Hello, CEO! Don’t Play With Me!

“So… what have you been doing these past two years?” asked Giselle as she made herself comfortable. The couch she was sitting on was already set for her to recline on while enjoying the show she had chosen to accompany her. Of course, with Andrew not far from her.

A few snacks were on the table, and surprisingly he somehow caught Sula. The fries with cheese seasoning that were so tempting were at the top of the list when she ordered some food.

“Working,” Andrew smiled slightly. “Didn’t I tell you that last night? And just now, I mentioned about the work that I couldn’t finish today.”

Giselle chuckled. “Oh, so you mind?”

“No.” Andrew laughed. “Absolutely not.”

“Besides work, what else do you do?” asked Giselle in a slightly demanding tone. Her hand snatched one of the fries that were served. Complete with a sauce that she poured quite a bit of. The savory aroma of the potato tempted her. “This looks delicious.”

“What, huh? Ran away I guess.”

Giselle scowled. “You don’t want to tell me exactly why you left?”

Andrew looked at the beautiful face that was thankfully not too pale. Although pouting, her mouth continued to chew the food in front of her. Perhaps because of her rather bad mood, Giselle forgot that she had already finished a portion of the mushroom soup she had brought.

“Besides Fania already has a lover, and there’s no way I can love that girl, I feel that if the marriage happens then a lifetime of imprisonment is shackled to my life.” Andrew sighed softly. He felt that the bits and pieces of information about him over the past two years would not satisfy Giselle. The girl demanded that Andrew speak.

Although she didn’t have much to say last night, at least Giselle entered the hotel lobby with a faint smile. A sign that Andrew still had a chance to talk again. Although he hesitated. Especially considering who he is now.

He promised Giselle that after she finished her work, they would meet again, and at that time, Andrew would tell her what had happened. Unfortunately, it was all expedited because Giselle was sick. How worried Andrew was to hear Giselle’s complaints on the phone. Even though he only wanted to say good morning as an outlet for his deep longing, he ignored the insecurity that was eating away at Andrew’s body.

“I made plans quickly to have my marriage canceled. It wasn’t easy,” Andrew chuckled. He imagined how much hassle and care he had to take, especially when it came to paperwork. He even asked for a lawyer as a companion so that he wouldn’t take the wrong step.

“Sean initially refused to cooperate but this is a good opportunity, right?” Andrew smiled again. “In the end, what God has joined together is hard to separate. The matter of cooperation between our families can continue without marriage anyway.”

“But Fania said, your mom…”

“Ah, you’re right.” Andrew handed me a glass filled with warm water. “Your stomach is a bit more comfortable. I don’t really understand the pain you’re experiencing but at least, I’ve learned to understand if it affects your mood.”

“Don’t mind me,” Giselle said as she accepted the glass. “I’ve gotten better.”

“You’re sure” Andrew looked at Giselle in disbelief. “But your face is still pale. If it hurts too much, let’s go to the hospital.”

“Idiot!” Giselle laughed. “Continue your story.”

Andrew, who was still unwilling to divert himself, continued to give Giselle an incredulous look. Given his past, it was hard to talk casually with this girl, not to mention that the wall Giselle had put up was too high for him to overcome. And now?

“My mom is one of the two main reasons I do everything. I don’t care about the consequences because I can predict, at least… my mom is still someone useful to the old man,” Andrew’s tone seemed to tremble. His eyes were occasionally closed with his hands clenched tightly. “My mother told me that I should achieve my own happiness, not be shackled anymore. I’ve done enough but it’s never been worth it. So I thought, I should get out. If I’m that valuable to Hanry Kingston, he understands what I want.”

“Have you met your mom?” For some reason, when it comes to the woman who brought her child into this world, Giselle remembers her mother. How much she cherished and loved that woman even though for the rest of her mother’s life, Giselle had to struggle. It was like her mother’s breath was in every step Giselle took, but she had no regrets at all.

Her mother has tried to give her the best life in her opinion. Although she is not rich, Giselle knows how hard and full of struggle her mother raised her. And as Giselle can imagine, a mother’s love will not be interrupted until death separates. Even under great pressure, Giselle herself shuddered to hear the story of her mother Andrew from Fania.

The news must have made Hanry Kingston furious. And the only person he could take it out on, was Andrew’s mother. And she risked everything so that her son would live on his own terms, no longer under the control of someone who didn’t appreciate him.

“We have. We communicate often, though it’s limited. At least I know how she is now.” Andrew’s smile rose uncontrollably. “I’m glad she’s okay. As she suspected, Hanry won’t hurt her too much. Maybe the harsh words are too common, although I can’t stand it, but I’m struggling.”

Giselle looked at Andrew closely. “What are you fighting for?”

“My mother’s freedom.” She said clearly. “I can’t keep running away, right? There will come a time when I return but I need time. And when I show up, I’ll make sure my mother is no longer in Kingston’s clutches.”

“That’s great!” Giselle clapped her hands cheerfully. “I’m rooting for you then.”

Andrew was stunned but before long, he was laughing. “Thank you.” But Giselle’s smile and cheerful demeanor were only temporary, which Andrew noticed. “What’s wrong?” He approached. “Your face is sullen again. I’ve already told you the story─”

“But you’re avoiding me, right? You just cut off all communication access. I have no idea how your life is after what you did at the wedding. You think I’m not worried?” Giselle chuckled in annoyance. “You made all this up on purpose? Is there a special reason? Are you afraid that I’ll talk to your father? How stupid of me if that’s what you’re expecting me to do.”

“When did I think of you like that, Nami.”

Giselle’s eyes bulged fiercely. “I told you I’m not su─”

“But I like it. For some reason, in my eyes you’re still a Nami. I’m not.” Andrew shook his head firmly, indicating not to refute her words. “Listen to me first.”

Giselle snorted in displeasure. Her arms were folded across her chest. Her eyes highlighted the obvious dislike.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“It’s not the Nami you lived with in the past that I remember, Giselle. But the Nami who reached out her hand in a friendly manner when she met me first. Maybe you don’t remember, but I can’t forget that day. As well as your words that sounded trivial but to me, they were one of the few motivations that could keep me up and going.”

Giselle still hasn’t dropped her upset attitude.

“You said that momentary pleasures are false. But what makes your heart feel happy and free is glory.”

“When did I ever say that?” asked Giselle curiously.

But Andrew chose not to answer. “During my exile, I moved here and there. Just like my jobs, most of them were taken within a short time limit. At least I was able to live off an income that was… well.”

“But you enjoyed it, right?”

“Not enjoying, but appreciating. What I’ve done in the past two years is really from myself. I’ve put in so much effort that sometimes I forget I have to eat and sleep.”

“You’re overextending yourself then.” Giselle stared fiercely at Andrew who laughed. “I haven’t forgiven you just so you know.”

“Yes, no problem. I will continue to apologize for my biggest mistake. But I have my own reasons why I don’t want to reply to all your messages.”

“Did you receive it?”

“Obviously.” Andrew shifted his seat slightly. Even his hand, which could have been cursed to stay still, would have done so. Unfortunately, he really wished he could hold that hand. Giselle’s soft hand that was now in his grasp. “I really want to return it. But…”

“But?”

“I don’t want you to get involved before I’m really ready to come back.”

Giselle’s eyes blinked in confusion.

“Even though I broke today, but it was all worth it.”

“What’s worth it?”

“At least my longing is being channeled. I’m not content to look at you only through advertisements or big billboards at some point. Or on social media.” Without caring if Giselle was angry, and looking at him with a look of hate and disdain, Andrew pulled Giselle into his arms. “I really missed you. This numbness is suffocating, Nami.”