The encounter

"He better be still in the café"

Walking to the destination, L murmured to herself. She plotted everything for this. He had to be there when she entered. Any man would fold over the unexpected encounter. The men would instantly recognize the existence of a woman if they met her unexpectedly many times.

Since approaching a cold-hearted boss was difficult, she had to sneak in slowly. "Found you" A smirk tugged at L's lips upon the glimpse of Adelio checking the time on wrist at the table. She promptly shook her hands and jumped a few times. Looking like a fool in the street. 

But it was all a part of the perfect plan. To make the appearance realistic, she attempted to look as someone who was gasping for breath for running here. "Now, shall we?" Smiling proudly, she headed inside the café once the man walked towards the entrance.

"I am sorry! I was trying to get works done!" Panting, L explained the reason behind her delayed arrival. Shutting the door behind and neglecting the man beside. "Risa! It is fine! Get ready! Customers are going to rise!  Manager is in kitchen!" The girl notified, signaling.

"Thankfully" L grinned.

"Oh! Sorry, Sir! I did not mean to get in the way!" Knowing damn well she purposely stood in the way, L pretended to play clueless. And her gaze shifted onto the man. The way he stood in surprise, the way he was querying the whole situation, tickled L on the inside.

Still, she pretended to be shocked as well. "Boss?" Her brows wrinkled. "We met again!" Beaming, L greeted. Once she acknowledged his existence, Adelio cleared his throat. Returning to reality. "Yeah" He retorted, shortly. "Are you leaving, Boss?"

L tilted her head. "Yes" Again, the man answered sharply. Annoying the woman, a bit while the girl observed the two in confused silence. "Then please take care, Boss! I wish you a sweet dream" What could she do when this man was being this poor in communication?

"Yeah" Adelio stepped out. Leaving L in pool of frustration. How could someone be this cold and upsetting?! Did he even know how to speak properly with others?! How did he survive till now? "He sucks" A murmur crawled up between L's lips. "Risa, you know him?"

The girl threw a query at last.

Feeling perplexed. "He is my boss actually" Sighing, L replied. But Cherry gasped. "My! So, I just witnessed the scene of a romance novel!" The girl giggled while L rolled her eyes. "Except the fact that he can't communicate" She remarked and headed inside to change.

"Still, it is wonderful!" L might be unsatisfied with the result of plan; however, she had no idea what Adelio thought of. Even on the way to his apartment, he could not stop thinking about the encounter. She had been on his mind nowadays so that he could not ignore anymore.

"Risa..." He mumbled.

Next morning, L arrived to the company a few minutes late. Yawning, she walked to her desk. Thanked to the late-night part-time job, she had four hours of sleep only. "I wish I never took this mission" L muttered to herself in exhaustion. Regret was beginning to strike.

"Risa!" Yet, a shout conquered the entire floor which was about to change the woman's whole mood. "Fucking shit, that startled me" L cursed out loud. She, then, cleared her throat. Putting on a bright smile as she stood up. "Yes?" But the familiar voice turned out to be Luke's.

What did this puppy want again, she thought. "Can we chat for a moment?" Luke approached; eyes gleaming with stars of hope. It hushed down the woman. It would not be something bad, right? She doubted quietly. All the eyes fixed on the woman, including the manager's.

"Of course!" Beaming, L followed the man. And Luke turned around when they reached near the storage room. Making the woman flinch in surprise. "Risa, did you request the Boss to fix the aircon?" With his lips curved up, Luke questioned. "Yes? Is there anything wrong?"

L couldn't help but concern. "Oh, no, no. I have been trying to complain about that but I kept forgetting, haha" Luke laughed. Though he was lifting the atmosphere, L felt the pressure more. She faked a grin. "Thanks to you, the Boss has tasked me to fix them today" He beamed.

Sounding quite happy.

"Is that so? That's really great. The quicker, the better" L let out a chuckle to match the man's vibe. "I know right! Also, I have a request" Now, the woman hushed down. She knew something was off with him since the very beginning. "I am afraid I am incapable to help" L hesitated.

"Please, Risa. All you have to do is make a cup of coffee for the Boss tomorrow" The request fell. Catching the woman off guard. "Oh" She blinked. The way this man was paving the path for her to step towards Adelio was truly heartwarming for her. A grin spread across the face.

"Such an easy task! I can help you, Sir!" Without any hesitation, L accepted the demand. Delighting the man. "Thank you! It is just I have to pay visit to the doctor tomorrow" Pouting, Luke explained. "Are you sick?" L frowned. "No, no. It is for my puppy" A sheepish grin took place.

And it quieted down the woman. Puppy having puppy?! She could already see herself being unable to distinguish between Luke and his puppy. "Ah, take care then. You can leave the work to me.  Rest assured" L sent a wink as the man chuckled over the reaction. "By the way,"

L voiced.

"Why did you call me Risa instead of Larissa?" Tilting head, the woman threw a query in puzzlement. She was certain he called her 'Miss Larissa' yesterday. How come he was addressing her like that? "Why? Do you feel uncomfortable to be called like that?" Luke's brows wrinkled.

"No, it is just weird. You were calling me Larissa yesterday. I wonder what changed that" L explained the reason. "Oh, about that," Now, chuckling awkwardly, Luke gulped. Arousing L's curiosity. The suspicious reaction! What was pulling him back from speaking?

"Boss was calling you by that name this morning. So, I thought it was better to address you 'Risa'. We can also become close in that way" Silence conquered entirely. The delight wavered on the inside. The woman had never been this glad to hear news about Adelio.

A grin tugged at L's lips. That cold-hearted man must have heard the girl calling her 'Risa' at the café. He memorized it without noticing himself! On the inside, L continued to laugh hysterically. The second step had succeeded!  "Call me 'Risa' as much as you want,"

"I love that!"

The sudden uplifted mood confused Luke for a second. But then he nodded along. "Then, we are friends now! Can you give me your number? I will treat you as gratitude" Luke asked. "No, you don't have to! I am not helping you with hope to obtain something back"

Still, L denied. "Come on. You are making me sad" He pouted. Stunning the woman. How could he be this cute like a puppy? "Then, my number is..." They exchanged the phone number to contact each other. At the same time, Adelio stared at the laptop screen silently.

The security camera  showed the scene of the two exchanging numbers. He was simply going through the security cameras to check whether the employees were working or not. Howbeit, he encountered the moment of his secretary befriending that woman.

At noon, L took the cream bun out to have as lunch instead of a full meal. She needed to head to the café earlier than Adelio tonight. In order to do so, she must finish the works as quick as possible. The development was growing really well. He will fall into her palm soon!

"Why is this bun so creamy?"

Frowning while peering down at the bun in grasp, L disappointedly murmured to herself. She chose the bun thinking there was plain one but it turned out to be creamy bun. "Where is Adelio Vincent?! Where is my brother?!" Out of the blue, the yell echoed.

Startling L who was furiously chewing the bun. "Brother?" She frowned; taking a peek at the man who barged in as the security attempted to stop him. The unemployed brother had entered! "Why is everyone scared?" L queried to see the employees avoiding him.

They could not even make eye contact with the man. "Hey, you!" A shout attracted L's gaze. Making her face the man from the distance. "Me?" She blinked. "Come here! Quick! Fuckers, let me go!" Resisting, Adelio's brother beckoned L to step near him. "But why me?"

Perplexed, L pointed herself. "Just come here!" Flinching on the shout, the woman had to approach without any choice. "Tell these fuckers to fuck off" He commanded. "Eh? Why should I?" L asked back. "Ugh! I will kill you if you don't!" The threat fell. Stunning the woman.

"Are you threatening me?!"

L shouted back. "These assholes..." Embracing his strength, Adelio's brother punched the two men away from restraining him. It surprised the woman entirely. "Useless woman" Glaring, Adelio's brother seized L's arm and dragged her forcefully. "Hands off of me! Let me go!"

In disbelief, L struggled. The eyes were on them now. "You little fucker-" "What is happening here?" As L raised her fist to punch the man's abdomen, Adelio voiced from front. Ceasing the woman promptly. She groaned. Pretending to be hurt and helpless. The prey.

She had to be seen as the victim here rather than fighting back. "Finally, you are out to welcome your dear brother" The man scoffed. His grip around L's arm tightened. "Let her go. We can talk in my office" Calm and collected as he was always, Adelio persuaded his brother.

The man looked down on L. "Bitch"

Murmuring, he pushed her away.