Chapter 6 Plans and obsessions.

"Amanda. I heard from Samantha that you tried to sell your car on a trading site. Is that true?" Jeff suddenly appeared in front of Amanda's desk, surprising the woman. She blinked before erasing the tension in her.

"It is."

"Why do you want to sell it?" Jeff was curious.

Amanda was still working; she had several reports to complete to the CEO, and Jeff's appearance at this hour was disturbing.

However, of course, Amanda couldn't do anything more. She was dealing with the company's owner, so even though Jeff acted out of line, Amanda tried to keep her attitude.

The woman got up and looked around. Everyone was busy behind their cubicles, while Jeff seemed to disregard the situation. The CEO's office was right across from Amanda's cubicle.

"Because I want to sell it." She sat back down with a flat expression.

"You need money?"

"Everyone needs money. Am I wrong?" Amanda was starting to get fed up with Jeff's questions.

"No, I mean, you need it because of an emergency?"

"We can talk about it at lunchtime. I have to take care of my work."

Jeff rubbed his face, and he smiled. "It's too liberating in this place to forget that you're my father's secretary. Sorry, I'll be going now. See you at break time."

"Yes."

Amanda felt calmer after Jeff left, and then the corded phone on her desk rang. She had two corded phones on her desk. One was only connected to the wired phone in the CEO's office, and the other was connected to almost all the residents in this building.

While the wired phone that just rang was a shared one.

"Hello," Amanda answered, looking at the door of the CEO's office as the person on the phone spoke. "Alright, I'll talk to the CEO immediately and call you back after receiving an answer. Thank you." She hung up the phone and moved towards the CEO's room, but before Amanda could knock, the man in his fifties came out first.

"Amanda."

"Yes, sir. Are you leaving? There are no meetings scheduled today, but someone just called me."

"Who?"

"His name is Mr. Wendell, and he wants to see you now that you're in the lobby. If you can't, I'll talk to him."

The CEO paused as if thinking about something, then spoke again. "Tell him I can meet him. Just wait in the common room."

"Yes, sir. I'll call her back." Amanda stepped aside as the CEO walked away. "Is Mr. Wendell such an important person that the CEO allowed it immediately? When there are no meetings or appointments scheduled, the CEO is not willing to be disturbed." She did not want to think about it too much, so she immediately called the receptionist in the lobby.

***

Oriaga had just met with some fashion designers for nearly one hour, and he didn't have much time to rest if the sun was already up.

They had dispersed when Oriaga returned to his office, while Zayn had been waiting there since following Oriaga to the office. They had met at Oriaga's house to discuss Company X, but Zayn left afterward, and when Oriaga visited the office-he asked Zayn to come here.

"They accepted the contract offer, sir?" Zayn immediately asked as Oriaga sat down in his chair.

"Of course. Who would turn down a job offer from me."

"You're always optimistic."

"Thinking about bad things only makes you look older."

Zayn laughed for a moment, then spoke again. "My friend told me that Mr. Wendell did go to that place."

Oriaga smiled with satisfaction. "Really? So, he accepted the offer I made?"

"It's like I said before that you're always optimistic."

"Alright, I have to have some fun." Oriaga acted like a child while spinning in his chair, making Zayn look down with laughter. Only he could see Oriaga's childish behavior all the time.

"Eum. You're very obsessed with that woman, sir."

Oriaga nodded. "I hated her, so I became obsessed with her. Haven't you ever been obsessed with someone?"

Zayn shook his head. "It's more like I don't have the energy to obsess over anyone."

"Ah. I guess it's because I imprisoned you so much that you have trouble seeing anyone around you. Am I right, Zayn?"

"Not really. I enjoy my work, sir. I'm just not interested in anyone yet, maybe later."

"How about a bet with me, huh!"

Zayn frowned. "What bet?"

"If I get married first, I'll give you a gift, but if you do-then vice versa."

The man with the black hat covering his blond hair laughed. "I won't be able to give you a gift, sir. You already have everything, so you might as well do the first part."

"A race to get married? What a crazy idea." Oriaga lacked consistency when contradicting his own words. "I'll be so busy, I won't have time to marry someone."

"Madame Gloria will bring her to you."

"You guys are annoying." Oriaga started to open his laptop, creating his work again, and seeing this made Zayn immediately move on.

"Do you have any other requests, sir? If not, I will leave now."

"No, but I'm waiting for an update from the old man named Wendell."

"I'll contact you immediately if I get an update."

"Yes, go."

***

At lunchtime, Amanda had no intention of leaving her cubicle, and she stayed there even though some friends had invited her to go. The woman refused politely.

Amanda wanted to see the progress of her car sales upload last night, and she hadn't had time to check it since morning due to other activities.

"It's hard when it's not just one or two people making offers, and then they ask to meet." The woman muttered as she looked at her phone. "That's too low an offer; it can't even cover the debt on the house." She grumbled at something else.

"Amanda, I was waiting for you downstairs, but you didn't show up immediately. Are you sick?" Jeff's presence and voice startled Amanda again, and she almost dropped her phone on the floor.

"Ah. Jeff. I'm surprised." She got up.

"Sorry."

"Not a problem, but I'm fine. I'm not sick."

"Then, why do you want to skip your lunch? I'll order something for you." Jeff opened the food ordering app, but Amanda quickly stopped him.

"Ah. No, you don't. You don't have to, and I'm not hungry. I still feel full after breakfast this morning."

"You're not lying?" Jeff doubted it.

"I am."

He glanced at Amanda's cell phone on the table, and the screen was still on, showing several direct messages on her social media accounts.

"Are you busy replying to messages?"

Amanda immediately turned off the phone, and she smiled wryly. "It's nothing important."

"Really?" Jeff's expression turned glum. "I feel a little disappointed that you seem to be hiding something from me, but everything is your right."

"I didn't mean anything by it, Jeff. Why even think about it? Let's talk about something else."

"Ah. You're right, and I looked for you again because I wanted to talk about your car."

"What is it?"

"I want to buy it, Amanda. How much do you want?"

Amanda was silent, and she felt strange hearing Jeff's words.

"What is it? I can afford it." Jeff felt doubtful.

"No, I don't want to offend you. Of course, you're perfectly capable of paying for my car. After all, it's a standard price. I got it three years ago; it has no scuffs because I drive it well."

"I believe you."

"But, Jeff. Don't you already have three cars? Why add a new car? After all, my car is far from your taste. You're a sports car enthusiast, while mine is just a sedan."

"No big deal."

"Why would you want to buy it? It's just going to be junk at your place."

"Not at all, Amanda. I'd appreciate it."

"Why are you so adamant, Jeff?"

"Because the vehicle is yours, and I like anything that's yours."

Amanda pursed her lips, the situation becoming awkward as both chose silence.

Then, Amanda looked at the other cubicles, and they were all empty. She smiled wryly and said, "I feel so thirsty. I should go downstairs for a soft drink. I'm sorry, Jeff."

***