I Don't Trust Strangers

At the Torres mansion.

Chad was dripping wet from head to toe when he got home. When his mother heard that he was around, she rush to the living room to see him. She said as she walked towards him.  "Son, where did you go? When I got home, I heard..."

Chad cut her off before she could finish. She heard him say, "Mom, I am very tired" before he walked upstairs.

Mrs Torres was surprised. "Did he..." she turned to look at her son's back as he was heading to his room and shook her head. 

On his way to his room, a maid rush to him and said, "Young master, miss Mina was looking for you. She even went out to look for you. Did you meet her on your way here?"

"I don't know" was what she heard Chad say, before he entered his room. The maid let out a smile knowing that her young master is save.

***

Mrs Torres and the others were waiting anxiously for Mina. It's been four hours now and no news about Mina. Her phone was switched off. After few minutes of waiting, Mrs Torres said, "Get the umbrella, I am going to look for her" the maids nodded and ran inside to get an umbrella for Mrs Torres.

"Aunt, let us follow you. You know it's not save for only you to go out. We also want to look for Mina" Analyn said as she grapsed Mrs Torres hand. Mrs Torres thought of it and nodded, "Okay. I think it's a good idea"

As they took one step forward, a BMW drove into the compound. The driver got down with an umbrella for Mina, but she had already gotten down and had walked inside.

Mrs Torres let out a sigh of relief when she saw Mina. She spread out her arms. "Come Mina, let me hug you. I was so worried about you" she said and hugged her tightly. Pulling away from her, Mina asked, "Is Chad here?"

"Yes, he is back. Why?" Mrs Torres asked. 

"Nothing" she said and gave her coat to the maid standing at the door, then she ran upstairs.

Mrs Torres and her friends were confused. "What is wrong with her?" was the question they asked each other.

When Mina entered Chad's room, she heaved a sigh of relief. Chad was sleeping soundly on his bed, but he was holding something. Mina moved closer to see what he was holding. Her face darkened when she saw it. 

It was... It is Rachel's photo.

He was even holding Rachel's photo while sleeping. That's means he is still thinking of her. Mina tried to collect the photo from him, but he didn't give in and his lips started moving. Mina moved closer to her what he was saying.

"Rachel, please, don't go. I love you. Come back to me" he mumbled.

Mina smiled and caressed his cheeks and lean over. "Chad, you find have to worry because I will always be with you. I will make you fall in love with me gradually that you won't even remember Rachel's name. I will make sure you forget about her completely. I love you" she kissed him on his forehead and left the room. 

Making Chad forget Rachel is totally impossible. This Mina should just stop dreaming.

***

Mina stomped into her room angrily. She walked towards the window staring out of the window for few seconds before kicking the chair very hard that her foot began to hurt. She ignored the pain and her mind flashed back to the way she saw Chad standing in the rain hoping that someday Rachel would come back.

She walked to the drawer near her bed, opened it and brought out a photo of chad. She said as she tapped the photo with her index finger. "Chad, why can't you feel the love I have for you. Even after Rachel left, you still don't... No, no. It's bad. Dear Rachel, I hope you don't come back soon. I hope you just die there" she began to laugh that her stomach began to hurt so much that she couldn't take it anymore.

She crouched down and placed her hand on her stomach. After, tears rolled down her eyes and she began to cry.

"Why me? Why can't chad just love me? Huh?" she got up and walked towards the window as she wiped her tears. Hugging Chad's photo, she sighed deeply.

Next morning.

Mina quickly rushed to Chad who was about to enter his car. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back. His eyes became cold immediately. Without even turning to look at her, she stretched his arm backwards to push her away. Mina staggered backwards, but she quickly regained her balance.

"How dare you touch me?"

She looked up into his eyes and said, "Em... Chad, sorry. I just wanted to tell you something. I am helping you look for Rachel"

Chad was shocked. His lips curled upwards and his eyebrow bounced up. "Why you do think I will believe you?"

He knew that Mina is always doing everything for him so he can like her. He wanted to know where Rachel is, but he won't allow Mina to deceive him just like what she did to Rachel once. He knew her as a pretender and a manipulative bitch. He eyed her with disgust and turned to enter the car, but Mina stopped him. 

"Chad, wait. Please, listen to me. I have a friend in the US and I told her to help me..."

"Mina, enough! That's enough!" he raised his hand in the air and cut her off. "What do you think I am? A fool? I don't need your help in anything. If this is the only you have thought of to get me, then stop it 'cause I don't trust strangers. I don't believe in people who pretends to be innocent like you. I know you and my mother have been trying everything to make me forget about Rachel, but your plans won't work. Just stop it Mina" he said coldly, turned and entered the car. Without giving her a second glance, he said to the driver, "Drive"

The driver started the engine and drove out of the mansion.

Mina stood rooted there. So many mixed emotions filled her; fear, anger, hatred, sadness and disgust. If only Chad could feel the love she has for him, but his heart is already for someone else.

At carpeDiem Torres.

The staffs all stood up and greeted Chad as soon as he entered the company. His expression doesn't look good, but still he was very handsome. He nodded and waved at the staffs that greeted him. 

Some females staffs even began to blush when he waved at them. "It looks like he is in a good mood" one said and giggled happily.

In his office.

Joy brought him a cup of coffee before dropping some documents in his desk. He smiled thank you at her, picked up the coffee cup and sipped it. "So what's my schedule for today?"

It's been a long time she saw him smile like this. She smiled also. Chad saw her smiling and asked. "Joy, why are you smiling? I asked you to tell me  something and not to smile"

His voice snapped her out of her thought. "Sir Chad, it's been a long time you smiled like this that's why I smiled also. When my boss is happy then I am happy and when he is sad, I am sad also. Sir, do you notice that when you entered, everybody was happy?"

Chad lean back into his chair. He has not noticed that his behavior this past few days has affected everyone in the company. He never smiled at anyone and he never talked to the staffs also. Everyone was confused. No one knew why he was sad and angry and no one could ask him why. 

He looked at joy. "Really?"

She nodded her head and smiled. "Yes, sir Chad"

"Oh, I think I am a bad boss. I never seems to care about your feelings, but thank you all. I am also sorry and to compensate you all today, call to order lunch from Josh kitchen restaurant for all the staffs in this company"

Joy was shunned. She laughed happily. "Noted sir chad" then she bowed and left the office.

Chad stood up from his chair  and turned to face the window. Why was he happy today? Maybe because he knows that Rachel would be coming back soon. Maybe?, he thought. He smiled and walked back to his seat, sat down and began to sign some company papers.