Chương 39: Experience

After two weeks, Noah is back at A Star, refreshed, and seemingly a little different. Especially when Everest notices him talking with the male employees. "hmm, was he always this interactive?" he wonders, tilting his head when the female employees at the jewelry department crowd him, "what's the matter, Everest?"

He looks away, smiling, "ah um nothing, its just."

They trace his gaze, spotting Noah calmly chatting with the male employees on the first floor. "Ooh~ does he bother you? The fact that secretary Noah came back probably bothers you, huh."

Another comment, "ugh he always hangs out with the male employees."

"Why does that bug you?" one asks, confused.

"because! We're not allowed to date them! And they're all so cute! The Madam literally separates us!"

Everest intriguingly asks, "what do you mean she separates? But the employees are all a mixture of genders working in the departments."

"Yeah~ but the madam does not permit us to date," another interrupts, "that's not true! The Madam allows us to date, but if we're caught distracted, we'll either get a warning or get immediately fired."

Everest asks, "why?"

An older employee explains, "the madam does not want a repetition of what happened three years ago."

They gasp, "I thought it was taboo even to bring it up."

Everest somehow feels strange glances from them when he breaks the silence, chuckling, "well, I have to go. Continue working hard. I'll see you all later."

As he was walking away, he couldn't help but glance at Noah, genuinely laughing with the rest of the male employees. Seeing them only triggers a flashback when Everest was in high school wearing glasses, a thick sweater, and a big backpack. He was sitting in the back of the classroom secretly writing on his notebook when a group of coolly dressed boys starts wooing and making loud hurray noises.

Envious of their confidence and ability to fit in always made Everest feel like an outsider who can never join "the boys." After seeing Noah getting along with the employees, it makes him wonder if he could be one of them now at his present self.

***

Belen has been receiving blackmail pictures for more than a week, today though she's managed to hide them from Noah and decided to keep this issue to herself. But she's having a difficult time deciding who she will take to Sequoia for a photoshoot.

She's worried that taking Noah will limit his time with reviewing everything he's missed so far while on vacation. And worries, if she can leave Everest alone at A Star but thinking about it makes her shiver. Who can she trust A Star and herself with? Noah or Everest? Yet again, maybe she can just bring both.

She lays her head on the desk, thinking when suddenly her phone vibrates. She slowly walks to the sofa impatiently, scuffling through her purse, noticing one out of the three phones is ringing. She frustratedly sighs, "what does she want?" coldly glaring at the caller ID, "Iris," she grits her teeth.

"Hey~ Belen~!" Iris calls her favorably.

Belen can't help but sigh, rolling her eyes at her kiss-ass tone, "what do you want, Iris?'

"I just want to know what you're doing? Are you busy? I guess not, right? Since you answered me."

Belen doesn't bother giving her the benefit of the doubt, coldly asking, "what do you want?"

"Damn! I was wondering if you can lend me some cash…please~."

"No," Belen immediately replies when after a few seconds of silence, Iris tone shifts, trying to keep her anger in check, "come on, Belen~ don't be like that. Just lend me some, and I'll pay you back, please!"

"lend?" she laughs, "Iris, you don't want me to lend you money, you want me to give it to you, right? There's no way you can even repay me," she calms down, "why don't you ask your boyfriend and his son to give you the money you need?"

Iris gasps, "what?! Oh my gosh! Are you stalking me?! I broke up with him. I'm with someone else."

"No, Iris I'm not going to give you anything, I don't have the money to provide your drug addiction."

Iris answers offendedly, "excuse me? You have money! Why are you like this? What? All of a sudden, you feel great just because you're a little famous? And marijuana isn't addicting. Sooooo many celebrities do it, and I'm sure you're sparking up behind everyone's back too."

Belen snorts, laughing at her dumb claims, "Iris. You're foolish. I can't handle it sometimes…" She coldly but bluntly remarks, "leave me alone before I call my dad and tell him all about your addiction," abruptly hanging up.

"Ugh! That stupid slut!" she retorts, shaking while clenching her fist, "I wish I can just get rid of her!"

***

Meanwhile, as Everest is going around A Star, he continues to catch little glimpses of male employees joyfully welcoming Noah back to work. It's strange, or slightly weird, even to see him smiling from ear to ear compared to when he's around the female employees. Everest wonders back to the female employee's warning that Noah is creepy to them. But on the contrary, he realizes that he's never once actually interacted with the male employees since the ones who approached him first were the females.

On their way to Belen's office, Everest bumps into Noah in the elevator, both feeling awkward and hostile. Nothing has changed between them. They both still hate seeing each other.

Noah does not bother hiding his displeased expression around Everest. While he, on the other hand, pays him no mind and tries to talk to him, "so, what did you do during your vacation?"

Noah slouches his shoulder back, "there's no need for small talk," he coldly responds, glaring at his reflection.

Everest smirks, "I was just asking since I was the one who advised her to give you one in the first place."

Noah's expression widens as anger surges throughout his body, but before he can say anything, the elevator doors open when Everest looks back with a grin on his face, pleased to see him annoyed.

Everest happily greets everyone like the sun while Noah gently greets them like the evening moon. Everest knocks, and just as he was about to open the door, Noah stops him whispering, "you're supposed to wait until she allows us to enter."

Everest uses his strength to his advantage ignoring his warning and enters with Noah following behind. They line up, answering in unison like a choir, "Madam President."

Belen sighs, clicking her ballpoint pen against the desks, "today there are no meetings but have yet to resolve the issue with who and whom will go with me to Sequoia and stay at A Star."

Noah asks, "Madam, with all due respect I don't think it's a difficult matter to think about, it's obvious who should go with you."

Belen quietly nods, "you're right, but then who would you suggest stay here?"

"I believe Everest is not competent enough to look after A Star on his own. He'll be clueless when it comes to assisting you at Sequoia. Therefore, I'd say it'd be best if he takes a two-day vacation until we return" he smiles savagely at Everest.

Everest cusses underneath his breath, "motherfucker."

"Everest…Everest…" Belen calls out when he does not respond, but he snaps back to his sense, stammering, "y-yes Madam?"

Noah sighs, shaking his head, "see, Madam. He daydreams, it's dangerous to take him with you if he's going to get distracted so easily. You need someone who can assist you during the shoot."

Belen raises an eyebrow staring at Everest's bewildered expression, "what do you think, Everest?"

"Pardon?" he stays clueless.

"What do you want to do?" she locks her fingers glaring at him with a menacing complexion. It scares him back a bit until she grins, wearing a façade hiding her intentions.

He gulps nervously, "I-I u-uh," he stutters, "I can do it," he says confidently straightening his back.

Noah turns surprisingly to him with a confusedly. Belen, on the other hand, pleasantly smirks when she says, "oh? And what can you do?"

Everest confidently answers, "I can drive, and assist you in any way I can, I did do my best when secretary Noah was away on vacation. I'm positive I can fulfill any task you have for me."

Belen breaks out in laughter, amazing them when Noah intercepts, "b-but Madam, the drive is quite dangerous for someone whose never been there, wouldn't it be wise to take me?"

After calming down, she answers, "and leave A Star alone?" she sighs, "Noah, the board meeting will be held the next day after I come back from the forest. It's not sufficient time to catch up with the topics that we'll be discussing that day. So it'd be best you stay here while Everest and I head to the forest."

Noah tiredly sighs, "then…you had this planned out from the beginning, I assume?"

She chuckles, looking at their stunned expressions, "no, I was planning on having you and Everest watch A Star while I'd hire a driver. But…" she plays around with her pen tapping it against the desk, "Seeing how confident Everest seems, I guess I have no choice but to trust him."

Everest regrettably winces, "why did I have to open my fucking big mouth!!" he internally screams.

"You may leave," she coldly dismisses them, but just as Everest walked out the door, Noah stayed behind gritting his teeth if whether he should leave or remain.

He bravely turns around to see Belen tiredly looking through some documents and back at the computer screen. She's busy, but he has the urge to at least talk to her.

"Belen…?" he leans near her desk, trying to get her attention. He gently calls her name again, "Belen, I know right now isn't the right time to say this, but there is something I need to tal-"

She finally looks up, meeting his smiling eyes, "shh," the corner of her lips slowly rise, "tonight…"

He wonders, "t-tonight?"

"Why don't we talk over dinner…tonight" she emphasizes.

His eyes widen in surprise when she pouts, laying her chin on her hand, "tell me, whose turn is it to cook? I've lost track, you or me?"

Noah straightens his back with a hopeful warm smile, "mines, I'll see you at home tonight," he winks timidly, walking out of the office, keeping a poker face. On the inside, his excitement is skyrocketing, wishing he could yell out, scream and shout in happiness.

He can't wipe the grin off his face covering his mouth with his hand, chuckling like a little girl. Finally, he thinks, maybe those two weeks apart really did help, and with dinner tonight, he can hopefully reconcile with her.

***

Its evening and A Star is relatively quiet, with shoppers going from one store to another. From afar, everything looks calm, Everest is talking to the leaders of the departments about his absence for the next two days. Though at the same time, they overhear loud yelling coming from the VIP floor.

He rushes to the scene where an elder white lady is yelling at a female employee, timidly apologizing repeatedly. But the elder lady dressed in the most elegant clothes money can buy, along with ivory pearls around her neck and ears, is arrogantly yelling at the employee as if it were a dog that did something wrong.

Everest has no idea what is going on, but his feet move on their own when he steps in front of the employee, pushing her back, "may I help you, miss?" his eyes can't hide his anger trying to be polite as possible.

"What seems to be the matter? I can help you if you allow me, please tell me what is going on."

The elderly lady angrily shouts, "that stupid bitch verbally offended me!" she points to the panicked employee hiding behind Everest.

He tries to calm her down by saying, "there is no need to point fingers, Miss. I can help you, what is the problem?"

"Ugh! I can't talk with this man! Are all of the employees this stupid?! Can you not speak English? Do you not understand what I just said?! That bitch is the problem, not me!"

Everest glances back at the shivering employee, asking for an explanation, "s-she wanted to look at five purses at the same time, but we have a policy that only three at a time are allowed. S-She didn't like that saying the last time she came that policy was not for her but others of the lower class."

Everest turns back to the elderly lady, trying to reason with her, "Miss, there seems to be a misunderstanding. We have a policy that" the lady interrupts him scoffing, "excuse me? That policy only exists for the less. It does not apply to me! It's not as if I'm simply staring at them. I could buy everything in this department if I wanted to! Yet this brat thinks she could treat me like a fool? Like she does to everyone else?!"

"Miss, please understand, this policy applies to everyone no matter who they are, it's not a way to offend anyone, it's a precaution-"

"I can't stand listening to this bullshit any longer! I thought this mall was different! Why would a girl open a mall with VIP departments when they treat us the same way as the lower class! Nope! I want a refund on everything! Better yet! I'm going to sue you all! I have my right to look at many purses and items I want at the same time!"

A crowd begins to gather outside the store recording the scene, but Everest calls security, when the elderly lady angrily shouts, "You can't remove me by force! My husband is an attorney! Based on everyone here, I can have you two charged! I'm not going to move until someone higher comes and apologizes!"

Everest is close to losing his patience by trying to calm her, "please, miss, I'm the Madam's secretary, we sincerely apologize for indirectly offending you, but according to the policy-"

"Argh! Again with that stupid policy! I can't talk with you any longer! The only way I can accept your apology is if you two go on your knees!" she haughtily looks away arrogantly, crossing her arms.

Meanwhile, Noah overhears the male employee talking in the lounge room, "Hey, did you hear? That guy, the Madam's fiancé, is in huge trouble."

"You're kidding! What he do this time?"

"Stud got himself in some complicated shit with a VIP customer."

"OH! He's definitely going to get an earful!" they all laugh when Noah asks, "what are you all talking about?"

"Aye! Noah, what's up!"

"Got bored out there?"

Noah asks, "what were you two talking about earlier? What about Everest? Did something happen?"

"Oh shit! You should probably go help him, he's dealing with a VIP customer right now, and it's getting out of hand," they laugh.

Noah rushes out of the lounge room in a hurry to the VIP floor, where he catches a glimpse of a crowd. And cusses underneath his breath, "shit."

Before he can reach the floor, the crowd disperses making a path for someone, pushing Noah to the back, he frantically looks ahead to see security.

Suddenly Belen, escorted by security, arrives at the scene, coldly staring at the female employee on her knees and Everest on the verge of bending. This irritates Belen as she continued to click her tongue, "well, isn't this a sight to see" she grins maliciously.

The elderly lady flinches at Belen's sight, feeling a bit intimidated to see her boldly walk in with her arms crossed like she owns the place, which she does.

"What is going on?" she asks coldly when the elder lady was about to answer. Belen turns away from her, "Everest?" her voice sharpens.

He stands up along with the employee quietly looking down, when the elder lady responds, "Finally, someone that can understand what I'm saying! Miss Astares, you've seemed to have hired some incompetent people working for you! If you'd like my advice, just fire them. I recommend hiring, legalized people who can understand English," she says overconfidently, smacking her lips with big hand gestures.

Belen silently chuckles, coldly walking near the lady, "you seem to have mistaken your tone with someone else. I don't believe we're quite close enough to be giving out unnecessary advice. Wouldn't you agree? Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson."

As she said her name aloud, the crowd begin murmuring amongst themselves in shock to see the wealthy wife of Michael Johnson, an active politician attorney. Belen hates politics, but she is knowledgeable when it comes to political figures.

Elizabeth Johnson is indeed wealthy. She has nothing but her husband's last name to ride on. Knowing this, Belen decides to expose her stupidity, "I don't know what my employees seemed to have done to you, but I apologize on their behalf, is that enough for you? Ms. Elizabeth Johnson" she fakes a smile with a dark complexion "if you'd like I can always send your husband a copy of what happened here today, I'm sure the cameras will most likely reveal the truth of this matter, don't you think so?"

Elizabeth shakes in anger for being put on the spot, "And if I don't? what'll you do?"

Belen nods with a grimace look, "then I won't mind suing you, I can ban you from ever entering A Star."

"Hahaha! Who do you think you are? Ban me? They are nothing more than worthless people who can't provide a service!"

Belen stops her by holding out her hand, "are you done? I am the only one who can refuse service to anyone. Do you want to take this to court? I don't mind seeing you make a fool out of yourself and embarrassing your husband" she grins mockingly, "if you can't show respect to my employees, I assume you don't know the law as well as your husband. Then? Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, do you accept my apology?"

Elizabeth walks out of the store, escorted by security walking with her head held high, trying to hide behind her defeated armor. The crowd is booing as she passes by, but Noah disperses the crowd when he turns to see Belen talking with Everest and the female employee. He can't help but feel relieved to see that Belen took care of everything.

***

After the incident, the employee and Everest were scolded. They were allowed to leave early, but unlike the employee, Everest stayed behind spending some time in the rooftop. Angry at himself, "shit shit shit! Fucking! Shit! Damn!" he stomps his foot, banging on concrete.

He groans annoyingly, recalling the incident, "son of a fucking bitch!! And I almost got on my knees!" his blood only continues to boil the more he thinks about it.

"Urgh, and I couldn't do anything! I should've just kicked her old ass out and gotten fired!"

Belen's heels click-clack like metal arriving at the rooftop, seeing Everest angrily cursing, throwing a tantrum like a hopeless child. She sighs, staring at the bright-lit crescent moon, feeling the warm air.

She clears her throat, "Ahem!"

Everest turns amazed to see her, but his complexion quickly darkens, "Madam…what brings you up here?"

She confidently walks near him, "I was just about to ask you the same question. So…why haven't you gone home?"

He profoundly sighs, "why do you care?" he says rudely. Belen's eyes widen at his response.

"Excuse you?"

He scoffs, "what are doing here? Trying to comfort me? W-What are you?" He steps away, frustratedly staring at Belen's surprised expression.

"Y-You embarrass me in front of everyone, no better yet in front of the internet, and then you come here t-trying to be nice to me or at least share a moment or something. Like what's going on? What are these signals your sending me?"

Belen's eyebrows twist perplexed, "moment? Signal? What are you saying?"

Everest bluntly says, "why are you so nice and mean to me? Am I, your friend? Do you see me as your friend?"

Belen shakes her head, "no, never."

"then…do you like me? Is that why you intervene to protect me? Should I be awed and thankful for what you did?" he sighs, rubbing his neck, "Madam, no, I mean, Belen. I-I," he stammers, "I'm just confused. I don't know what you want."

She sighs, looking down at the floor and back up at Everest for an answer. Its as if his blunt words were enough to break her façade like when an actor breaks character. Unknowingly, a smile forms on her face trailing her laugh, "you're right," she says quietly.

Everest, feeling a bit creeped out, asks, "what's so funny? Are you okay?"

Her laugh only crescendos louder, "I-It's so funny!"

"huh?" he raises an eyebrow feeling strange yet awkward, "is she mental?"

"You never cease to amaze me~! I intervened for A Star!" her stomach hurting from the laughter, wiping away her tears. "That was just too funny," she calms down, "I haven't laughed like that in a while."

Bewildered by her response, Everest asks, "A Star?"

"Yes! It's not the first time these kinds of situations happen. Usually, Noah and I deal with them. But since this was your first time, I felt the need to address it," her mature expression shocks him.

He winces, "then, why do you treat me that way?"

She explains, "because that's how I was trained."

"what? Trained?"

"Yes, that's exactly how I felt with my dad, he was always so strict with me, but then at random moments, he'd treat me nicely, like a dad? But he often embarrassed me in front of all the employees. It hurt, and I felt so humiliated, but I learned…the hard way. To never let others walk all over me."

"THAT kind of training?"

Belen giggles, "yeah, can you believe that? I went through that kind of training in less than four months. After I officially became the President of A Star and hired Noah, he too went through it. What's odd is Noah didn't complain about it, but I was able to tell he didn't like it either."

"So," his voice sinks, "everything you do is for A Star? Wow!"

Belen walks away, "I'm glad to know how you feel, but I can't do anything about it. If Noah had to go through this, then so do you if you want to learn," she disappears.

Everest regrettably sighs, "I should really keep my mouth shut sometimes!" he stomps annoyingly like a spoiled child.