The girlfriend

"Holy fuck"

Over the sight of the man talking with a woman at the corner of way, L murmured to herself in shock. She did not come to work to witness such scene! Couples sneaking out for a moment to meet up was not that surprising but the fact that the man being Adelio Vincent was a huge shock.

Not only just chatting but the woman was also holding his hands. She just could not recall where she had seen the woman from since the view was from the side. "Did Adelio Vincent get a girlfriend? But wasn't he into me? Did I fail this mission? Already?!" Sweats began to drip.

She gulped. What should she do if it was true? There was no way she could lose this ten-million-dollar mission. She must do something about it! Maybe, she should just pretend to be blind and lie to Vio by saying Adelio had not gotten a girlfriend before her. Right. "Let's neglect it"

L muttered as she walked away; pretending she had never seen such moment. Back to work, she immersed herself with pressure. Squeezing out the idea to grasp the man as quick as possible and run away with the money. "Larissa!" Along with a shout, Mian rushed towards the woman.

Startling everyone around them.

"What happened?" L frowned. Finding it bizarre to see her friend being in such condition. "Boss! He got a girlfriend!" The news sure did leave L speechless. She was attempting her best to forget about it and yet her dear friend had to mention it out of everyone else. "Ah. Really?"

Sighing, L returned a question. Sounding uninterested which perplexed the woman. "Larissa, did you damage your ears? Can't you hear what I just said? The boss, your supposed-to-be boyfriend is hanging out with another woman!" Mian, thinking L was spacing out, shouted.

Panicking L. "Shush! I heard you! Gosh, the manager will kill us!" "Then, give the proper response rather than 'Ah. Really?'" Mian imitated as sarcasm. Making her friend let out another sigh, "Where did you even hear it from?" L pretended as if she was not depressed on the inside.

There was no way Adelio could have a girlfriend before her; otherwise, she would be a replacement who could not swindle him as result. "Obviously some rumors" Mian shrugged. L felt relieved. At least, Mian had not seen them in person unlike her. It had not been proved.

"It is a rumor only"

L rolled her eyes. "Don't go around believing everything, Mian" L focused on her work. Paying not enough attention to her friend. "No, Larissa. The problem is I saw them together yesterday" Mian admitted. Ceasing L's movement. Slowly, she turned. "With?" She blinked.

Her heart began to race in anxiety. Was she a step late to conquer the bag of cash from the very beginning? "Do you remember that Rose from sales department?" The name came up. Confusing the woman more. "Rose? Oh... wait, why her?" L scowled, fidgeting.

"I don't know!"

Mian slammed her palm upon the desk; expressing her frustration. "Boss was talking to her near his office as that woman was smiling at him. She even touched his hair! Here I thought Boss was into you! They just ruined everything!" Mian complained, furiously.

Meanwhile, L quieted down in loss of hope. Her mind wandered in her own world. What the actual fuck, was her only thought. "Larissa? Risa? Larissa Gudrum!" Noticing her friend spacing out, Mian called out. Only to receive no response. "Woman! Are you okay?!" She panicked.

Thinking her friend was struck with shock. "Huh?" But L managed to return to reality. She blinked. Staring at Mian in perplexity. "Did that surprise you that much?" Mian frowned. Obviously. Howbeit, L shook her head; lips curving up to form a smile. "Not that much"

She shrugged. It's okay. She still had hopes. No matter what, she must secure her five million before leaving this world. Also, it could not be that bad. Even if she could not stop them, she could just become a homewrecker. "Are you sure? You turned pale" Mian's eyes filled with worry.

"I am fine"

L waved her hand. "Why do you even think it would make me sick? There is nothing going on between me and Boss anyway" She added up; laughing it off. Mian could only nod. Maybe, it was just her who wanted to see Risa together with Boss. "When are you returning today?"

Mian threw a query. "Late. I have a file to research and correct" L answered. "How bad. I was thinking of getting some beer with you after work" A sigh crawled up. "I can tomorrow" L flashed a beam. "Then, don't change your mind. We are going tomorrow" Mian pointed her finger.

Threatening the woman as L chuckled. "Yeah, I won't" Few hours passed; leaving L alone in the hall as everyone had left. Mian also headed out to look after her mother. The aircon's sound echoed in there along with typing sound; describing the lonely atmosphere at night.

From a certain distance, Adelio observed the woman. He had been watching her through surveillance camera the whole time. She worked hard. Sometimes, she would chat with her friend as she expressed several facial expressions which distracted him.

Now, no one was nearby.

He could make a move now, without any care. Adelio approached the woman in silence while L's hand stopped typing. The presence of someone behind was intense. She could feel him stepping nearer. Knowing he was approaching her, L continued to work.

Without sparing a glance. The way to conquer this man even if he was in relationship, was none other than behaving like a second choice with a bit of distance and obvious affection. "Risa..." His deep voice echoed. Yet, L did not flinch at all. She turned, brows wrinkling.

"Boss?" Her voice softly permeated into Adelio's ears. "It is pretty late. You should go. Don't you have work after?" He advised. "It is okay, Boss. I asked the café manager to delay my duty time" L beamed. She, then eyed her laptop. Ignoring the man completely.

Now, Adelio blinked in puzzlement.

Huh? Why was she being distant tonight? Even though she had the same smile on, he could feel the slight difference. There was no warmth in her beam. No closeness. Just a freezing touch of a smile upon lips. Did he do something wrong perhaps? Adelio queried himself in panic.

The thing he was scared of the most was nothing else but receiving cold treatment from this woman named Larissa. "I will wait for you then. We can head out together" Adelio asserted. Silently waiting for the response to see if he had committed some problems. "No, Boss"

L declined. Hushing down the man. He did something wrong for sure. "There is still some left to do. You can go by yourself. Cherry will take care of your order" L smiled up at the man, again, with an empty gaze. It made Adelio gulp in anxiety. No, it could not be true.

"I would like to have the cake you served last time. I don't recall the cake design. Only you can help me out to get the same one" After flipping off everything to obtain an excuse, Adelio spat a lie. Somehow, tickling the woman. Look at him trying so hard to leave with her together.

She could get his heart still.

"I am sorry, Boss. You can ask Cherry about it. I really have to work tonight. Don't worry. You can ask her to give me a call if she does not know as well" L refused till the end. Leaving the man desperate. Risa, being hard to get, annoyed Adelio so much. What's wrong?

What's up with her refusal tonight? She used to be a bright woman who was not hard to approach. How come things turned out like this now? "If so, I will leave first. Don't overwork yourself" Giving up, Adelio walked away. Seemed like he had no other choice to do.

"Gosh, he is giving me obsessed vibe. And yet people say he's dating another woman? Maybe they are just flirting for fun. Adelio has to be my cash bag only" Murmuring to herself, L tilted her head, a smile creeping up on her lips. After an hour, L decided to return.

She bid farewell to the security guard to alert him about her leave at last. However, when she stepped out, she encountered Adelio's car beside the platform. "Oh" L's right brow arched. He was waiting for her still. How determined. Was this the kind of man he's supposed to be?

Acceptable!

"Adelio!" But before L managed to approach the car, a woman's shout conquered. Catching her attention. Her eyes swayed, "Rose?" She scowled over the appearance of the rumored girlfriend of the man. "Wait, he's waiting for her?" In disbelief, L's eyes widened.

She thought the man was waiting for her, or to even ask her what was up with her cold attitude. Howbeit, the situation did not seem like it at the moment. "Gosh, I have never been this embarrassed for being overconfident" A mumble crawled up between her lips.

"So, they are dating for real?"