Neighbor

Chapter 10: Neighbor

"We will be expecting your cooperation." Mr. Richard's said.

"We won't let you down." Mr. Celestino said as he waved goodbye to Mr. Richards who was already in the car.

There were two cars in front of the building. The first one looks like a normal family car where Ms. Grina sat in the driver's seat. The other car is a sports car that is driven by the girl from Ms. Alderei's office. At the passenger's seat is Mr. Richards.

The pale man who looks like he is lacking blood was riding on a big red motorcycle and the man from Ms. Alderei's office was also riding a big black motorcycle. I didn't miss him staring intently at Megan before starting his motorcycle.

The sound of their motor engines was attracting everyone's attention. Whether it is the employee inside the building or the people passing by the street.

Ms. Grina smiled at us before driving away. She is then followed by her siblings who immediately raced in front of her slow car.

"I think we got enough problems in our hands to accommodate their request." Ms. Alderei said in an annoyed tone.

"You think we got a choice?" Sir Killian said.

"Come on guys! Cheer up! Don't you think this is the best situation where we can get closer to them?!" Mr. Hargraves said, his eyes twinkling as he grinned at Ms. Alderei.

Ms. Alderei frowned and pushed Mr. Hargrave's face away using her hands.

"I can't get along with them. And I won't." She said.

"This is why you don't have friends Zephrine." Mr. Hargraves looked at Ms. Alderei with pity.

"I want to have friends! And I want to be friends with them! Don't worry Zephrine you have me as your friend." He said.

The look on Ms. Alderei's face was priceless. She looks pissed off and she looks like she will slap Mr. Hargrave anytime.

"But first I want to be friends with Irene! You are one intriguing human!" He pointed at me and grinned, then he looked at Megan who was staring at him in confusion.

"You're also intriguing Megan! Not as much as Irene though." He shrugged and grinned at me.

Megan smiled and nodded at him. I was able to give my best smile at him even though I was weirded out by the way he talked. He is the most bubbly and positive person I have ever met. He can easily lighten the atmosphere just by smiling. A literal sunshine.

"Will you stop being weird in front of the new employee Jareth?" Sir Killian said and grabbed Mr. Hargraves away from me.

"Why are you acting all weird since this morning?" Mr. Hargraves stared at Sir Killian face.

"You're the one who's weird." Sir Killian said.

Mr. Hargraves looked at Sir Killian suspiciously. I thought he will untangle himself from Sir. Killian's grasp but he just accepted his defeat ang ket Sir Killian drag him.

"Let's go up and continue our work." Me. Celestino smiled at us and walked inside the building.

We continued our work as if nothing weird happened this morning. Mr. Willard patiently guided me through all the stuff that I need to know and be informed about. He did not give me heavy stuff and he just gave me light work like reading the lists of visitors Mr. Celestino will have this month and taking down notes on some documents that Mr. Celestino needs to read.

While I tried my best to adjust to my new work. Mr. Willard was busy going in and out of the CEO's office and guiding me.

I was the one who gets stressed out by how much he walked in and out of the office carrying a bunch of the never-ending papers and folders that were on his desk.

Then it was time for me to go home.

"Do you know how much paperwork I've done today? It feels like Ms. Alderei was rushing her work." Megan complained when she saw me waiting for her in the lobby.

"Mr. Willard looks exhausted too," I said.

"It feels like Mr. Richard's arrival caused this rush at the office." She said as I followed her out.

"They were weird. Are they like a super important business partner?" I wondered.

"I've seen them before but I don't know who are they in the company. They own the Café Drifida and some of them work there." She said.

"They don't look related at all," I said.

"Forget about them. We gotta catch the bus fast." She said and suddenly run.

I ran too. I don't want to get left behind and get lost in a town that I was not familiar with. I bet the bus is the only way of transportation here besides walking.

I miss my bike.

I guess I need to make a call to my uncle sooner than expected. I'll ask him to ship the bike to me and hope that he will be the one to answer the call and not my aunt.

I hoped my bike is still okay because with my cousins there I doubt it'll be in one piece.

The bus was not full but it did not wait too long at the bus stop. It's probably why Megan ran so fast earlier. I even saw some people who were running and trying to stop the bus but the driver did not care and continued to drive as if no one is shouting at him.

We arrived at the dorm without a hassle. I even got to see our neighbor who looks beaten up with his broken arm and purplish bruise on his face. He was trying to open the door but his hands are full of groceries.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I offered my hand to take his groceries.

He looked and me and smiled. He has a cute warm smile which made me smile too.

"I'm okay. Are you the new employee at Ayers?" He asked.

"Yes! Nice to meet you neighbor!" I grinned at him.

"It's nice to meet you too. I hope we get along." He started at my eyes for too long before averting his eyes.

"I hope so too! I want to set a good reputation here." I said as I stubbornly grabbed some of the groceries in his hands so that he can open the door.

"I'm sure you will. I'm Carlos and you are?" He asked.

"Irene," I said and offered my hand for a handshake before realizing that his other hand was cast.

He looked at my hand in amusement before laughing. "As much as if love to shake your hand, I can't because of my injury."

I laughed too.