The Day He Matured

After scolding myself, I lifted my head and peered over the wall I made of catalogs to see what Brian was doing in the room.

Luckily, he was staring at the computer, not staring at me.

Should I crawl in there and say sorry to him? This time it was me who was so wrong.

I was thinking when suddenly Brian raised his head. Our eyes met for a few seconds then the curtain quickly covered the glass after he pressed the remote.

Maybe he’s thinking I’m still in love with him and miss him, right? But I really miss him. Just a bit.

I don’t care what he thinks. I took my eyes off him and focused on finding advertising ideas.

What events need to be organized to attract others? Must attract them first and then advertise, right?

A music show? Is it possible? Or an exhibition? What exhibition? Partying, huh? No, not possible.

According to the documents, marketing methods such as exploiting social networks, distributing leaflets, hanging fliers, banners, posters, direct consultations, promoting brand activities, sending messages, calling, publishing articles in newspapers, and advertising on TV… are all used up by the marketing department.

Brian wouldn’t want to hear me repeat them, right?

I was so busy in my thoughts that I didn’t know time had passed so quickly, it was almost the end of the morning. When I heard the staff behind me call to order lunch, I was startled to realize.

“Miss Bella, come out with me.”

I don’t know when Brian came to my side, when I turned around, he just spoke.

It’s already lunchtime. Did he ask me out for lunch?

“Yes.”

I quickly stood up and grabbed my bag, followed Brian out.

This afternoon, I definitely have to complete the task he entrusted me. I knew I couldn’t stand in front of him and talk about my ideas.

I have to make a proposal that doesn’t need to be too elaborate, but it should at least make the reader understand what I’m trying to say.

The moment I stood in front of the luxury car, I suddenly shivered because the driver was him. That horrible scene is still etched in my memory.

I did not expect that after coming back from death, this man could still hold the steering wheel as if nothing had happened. If it were me, I wouldn’t dare.

“What’s up? Are you waiting for me to carry you in?” Brian suddenly lowered the windshield, tilted his head, and asked me.

“Oh no. I’ll be in there right away.”

I quickly answered and opened the car door, got in, and fastened my seat belt. Honestly, I don’t want to sit next to him, but there are rules that must be followed.

Brian is my boss and he is the driver, if I don’t sit next to him but sit in the back seat, people will think that I purposely make others misunderstand me as his boss.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Where are we going, director?” I asked softly.

“Have lunch with partners.”

Have lunch with his partner? Who is that? His schedule for today does not include this appointment. Maybe he just accepted an invitation from someone I didn’t know yet.

I wish Brian would take me to Li Bai restaurant where there are big and delicious crabs, and big shrimp too.

But if I eat shrimp and crab now, when the wound heals, it will leave a keloid scar, which is very bad.

The noonday sun, which was yellow like honey, penetrated the windshield and became pale. Fortunately, the road is not very crowded at this time, so I am less afraid.

Brian still drives like before, when he comes to the empty road, he still accelerates very fast. The accident in the past didn’t make him wary at all.

As I wished, the car carrying me was turning into the gate of Li Bai restaurant.

This is probably just a coincidence. How does Brian know what I’m thinking? Maybe that partner made an appointment to meet him here.

Seeing me get out of the car with two white bandages on my legs, some people whispered and talked. I guess they were talking about me because their eyes were fixed on me.

Brian should have chosen a healthy person to go with him. For example, Mrs. Erina.

“President of Sunshine Bank.”

The sudden call made Brian and I turn to look at the same time.

It was a rather young man, with a good-looking face, white skin, and red lips. I bet when he wears long hair, he will overwhelm my mid-range beauty.

“Hello, Mr. David. I am now the sales director of AD company, no longer the bank president.” Brian shook hands with the man opposite and slowly spoke.

“You don’t need to be modest. Sooner or later you will return there. Who doesn’t know that half of Hana Corporation is yours?”

The man smiled and quickly replied. His bright gaze shifted from Brian to me.

As soon as he and I opened our mouths, Brian’s deep voice spoke up, causing me to swallow my words back.

“Bella, this is Mr. David, a great partner in the future of AD Company.”

“Hi Mr. David, my name is Bella, I am the secretary of Director Brian. Nice to know you.” I held out my hand.

“Yes, hello. I am also very happy to meet you.”

After the greeting ended, we entered the restaurant together.

Brian chooses a seat in a hidden corner according to his partner’s wishes.

While Mr. David ordered my favorite crab dish with shrimp, beef, and chicken, Brian chose stir-fried mushrooms, grilled pork ribs, and snakehead fish.

He specifically reminded the server to make snakehead fish, not to put sea fish in the hot pot.

Because of the dishes that Brian ordered, I could eat them, so I ate them with him, not ordering anything else.

There are coincidences that make me think he’s interested in me.

Through their conversation, I knew that this man named David was the one who wanted to buy many apartments in the complex that Brian asked me to propose ideas for to plan an advertising campaign.

Investors are often farsighted, and they are especially bold, unlike me.

Mr. David will buy the apartments as soon as the project is approved and, of course, the AD company will sell them to him for less than the sale price when the project is completed as a way to raise capital in advance from investors.

In the future, Mr. David will sell them to households at market prices to make a profit.

But that’s a good case, but if the project is completed in ten years, but the real estate market freezes, it’s even harder for Mr. David to recover capital than to go to heaven.

But the water is too clear, there are no fish, and clear opportunities are not our turn to seize. If he’s lucky, he’ll get richer, and if he’s unlucky, he’ll lose money.

“Miss Bella can’t eat seafood?” Mr. David looked at me, pointed at the big crab, and asked.

“Oh, because I’m injured. I’m afraid the wound will leave a keloid scar.”

“Ah… ah, I get it. Looks like your boss really cares about you. He ordered these dishes for you, didn’t he?”

I didn’t know how to answer Mr. David, so I just laughed.

If Brian still cares about me, it will rain tonight. That was just a coincidence.

This injury was related to him intentionally not signing the contract and causing me to be late to meet the client. I really don’t know what barriers are waiting for me ahead.

While I can’t wait to go back to the office and finish my assigned work, the two men continue to eat and chat.

They ate slowly, talked at home, and then went out into the street, abroad, Singapore, America, Australia, Iran, and Iraq.

“Eat more fish, there’s still a lot in the hot pot.” Brian picked up the fatty fish and put it on a small plate for me, said softly.

Although I know that he is just acting to show Mr. David that he is a good boss, why is my heart jumping for joy? The bridge of my nose stings because I’m so emotional.

I hate myself so much. It’s weak. It’s so feeble.

But I’m already full, I don’t want to eat more. I no longer eat as much as I used to.

The time after the accident, I was sad, couldn’t eat, and only ate half a cup of rice each meal. And then my stomach shriveled up, and I was full soon. Today, I ate a lot more than usual.

“Thank you, director.”

Pouring another can of soft drink into the glass, I brought it to my mouth to take a few sips to quickly digest the food so that I could continue chewing and swallowing.

Eating like this is like being tortured, not happy at all.

Now and then, I peeked at my watch again. Oh my god, is it three o’clock in the afternoon? Don’t these two guys get tired of their mouths?

The sunlight outside kept fading and fading, and when Brian called the waiter to pay for the bill, it was already four o’clock in the afternoon.

My mood right now is like late afternoon. I was so nervous, and I was so scared that my whole body was cold. Maybe I was hit by the wind, my head was spinning like I was on a Ferris wheel.

“Where is your house, I will take you home.” Brian asked while fastening his seat belt.

“You can let me down to the company.”

What’s this guy asking? Did he forget that he forced me to finish the work tomorrow morning?

He took me away all afternoon, harming me will have to work at night. My face will have acne and my skin will be dark and rough.

If I was as bad as a ghost, Brian would replace the secretary, right? If so, I volunteer to be ugly. I’m just afraid that he will bite me forever and never let go, tormenting me until I turn into a skeleton, then he will be satisfied.

Brian did not say anything nor nodded, returning to his cold appearance as before, concentrating on holding the steering wheel.

I turned to the side, leaning against the car window, watching the street in the sunset. The season is about to change, every time my fingers hurt, I know the season is about to change.