Chapter Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE

ROXANNE'S POV

"Good afternoon Roxanne," Mara greeted, startling me "I didn't see you this morning, where were you?" She asked.

I had finished my work later than I had expected, for Mr. Edward's rest office was filled with cobwebs and dust signifying the fact that it was rarely used.

It didn't only signify that it was rarely used, it also signified that I had to work extra hard to help the room come out of its dusty and cobweb trap.

"I had come earlier than the stipulated time and to carry out my assigned duty. Where have you been?" I leaned forward on the room's long, round table.

Of course I didn't need to ask, for she must have been at her duty post too

"I was cleaning my assigned office," she replied, taking out a seat to sit.

We sat opposite each other, the giant table separating us. 

"I haven't seen Tarella for the past three days. Is she alright?" She asked concernedly rapidly switching topics. 

My thoughts flew down to Tarella. Was she alright?

"I don't know, I haven't seen her too. Do you have her contact address?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"But what could be wrong? Is she sick?" I wondered out loud, taking a look at her as she dropped her phone and picked up a novel instead.

She shrugged and sucked in her lower lips "Maybe she's on leave, you know we're just one week old in this company," she said, "We do not know how things are run"

"I don't think so. If she was going for a leave, she would have at least informed me. I last spoke to her on Tuesday, she didn't seem like someone who was about to disappear on a leave," I observed concentratedly.

She sighed and responded, "Don't be too worked up about it. I'm sure she just took a break or something came up, she'll be back before you know it," she abruptly closed the curtain to the conversation.

I sighed and picked out a pen and book to scribble on

"Why?" She asked.

"I just want to make a to-do list. I'd love to visit Tarella, so I'm penning it down for easy remembrance," I replied, already getting down to business

She gave a confused look "And how are you supposed to get the address?" She asked puzzledly

"I think I'll have to break my "No-discussion-with-Dera" rule, coz I'll surely need her help"

"Tell me you're joking," She chuckled.

"I'm dead serious. I need to truly get in touch with her, she could be going through a lot," I defended, not the least deterred by her laughter.

She closed her novel and finally gave her full attention while fixing her questioning look.

"What you're saying is that you're ready to go through hell to help a friend that's equally going through hell?"

Her logical statement sounded very illogical but I smiled, "Sometimes, what people need is just for you to show them that you care. I truly care about Tarella. She is a nice woman," I reclined on the soft and comfy chair. It was therapeutic.

"Look, Roxanne, you need to relax. Tarella is okay and you need to stop jumping to conclusions," she said sharply "I know that I brought up the topic but you need to—anyway it isn't much of my business," she shrugged and returned to her novel.

"What do you mean it's none of your business? Tarella is our friend, we owe her our care and support," I was petrified.

She dropped her novel aside, putting on a ready-to-defend-myself look

"I didn't say it was none of my business. I just said it wasn't much of my business, and that's true. I barely know Tarella, she can't quickly fit in as my friend so cut me some slack." And as an afterthought she added "And I don't owe her my care and support".

"But I thought we were friends?"

"Of course we are. We spend time together but Tarella has only spent her time with the likes of Dera and Selena. Remember we've only known Tarell for a few days," she continued

I frowned at the last statement she made "We don't need to know people for a long time before we can help them," I chipped in smartly

"But you certainly need to know a person quite well before you pay a visit to the person's home. You have to at least have some amount of trust for the person, if not you might be walking into danger," she lectured, abandoning her novel

My frown deepened. Was Tarella capable of harm? I shook my head, not wanting to believe that she could be harmful.

I began my disapproval with the shake of my head

"No. Tarella is nice and I can vouch for her honesty"

Mara quietly picked her novel up, signifying an end to the conversation.

DERA'S POV

Again, Roxanne had pushed my jealousy button. She had started feeding the lion in me with jealous anger.

"What was with the sky-blue gown? Didn't she know that she'll be drop-dead gorgeous in it? In fact, why did she stop putting on her ankle-length gown? Was she trying to seduce the CEO?" I wondered angrily.

The fact that she didn't bother to greet nor spare a glance at me added fuel to the burning fire in me.

Something needed to be done again. I cursed my failed attempts at dulling her extravagant beauty.

At least I had succeeded in hiding how bright she was academically but it seemed that alone wasn't enough. 

"Maybe I should truly consider killing her at once. She was posing more threats than I ever imagined"