A must go!

The following day arrived swiftly, and Lydia found herself torn between wanting to know what was happening and feeling uncertain about going to work. She pondered, "If the CEO is coming to meet my boss today, is it even necessary for me to go? Should I just stay home and wait for the day to pass? But I need a valid reason for not going to work."

After a few minutes of contemplation, she decided to take a chance and make her way to the office. As she walked past the various shops on the street, her legs felt weak, and she couldn't help but sweat due to the mounting tension.

"I'm not sure what he's planning to do. The way he brushed me off with his strong arms... I hope that's not a sign of how my life will be pushed aside," she muttered, lost in her thoughts.

"Why am I worrying so much? The CEO merely made a statement. It's not the end of the world. He's just a man with enough power to make or break things," she tried to convince herself, although no negative signs had manifested.

Not far from where she stood, Lydia noticed the open Bakery sign. Gathering her courage, she hastened her pace.

The bell chimed as she entered the bakery, and to her surprise, she was greeted by the joyous expressions of her boss, Mr. Fred, Janice, and Jace.

"Good morning!" she greeted them with a mix of curiosity and excitement.

"Good morning, Lydia! Oh, you've just missed the CEO. He wanted to wait for you, but he had to leave due to pressing work," Mr. Fred said, his face beaming with happiness.

"Okay... what's going on?" Lydia's curiosity peaked, and her ears eagerly awaited the revelation.

"Let's take a seat," said Janice, holding Lydia's hand and guiding her to sit down. "The CEO has decided to sponsor our shop and provide us with a bigger and better building for the bakery. He even invited us to a gathering at his mansion tonight."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Lydia couldn't fathom why this seemingly emotionless man would offer such help to a small business like theirs on the street. She had a vague sense of familiarity towards him, but couldn't pinpoint where she had seen him before.

"He also mentioned your name, Lydia," Jace chimed in, leaving her even more puzzled.

"My name? Um... so you all will be going to the gathering, while I'll probably stay home," she suggested, trying to avoid attending any social event organized by this enigmatic CEO, as something just didn't feel right.

"Miss Lydia!" a stern voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Mr. Fred, who had been standing beside her all along, attentively listening to everything she said.

"Yes, sir!" Lydia responded, standing up straight in attention.

The middle-aged man moved closer, disappointment clearly evident on his face. His bald head glistened, and his eyes bore a paternal gaze.

"Lydia, I am deeply ashamed to hear you speak that way. The CEO rarely extends such opportunities, and we should be grateful for this incredible chance," he directed his words specifically to her.

"Yes, sir... I think?" Lydia stammered, unsure of how to respond.

"You... You... You think!" Mr. Fred's anger was palpable, and his outburst was unsettling to witness.

"Um..."

"Lydia, tonight I expect to see you in the most splendid cocktail gown... Am I clear?" He pressed, widening his eyes.

"Um... yes, sir!" she managed to reply, forcing a smile.

"That's why you're my favorite," he smiled, seemingly oblivious to Janice and Jace's presence.

"And what about us?" Janice interjected, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"You two are like my children," he whispered, trying to escape the impending commotion.

"Children? Like children!" Janice's eyes twitched as she screamed, causing Mr. Fred to seize the opportunity and flee the scene.

"Sir, where are you going? We're still your favorites, right?" Jace called out, giving chase, while Janice followed suit.

Meanwhile, Lydia stood there, contemplating the mysterious invitation from the CEO and the unexplainable favor he had shown them.

****

The day began like any other, with customers filling the bakery as usual. However, this time, the bakery closed early in preparation for the upcoming party later that night.

After tidying up the shop, everyone headed home to get ready for the event. Lydia, too, went home but found herself uncertain about attending.

"I'll leave early," she reassured herself, while simultaneously brainstorming various plans.

"Leave early?" a voice suddenly startled her. It was Mr. Fred, standing beside her, solemnly licking an ice cream cone.

Lydia knew she had to think fast and come up with a suitable response.

"I meant... I'll make sure I leave my house early," she replied with a nervous smile before quickly making her way home.

"Seriously, she thinks I'm clueless about what's going on in her head. Lydia never trusts top men, especially this CEO. Rumors are just rumors, even if there's some truth to them," Mr. Fred muttered to himself, carrying on with his ice cream and heading home.

But then, his footsteps halted abruptly.

"Mr. Fred!"

"Yes... Oh no, it's Janice," he mumbled, avoiding a conversation he knew he didn't want to have, because he already anticipated her words.

"Mr. Fred, we're your favorites, right... Mr. Fred! Sir, don't run off!" Janice chased after him, eager to hear an answer.

Meanwhile, as Lydia reached home, she contemplated the color and size of a dress that would make her look downright awful, causing the CEO to regret inviting them.

___

Losing track of time, she indulged her body into a relaxing bath with soothing music. Suddenly, her phone rang.

Answering calmly, she said, "Hello, who's this?"

"Lydia, where are you?!" Mr. Fred's thundering voice not only made her vibrate but also sent ripples through the water in the tub.

"I'm getting ready... I mean, I'm already on my way," she quickly replied, drying her hair.

"I hope you are because if you don't get here in the next fifteen minutes, you won't like what I'll do to you!" Mr. Fred ended the call, leaving Lydia scrambling to finish her makeup.

"I hate today!" she declared, hurriedly putting the finishing touches on her makeup.

Before anyone could blink, she threw on any clothes she could find, grabbed a random bag, and chose the first available accessory.

She was simply grabbing whatever her hands could reach.

With lightning speed, she vanished off to the party.

The taxi driver she stopped on the way wasted no time, as her loud voice echoed in his ears.

"Step on it!" she exclaimed, determined to accelerate their journey.

Upon arriving at the mansion, she proudly presented the guards with the invitation. However, their jaws dropped in disbelief at her appearance.

"Yes! It's working. Thanks to Mr. Fred rushing me, I look even worse than planned," she thought, silently laughing as she entered the grand mansion.