Chapter 8: Facade
1712 Words
Chapter 8: Facade
"Is there any problem?" Lennox asked when he saw I halted from following him.
"Oh! Nothing sorry, I just remember something silly, anyway. Let's keep going." I said, trying to brush off the poem out of my system thoroughly.
I'll have to block that scum dove. Threatening me like that after I let him send whatever he wanted for years? Ugh, seriously. I'm a fool for even letting him.
"I wish you good luck...that is,
If luck itself would suffice."
As much as I don’t believe in that letter and poem he sent, that’s how much I don’t believe in luck.
Turning his gaze ahead, we continued walking and got inside a department's office, passing by the office cubicles as we walked straight down the hall. And, for some reason, the employees working there stopped freezing at what they were doing as they got their eyes on us. Some even looked surprised that they even dropped papers on the floor.
What's with them? I thought, as I couldn't help but raise a brow in confusion. I've been getting these weird eyes for a while now, and I still can't figure out why.
Is this because of me—or him?
The nearer we walked towards the HR office, the more eager their gazes became. Suddenly someone, looking pale, came out rushing from one of the closest cubicles to him. Approaching Lennox with unsteady gestures, it made me think—
What's she panicking about? Did something happen?
Concerned with her down and terrified expression as if something horrible had just happened, I just stood there and watched them—looking back and forth to the woman and to Lennox.
Is there something bad that happened?
"Good morning, sir—"She greeted Lennox and was about to ask, but she soon got cut off when Lennox ignored her and started twisting the office's doorknob.
Quite a problem. I stood there and looked at the apparently pale woman. Who's possibly in her mid-thirties?
She seems to say something to him while Lennox appears uninterested, not even sparing her a glance while he keeps up a smile as he opens the office room’s door.
Guessing, I looked at the room’s label hanging on the door.
‘HR Office’ it says—so this is the HR, I’m finally here, but what’s happening—
"Good morning, Ms. Allen. I'll be borrowing the office for a while." Lennox said after opening the office's door. With that, the woman who just got out of the room, Ms. Allen, couldn't utter any more words and nodded frantically.
Borrowing the HR office?...how high is this guy's position? Anyway, this woman he called Ms. Allen called him 'sir' so I guess this is alright—and why does she look frightened of him?
As I worried about not getting into trouble, I looked inside the room and there wasn’t anyone. The room is empty with just typical furniture.
A chair and table set at the back and in front of it are the receiving area with two pieces of four-seater couch adjacently positioned with a coffee table in between with two—three storage cabinets designed—
Before I could finish observing the office’s interior, I stopped when, at that very moment, I felt the urge to look back to the cubicles outside the office, and right then I saw the razor-sharp curious gazes piercing right through me. From everyone present here, including from Ms. Allen, who had just got dismissed by Lennox, and from that moment the world seemed to stop for a moment when I saw how they turned their eyes from him to—me.
Seriously, what's going on?!It’s just like earlier from the elevator lobby.
"Come in." Lennox smilingly said, calling my attention to his surroundings. Opening the door wide open for me, and right just there, as I could vividly feel the sharp gaze began to grew, then a sharper sense of reluctance rushed in me.
As if their gazes are telling me something I can’t point out—then another pair of sharp gazes flashes back my mind, consequently reminding me of the words they say that grind deep in my younger self’s mind.
“Know your place.”
“You don’t belong here.”
“Get lost!”
Being reminded of those people I abhorred for the longest time, motivated me to harden the resolve I made to get here.
What the hell am I hesitating about? I've come this far. All I have to do now is do my best.
I said, inwardly pushing myself in the office.
And the next thing I know, I'm finally stepping inside the office, but… as the door closes and conceals the room, the unwavering uneasiness keeps on banging my mind.
Glancing back at the people outside the office who kept their eyes on us, especially on me, before the door closed in, I couldn't help but get more curious and worried about what was going on.
A moment ago, before we made it halfway here, they were looking at him, but after he told that woman he'd be borrowing the office, all their gazes turned on me.
Do I have something on my face? Why are they staring at me—even if I'm new here, the stares I've been receiving aren't usual for a newcomer. I thought, feeling a little anxious about the odd ambiance that seemed to get thicker.
Looking around the office with a full glass with floor to ceiling height window that separates the office's working area from this office, I feel quite relieved when the blinds cover the people's vision from outside to here.
D*mn, if only looks could kill, I'm already dead by now.
"Please have a seat." Lennox gently said, pointing his hand to the adjacent couch, from his.
"Ah, yes thank you." Sitting down as I brushed it off again.
"Do you want coffee? Tea? Juice—"
"Thanks, but I'm alright." Politely cut him off, stopping him. I don't want to trouble him any more than I already did.
"You, sure? Please, at least have some water." He said, standing up, getting water from the dispenser behind his couch on the corner, making it too late for me to say no.
"A-alright, thanks," I said, right after he placed a glass of water on the table in front of us. Sitting back on the couch across from mine, he looks at me—again with his open, smiling face.
Geez, he moves without caution as if he owns the office.
"Sure. No biggy." He said, casually, then he relaxingly sits and laid his back on the couch.
Then, before an awkward silence invaded the air, I cleared my throat and asked him,
"Uhm, Lennox, right?" I said, after sipping on the glass of water.
"Yes?" He asked, still not getting tired of keeping his smile on.
Wow, I hope I have this kind of energy. But, as I thought of complimenting the bright vibe he gives off, I know behind the Mr. Nice Guy façade lurks a highly potential threat.
I thought, thinking about everything I witnessed. Nonetheless, his matters are his, and mine is mine to keep. I won't fight back, not until he crosses the line again. In any case, I owe him this opportunity.
"Thank you for guiding me all the way here," I said, genuinely thanking him. I swear I won't dig, and I'm just going to keep my nose on the spot; I won't care if he's a drop-dead gorgeous pervert man who wears a façade. Because really? Who doesn't? In a world full of people to please…we ought to wear faces they want to see. And merely knowing that would help me better to understand that this energy and façade he's keeping are just for the sake of some ulterior motives— I don't want to know any further.
"Sure, no problem. Oh, may I see your resume and portfolio?" He asked, leaning forward from his seat.
Because…
Just like him, I keep up a façade to get what I want.
"Ah, sure!" I said, sliding my resume and portfolio on the table. He took it immediately and started reading them.
"Whoa, you were a president's lister." He said, awe in his face.
Ah, that…
"Ah, yeah, well, not until a problem happens," I said, trying not to look disappointed at all as I could still remember what my brothers did to get me off the list.
"Problem?" He asked, sounding sternly concerned, which made me realize he saw right through me.
Am I not hiding it well? Well, this is a first.
"Oh, that's nothing! Hahaha!" I said, trying to brush it off the hook. Gosh, I shouldn't have put that there. Now, while at it, I should come up with a reason to cover it up just in case the HR asked—
"Well, I think I have to know?" He politely asked, smiling at me kindly, which took me aback for a second. Out of words, feeling uncomfortable, I decided to crack a joke.
"Pfft, you're saying that as if you're the HR, speaking of, what time is…" I said, trying to divert the topic and glances over the HR officer's table, searching for his or her name.
"Georgina Allen—Allen? Wait? Did you just kick her out of her office?" Surprised, feeling caught off guard. I asked him, raising my brow. Well, I have this feeling that he's from a higher position, but is this alright? Borrowing an office from the HR herself?!
And when I remember how terrified Ms. Allen was with him. I began to feel restlessness as if cold water abruptly got showered on my back.
Okay, he seemed to be from a higher position, but what was she afraid of? And that gaze right after Lennox opens the door for me…something really, really feels off.
From the entrance to the elevator up to here—what does those stares—
"Yeah?" He said smilingly, shrugging his broad shoulders, looking innocently as if there was nothing to be worried about.
Again, I wonder… everything will be alright? How I wish you could give me more assurance than smiling like that, Lennox.
- Writer
