Capítulo 1: Lunch With Him
"I would like to talk with Hary please!" The woman whispered on the opposite line. She was sobbing and her voice was filled with urgency as if she was in the midst of danger. She even heard a sniffling sound on the background.
Xia noticed that he used the name 'Hary' instead of simply addressing him as Mr. Blaze or Mr. CEO. She must be very close to him.
"May I know who's on the line please" Xia asked kindly. She couldn't simply direct a stranger's call to her boss without knowing the basic details.
"Please. Whoever you are, you may not understand it now, but please, please, this is really urgent!" The woman was in tears as she pleaded. If Xia was seeing her right this moment she must have been kneeling in front of her by now.
Emotions rush through Xia. She could feel a lump as it formed on her throat. For the very first time in her life she got the feeling of wanting to cry without any valid reason at all.
"Wait a minute ma'am. I will be diverting your call to his office." At last, it was a pity that took over Xia's heart allowing the woman's request to be granted. But before she could react further the line was cut suddenly, leaving her mind in a state of chaos.
Xia was in that situation when Zachary Benedict open the adjoining door that separated his own office to hers. He stopped on his tracks after seeing her pale and shaken. He narrowed his eyes on her
then his forehead formed into a crease.
"Are you okay Ana?" He crossed the gap between them with quick steps and in an instant, he was already beside Xia.
There was some vague emotion that sparkled on his hazel brown eyes as he stared at Xia. Somehow by just staring back at him the trouble that has been buzzing her mind began to ebb away. As she stared at the pools of his hazel brown eyes she was startled enough to see some strange emotions for the very first time. Is that concern she saw? But logic told her that concern was never on the Fallen Angels' personality. He was not capable of it.
Xia put down the telephone which she was surprised to realize was still on her hand. He was still looking at her when she returns her gaze at him reminding Xia that he was still waiting for her answer.
"It's nothing Hary. Just a prank call." Xia replied half-truth and half lie. She wasn't even sure if that was really true or someone was just making fun of her. What if it's true? She really don't want to know the answer.
He seems to accept Xia's explanation without further comment which she was thankful of.
"Fix yourself. You look as white as paper. We would be eating lunch outside."
"But, I thought you still have a lunch meeting with Mr. Emmanuel Emir?"
"He called me a while ago. He said he had an emergency and won't make it to the meeting."
After saying that he returned to his office.
He was so strange sometimes. He could suddenly turn from being the perfect gentleman to being an emotionless statue. Xia haven't even said that she was going with him. Well then, he's the boss. No violent reaction.
It was in the most expensive restaurant in town where he chose to eat. Xia was doubtful to eat inside at first not because she can't afford but because she wasn't used enough to eating in a very expensive place like this. Even if Xia's parents were rich, they did not spoil her. They want her to be as humble as possible.
When they entered the restaurant, the place suddenly fell into a hush silence. Stares flooded in their direction. Men look at Zachary with respect and women eyed him hungrily. Xia realized that he was really well known in the place.
For sure the columns would have something to say again about the Fallen Angel eating Lunch with his secretary. Xia thoughts as she eyes the elegance and class of the restaurant for the first time.
He guided Xia by gently touching her back as they follow the waiter to where their sit are. When they reached their table, he pulled the chair for Xia and allowed her to sit down first before he did.
"What would you like to eat?" He asked after glancing at the menu.
Honestly, Xia don't know what should she eat. She don't even know how food in this restaurant tastes like.
"Whatever yours is," Xia replied.
Zachary Benedict began to order. The food was immediately served. Xia noticed how the staff and waiters seemed to be in a panic as they served them.
The food was superb. She almost ate all the foods being served at them.
"So, how was your day last week?" It was his words that suddenly stopped Xia on her tracks. The chocolate cake she was about to eat was suspended in the air. She suddenly lost her appetite.
"If you are me. You wouldn't want to tell."
Xia replied letting the dessert spoon touch the plate. "And since you are who you are I think I don't need to tell. Because based on your tone you know more than the newspapers did." Xia
added. He was really good at ruining her mood. He didn't know that she almost had a mini heart attack from that experience.
When they are done eating Zachary Benedict paid the bill left an astonishing amount of tip for the waiter who served them.
When they finally got outside the sudden tension inside the restaurant had been lifted away and Xia could almost hear the waiters' huge sigh of relief when they are already leaving the restaurant.
That's how intimidating Zachary Benedict Kassanov, the man known as the Fallen Angel. The heartless and cold CEO of Blaze Empire.
-- Regalo
recibido