CHAPTER 59: A FRIEND OR AN ENEMY?

Caleb opened the lunch box in his hands. He saw his favorite dishes. Did she cook all of these? He pondered. Did he really hurt her that much? The image of Lisa crying in the hallway made his heart ache even more. He placed the lunchbox on the table then he took his phone out. He dialed Lisa's number but she was not answering. He tried to call her numerous times but she never answered the call. If only he can walk then he might have chased her, unfortunately, he couldn't walk straight yet. His foot was still bandaged. He cursed.

Lisa didn't notice that she's been sitting on the staircase while crying for almost thirty minutes. Her eyes became saggy. She remembered that she had some things to do, so she stood up as she walked down the condescending stairs.

Lisa drove to her favorite café outside the company premises. She couldn't go to work with her big eye bags. Aisha would surely pester her. As soon as she paid for her drinks, she mindlessly walked towards an empty table, when someone suddenly hit her. No, wait! She bumped into someone! Her milk tea spilled on the floor.

"I'm sorry!" She kowtowed apologetically.

"It's okay miss. I should be the one to apologize since I was not looking at my way." He kindly held her arms.

"S-sorry!" She insisted.

"Too bad you spilled your drink, please let me buy you another one." The stranger pleaded.

"O-okay," Lisa could not resist anymore.

After the man paid for their drinks, they sat on a single table.

"By the way my name is Kian." The man offered his palm.

"Lisa." She received it.

"Looks like you're having a bad day.'' He asserted. Lisa, who was about to sip her drink chortled.

"Ah, it's nothing. It was just the movie that I watched earlier. It made me cry a lot." She feigned a smile.

"Oh, so you're a tear-jerker too. Awesome! Ha-ha.'' Kian laughed heartily. "Are you perhaps working at the Saphiro Gentz Company?"

"Ehm, yes." She answered plainly.

"Same here!" His eyes lit up. "So what are you?"

"Just a secretary for the White Lotus department."

"Whoa! What a coincidence! I used to work there before as well, but not now, of course. But I was a salesman before."

"Oh, that's nice." She was not actually in the mood to talk right now.

"But I just started working here today at the I.T department." He explained. "I don't know anyone here, so is it okay to befriend with you?"

Lisa was startled. This stranger was asking her to be a friend! Was he somehow hitting on her? Maybe yes and maybe no. Lisa was in deep thought. She looked at him. He seemed to be a good person, a genuine one, unlike that someone she knew.

"Sure why not? I could use a friend too." She smiled. Kian also initiated an exchange of number, unfortunately, she couldn't save Kian's number since her phone was dead.

"It's okay. I'll just call you then." Kian smiled at her captivatingly then he bid her goodbye. Lisa was left all by herself.

*** Unknown to Aisha, Eli dragged his father into a jewelry store in the Saphiro mall. Aisha was still in the office sorting some documents when Eli asked Mr. Tanner to bring him to his dad's office. Eli pleaded his dad to accompany him to buy a present.

"A present for who?" Ethan asked his cheerful son as they made their way towards the jewelry store.

"Dad, you don't know the date today?" Eli looked at him in disappointment. Ethan shook his head. He didn't have any clue as to why his son was so hyper at the moment.

"So you forgot a very special day? How could you!" Eli yelled at him then he ran inside the jewelry store?

"How can I help you?" The lady asked the child. Ethan just entered the store when he heard his son.

"I want the best ever gift for my mom!" He told the lady. Ethan was stunned in a moment. Ah yes! It was Stacy's birthday. How could he forget?

"Is it her birthday?" The lady asked enthusiastically.

"Ehm!" Eli nodded. "I want the most beautiful one!" He added. Ethan stared at his son. He was surprised to see him chose a gift for his mom. It would be the very first time that he would give her a birthday gift since he never did it before. What's gotten into him suddenly? Ethan creased his brow as he looked at his blissful son.

The Lady came back with a small box in her hands then she opened it for the young boy to see. Eli's eyes grew in amazement.

"Wow! It's beautiful!" His eyes lit up. "Dad! Look! Do you think mom will like it?" Eli pulled his dad to see the gold infinity necklace. He smiled.

"I'm sure she will love it!" He encouraged his son. Eli grinned from ear to ear. Ethan might be surprised at his son's sudden action but the happiness that he saw in Eli's face gave warmth into his heart.

"And can I also see that gold phoenix hairclip?'' Eli pointed out the one that was sealed in a box. The lady stood up immediately to get it. When Eli saw it in a closer view, he instantly fell in love with it.

"I want these too, dad!" He exclaimed.

"Please wrap the bracelet and the hairclip." Ethan ordered the lady.

"It's $950 in total, Sir." Ethan handed his card to the lady then she shuddered when she saw that it was Ethan. The great CEO, Ethan Saphiro Williams!

The lady immediately returned the card after swiping it then she handed the boxes to Eli.

"Thank you, Sir, enjoy the rest of your day!"

Eli got a hold of the two boxes then he happily danced as he exited the jewelry store. Suddenly, he paused to face his father.

"Dad, aren't you going to buy mom a present?" He was curious. His face was somewhat accusing his dad. Ethan chuckled.

"No, I have the best present for her." He assured his son. As soon as they exited the store, Ethan called their household butler to prepare some special meals for dinner. The Stacy he knew before didn't like celebrating her birthday in a grand manner. The Stacy now was also a simple woman; maybe she didn't like celebrating her birthday's too. Ethan didn't know, but he would try.

*** Somewhere in the VIP lounge at the Saphiro Gentz Company, a young man and a middle-aged man were having a cup of coffee.

"So how's your first mission Kian?" The mysterious man asked.

"Ha-ha! Of course, I did a very good job! Getting close to that woman is pretty easy!" He bragged.

"Just so be careful. Don't do anything stupid that would raise any suspicion. Your main target is to get close to her friend." The man reminded him.

"Don't worry Father, I know that full well." Kian chuckled