Bitter || 1

"How dare yo-" Shen wanted to talk back, regardless the difference in their age, he just couldn't let go of his ego. "My guy be arguing with some who's 0.01% of his age and is almost like his own daughter and doesn't call himself a clown." She crossed her arms Infront of herself. Angelina watched Andrea's movements, she was...shocked. After all nobody expects a woman to have such a sharp tongue. Damon felt like he wronged her, although it was not his fault. Her looks held deep disappointment. Andrea clasped Angelina's wrist making her stand up when she tugged her. She took her along. "I am NOT ready for this. I hope you all understand~ Now if you'll excuse us, goodbye." Andrea said without looking back making her way to the hall. "Wait! Miss Lian! please let me explain!" Lawrence hurried after them and Damon followed his lead.

Meanwhile, Director Shen was left alone as Chloe followed the two men and the other artists along with the directors went to their departments after they eyed him weirdly. He grit his teeth in pure hate as he said: "Damned girl!"

. . .

"Miss Lian! it really wasn't on purpose!" Lawrence explained as he tried to block her and Angelina's path. Andrea rolled her eyes, saying without a care in the world: "I thought you were a professional?" She snickered. Angelina herself felt uncomfortable by Andrea's words. She was throwing poison in Lawrence's face, who stood there frozen. Damon glanced at her strangely, He knew she was very straight forward but he didn't expect an insult. "I....I.." Lawrence was at a loss for words, Andrea put her hand Infront of him, stopping him from talking. "It's not your fault." She shrugged and looked at Damon. The pointed to him with her chin. "It's the fault of the person who hired you and couldn't train you right." She smiled emotionlessly. "The fault of the person who didn't revise the list after it was submitted to him. Probably why his company had a fall?" She added. Angelina suddenly looked at Andrea with a frown on her face. Lawrence clenched his fist as he narrowed his eyes at her. He never wanted his boss to be called incompetent because of a fault his assistant did. While Damon... Damon stood there in shame. For the first time ever having his eyes looking down. "What? Cat got your t-" Andrea was speaking with sarcasm but Angelina snatched her hand from her grip, Andrea was confused. "Miss Lian, watch your words." Lawrence said giving her a warning look. ("What??") She looked at him confused. "You're spitting poison." Angelina added to Lawrence's words, Looking at her in anger. "What are you talking abou... -" Andrea then realised, she glanced at Damon who was looking at her as he was hurt. ("Oh no...no no no...what have I done?!")

"I have a fixed list with the names of all our now partners or partners we had before, and popular artists. that list never changed unless we added someone new. we never excluded anyone as we have a good relationship with them. And to keep the relation active in case if there's a new partnership." Lawrence said, sounding a little angry. ("Did I misjudge her? her words might hurt deeper than his family!") Lawrence thought to himself. "Besides it's not Mister Gracia's fault. He has a ton of work to do and a simple thing such as invitation lists could never be his priority! why are you blaming him?! I, too was involved in this mess! But I could never say he did something he didn't.." Angelina spoke, a little angry. She was grateful for having Andrea as a friend, But she knew her boss. He was and IS an amazing man!

Andrea got a little defensive as she took a step back. "I-... that's not-!"

"Miss Lian." Andrea flinched as Damon's deep, strict voice came in. Interrupting them all. ("Miss Lian...?") Her eyebrows pinched together at the nickname. He placed his hands in his pockets as he came Infront of her. Towering her with his height. Andrea placed her head down, she couldn't face him. Not after what she said! "Mister Gracia i—!"

"Stop, No need to explain. I already saw how my image looks like in your head." Damon said slowly. Andrea shot her eyes at him. Looking into his cold, emotionless eyes. He was mad. Really mad. but he can't get it out on her. She slowly shook her head trying to protest but he just left her there. Walking past her. Lawrence immediately followed his boss and dearest friend. Angelina gave Andrea a last glance before leaving her all alone as well..

"..." Andrea dug her nails in her palm and said nothing, biting her lower lip in flusteration. "FUCK THIS!" She cursed loudly in the empty hallway, kicking a nearby trashcan as she ran her hand through her hair. She stormed off the but building, blaming her foul mouth for such unfortunate events. Can't I just shut up?! is everything she thought.

Damon watched her from his office.

He saw her.

She left just like that.

She didn't try, he stopped her and she gave up on the matter so easily.

("How many times am I supposed to remind myself that she doesn't have deep feelings for me?")

He sighed.

This was troubling.

To both of them.

. . .

"Can't face him, Hah?" Andrea said sarcastically, repeating Chen's stupid words. She stopped in her tracks, holding her phone firmly..She swiped her eyes over the screen, hoping that Damon called her. "...What am I expecting?" She mumbled. She realized how selfish she was with him.

After hailing a taxi, She hopped in the back seat, a pained face possessed her as she sat silently. "Where to, Young lady?" The old man driver said with a gentle smile. "Bov hotel.." She sighed. Andrea switched her phone on again, Nothing. Not a single notification. Not a single missed ring. Her frown deepened. She let out an annoyed "ugh!" before shoving her phone into her bag. She watched the streets pass by. Her scowling face slowly softened and changed into a guilty, sad one.

"Young Lady?" The driver said gently, like the kind man he is. He was concerned as if to why someone as beautiful and young as that young lady wear such a sad expression or seem so lost in thought?

Andrea's attention shifted to the driver, but her eyes were still glued to the streets. "Having love trouble?" The old man gave her a chuckle. Andrea's eyes watched the driver as she fixed her posture quickly. "Does it seem like that?" She gave him a nervous look. "Not at all, ya look sad for no reason, though. But this man right here, has lived long enouf to know what is troublin' such cuties like ya!" Andrea chuckled softly at the nickname he gave her. She was interested to know what that old man had in mind to say. "What makes you think you're right though?" She gave him a little smile while crossing her arms Infront of her chest. "Ah-hah, I see ya doubtin' this ol' man? Well, ya see. I have a wife...not only a wife! I have three daughters, too! they're all young ladies such like you..of course I have experience!"

Andrea said nothing as she listened to the man's small story, her smile slipped. "Yeah..love." She shrugged. ("I shouldn't have tried to fix what's already broken. This time, I'll probably break someone's heart..") she rubbed her shoulder at the thought of hurting Damon emotionally. ("What the hell did he see in me anyway?")

"...I don't know...I acted, Harshly. immaturely, selfishly...I..." She paused for a second, uttering the next words slowly, they tasted bitter in her mouth to spit. "He didn't listen to me..he ignored me, he refused to hear me, fine by me. He didn't want to listen! We can stay like that, not like I give a shit." She suddenly became annoyed.

"I don'no what happened with ya and I definitely know that ya ain't in the mood to talk about it. But young lady, a piece of advice from this ol' man...if ya think ya have done somethin' wrong to ya lover, ya better apologize."

"He didn't want to hear it, why should I apologize?!"

"Young lady.." The driver sighed.

"There's no such thing as ego in love."

Andrea narrowed her eyes. ("Am I supposed to give up my self esteem for a fucking apology? he can go cry about it for all I care!")

"Love means... patience, sometimes you have to give up on your ego, that doesn't mean ya have no self respect, if your man doesn't do the same then leave him, leave him I tell ya. And in this situation, young lady, you're at fault. you're ought to apologize, somehow. don't give up on him, I feel like he's a good man."

Andrea slumped into her seat, she was sulking. ("Funny how you read romance novels 24/7 but you can't even love properly.") She scoffed at her own self. ("Ironic.")

"We're here..Bov hotel."

Andrea stayed, she pondered, seeming to have second thoughts. "Young lady?" the driver looked at her through the front mirror.

"Actually...can we go to this address?"

. . .

"Sir?" Lawrence called, Damon looked up at him, nobody could read his expression. Not even his assistant. Nonetheless.."I'm sorry, Sir. it's my fault..if I didn't-"

"Lawrence."

"Y..es?"

Damon stood up, crossing his arms he looked straight into his assistant's eyes. Lawrence gulped. "What she said was wrong. And right at the same time." Lawrence tilted his head at the statement slightly. "It's true I should've taught you better and made you more careful about such matters, We've put her in a tight situation."

"...We?" Lawrence frowned deeply.

"Yes, We." Damon repeated.

"..Damon, are you kidding me?" Lawrence couldn't hold back his protests at that point. What the heck was happening?

"What?"

"What do you mean 'What'? You're a perfect business man. You're known for your strictness, you're also known for being perfect with everything you do. How can you say she's right? How can you let her do whatever she wanted when It was clearly my fault!" Lawrence protested. This was way too much.

"I'm not letting her do anything though?"

"She literally crushed your image without any ounce of shame! You didn't even fight back! If she was someone else you would've fired then immediately, Stop acting lovesick!!" Lawrence adjusted his glasses before he placed the tablet on the table. "Lawrence." Damon said in a warning tone. "Watch your words." his burning gaze never left his sharp assistant. Lawrence cringed. "See, you'd let her talk and when I say anything you'd go like th.."

"Andrea...is no saint." Damon interrupted. Lawrence watched his movements quietly. "She can't talk to me like that, she can't talk to anyone like that in general. Perhaps you could say such words in a not so direct way but she doesn't hold back." He sighed, running his hand on his face in exhaustion. "I'm new to this."

"You had millions of ex's though.."

"Family arrangements don't count."

"You still had your way with them.."

"I never had feelings for any of them, why do you make it sound like I've promised to marry them and ran away?"

"Well, not you. Your family did but you ran away." Lawrence grinned, Damon narrowed his eyes at him. "Lawrence..I swear to god.."

"The runaway wife."

"I'll kill you!"

. . .

Ann sat there on the dinning table, playing with her food instead of actually eating. Her husband, Evan, on the other hand. Skipped dinner and decided to sit and use his phone, knowing he won't eat anything anyway.

"I miss her.." Ann mumbled.

Ignoring the doorbell, the two began to fight once more. It has been like that ever since Andrea left.

"Ann, for god's sake."

"Stop acting like you don't miss her, You-"

"Young madam?.." The housekeeper said in disbelief. "..Uh, Hi?" Andrea smiled awkwardly. "Oh my! Young madam!!" Andrea's nanny hugged her tight. "H-hey calm down, I'm fine alright? Miss Harrison.." She slowly placed her hands on the old woman's small back, hugging her back.

"Andrea?" Evan and Ann gave eachother a look before hurriedly going to the Reception. Their eyes lit up when they saw their only daughter's face. "Andrea! Oh dear-"

Upon seeing Ann, Andrea felt suffocated and awkward. She stepped aside when her mother opened her arms almost hugging her. "The hell you getting all excited for?" Andrea said uncomfortably.

"I'm just here to pack up my stuff, don't have any funny ideas!"