Pain

The pain Cindy Richards was feeling could not be described and Joanna Bloom was just making it worse. She quickly left and banged the door. Joanna Bloom was left in the bathroom looking very angry. She could not believe that a mere intern could speak to her in such a manner.

She sneered, "Just you wait, I will make you pay!"

Cindy Richards sneezed on her way out. She was not quite looking at where she was going and her body suddenly bumped into someone. She did not even look up and muttered, "Sorry."

Alexander Sterling looked down at her and gently held her by the shoulders, "Be careful when you walk!"

Cindy Richards quickly looked up and saw the man she was married to. For some reason, the hands holding her shoulders made her feel nauseous. He had just touched that woman so why would he touch her with the same hands?

She wiggled out of his hold and put a safe space between the two of them. She then whispered, "We are at work. What if someone sees?"

Alexander Sterling did not notice anything strange with her expression. He said softly, "Why did you not come to our appointment?"

Cindy Richards looked at him and managed a small smile, "I was a bit busy."

Alexander Sterling looked at her. He felt as if something was wrong but he did not know what it was. He wanted to ask but Cindy Richards suddenly said, "I have to go. See you at home?"

Alexander Sterling nodded and watched her leave. Before he could make another step, he heard another voice from in front of him, "Sir?"

Cindy Richards also heard it quite well and turned around. Joanna Bloom quickly ran towards Alexander Sterling with a smile. Cindy Richards took one look and went away. Daniel Owens, who was just walking towards Alexander Sterling saw her expression and looked at his boss.

He was very sure, Cindy Richards was very jealous.

Cindy Richards was like a zombie throughout the rest of the day. In the evening, Stanley Park proposed a welcoming dinner and everyone agreed. Cindy Richards did not have much to do anyway so she agreed to it as well.

They went to a very popular hotel at the side of the road. Ariana Stephens clapped happily, "Cindy Richards, this is the place! I don't know what they put in their beer but it is very delicious!'

Cindy Richards laughed. Felix Hans looked at Ariana Stephens, "You can just say that you like drinking and everyone will understand!"

Ariana Stephens pouted and Felix Hans poked her cheeks playfully. Stanley Park looked at the two of them and laughed, "Hey, knock it out, there is a free table, let us get in."

There was a very long line outside and finding a spot was very hard. Some fresh meat, vegetables, and beer were served. Cindy Richards took one sip and immediately melted. Ariana Stephens jumped by her side, "What did I say…what did I say…" She was very excited.

Cindy Richards laughed and nodded, "It is very delicious!"

Cindy Richards was not a heavy drinker. The last time she drank a lot was during Alexander Sterling and Carmen Richards' wedding. She had wanted to numb all her senses and just forget about the part where she and Alexander Sterling could never be together.

Carmen Richards had been very worried then. Cindy Richards could not forget her face. She was drunk and crying at the top of her lungs while Carmen Richards with her white wedding dress hugged her while trying to comfort her.

Maybe that was the day Carmen Richards figured out that she liked Alexander Sterling not just as an older brother but as a man.

Thinking about Alexander Sterling put Cindy Richards in a very foul mood once again. She took her glass and downed the contents. Paul Jobs quickly pulled the glass away, "Hey, be careful with how much you drink!"

Ariana Stephens was also very worried, "Did something happen, you have been really down since lunch."

Cindy Richards knew she was being an idiot behaving this way so she quickly put the glass down and apologized, "It is just that the beer is too delicious! I could not help myself!"

Ariana Stephens laughed, "Of course! This pace has the best beer!" She said proudly.

The rest only shook their heads slowly and dug into their food.

The meat was very delicious and the vegetables were so fresh that Cindy Richards forgot about her sorrows for a moment.

Stanley Park asked after a while, "So, Cindy Richards, where are you from and where were you studying before you came here?"

Cindy Richards thought for a second, "Well, I am just from around and I am still a student. We are on a break right now so I applied to get some experience before going back."

The four of them were taken aback with Felix Hans asking, "You are still a student?"

Cindy Richards nodded softly. Ariana Stephens on the other hand exclaimed, "No wonder you look so young!"

Cindy Richards laughed, "Well, I will only be here for three months before I have to go back to school…"

The four nodded and continued conversing. 

Back home, however, Alexander Sterling was feeling very anxious…

It was already past ten yet Cindy Richards had not returned home. He had called her many times but her phone was out of service. He was beginning to get worried. He called Daniel Owens, "Find out where she is."

Daniel Owens was just getting ready for bed when he received the call. He remembered meeting Stanley Park who told him about their plans of holding a welcoming dinner for Cindy Richards so he quickly reported, "The team has taken her out for a welcoming dinner."

After hearing that, Alexander Sterling quickly cut the call and paced around the room. Cindy Richards was behaving strangely but he could not really pinpoint where the problem was. Eleven o'clock was nearing and he had run out of patience. He took his coat and walked out but just then, he saw a small woman walking towards the door.

He somehow felt anger bubbling up inside him and walked towards her, "Where have you been?"