Larissa Gudrum

"He enjoys to visit K café at night?"

L tilted her head. She had returned home from the work. It was like a hell for her to work nine hours a day. Being the hardworking character was a pain in ass for her. "What the fuck is this information for?! He has a jobless brother, visits K cafe, is hard to befriend. Seriously?!"

Frustrated, L shouted. The first meeting did not go well to be honest. Adelio seemed really hard to approach in the company. She must meet him out of the work field. "Oh, wait. I think I know how to grab him by the neck" All of the sudden, L's lips formed into a smile of relish.

"Time to work!" Rushing towards the closet, she picked a floral dress to head out. "K café..." With the help of map app, she discovered the location of the K café. The sun had set. The board calling part time helpers shone brightly in the sight of the woman. "Excuse me" L went inside.

"I am here for the part time job interview" A grin tugged at her lips. It did not matter how much she got or how many hours she had to work a day, what mattered the most was Adelio frequently paid visit here. Next day, L received an acceptance message from the café.

"A beautiful morning..."

Giggling to herself, L got out of the bed. Waking up to such message delighted her wholly. After changing into her work clothes, L headed to the company. "Good morning!" As usual, a shout of greeting conquered. "I can't believe she wakes up with lot of energy every day."

One muttered. "Everyone, shall I make coffee for you?" L asked under a smile. "One for me, please!" "One with two spoons of sugar!" Despite their dislike on the uplifted personality of the young woman, they could not deny how helpful and hardworking she was.

"Larissa!" Suddenly, the manager yelled. Capturing all the attention. "Ma'am, is everything okay?" L scowled. "Boss's secretary is asking for you! Did you upset the Boss?!" The manager came running in sweats. Upon the news, L quieted down in an instant.

The secretary wanted to see her? How bizarre... "Everyone, I will make coffee once I am done. Sorry!" Still smiling, L rushed out to the secretary's table. "Don't tell me Adelio told his secretary to warn me..." A murmur crawled up between L's lips as her mind thought of every possibility.

"Larissa! You are finally here, Miss Larissa!" 

Standing from a far, Luke waved.

Perplexing L. What's with the warm welcome? She expected him to frown or shout. "Um, did I do something wrong, Sir?" Scowling, L approached. "No, no. I actually wanted to thank you." Luke smiled. Hushing down the woman. The gratitude was unexpected one truly. "Pardon?"

She blinked. Did she hear this man wrong? "I had something urgent to do yesterday and couldn't arrive early to company. But you saved me by making a coffee for our Boss. Actually, he enjoys to have coffee once in morning and once at night." The information listed down.

"He would be frustrated easily if not. I really appreciate your help. By any chance, if our Boss spoke upsetting statements, can you please not mind? He is cold-hearted man. But trust me; he does not mean any harm." L quieted down over the non-stop persuasions of Luke.

The Boss's secretary seemed like a bright person who was really close with the Boss. "Please don't worry. I know our Boss is a sweet and caring person. Next time, I can fill in your spot to make coffee for him so that you can take your time." Grinning, L responded. "Awwn!"

Luke pouted.

"You are such a sunshine, Miss Larissa. Thank you." His hand reached out, grasping the woman's palm to thank her with a warm handshake. Still, it put L ill at ease. The over friendly personality of this man was uncomfortably unexpected. "I have to work, Sir." She sheepishly beamed.

"Oh! Sure, sure!" "Excuse me then." Walking away, L tilted her head. "He reminds me of a puppy." A mumble escaped between her lips. "Larissa, did you hear?" Mian approached the woman who was trying her best to finish two projects at the same time. "About what?" L frowned.

Her eyes were fixed on the laptop screen. "There is a small event for new employees tomorrow. We are included! I heard Boss and other important people will officially introduce themselves. Like an event to get us familiar with the company!" Mian explained; excited.

Her smile was bright enough to show off her thrill for the event. "Boss?" L's hands ceased working. Eyes gleamed in amusement. Another chance for her to mess with the man's mind! L turned beneath a wide grin which scared Mian a bit. "W... what? Did I say something wrong perhaps?"

She blinked.

Believing she stated something wrong. "When? When is it?" L could only focus on her mission. "Um, tomorrow, around eight in the morning" Confused, Mian still answered. What made her friend act up like this, she wondered. "Perfect" L clapped. Surprising the woman.

"Goodness, what is your problem? I didn't know you can be this terrifying with a smile" Mian scowled. Expressing her fear and perplexity at the same time. "Nothing. I am just happy to meet everyone" Beaming, L turned her attention back on the work. "Huh? Are you serious?"

Mian's face dropped in disbelief. "We literally meet everyone when we attend to work. It is not that special. The only exciting part is that we are getting buffet" "Exactly. I am thrilled because of that" Since she couldn't disclose, L had to play along with Mian to avoid suspicion.

"Ah! I know right!" The two friends were excited for tomorrow but with different purposes. "Let's go have some BBQ after this. My treat" Mian offered. "Sorry, I have to work after this. Part-time job" L pouted. She had to work hard to portray her character better than others.

"What? I didn't know that"

Mian scowled. "Now, you do. We can go next time. I will call you when I am free" L flashed a smile as the woman sighed helplessly. "Fine. Work your ass off and treat me later as an apology" Mian walked away, heading back to her desk. Not too long after, the morning came.

The day the two had been waiting for approached faster than they thought. "Shall we get some attention of a cold-hearted man?" Staring at her reflection in mirror, L smirked to herself proudly. "The outfit? On point. The makeup? On point. The lovely image? ON POINT!"

Though Mian told her the time was around eight, L decided to head there around seven in order to catch up with Adelio. "It is so quiet" L frowned beneath a murmur. She stood across the elevator, checking the time on wrist. And she began to count; "Five, four, three, two, one"

As the time reached half past seven, Adelio walked towards the lift alone after leaving his car in assistant's hands. He was like a prey who walked into a fox's palm. L's head turned to look at the man as if she was clueless. "Oh..." Her eyes widened. Promptly bowing down.

"Good morning, Boss!" She greeted.

The reaction put Adelio ill at ease. She panicked as if she encountered a tiger in the alley. "Mhm" Coldly, Adelio replied. His eyes looked to front as he stood beside the woman, five feet apart. No words came up. Silence conquered above. L slightly took a step back.

She inhaled deeply. Arousing the man's curiosity. Adelio glanced to the side quietly. But it made him frown. She stood there far, head lowered, hands clasped, breathing rapidly as if she's running out of oxygen. Now, the man felt uneasy with her. What's so terrifying here?

Was something scaring her here? Or was she scared of him? "Are you alrig-" "I am sorry, Boss! I just recalled something urgent to do! May you have a good day!" Raising her tone without making eye contact, L ran away from the spot. Leaving the man stunned.

"Huh?" Adelio could not even find words to utter. He was only trying to ask whether she's alright or not. But she ran away as though he was about to threaten her. "What a strange woman" Scowling, Adelio stepped inside the lift. Maybe, he should avoid her in the future.

"Pfft-"

On the other side, L burst out laughing due to the interaction. It was hilarious to play the terrified woman image, especially his reaction. He looked lost. "Larissa, why are you giggling like a fool?" From behind, Mian's voice echoed. Surprising L entirely. "Holy Fu- Mian! You startled me!"

"What are you spacing out for anyway? I have been calling you few times" The woman spat. "Well, just some funny stories" L shrugged. Confusing her friend. "If you say so..." "Come on. We gotta head for our buffet" Linking arms, L dragged Mian away. "Right, I skipped breakfast"

"That's truly admirable" L frowned.

Making Mian grin proudly. "Thank you"