Reach My Limit

Once out of the hotel, Arumi immediately got into the car that had been 'reserved' to look after her while working. She sent a message to her Boss, asking to meet to talk about the 'vacation'.

Of course, as usual, he always replied shortly: busy, I'll call you later.

Arumi usually took that answer with a small grunt and then continued with the work she had been ordered to do, but now, she would be the one asking him to listen to her.

She did not accept the answer 'later'.

'I've been 'pitied' enough by people.'

Arumi has been able to accept failure and loss as part of her life. She had actually said this to her Boss, unfortunately she had not been able to convince him that she was ready to be 'Mocha' again.

'How I miss my nickname, not Anne, Jennifer, or anything like that. Only Mocha.'

Longing for her old job reminds Arumi that she hasn't had breakfast, especially coffee this morning.

'I can buy food at the supermarket and ask them for hot water.'

Arumi searched her bag which was in her lap, looking for the source of her 'spirit', unfortunately what she was looking for was not found, and she realized something and chuckled in annoyance.

'The Gevalia coffee ran out last night, I haven't had time to order online because Antonio wants a hug first.'

Arumi intends to order online, at the same time her cell phone vibrates in her hand. She had a little hope this day would still be lucky when she saw her boss calling her. She didn't waste this opportunity, and accepted it. "Good morning, Boss."

The man dressed in a black suit complete with his brown hair neatly slicked back on the screen didn't answer right away but showed a smirk, signaling Arumi.

Arumi who had worked for ten years under her Boss naturally understood. She wasn't intimidated, she showed her determination this time. "Sorry to interrupt your morning, Boss. But with everything that's happened to me so far, I need reassurance."

The smirk on the Boss' thin lips disappeared into seriousness, "What else do you need to, Anne?"

Arumi most disliked him calling her name other than 'Mocha' when it came to work, but she wasn't in a position to protest over such petty things, "Please give me a little of your precious time to explain what I'm worried about, Boss."

"Does it have to be this early?"

Arumi admitted she was carried away by the angry mood earlier and immediately contacted him while in the elevator.

If she was telling the truth, he would be angry.

"Ahem."

Arumi woke up from her inner thoughts hearing a sigh, her eyes returned to him who made a mocking expression at her. She didn't care, she just wanted to change his mind.

"If you get like that. I can't possibly let you wait any longer. Fine, I'll do what you want."

Arumi smiled widely heard he was being kind to her today without giving a logical reason to meet her. She knew he understands her the most. "Thank you, I'm really glad you want to share time with me, Boss."

"Don't disappoint me. Come on time without wearing your disguise, Arumi."

Arumi nodded her head, then he ended the call.

There was no way she would disappoint him.

This is a golden opportunity for her. It's not easy to get his attention.

Arumi placed her right fist on her chest which was warmed by happiness. She knew he really cared about her. She shouldn't doubt in the first place.

"Don't be happy just yet. Boss just wants to talk to you, Mocha."

Arumi immediately gave a sharp look at the 'Driver' who served as her 'Bodyguard'.

How dare he, all of the people give a piece comment after 'leaving her' on duty alone to have fun drinking at a nightclub?

"Don't be like that. I'm just saying facts, you like facts, don't you?"

Arumi ended her sharp gaze.

Of course she prefers to speak facts, who doesn't like that?

Arumi realized the 'invitation' didn't mean her boss would open his arms wide to her. She knew she still needed to fight, she wasn't here just for a day or two. "You better keep your mouth shut. I know what I'm doing."

'Can I enjoy this happiness a little?'

Arumi rolled her eyes at the thought.

"Okay, why am I warning you anyway? You're the Boss' favorite."

"Shut up!" Arumi shouted in anger as soon as 'Boss favorite' reappeared as a topic of conversation. She is angry because she doesn't feel special, she works hard like the others, then gets high respect from her boss. She thought that a 'vacation' of almost two years could change people's minds but how wrong she was.

'I always thought they were all jealous of me because I was always successful on missions. But after my failure incident, they still use that nickname!? So immature.'

If Arumi is special as people say, her boss should have let her work again, not keep her down.

'Hate makes blind people see reality as it is.'

Arumi doesn't mind the people around her saying that, as long as they don't say it in front of her.

'They're just jealous of me.'

Arumi looked at herself in the mirror she brought with her. She realized she was still wearing her disguise, then carefully took it all off, revealing her true self.

'I have it all. It's only natural that people would be jealous.'

Arumi smiled confidently.

'And I'll make them even more jealous by going back to work.'

*****

Arumi delays her breakfast because her boss has little time. She spends more of her time on the trip tidying herself up and rechecking the evidence she has collected so that her 'plan' is successful.

'My blood boils hearing their voices, but I have to do this so that everything goes smoothly.'

Arumi held back all her emotions so the atmosphere in the car was filled with classic songs playing on the radio. She didn't want to be moody on a sunny day like this.

'I haven't been to the office in a long time.'

The last time Arumi was in the office was when she reported the failure of her mission. She still remembered his calm blue eyes shaking slightly when she said that her 'partner' had passed away.

Her boss didn't shed a tear, instead apologizing to her for not keeping a close eye on her and her partner.

An apology came out of his mouth that she didn't expect, including the people around her.

Arumi lowered her head slightly to hide her sadness in the strands of her long hair.

Almost two years have passed, but the death of her partner still remains fresh in her memory.

Her partner's warm crimson blood in her trembling palms was still felt on her skin.

'I think I'll add one more request.'

Arumi will ask not to get a partner after returning to work. Something impossible, but she would still try.

"Arumi."

Arumi raised her head, she realized the car she was riding had stopped and parked in a row of cars of the same brand.

"Oh."

This parking lot looks familiar.

"We have arrived ..."