Chapter 2

Sitting on one of the bar stools at the island, I sipped on the coffee mug just to find it empty. I sighed. My work is only half way done and I would never get to go another half without any coffee. Too lazy to approach the coffee machine 10 feet away from where I was sitting, I called out for Mrs Lee but received none in response.

I frowned. Had Mrs Lee left already?

"Mrs Lee?" I called out a little louder this time. Still. The apartment is awfully quiet that it was hurting your ears making it felt like they got bloated by the silence. I glanced around the dimly lit room just to notice how dark the sky was. Darker than the usual. I shifted on my seat.

"Mrs Lee?" I called again, even louder. I didn't want to shout knowing it was already past midnight and the neighbors might be sleeping peacefully in their designated unit. I could practically hear my heart started to beat faster.

"Mrs Lee?!" I hugged my knees as I tried to not stumble to the ground with the stool barely even fitting me hugging my knees to my chest. I flickered my eyes when I could hear the pitter patter sound of water droplets on my window, slowly becoming more vigorous as if they tried to break through the glass and crashed the whole room. Crashed me.

"Mrs Lee!" I covered my ears with both hands, pressing them a little too hard, in hope to stop the rushing sound from the rain conquering my mind. I closed my eyes when suddenly the sky turned white for a millisecond before they delivered the most threatening sound to the world.

The thunder.

The sky rubbed each other, striking the white zig zag lines which resembled more like a tree branches. The beauty soon forgotten by the storm that could woke up the whole living creatures, reminding each and everyone of us that we were only as small as the bacteria sticking on our hands after playing on the dirt. They were reminding us how ruthless could they be. They were reminding us how strong they were.

A strong that could kill.

"Mrs Lee!!" The sound of a person barging through a door could be heard. Not long after, I could feel someone slowly engulfed me into an embrace. Hands slowly stroking the line of my backbone as her lips would never stop whispering words of encouragement.

"I'm sorry, honey..."

I chocked on the air I never knew I was holding. I crumpled the piece of clothing she was wearing into my fist. I tighten my arms around her slim figures. At this point I was literally sobbing on her chest. I never felt so small my entire life.

"I-i thought y-you're leaving m-me as well.." I chocked out between the sobs. Mrs Lee slowly broke the hug as she cupped my face to look at her eye to eye.

"I will never leave you," She whispered as she wiped away the tears that flew to my cheeks after I blinked my eyes. She was smiling sadly at me. Her eyes were also red like she was trying to hold her own tears. She caressed my cheek before planting a feathery kiss on my forehead.

"It's scary.." I whispered back. "I- it's scary, Mrs Lee. They-" I pointed out to the storm outside. "-scary,"

"It's okay," Mrs Lee breathed out and engulfed me into another tight hug. "It's okay...."

The night continued with Mrs Lee never leaving my side. She was cradling me like I was a newborn baby who was very fragile. She caressed my hair softly as if she was afraid the hair would fall down. She wiped the uncontrollable tears that were too stubborn to stop away from my face. She held me securely, afraid that if she loosened the hold I would be swallow by the demons in the dark night.

The next day I woke up with a throbbing head pain. I pressed my forehead as I slowly sat up and leaned my back on the headrest. With closed eyes, I scrambled my hand on the mattress to find the small rectangular metal object like always. I gave up when I couldn't touch nor feel the presence even from the tip of my fingers.

Decided that I probably left it outside with my undone works, I scratched my head before forcing myself to slip off the comforter and stood at the cold hardwood floor. I shivered at the contact. I squinted through the floor to search for my slippers. I grabbed the glasses from the nightstand and finally went out of my safe place.

I pulled my hair into a messy bun while my mouth let out the most satisfying yawn ever. I shook away the sleepiness and dragged my feet to the kitchen. The island that was messy with piles of files and papers was now clean with a plate of American breakfast set deliciously with a mug full of coffee. I picked up the yellow sticky notes near the plate and read it.

'Enjoy your breakfast, honey <3 Need to prepare for office. It's okay, you can be late.. Finish them up okay? Come to office with full tummy, alright? Take care ❤'

I smiled at the little note Mrs Lee always wrote when she needed to leave early. I opened one of the drawer in the kitchen and took out a brown rattan box with a button lock. I opened the lid and carefully placed the small paper with it's friends. I closed it back and arranged them nicely back into the drawer.

'What would I do without her,'

I was staring at the man standing few feet away from my desk inside my office. He was trying to persuade me about the 5 stars hotel that was currently under discussion. But one thing stopped them from continuing.

My signature.

"It was the largest land on the street ma'am, the company will gain more benefits after the construction is done and this hotel will attract more VVIP especially if they rent the hotel for special occasions."

"And ignored hundreds of people that lost their house? Their home? Are you kidding? Can I laugh now?" I asked him with venom laced in my voice.

He gulped really hard that I could see his adam apple rolling up and down. He blinked his eyes a few times while his finger anxiously pulling the hem of his collar in search of some air.

"B-but, this project is starting in the next few months." He stated, suddenly gaining his confidence back. I frowned. How could they?

"I haven't approved. What the hell are you talking about?" I stood up from my oversized swivel chair and inserted my hands in my pocket. Eyes locking with his.

"We only need the approval of the chairman, ma'am. He already signed the contract. There's nothing you can do about it." He said firmly. I shot him a look. He did not just annoy me with the meeting and now he talked rudely?

"Excuse me? No one talk to the CEO like that!" I flinched at the sudden outburst of Mrs Lee from the lounge area. She stood up from the couch and marched towards my side, heels clicking elegantly as her eyes sparked nothing but fire.

"Mr..?"

"Jones.. Engineer Jones," she nodded knowingly, arms crossed over her chest as she glared at the man in front of us.

"What have gotten into your head to talk to the CEO like that?" she asked. Voice louder than her usual elegant tone. The man smirked as he shook his head. He glanced back at Mrs Lee before gathering his things back.

"I'm just spitting the truth, Lee. Why are you so mad?-

"Well then I think you need to lick back what you just spitted!" She snapped. I shifted my widening eyes to her. She looked like a completely different person. She's not like the Mrs Lee who wrote me notes for my breakfast this morning. She's also not the Mrs Lee who comforted me, letting me soaked her shirt last night.

She's different.

And I don't like it.

"Mrs Lee," I tried to grab her attention by touching her shoulder but it seemed like my voice was blocked away by the anger inside her body. I shot a look to Engineer Jones who was still challenging Mrs Lee by staring at her with that annoying smirk. I just wish I could pushed him off from the window.

"Engineer Jones, you should go." He shifted his attention to me. I tilted my head to the door but he, decided to play dirty, take his time putting away the files and papers. Mrs Lee was still glaring at him.

"Engineer Jones. Go. Now." He shrugged, not even listening to me and then that was it. That was the cue.

"Go! I don't want to see your face in this company anymore! Get your face out of my sight!" I yelled at him. He stopped on his track. Face paler than usual. He looked at me like I've lost my mind, which was true.

Clumsily, he packed all his stuff, "I'm not leaving this billion worth project!" He protested before dashing out of the door.

I slumped my body on the chair and layed my head on the table.

"Honey," that was the voice. That was my Mrs Lee. The soft spoken woman with understanding eyes. She pulled my chair from under the table and turned me around to face her. She crouched to my level as she held my hands resting on my lap.

"I'm so sorry I shouted." I tighten the hold on her hands and nodded. Lips pursued tightly.

"I'm okay,"