Filler

Alice's POV

I know I'm going to have an earful tonight. Not that I only refused to go with Feng, I also persisted in working disregarding the fever. But this is just a fever. Feng needs to understand that I've to learn how to fight these ordinary issues in my life. The truth is that he's not going to stay with me forever. One day he will leave me. As much as I would love that, I cannot overlook the fact that he also has a life.

He will find someone and fall in love with the person. What would I do then? I don't want to be selfish and keep him to me all my life even if this is what I want. He has already done a lot for me. It's my turn to show him that I'm better off him and he can find someone to fall in love with without worrying about me.

After rummaging through God-knows-how-many-files, I finally found the one that a*shole asked me to bring. How could someone be this cold? I totally understand that I'm his personal assistant but could he be a little bit considerate towards me? Well, he was when he gave me a ride back to the apartment. No! He's not! He can never be! Tsk, whatever!

In the elevator to the 16th floor, I called Feng but he didn't pick it up. Probably angry at me. I'll make it up to him with his favourite chocolate fudge brownie. I decided to enter his office after having no response. To my surprise, the devil was nowhere to be seen. Tao was sitting on the couch, his gaze fixed at the documents on the table.

"Mr Wang?", I clear my throat to grab his attention. These workaholics!

"Oh, Alice. I'm sorry I didn't notice you coming in", he takes his glasses down and places them on the table.

"I've found the record Mr Geon asked me to bring. Where is he?", I ask looking at the balcony door? Perhaps breathing in the fresh air to chill his brain.

"This record is unnecessary, Alice", I'm having this fever. My throat is actually drying and my body is burning for sure but my ears are working all fine.

"I'm sorry, I think I couldn't quite catch that. What did you just say, Mr Wang?", he keeps looking at me without saying a word. Shouldn't I've asked what I just asked? I don't see a violation of any rule though.

"Alice, how many times do I've gotta tell you? It's Tao. Only Tao for you", oh, I see. That's why he was staring at me. But how can I call him Tao when his so-called best friend keeps on insulting me without any solid reason. I know that both of them are different persons but if that dickhead hears me calling the manager of the Management department by his name, heaven knows what would he do with me.

"I think it's better for me to keep the distance with you Mr Wang", now I'm hearing chuckles? Great.

"You didn't have your lunch right? Let's go", without giving me time to refuse, he takes the file from my hands and hurls it on the table.

"But what about Mr Geon?", I ask as he grabs my wrist and takes me out of the office. Relax, Alice. Relax. He will not hurt me.

"He won't be here for two weeks. He needs some rest", after humiliating me and my best friend, he is going to chill?

"But that doesn't mean you can kick the work out of the window when your boss won't be around", he winks at me, walking out of the company to the nearest cafe.

"Place your order. It's on me", he says as we sit across from s each other in a cafe.

"No. I can-", before I could even reach halfway through my sentence, he cuts me off.

"Please consider this as an apology for what Junho did. He might seem cold on the surface but he's not like that. He's really a soft person inside", why do I feel like my ears keep betraying me today? I bet the word 'soft' ran thousands of miles away after hearing Tao using it with Geon the bastard Junho. Bullshit I don't believe.

We started eating when the food arrived. I, however, was more like playing with it than eating. That's another thing my fever does to me. Feng has to shove the food down my throat forcefully.

"Mr Wa--I'm sorry...I mean, Tao, I was thinking about the company I declined today's meeting with. Would it be okay if I visit them tomorrow cause I don't think I can convince them when I feel sick", persuading the company means the company earning the profit I robbed it off, and earning the profit means having the dickhead insulting me less.

"You don't have to be worried about it. I'll look into this matter myself", Tao smiles at me chewing on his food.

"No, Mr Geon said that it cost your company a big loss because of me. Let me do this. Believe me, I'm very good at persuading people", putting my fork down, I look at him. 

"You wouldn't be sitting here if I had doubted your skills", he wipes his mouth with a napkin.

"I know you don't but I want to show that assho--I mean Mr Geon that I'm talented and qualified enough to be his secretary", God saved me! That's the main reason I want the line to exist between Tao and me.

When I enter the friend zone with someone, I forget the person's status. I don't have any idea how am I gonna control my tongue in the presence of Tao. Being a part of this company, I've only one thought on my mind, Geon the thick head. I'm either cursing him or questioning his mentality. And it's easy for profanities to be slipped out of my mouth for the mighty CEO.

"Alice, I know Junho seems bitter to you. But I request you to not see the image just from one angle. This is a world of 360°. If not all, consider at least three to five angles of observing things. Then you can jump on the conclusions for sure."

Tao's words always leave me speechless. I could never think that the person who appears as sugar and spice as him could've such deep thoughts.

"Now shall we leave?", he asks.

On our way back to the company, we talked about my life. He was more than just shocked when he got to know that I've never had a boyfriend. While talking, our topic of discussion, coincidentally, turned towards the a*shole. He told me that he had been in a few relationships but only one caught his night's sleep. But he didn't dig in details. When he mentioned his girlfriend, one thing hit me like a truck. His ring! I put the ring inside my pocket the night his girlfriend rejected his proposal. Oh, God! I've gotta give it to him.

***

"Feng, I'm back", I enter our apartment and look around for him. I went to his room after peeking in the kitchen but he was nowhere to be found. He might go to the supermarket. I make my way to my room and change into comfortable clothes. After doing my night routine, I walk towards the kitchen and see the soup he had made for me with a note by its side.

"I'm going out for some important work. Eat this and take the medicine on your nightstand. Don't wait for me and sleep."

"No love you? He's still angry at me. He never misses a chance to say these words to me", I shrug off my thoughts and heat the soup before eating it. After finishing it, I poured milk into the glass and went to my room. Gulping down the medicine, I get in the bed and close my eyes. In no seconds, I went into the slumberland.

Next Morning

"Alice, wake up", my eyes slowly open.

"Feng", he's sitting on the edge of the bed, caressing my cheeks.

"Your fever is gone", he smiles. Isn't he angry at me?

"Let's have breakfast", he says and gets up. I grab the phone from the nightstand only for my eyes to get out of their sockets.

"It's eleven!", throwing the blanket in the air I shot up on my feet.

"Why you didn't wake me up! I'm late as f*ck!", I ask with a voice a little louder.

"You don't need to do that job anymore. I got myself a new job with pretty good salary. Don't worry about rent and food. I'll handle everything", walking towards the door, he explains in a calm steady tone. How come he decided all that without letting me know about a f*cking shit! But it's not what I'm angry at. I'm late for the office.

Feng's POV

Yesterday, when I was on my second shift in a restaurant, a man in his forties, I guess, walked into the hotel. I went to take his order. He was talking with someone on the phone. When he looked at me, he stopped for a moment before ending the call. He placed his order. When I went back with his order, he asked me to sit. As there were not many customers at that time, I did as he said.

He told me that with my features of mine, I can be a successful model. Crazy, isn't it? Did I study Information Technology for becoming a model? When he named the amount for a single photoshoot, my jaw literally dropped. Then I thought about Alice. If I get permanent with this job, she wouldn't have to work for that sickened bastard anymore. Without thinking anymore, I got agreed but only for a single shoot. I've to understand and see if I'm suitable for this job.

"Lee Feng, do you believe in me?", Alice asks looking straight into my eyes. She never called by my full name. It has always been Feng or Fennie.

"Of course I do. Is this even a question?", I smile ridiculously and walk back to her.

"Then let me do this job. This is the first time when someone finally willingly chose me for this job unlike others who always turned me down making the experience a reason", her stare reverts to her feet. She's worried and nervous. That's one of the things she does whenever she's uncomfortable with something. And this time I can see it's me.

"Hey", I take her hand in mine and give it a slight squeeze urging her to look at me.

"I- I-", she bites on her lower lip. Her voice cracked as she couldn't bring it to say what she wanted to. Tears started filling her eyes.

"Okay. You can continue this job", I know if I wouldn't allow her she would resist first but get along with my decision later on. That's how much importance she gives me.

"But promise me if that thick-headed tries to be furious at you unnecessarily, you will not endure it", I say as the tears in her eyes rare eplaced with a spark.

"I promise", she nods her head vigorously.

"I love you so much to see you getting mistreated", pulling her in a hug, I wrap my arms around her.

"I love you too...so, so, so much, Fennie", she giggles hugging me back.  As long as she's happy, I'm happy.