not. I'm just interested in you. I said I like you." I toothily smiled at her. If I could wink, I would have done so, but it would just be embarrassing.

Evie froze for a moment, but her eyes were still in a glare. It came out cute instead of intimidating. "Well, then, I hate you!"

She walked out with a huff, even bumping my shoulder.