Too much into character

After successfully confusing one of the "brainless dogs", Shera went back to her work. After finishing two meetings with business partners, she called Purple. No one answered, so she called Purple's personal phone. Surprisingly, the girl didn't pick her call. Shera put back her phone on the desk. "Huh." 

[Master…] Tazja arrived with a spin. 

"What do you want?" Shera was not in the mood to deal with the little lioness. 

[I know why Purple didn't pick your call.] It announced. 

"So?" Did it expect a round of applause? Should she give it a standing ovation then? 

[I can tell you all about it or even show you.] 

Shera was more of surprised than impressed. "I thought you are in my mind. How can you see things that are outside my brain?" 

[Is that the part that matters?] Tazja wondered whether its master's brain functioned normally. Well, it obviously didn't. 

"None of it matters. Now, off you go." Shera dismissed it. 

___

Earlier this morning. 

Purple couldn't concentrate on her work no matter how hard she tried. Cedric's call from last night kept bugging her mind. 

Shera was currently having a meeting with CEO Blake of Chiq Entertainment. As soon as CEO Blake was out, Purple considered going to Shera's office and, just as she had decided the night before, to tell her about Cedric's call and the meeting she had no choice but to go to. 

But just as her knuckles were about to connect with the door to Shera's office, she stopped.

She went back to her desk, took a little box, shoved it into her satchel and went to the place Cedric had thrown at her the previous night. 

"I knew you would come." Cedric, who was leaning against his brand-new Ferrari, walked towards her. 

"I want to get this done with right away." Purple peeked over her shoulder as though anxious about something. 

Cedric held her shoulders and suddenly hugged her. "Ellie, I missed you." 

Purple pushed him away and tried to sound calm. "Look, it's not about who missed who. Tell me what you wanted to say and be done with it." 

Cedric narrowed his eyes for a brief second. 'Are you scared your master will catch you?' he thought. If that woman caught Purple with him, it would be much easier to get rid of both of them. A grin threatened to surface on his lips but he stopped it and took Purple's hand. "We can talk in my car." 

Purple thought it was a better idea and went in after him. Once she sat, Cedric took the snacks he had prepared beforehand and stuffed them into her hands, but Purple didn't intend to eat any of them.

Seeing that she was on the verge of losing her patience, he turned to face her and breathed in as though trying to find courage. "Ellie, I like you." 

Purple opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her. "And I know that you like me too." 

Purple wordlessly stared at him. She couldn't say that she liked a man she had not known for long and who was supposed to be her enemy, but denying it didn't seem right either. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish but nothing came out. 

"Ellie, I want you to be my girlfriend." He continued.

"No way." She said without having to think. "We cannot date." 

"Why not?" He looked surprised even though he knew the reason fully well. 

"We... just can't." Purple made to open the door of the car. 

Cedric quickly placed his hand on it before it could turn the door handle, stopping her. "I know why you think we cannot date. It's because of her, isn't it?" 

Purple chewed on her lip. This was not part of her mission. 

"Elena, why would you live your life for someone else? Just because the Qins are her enemies, they are yours too?" 

Purple remained silent for a while before saying boldly, "yes." 

At that moment, Purple's phone rang. She took it but before she answered it, Cedric grabbed it and switched it off. 

"What right do you have to do that?" Purple exploded.

Cedric was a little annoyed, but he continued whatever he was saying. "Do you know what even happened between her and my family? Did she tell you that? And did she tell you how close she is to my brother who also happens to be a Qin?" He played with her hand, knowing that he had sown a small seed of doubt. "You do not trust me. But how can you trust a woman who used your weakness to recruit you into her gang? 

A woman who causes trouble day and night and leaves people in distress and tears wherever she goes. Is that the kind of person you are choosing to trust instead?" He looked into her eyes seriously. "Elena, I know you are afraid of what would happen if you went against her. But I promise you, as long as you're with me, I will not let anyone hurt you." 

Purple averted her gaze, squeezed her eyes shut for half a second and sighed. "Cedric, it's my choice who I trust." 

After saying that, she left Cedric's car and went back to CT Corporation.  

...

"You're back." Shera said when Purple entered her office. 

"Master..." Purple didn't know what to say. 

"You have never left your work to go anywhere. Where did you go?" She reclined in her chair. 

Purple's nails unknowingly dug into her palms. "I went to meet Cedric." She decided to tell the truth.

Shera's expression was unreadable as she gazed at her. Her eyes were penetrative, as though they could read into Purple's mind. "Did you do what you're supposed to?" 

Purple unconciously clutched her satchel. "N-no. I..." she took a deep breath and faced Shera's gaze. "I couldn't. I didn't get the chance." 

Shera's lips twitched. "Oh, is that so?" 

She used her weight to push the chair foward and placed her elbows on the desk. "Is it because you couldn't get the chance or you just didn't want to, Purple?" 

Purple's heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened. 

"Have you fallen in love with him?" Shera's tone was intimidating, as though she was ridiculing Purple.

Purple was inarticulate. She bit her lips. She couldn't say she felt nothing completely for Cedric but... Shera hated him to the core. 

Her breath quickened as she was about to say something she couldn't ever imagine herself saying before. "Master, I was unable to because... Cedric is not a bad man. I felt guilty and..." 

Shera slammed her palms on the table. Her eyes went wide as she glared at Purple. "Are you stupid?! Have you gotten too deep into character?" 

Purple trembled from the outburst and remained silent. She was just wondering whether she shouldn't have said that when Shera's angry vouce filled the air. "Just because you had sex with him, you will be fooled by whatever nonsense he says?"