OPHELIA's POV
The last thing I saw was the cove-lit ceiling. There was sudden silence, quickly replaced by a high-pitched ringing. I felt like my head was going to explode. Why is it so dark?
Open. Open. I wanted my eyes to open. I felt like I was being tugged sideways, then lifted.
Open… a blurry face… Bright ceiling.
I could hear sounds but everything's garbled, as if I was under water. Hmmm… I smell something… something musky? Smooth? Crisp? A hint of something tangy? tart, sweet? blackcurrant? That is so weird…
Open… I wanted to open my eyes.
Blurry but bright, so bright that I moved to shield my eyes, but… what is this? Something tugged at my hand. I feel so weak.
"Liiaaa." I heard someone speaking so slowly. I blinked rapidly to clear my vision. "Ophelia." That voice. I turned to confirm my assumption.
"Ophelia." The voice got closer. The scent of crispy musky citrusy blackcurrant came closer as well.
"Don't move so much. Henri, call the doctor."
A face came into my view, a handsome face with flawless skin and rugged bone structure. That face started talking again. "Ophelia, say something."
"You… smell nice." These words that came out of my mouth— why did I say them out loud?
"Sir." I heard Henri's voice. "Dr. George is here."
"Uncle, how is she?" The voice asked.
"Well, she experienced a very mild electric shock but what caused her to collapse was the clash of the electric shock and the pains of gastroenteritis." The one called Dr. George explained.
I wanted to turn but I just felt so weak. The voices might have realized that I wanted to get in the conversation as well since they moved into my angle of vision.
On my right, the one they call Dr. George looked at me for a second then said, "She'll have to rest for at least a day."
"When will she be able to go home?" Zeus Aurelion, who was on my left, asked propping his head on on fist.
"Well, dear nephew, Ophelia here needs rehydration and nourishment. As long as she agrees to rest and takes my prescription as instructed, you can take your girl home after she finishes the IV fluids."
"Oh, he's... We're not," I struggled and my voice was hoarse. My mouth was dry.
"Oh," Dr. George smiled at me. "Pardon me, I just thought by the way he panicked, carried you in the Emergency Room, and stayed with you..."
He what?
"Er-hm." Zeus Aurelion cleared his throat and Dr. George shifted his gaze to his nephew, who disappeared from my view so I assumed he sat down. "Right, Uncle, you said she has gastroenteritis?"
"Yes, it seems she hasn't been paying attention to the balance in her food. It seems she prefers acidic and salty food and drinks. Coffee, fried food, fatty meat, sour food, soda, alcohol— "
"Doctor," I started to speak. Honestly, I don't think he should just be giving information so freely to my boss. I am already embarrassed enough as it is. "I don't think we should bother my boss with this information but thank you for being so thorough. Maybe we could discuss it when I could get up later but I feel better now, thank you."
"Of course." Dr. George beamed at me, nodded at the CEO then left.
"Sir, I'm so sorry about this but what happened?" I asked, sitting up from the hospital bed. He did not answer nor did he turn my way. He stayed seated with one leg over another, an elbow on the chair's armrest, and his chin propped on a fist. He seemed to be deep in thought.
"Well," Henri started. "You were examining the espresso machine in the Aurelion Office. You suddenly shoved me, tried to pull the cord from the wall but fell after a jolt instead."
"Oh! The espresso machine! I realized the jar had a leak when I smelt overly burnt coffee but I didn't realize the leak already reached the power cord. So that's why the LED display was fli— " I was trying to explain.
"Careless. Reckless. Stupid." The CEO said. "Did you really think I would prefer for an employee to have an accident in my office over having to purchase a new machine? I didn't think you would think so low of me."
"What? If I just let that be, it would've started a fire. What are you— " I was trying to explain when he finally moved.
Zeus Aurelion stood up and started towards the bed with one hand in his pocket. That stopped me from talking. I hadn't realized how tall he was until today. He stopped right beside the bed and looked down at me, again with that piercing stare.
"You could've said something and we could've had the circuit breaker switched off." Zeus Aurelion stooped so that his eyes were two inches away from mine. "You. Weren't. Thinking."
"Oh. I..." I stammered. He was right, He was absolutely right. Damn. This is embarrassing.
He smirked.
Was that satisfaction on his face?
He straightened his stance, kept his downward stare at me for a pulse then turned to leave.
"You must rest for now, Ms. Ophelia." Henri said and followed the CEO out of the room.
A few hours later, the doctor came back to remove my IV insertion, give me my prescriptions, and cleared me to leave.
I changed from the hospital gown to my clothes after he left. I don't have anything to gather, just my phone, which was on the side table, and the bag of prescriptions.
On my way out of the room, I unlocked my phone. 7:35pm. Oh? 26 missed calls, 38 messages. Who —
"Ready to go, Ms. Ophelia?" Henri, who apparently was waiting outside the room, asked.
"Oh, Henri. Yes, the doctor cleared me. So, I'll be heading out now, thank you for your help. Please thank the CEO for me, as well." I said with a bow.
"Right. You can thank him yourself. We'll be dropping you off." Henri said walking behind me.
"Oh, there's no need for that. I'm sure the boss' schedule is packed as it is. Besides, I won't be heading home for a few hours."
"You have somewhere else to go?" Henri asked.
"Ah, I have a part time job during the night. Just for 3 hours." I explained as we reached the hospital drop-off.
"I see. Just the same, we'll drop you off." Henri motioned to the car as he opened the door.
I expected to see the CEO at the backseat and there he was, his head turned towards the window on the other side.
"Sir, good evening." I said. He did not move at all, so I just continued. "Thank you for today, sir. I still have another shift so there's no need to drop me home."
"Don't you think it would be so rude of you that we waited and you'll just take off?" The stoic CEO turned his head to me with a cold stare.
I was taken aback and looked over to Henri who was still holding the door. He smirked a silent laugh and nodded as he closed his eyes with raised eyebrows, as if saying "Just get in."
So, I did. Henri closed the door and went for the driver seat.
"I thought you agreed to rest for the night?" Zeus Aurelion broke the uncomfortable silence.
"Oh, I didn't really give any notice to the bar so nobody would be covering my shift… sir." I explained awkwardly.
"Take her to the bar." Mr. Aurelion ordered Henri, the latter nodded.
"Uh, The Patron, I work at The Patron."
Three hours later, my shift at the bar ended. Five blocks from home. I can walk. The fresh air would do me good. This, of course, is what I told myself. I just did not want to pay for a ride.
Julian, the night guard opened the door to let me in. The receptionist desk was empty so I headed right for the mail room. Angie was right, there it was, a notice from the landlord wedged in the flap of my mailbox. Nothing else to do, I thought as I took my mail.
In my apartment, I sat in my dining area with my facial mask on and went through my mail. Phone bills, credit card bills, notice from landlord. Seriously, I should switch to paperless. I snorted a chuckle.
Lunch in my office the following morning went as usual. As soon as breaktime was over, a phone call came in. Secretary Henri said I was being called over to the Aurelion Office.
I froze as soon as I hung up the wall phone. I felt embarrassment wash over me for some reason.
Urgh. I hate this. Was it because I was called out for being impulsive and wrong? I thought my mind was always in the right headspace whenever I am at work. It really is unusual for me to commit such rookie mistakes. The elevator door opened to the 10th floor, or what we unofficially call the Aurelion floor.
The CEO loves his solitude and almost all of the time, it was just him on this floor, except for Henri, of course, his faithful secretary and personal assistant. Henri was waiting in front of the elevator when I got there.
"Right this way, Ms. Ophelia." he motioned towards the Aurelion office.
I can see the CEO behind the desk. and someone else standing by the side of the desk.
"Ms. Ophelia," Mikael Byrne, the company lawyer for human relations greeted me as I stepped into the office.
The HR? Oh, I get it now.
"About yesterday's incident, I was informed of what happened. I am here to hear your side of the story and if there is any implication to our operations." Lawyer Byrne was explaining.
Ah, just as I thought. "I see. With all due respect, Mr. Byrne," my eyes shifted to the CEO who was watching me with an unreadable facial expression, "Mr. Aurelion, I do not wish to claim any damages or sue for anything. All I want to do is to get back to work as there are a lot of tasks I have on my list."
"Oh?" Lawyer Byrne shifted his gaze from my face, to Henri, to the CEO who nodded once. "In that case, will you be willing to sign a waiver indicating that your injuries were attended to right away and you refuse to take some days off?" The lawyer tilted his head.
Days off? Paid days off?
"You are aware that you can file for a few days of sick leave, right?" Lawyer Byrne reminded me.
Well, I've actually considered that but where would I go? It's not like I can stay in my apartment all day when I know the landlord would be confronting and bothering me with the rent. I shuddered at the thought.
"I am aware but I assure you, I am fit to work thanks to the immediate care I received after yesterday's incident." I faced the CEO with a shallow bow.
"Alright then, if you'll just sign here." He slid some papers on the table. I took the pen he offered and signed the papers.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go now. Thank you again, sir, for yesterday, I appreciate it." Another bow towards the CEO and I turned heel to leave. Henri was standing at the office door so I asked about the espresso machine.
"It's been replaced." A cold low voice answered from behind me. It's that scent again, that crispy slightly sweet, musky smooth scent.
I turned my head to see the CEO was right behind me.
"Oh. Right. I'll head on my way." I said as I walked towards the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed I let out a long puff of air from my lungs. What was that? how am I so flustered every time I'm in the CEO's presence? Could it be, I'm — nah. No. What am I thinking?
I got off the second basement when Beth walked over. "Hey, I heard what happened yesterday. You good?"
"Oh, that was nothing, I'm perfectly fine. I was actually about to come see you to get the toilet cleanup logs. for last week's reports. I wasn't able to submit them yesterday." I followed Beth to her table.
"Oh yeah. All custodial logs are here, except for Arman's and Jeyk's. I haven't seen them this morning yet." Beth handed me three sets of clipboards.
I thanked her and rode the service elevator to Basement 1 to get my purple tumbler from my office but it wasn't there. It wasn't in the pantry either. Weird. Meh. I'll find it later. Reports first.
I went next door to Arman's workshop. He wasn't there but his team handed me their log. I left all four clip boards on my table then headed to the fourth floor library to Jeyk's office.
"Hey, Jeyk! Got the logs for last week?" I entered his office after a knock.
"Oh yeah. Here you go." He handed me a clipboard. "aaand here you go." He handed me my purple tumbler.
"Oh, why is this with you?" I asked as I examined the tumbler.
"Oh. I washed it this morning and had it filled with citron tea." Jeyk smiled.
"Hmm. Thank you. But why would you do that though?" I asked, still eyeing my dented tumbler.
"Oh. I saw you yesterday. The boss was carrying you across the lobby. I was worried. I tried calling you." Jeyk sputtered answers that I think weren't really answers but I don't think I want to know why he had to call me 26 times and sent me nearly 40 messages. I just don't have time for that. "I— " He wanted to say something more but all I can do now is cut him off. Besides, when I heard him say the CEO was carrying me across the lobby, I felt my face start to burn.
"Well, I'm fine but thanks for this. Oh and this is for yesterday's coffee." I gave the tumbler a soft shake, left a five-dollar bill on his table, and left for the elevator.
Since there's no crowd today, I can use the regular elevators so that I won't have to scan my ID, my hands are quite full. I waited for either of the elevator doors to open. I was too busy eyeing my tumbler that when I saw the doors open in my periphery, I just stepped in. I was about to press the button for the ground floor but it was already lit. Then, it hit me, the scent of mild musky blackcurrant.
I felt my face start to redden once more. No, no, no.
"You're not having coffee again, are you?" The CEO stepped beside me.
"This- This is citron tea, sir." I dared not turn towards him so I just kept my eyes focused on the elevator button.
The door opened and he stepped out. I waited a few seconds before stepping out as well. When I did, the scent of his perfume was already faint. I'm guessing he's somewhere else now. I wanted to get a cupcake from the cafe. Hmm... I kinda just wanted to hide in my office for now. I'll take the stairs and work on the report for now.
An hour or so later, the reports are done and are already submitted to the company database. Everything's operating fine as of Friday last week. Well, everything under my department that is. I think I really deserve a cupcake for this. Well, I can go for a quick break right now. I looked at my tumbler. It was still full of Jeyk's citron tea. I like citron tea, but I really don't like receiving things I did not pay for. Yep, no way I am drinking that. Dunking it.
A newly washed dented tumbler later, I found myself getting in line for the cafe. Of course, I ordered my usual cappuccino and two cupcakes with fluffy icing to go. I initially wanted to stay in the cafe for my coffee break so I had my planner with me but there were no empty tables so to-go it is. I was admiring the yummy looking fluffy cupcake inside the box on my hand that I didn't notice — "Ow!" my planner slid out from clipping it with my arms. My tumbler fell when I tried to protect my cupcakes from the collision. Yes, someone was standing right there and I walked right into them. Take a good guess who it was.
With my face burning as the scent hit me, I did not need to look up to see who's the tall guy that's staring down at me. On the ground, my tumbler rolled and my planner was bared open. A doodle of a dragon incinerating a pile of bills stared back at me. I hurriedly picked the planner up to shut it. The tumbler... Where's the tumbler? Oh, no.
I stood and saw the dented purple tumbler in his right hand. He turned it to himself, revealing a huge dent.
"Oh, let me take that off your hands, sir. Sorry for bumping into you like that, I didn't see you there." I said awkwardly avoiding to look him in the eye. Why am I acting like this? I am not even the shy type at all, just indifferent. Why am I being so shy around him?I don't like this. I started to walk away but froze at his words.
"You didn't see me. Hmm.. and here I thought it's because I smell nice." Damn, his voice was deep.