INSTINCT

Leah knew that it is dangerous to let strangers in but she didn't have a choice. In her current situation almost, everyone is a stranger to her. But a part of her when facing Wu Chen was telling her that the man wasn't lying and is not an impostor and doesn't have any ill intentions. On a closer look, she could see a faint and very light green hue around him. She blinked a couple of times to make sure that her eyes were not playing tricks on her.

Wu Chen on the other hand was equally confused and uncomfortable under the stare of his boss. He felt that his boss was acting weird and he feared that the words she said yesterday would come true. "Ma'am, is everything alright?" he couldn't help but ask. "Yes, of course. Everything is absolutely fine." 'I suppose…' which she obviously didn't say out loud. "Come in."

Wu Chen got in placed the bags in his hands on the coffee table in the living room. "Ma'am, these are the materials you asked me to buy." Leah nodded and maintained a neutral expression and sat on the couch.

Wu Chen took out his iPad, stood straight and started going through her schedule.

"Since the meeting with Phoenix Group was cancelled and the meeting being rescheduled to the next day, your schedule for today is free. This is the you asked for with regards LT Group which is scheduled. the contract signing with Phoenix Group is rescheduled tomorrow at 11 a.m. followed by lunch with the chief personnel of the project team. After that you have a board meeting to attend at 3.p.m...." Wu Chen kept on narrating her schedule for the next day which was packed to the brim and there was hardly any time to rest. After he was done, observed his boss who was acting weirdly since the time he saw her this morning.

"Anything else?" she asked. Wu Chen paused for a moment and continued,

"Yes ma'am. The gift for Mr. Lu will be here by next Monday. And Secretary Sophia will be bringing it personally to Country C."

"Okay." She replied calmly as though it was completely expected. Wu Chen froze for a moment and Leah was observing Wu Chen did not miss that small reaction from him when.

"Wu Chen, how long have you worked for me?"

"It's been 4 years now ma'am." he replied.

He hesitated a bit and asked," Ma'am, do you remember what to told me yesterday when we landed in Country C?"

Leah was shocked and didn't know how to respond. She didn't know about her own self; how would she know what she told him. She was panicking on the inside not knowing what to do and chose to remain quiet. She hard a hard time maintaining her neutral expression yet she still noticed that Wu Chen had used al lesser formal tone when speaking to her. The silence continued for a long time and both of them were nervous.

At last, Wu Chen broke the silence. "Ma'am, did you really lose your memory" his voice cracked a little bit had a hint of genuine concern and worry. Leah was definitely taken aback. She was stunned and stared at Wu Chen. "H-How did you know?" she stuttered.

Wu Chen just stood there because he had not really taken seriously what his boss told him yesterday. "Do you remember me?" he asked still carrying a slight hope. But he was bound to be dejected when she outright denied knowing him. He was just as shocked as she was. He could've easily said that his boss must've been joking but right now she definitely wasn't. He has been by his boss' side for years and she's practically raised him and were as close to each other as family. How could he not know his boss' moods and what the changes in her behavior and expression meant?

He looked at Leah who was stunned and nervous but was trying to act normal." I didn't expect that this would really happen to you. Boss I just hope that you'll be strong enough to pass through this. You mentioned yesterday that this might be the case of a short-term amnesia. Besides you are very strong and I absolutely believe in you. I will always be by your side even if you don't regain your memories and…." He was not really good at comforting others but he still tried his best.

Leah looked back at him and chuckled at his blabbering. "Thank you" she said with a smile.

"Ma'am do you believe me?"

"Yes. I believe you" she said without the slightest hesitation to which he was obviously stunned. All kinds of emotions were welling up in him and his eyes started stinging. He knew he would embarrass himself by crying so he forcefully cleared his throat.

"Thank you, boss, for your trust in me, but what if I was lying and didn't have good intentions towards you? Though it is only natural for you to trust me, right now I'm no different from a stranger to you" he started nagging her like a mother.

"But I would still trust you. Look at you being protective like a mother hen." Leah said bemusedly. Just then a glint quickly flashed in her eyes and a creepy smile crept up her face.

Wu Chen immediately sat straight with his guards up. "How about we play a game. If I lose I'll increase your salary by 10% . if you lose you will prepare or arrange for my meals without any complaints. Are you up for it?" Wu Chen was stunned by this sudden turn of events. But then he realized that his boss was just trying to brighten up the tense and depressing atmosphere from earlier so he agreed. What he failed to realize is that Leah was just using him to confirm some suspicions and thoughts she had earlier.

"Okay. So I'll just ask you some questions and you have to answer them. I'll decide whether you're being honest or not. Which means that you can choose to answer truthfully or otherwise. If I fail to determine the truth you win. Understood?"

Leah then asked him a series of question wish he answered, half of them being true and the other half false. Leah accurately guessed the true answers and the false ones and thus she won. She confirmed that her instincts were definitely more powerful and sharper than the normal humans. It was clearly a win-win situation for her as she confirmed her assumption of her ability to judge a person and their credibility were so far very accurate and absurd. She was now sure that she could trust Wu Chen and that he would not betray her. Well at least for now. she decided to ask him to explain everything about her past and current life. She had a company to take care of and a family too. It was time she started preparing for this unpredictable and adventurous journey.

On the other hand, Wu Chen was dumbfounded by his Boss' ability to distinguish the truth from false. He was sure that no person could fool this monster of a boss now. His prior worries about his boss trusting the wrong person now flew out of the window. Instead, he was embarrassed that Leah found out his humiliating and embarrassing secrets about his one-sided crush on their neighbor in Country L and many others. He was totally played by his boss. He didn't mind cooking for his boss as he and his sister would usually do the cooking for her. But he just couldn't help but feel embarrassed.