Chapter 38: Dinner Like Friends

"It's been four days Samuel since my interview and he didn't call back," I grunt as I put down the cardboard box filled with papers rather forcefully on the tiled floor. I heave a sigh and put my hands on my hips and turn back.

"Calm down. Everything takes time." Samuel says, coming inside the room with a large box in his hands filled with my clothes and puts it down in a corner.

We are shifting my things to my new apartment. Apparently, Samuel thought it would be safe and easy if I lived on my own and also for my aunt. Of course, my aunt wasn't ready for it and didn't approve of it right away but Samuel had his way with her. He told her that it was a big job for which I would be handed private documents of the company so it was to be done for privacy purposes. She was obviously not sure about it but she agreed in the end but what I wanted was for her to talk to my mother which was the hardest thing.

If I talked to her, it would be hard to explain and she would get all worried and emotional rather than being understanding so my aunt talked to her and explained that I got a great job through my boss and would start living in an apartment of my own, hearing it she obviously got worried and said that;

'What Kind of job suddenly gives you an apartment, I know I live in a town which is very different from the city but it doesn't mean that I have no such knowledge.'

My aunts assured her that it was all because of Samuel, she knows the guy and has known him for so long and she should be happy for me because I'd have my own apartment and good pay. My mother finally gave up and wished me her blessing.

"It's too long already! I don't know if your source even works..." My voice lowering at the end as I think over the cause of delay for their reply. "I've ruined the interview I'm telling you. It was all useless what I did." I sigh.

"No, it wasn't. You were perfect according to me. Trust me he'll get back to you." He says, picking up another set of box and placing it to the corner. "And besides he owes this much to us. SILLA has a big share of his company he can't refuse Mr. Garrison."

"But you said that he can prefer someone of his own too."

"Well, that may be but he won't. I'm sure he wants to build good relations with SILLA." He says with a smug smile. "And besides you did a good job I assure you-"

"And what did you do!?" Suddenly remembering his mistake, I snap at him. "I thought you made sure to hide anything that may give a clue about my family!?" I hiss at him. Rage boiling inside of me.

"I thought we were done discussing that Sarah?" He gives me a bored and tired expression.

"You can never get away with this! My aunt is part of my family how dare you not hide about my acquaintance with her?!" My fists clenched and hanging beside my hips.

"Sarah... it was necessary-"

"Necessary my foot!" I spit out as rage flares up a notch. My eyes not leaving his as he looks at me with hands in the air.

"Okay listen to me-"

"I've had enough! It's about my freaking family Samuel! I can't let anything happen to them, whatever happens, it should be me! Not even my aunt! She helped me reach here! She gave me a place to stay, I don't know what could I have done without her." The empty room echoes with my raged voice.

"She was broken once I told her that I was moving out of the house, she was more than suspicious of this job, she was doubtful because she cared about me. It doesn't matter if it were you to convince her she still was afraid for me! She wanted me to be safe. I want to keep her safe too... You don't understand... I don't want to hurt her." I pant and cautiously he steps to move closer to me. "She was so happy to have me there with her... It was like she never had someone close to her for so long."

"Sarah... It was best for your own aunt."

"I don't understand what was best in this for my aunt?" My voice low as he now stands close to me.

"Remember I said that it was easy to maneuver your information? But it wasn't the case with her. I could've hidden it but eventually, they would've found out about her... And that would have been a great problem then."

"You didn't even inform me about it before I leave for the interview."

"You wouldn't have listened to me. I'm trying to explain you this since the last four days and you're still the same." He huffs out a breath and I eye him. "Besides you did a great job to cover it up." He shrugs his shoulder and gives me a half smile.

"Yeah!? That is why he hasn't called back!" I throw my hands up in the air, exasperatedly and he chuckles.

"Why the hell are you so sure that he is going to call? I mean don't you see it we are thinking ahead of ourselves, this shifting and all seems so childish. I'm telling you this is useless!" He bites back a laugh and looks at me.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"N-no." He stutters.

"No! If you want to laugh then laugh! But laugh at yourself!" I spit out.

"God, you're so infuriating." He chuckles at me and I eye him. He looks at me and my expression doesn't waver, he laughs this time more heartily. I cross my hands over my chest and tap my feet impatiently against the floor for him to finish his act. He notices the scowl on my face and bites back his laugh.

"Okay, I'm sorry." I don't say anything instead I turn back and move towards the boxes to set out my things. "Hey! I'm sorry. Look I'm not laughing." I turn and found him holding his laugh while biting his lower lip. I glare at him and focus my attention back to the box.

"You're such a kid Sarah." He says between his laughs.

"Yeah? Then I would love to break it to you that you chose this kid for your dangerous mission!" I throw a shirt at him from the box which lands on his face and he continues to laugh, shoving the shirt away.

I turn back and start taking out my stuff from the boxes and place them on the tiled floor.

"I'm sorry."

I put down my clothes in neat folding.

"I really am this time."

I take out my stole and scarves and start folding them.

"I'm sorry. Don't be mad at me." His pouting face appears in front of me and I jerk back a little by his sudden appearance. I avert my gaze back to the box and start working on un-boxing my remaining clothes. "You're ignoring me."

"Finally, you noticed," I mumble to myself but enough for him to hear.

For a few seconds, I don't hear him say anything or even move. It got me a little curious to what was he up to before I could peek at him, I felt a pull at my stole that was draped across my neck and the next thing I know my head jerked to my right.

I was facing Samuel and he was sitting down on his knees with a serious face. He was holding the edge of my stole, his eyes boring into mine. Something itching inside of me to move away a little but I couldn't.

"I'm sorry."

"Okay..." I say as he looks into my eyes. Before I could move away he held the edge tight of the stole in his hand.

"I won't ever throw you in danger, Sarah." I gulp as I notice the fierce look in his eyes. "Never will I allow anyone to hurt you." The fierceness growing strong in his eyes. "If it were me I would have never left y-"

"Sir!"

I bounce up from my space before I faced the door. Melissa stood there panting hard while her hands were on her knees, breathing hard to pull some air into her lungs. I feel someone stand next to me.

"What is it, Melisa?" Samuel asks sternly.

"They called. They're affirmative of Ms. Sarah." She replies and Samuel nods at her.

I couldn't help feeling excited, happy and scared all at the same time. Excited for how close I was to reach him... Scared of what hurdles would be coming my way.

"Sir, we have a meeting coming up." I look at Samuel who was looking at me with proud and I share him a sincere smile.

"I know," Samuel replies and I look at Melisa who was looking at Samuel and then at me.

"Sir, we have to hurry." She says biting her lip anxiously looking back and forth between me and Samuel.

"You can wait outside Melisa." He says, without looking at her but me while I watch her. The color drains out of her face. She continues to stand there for a second before she heads towards the door.

"Umm... Congratulations Ms. Sarah." She says to me before she has a last look at Samuel and leaves the room.

I sigh and move to look at Samuel who was still looking at me. A huge grin tugged on my face and his smile broadens looking at me. He raises a brow at me, giving me a told-you-so look and I roll my eyes at him.

"So finally." I breathe.

"Yeah finally." He chuckles. "My ears were numb and I couldn't hear more of your rant-"

"Excuse me!" I interrupt him. "You have a meeting to attend. I'll show you the way out now, thanks bye." He laughs lightly at me while I move towards the door but he stops me, taking the stole in his hand. I move to face him and his face inches closer to me.

"Want to have dinner together tonight?"

"No," I exclaim.

"Why?" He whines and fake pouts.

"Because... I don't dine in with strange guys at my house." I shrug and he chuckles.

"Seriously? But you do go out in the middle of the night asking for their help the last time I remember." He says, mockingly.

"That's something else." I harrumph.

"What?" He eyes me with disbelief. "I'm still coming for dinner."

"Wait-No!" I object.

"C'mon you need someone to help you set your things." He eyes the boxes sprawled across the room "And besides I want to congratulate you properly so I am coming over." He winks at me.

"I will do that on my own and thank you, I already accept your wishes so no need to come over," I say, faking a smile and pointing my hand towards the door.

"I'm still coming over." He says, adamantly.

"No, you're not-"

"We are not going to meet often after your job... It's going to get more professional and tough and there would be other ways to contact you so... let us spend one dinner like... friends?" He asks, expectantly this time and I heave a sigh, giving up to his stubbornness.

"Okay," I say, looking at the door.

"Really?"

"Do you want me to refuse now?!"

"No no!"

"Now go already. Melissa is getting impatient at the door." He turns to look at the door and Melisa who was peeking slightly suddenly moves away from the door.

"Don't mind her." He says, eyeing at the door.

"Believe me, I don't."

"So tonight it is? 7 pm?"

"7 pm."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"GO ALREADY!" I yell at him and he slightly falls back on his toes.

"Okay woman! Jeez." He surrenders his hand in the air then turns back and walks towards the door with his hands in his pocket, he stops just before the door and looks back at me.

"Wear something good tonight." He winks and walks out the door, shutting it behind before I could give him a piece of my hand.

"Jerk boss!" I shout behind the closed door.