46 Complex emotions (II)

Fueled with motivation, Camellia dialed Charlie's number.

"Hello," Camellia rushed her greeting the second the call was connected. Her voice casual in contrast to the chaos inside her heart.

This sensation was new to her. She was never this nervous when calling someone. Was she sick? Her heartbeat was higher than normal. She also felt hot.

"Miss Camellia, what a surprise to have you call me. Do you miss me?"

Huh? Camellia was baffled. Miss him? Who did he think he was?

"Mr. Charlie, have you forgotten your promise to call me? If I was your client, I'll pass on you," she complained. In the business world, breaking promises would ruin a company's reputation. Charlie was a potential business partner so he needed to step it up and made her believe that he was worth it!

"Except you're not, Miss Camellia. Besides, the day hasn't come to an end yet. I have plenty of time to call you," Charlie responded.

Camellia who was listening had a weird expression on her face. She felt her cheek getting hotter. What he said made perfect sense. How come she overlooked such an obvious truth?

"Miss Camellia?"

Too engrossed on her thought, Camellia was startled when she heard someone called her name. Oddly, she felt her heartbeat getting wilder. This kind of reaction, was it because of the food she ate earlier?

"Cough, Mr. Charlie, since you answered my call, I would like to ask you if your offer still valid?" Camellia asked, totally ignoring Charlie's previous comment.

There was a moment of pause sending her anxiety to reach its peak.

"Mr. Charlie?" she implored.

"Depend,"

Camellia frowned. Depend on what? What an ambiguous answer.

"What do you mean?" she still asked nicely.

"Depend on who's asking. If it's you, my offer is forever valid,"

Charlie's reply showered Camellia with infinite joy. She heaved a sigh of relief. Her shoulders relaxed. The burden had been lifted.

"That was quite a sigh," Charlie chuckled. He didn't expect the other to respond in such a manner.

Camellia regained her composure and said, "I'll accept your offer. However, I have some conditions," she said.

"Let's meet and discuss," the other agreed. Camellia nodded but knowing that he wouldn't see her, she said: "Send me the location to your workplace. Let's have a formal meeting," Camellia suggested.

"Sure. See me at ten o'clock tomorrow. I've sent the location to you,"

"Perfect. See you tomorrow!"

...and their conversations ended.

Camellia stared at her phone in disbelieve. That went well. She was glad about the result. But, why was her heartbeat getting louder?

"Was it Charlie?" she heard Lenny's voice coming from behind. Camellia turned around with a big question mark on her face.

"What's wrong?" Lenny immediately came over.

"Do you think I'm sick?" Camellia asked making the other dumbfounded. "I think my heartbeat is abnormal. And I feel hot," she told her with a helpless voice.

"Oh... " Lenny chuckled. She understood what had happened. "Did it happened around the time he called you?" she touched her chin. Stroking it as if thinking deeply of Camellia's problem.

"Yes and no," Camellia innocently answered. Her brows kissed each other. She was really worried! Lenny coughed to hold herself from laughing and teasing her friend who right now looked so desperate.

"Don't worry. Stop thinking about Charlie and you'll be okay,"

"Huh, why is he involved?"

"Because he is the reason you are like this!" Lenny said as she patted the shoulder of her friend. And the moment she said it Camellia instantly brightened up. "I knew it. I should be nice to him. Thank you Len!" she cheered up and hugged Lenny who doubted that everything she had said made any sense to her friend.

Lenny was mystified. Camellia's way of thinking was totally on a whole different level! Should she explain? Nah, it's better to let her realized things by herself. Lenny joyed at the upcoming 'endeavor' her friend would make.

***

In hidden heaven of Paglos, inside the newly built meeting room. A man who was sitting at the chairman's seat was brimmed with happiness. He stood up and declared that the meeting was adjourned. The employees who felt that their life was hanging on a tiny thread of survival secretly heaved sighed of relief.

Heaven had sent them a savior! Who in the world had called? He or she must be a powerful figure. Not only their boss became a smiling monster, but he also let them free!

"Boss, can-can we really leave?" a man whose seat was the closest asked. He secretly glared at his coworkers who pushed all the responsibility to him.

"Yes, but..."

Everyone froze. But what! they all screamed in their minds.

"I hope this kind of careless and stupid mistake will never happen again and starting next week, you'll attend a one on one counseling with someone," such casual tone yet everyone had a fearful look on their faces.

"Yes boss!!" they spoke in unison. Never! They wouldn't dare to be careless again! However, they felt that this counseling thingy would be their most memorable experience. Who was that someone? They were curious but scared of asking.

"Dismiss!" and everyone left the room without hesitation except for one man.

"Boss, shouldn't you decrease your terrifying aura? They are the best in their own field. I believe they already know their own mistakes. If you pressure them like this, I'm afraid they will rebel," the man expressed his concerned.

The man who was standing frowned at his assistant's words.

"The best? Zach, do you remember what the man had taught us? The second you think that you're the best, you lose. This team is still new, they should first see and experience the consequences of being careless," It looked like the person who feared by the employees was Charlie. He reminded his assistant of the grave mistake in his concern. If his employees were to rebel, that means they were weakling. He didn't need one!

"I'm disappointed. None was brave enough to question my decision. No matter how intimidating I was earlier, their chickening out was the biggest problem. I hope she could help me overcome this issue," Charlie sighed. He was only tasting the water earlier. He caused a small ripple and it already made them scared.

"Boss, I should have known your intention. Forgive me for my lack of thinking," Zachary finally saw his boss's motive. He wanted to create a formidable team that could operate under pressure. How could he failed to see that?!

"Boss, who is this someone?" Zachary asked. He never heard his boss talked of recruiting someone. Did he meet someone as capable as him? Was it the person he was talking on the phone earlier?

Zachary had a lot of unanswered questions but among all, he was really curious who was this 'someone' and who was the person his boss was talking to earlier. His boss would never take a phone call during a meeting but today seemed to be an exception.

"Camellia. She agreed to work with us. Zach, make sure to polish the contract. She'll come tomorrow at 10 sharp. Clear my schedule at that time," Charlie informed with his lips curled upward at one corner.

"Miss-Miss Camellia agreed? Boss, you finally can get married. Holy! HappyWell is blessed!" Zachary jumped in astonishment. He looked at his boss hesitantly when suddenly he went and hugged him.

"Boss, congratulation for your marriage!" he said without being aware that he was a second away from his doomed.

"Congratulations?" Charlie smirked and with a swing of his hand, he flipped Zachary backward, causing the other to groan in pain. He was about to pummel him again when the other put his hands up to surrender.

"Boss, I forgot that you hate skinship. Spare me please!" he pleaded.

The second he thought he would be beaten to death, he noticed the dazed look on his boss's face.

"Ava," he mumbled before fell on his chair. Once again, she was being forgotten!

"Sh*t!"

Zachary was shocked when suddenly Charlie punched the table in front of him. Seeing the conflicted expression on his boss, Zachary decided to say nothing. Quietly, he left the room.