{ IN HIS OFFICE...}
"Ugh...um...actually not what you think,okay?" Annika said, trying to look away. But Sana held her face like a baby's,turning it to face her.
"It's not what we think,huh?"Sana said,smiling derisively.
"Yeah,I already told you that"Annika replied,sharply.
She's trying all her best to bypass this,and wishes those two pests called her friends,would just stop asking or talking about it.
Why must Dexter's message come in when her phone is with her friend,with Mina especially,just why?!
"What is it,then?"Mina asked too.
"Let me have my phone back,nosy poker. Why in the world did you read my message? I can sue you for that!"Annika snapped,and tried to snatch the phone from Mina.
"Funny stories for our forefathers. You'll have this phone back only when you tell us the truth" Mina said like a mom.
"Migosh!" Annika sighed,frustratingly. Sana and Mina scoffed and rolled eyes.
"What the hell is going on between you and Dexter?" They both asked for the umpteenth time.
"Nothing,Just nothing! He only kissed me,and...
"And you kissed him back,didn't you?" Sana cut in,saying it as though she was there watching the whole scene.
If there's anything Annika cannot do around Sana,then it's lying,cos she'd definitely be caught.
"Yea,I did. I swear,the kiss wasn't intentional,and I don't know why I kissed him back.
"But I...I...regret it" Annika stuttered,trying not to say the word "regret.
"OMG!" Sana and Mina both gushed,sitting back down,cos they both were standing,while interrogating Annika.
"I can't believe it!" Mina gushed again,grinning.
"I regret coming to spend the night here"Annika sighed,shaking her head frustratingly. Sana and Mina started chuckling,mockingly.
"Hmm,you kissed him back,ay? The same Dexter you always have a fight with.
"Do you have feelings for him?" Sana asked,looking deep into Annika's eyes.
"Ugh...?
[ KLEIN'S WINERY COMPANY * NEXT DAY ]
Immediately the cab came to a halt,Annika got out,paid him and started walking to where it leads to the elevator.
She came to work earlier than normal,today.
And that's because she slept at her friends place. Plus,she's got a lot of work to do since she couldn't finish all her work yesterday due to her cramps.
"Misgosh! We have a meeting by 10. Hope I can finish my work before then" She sighed, hurriedly getting into the elevator.
She bumped into Ian,Dexter's driver,as a result of her rush.
Some of the things she held, fell off her hand in the process.
"I'm so sorry" He apologized immediately, bending to pick up her things for her.
When he had finished picking them, he got up and handed over the things to Annika.
He kept staring at her intently, that it became awkward.
Actually, ever since Annika started working there, that's the first time they're seeing each other.
Annika doesn't even know he's Dexter's driver.
"Why is this man staring at me, weirdly?" She asked herself, within.
Yea,man. Ian maybe Dexter's driver, but he's somehow an elderly man, and way older than Dexter.
He just helped Dexter carry his briefcase to his Office, and now this,and the stare.
"Excuse me" Annika smiled awkwardly, collected her things and left.
Even while she left,Ian stood still, staring at her,with shock visibly written on his face.
[ FACTORY ROOM ]
Every worker at the factory is busy with one thing or the other,especially the vintners.
With more and more grapes coming in through the machines.
Lira is also there,having no idea of what she is doing. She isn't a vintner after all,she was only sent on a mission.
Immediately she sighted Dexter coming,she smiled widely as her heart raced a thousand times in excitement.
She got more serious than ever, even though she didn't know what she was doing.
"Oh,jeez! Isn't he just a god?" She gushed,smiling and biting her lips, seductively.
"Roland is nowhere near him,he's just too handsome. I wish he could just hug me right now" Lira continued to talk nonsense.
Not just Lira got serious,but everyone. No one wants to get fired,yunno.
Though,he has stopped firing people anyhow,but that doesn't mean he'll tolerate any form of laziness. He would still fire anyone who doesn't take his or her work seriously.
"Good morning,sir.
"Good morning,boss.
They all started greeting and bowing their heads in respect,as he walked passed them.
He only hummed,or nodded his head at their greetings.
When he got to Lira who was smiling like an insane person because of him.
He scoffed and rolled eyes as she kept staring at him.
He actually just came to see how things are going on in the factory.
He walked around the factory,checked everywhere and everyone.
Seeing that everyone is busy,and working diligently. A sweet smile escaped his lips,as he put his hands behind his back,still smiling.
He turned to Lira's side,and still caught her looking at him.
"Daughter of Jezebel! Was she born into this world just to stare at other people?"Dexter said inwardly.
"See me in my Office"He said to Lira,and left the factory immediately,with Ryan following behind. Because he came with Dexter.
~See me in my Office ~
Those words just kept ringing in Lira's head.
To her,nothing sounds as sweet as what Dexter just said.
Why is he asking her to see him in his Office?
Could there be something she has done?
Anyway,she's super happy! If the "seeing him in his Office" is actually about what she's thinking it is,then she can't wait to go to his Office.
She knows Dexter likes women,and for him to tell her to see him means something sweet might happen.
Things are finally going the way she wants. Dexter finally noticed her!
"Will gladly be there,love." She said,grinning happily.
"Hey! What is your job here exactly?" A co-wine maker(Abbey) snapped Lira out of it.
"What do you mean by that, I don't get you" Lira asked,confusedly.
Why is Abbey asking her that? Isn't everyone in there a wine maker? So how can she be asking her what her job in the factory is?
Except,Lira really isn't a wine maker.
"Are you really a vintmer? Because I have never seen you make any.
All you do each time the CEO comes in here,is to stare at him crazily like you're seeing him for the first time. You're never serious." She shouted at Lira,seriously.
"It's none of your problems,is it? And you'll still get paid your stupid darn salary, whether or not I make wines, won't you?" Lira shouted back at her loudly,getting other worker's attention as a result.
Abbey hissed and rolled eyes,and Lira did same.
"Just wait till he fires you,I wonder why he hasn't done that already. He'll notice it soon,just keep doing the shit you do" She eyed Lira.
"Let's see who gets fired first,and who loses at the end" Lira chuckled,satirically.
"You really are a confused goat" Abbey mocked too,and Lira chuckled even more. But suddenly looked infuriated.
"You have no idea who you're messing with,do you? Call me a confused goat one more time,and regret ever knowing me" Lira glared,then smiled beautifully.
"Differnt types of crazy people everywhere" Abbey muffled and resumed what she was doing.
[ DEXTER'S OFFICE ]
"When did you say they are coming?" Dexter asked as he and Ryan returned to his Office.
He's asking about the buyers they are expecting. And also the Company that wants to partner with KLEIN'S WINERY.
He sat down on his swivel,picked his pen and began signing some documents.
"In two days time,sir. But I think the buyers will be coming here first" Ryan said.
"Oh. Are you done sorting out those files?" Dexter asked,flipping over the papers.
"Will be done doing that once I get back to my Office,sir" He replied calmly.
"Alright,you can leave" Dexter simply said.
"Yes,sir" Ryan answered,and made to leave.
"Check out the number of available wines we have in store,and get back to me" Dexter said.
"I will do that and get back to you as soon as possible,sir" Ryan replied and left.
Dexter signed the last two files,dropped his pen and rested back on his chair,rubbing his beardless chin.
Annika suddenly ran through his mind,and he smiled,joyously. That's just what has been happening to him lately.
Each time he thinks of her,there's this tingling sensation of happiness,and great joy he feels. He just feels at peace,thinking or calling her name.
All his hurt,pains and worries just seem to vanish whenever he sees her. That's why he always wants to see her in his Office.
Even when he really doesn't have anything to tell her,he'd cook up something just so she could come to his Office for him to see her.
But now that they are not in talking terms,what will he do? He's guessing his day will boring as f**k.
In whichever way,he must make sure he sees her today at all cost.
Just one day of not talking,he misses their fights,he misses the funny name she calls him. And the way they both tease each other,then end up laughing with Annika rolling eyes at him.
But with all these feelings,the missing Annika and the sort. He still hasn't and doesn't want to let Annika know that he loves her.
He may have fallen deeply for Annika,so much that he can hardly go a day without thinking about her,he's still scared of getting hurt.
What if he tells her and she says she doesn't feel same for him? That will hurt him real bad,so he just wants to let it be that way for now.
"I shouldn't have kissed her" He muttered,rubbing his face frustratingly.
He was about getting off his seat when his phone started ringing.
He picked it up and saw the caller.
"Mrs Klein. Who else would it be if not her" He chuckled,plugged in his earpods before picking.
"Hi,mom. Good Morning and I'm fine,thank you" Dexter immediately said.
"Shut up and let me talk,will ya?"Janice shot at him.
"Yes,mom" Dexter chuckled and kept mute.
"How are you,baby?" Janice started,and Dexter chuckled again.
"I am okay,mom,I already said that before" Dexter replied.
"Be quiet" Janice said,making Dexter to laugh.
"Hope you've had your breakfast?" Janice asked again.
"I've had my breakfast and I've also drunk enough water" Dexter said sharply. He knows the next question was going to be" Hope you drank enough water"
Janice laughed at that,likewise Dexter.
"Good of you. Anyway,I called to tell you that Verity would be coming to make foods and put them in the fridge for you" Janice said.
"Why,mom? I can make my food myself" Dexter replied flatly.
"The type you come back late from work to start making?" Janice asked.
"I am not complaining,mom" Dexter replied.
"You don't have to complain,baby. Your sister is coming,anyway" Janice replied him,simply.
"And her words are always final" Dexter said,and Janice laughed out loud.
"That's what makes me a mom and you,a son" Janice replied,and they both laughed.
"Don't forget our family dinner night coming this week. You can invite your crazy friends as well" Janice said,and Dexter chuckled.
"Okay,mom. I almost forgot about it" He said. He was still happy about the family dinner thing,until he remembered Roland and his mom are going to be there too.
"Mom,don't tell me Roland and his mom are coming" Dexter said,already angry within himself.
"They've never missed any,have they? So,they are coming" Janice replied.
"Can they just die?" Dexter muffled and scoffed.
He hates them more than anything,especially Roland.
"Bye,mom. I have a busy day today" Dexter said.
"You always do.
"I'm inviting Wendy also. You're so going to tell us why you left her for no reason,and have refused to say why" Janice said inwardly as she dropped the call.
[ ROLAND'S COMPANY ]
Roland just got back from where he went to,and he's currently in his Office,working on his computer.
He was half way gone with his work,when a call came in.
"How can someone be calling me at a time like this?
He paused,anyway,and picked his phone from the desk.
"Oh,it's him" He smiled,then swiped green before placing the phone his left ear.
It's a actually the person who gives him information about everything going on in Dexter's Company.
"Any good news?" He asked immediately.
"Good morning to you too. There is no good news,but bad news" He said,straight up.
"What do you mean by that? What kind of bad news...did you get caught? Did that idiot fire you" Roland asked simultaneously, without letting him talk.
"One of the biggest Companies in the city wants to partner with your brother. K.S.C GROUP OF COMPANIES to be precise" He explains,and....
"What!? You can't be serious,right?" Roland rasped,expecting him to say yes.
"I am way more serious than you think" The guy replied flatly.
"And you called to tell me? Why didn't you do something about it?" He asked stupidly.
"Do something about it? Something like what?
I am only paid to give information,and not to stop him from progressing" He replied Roland,loudly.
"Just get off my phone!" Roland yelled,and hung up immediately.
"What the hell is Lira even doing there? She hasn't said nor done anything yet. She doesn't even tell me anything happening over there.
"Lira!" He yelled her name senselessly and flung his phone on the desk,angrily.
"Has she forgotten what took her there? I hope it's not what I'm thinking" He muttered and resumed typing.
[ KLEIN'S WINERY COMPANY * SECRETARY'S OFFICE ]
"Good morning,dad" Annika greetded her dad,lowly.
"How are you,love?" Justin asked,feeling so happy that her line finally connected.
"I'm fine,thank you" She replied simply.
"What happened,where were you yesterday? I called you severally,but never got your line.
You got me so worried,I hope you're fine?" He said with worry and concern in his voice.
"Yes,I am okay" Annika replied again lowly.
"You don't sound well. Are you sure you're alright?" Justin asked again.
"I am fine" She replied, shortly.
She doesn't really feel like it today. She's just not happy and she doesn't know why.
"Okay,dear. You're coming home tonight,right?" He further asked.
"Maybe I will. Bye dad, I have a meeting to attend right now" Annika told him.
"Okay,see you in the evening" He said and dropped the call.
After ending the call,Annika picked up the files needed for the meeting,and got off the chair.
She suddenly remembered yesterday.
The kiss!
She shut her eyes,took a deep breath and smiled,then bit her lower lip.
That,somehow made her feel better,but...
"Stupid jerk!" She mumbled and left her Office.
[ MEETING ROOM * 10AM ]
Everyone is in the meeting room already. All seated and waiting for the CEO.
Though,the meeting is not for every employee.
Annika also came in not quite long and right now,she's with Dalton and Derek, talking.
"Yeah she's fine. I was at their place yesterday" Annika said to Dalton when he asked after Sana.
"Good to know" Dalton replied,smiling.
"Miss cray cray,why did you run away when you saw me yesterday" Derek asked,grinning and showing his beautiful set of teeth.
"Because you were going to start talking nonsense" Annika rolled eyes.
Dalton and Derek started laughing,with their hands pocketed in their pants.
"So,Dalton who was with you yesterday wasn't talking nonsense,huh?" Derek chuckled.
"Believe me,he was. But he had a little sense yesterday" She said,and they started laughing again.
"Why did Dexter call for a meeting,though?" Dalton asked.
"No idea. Maybe his Secretary knows,she's the one in charge of that,after all" Derek said,looking at Annika.
"What? I only scheduled the meeting,I don't know why he called for it" Annika replied.
Dexter walked in that moment,while they were still talking.
Some of them adjusted themselves and sat well. Some even getting scared for no reason.
Immediately Annika sighted him,her heart skipped and she held her chest and sighed heavily. But she let go of it immediately.
"You better respect yourself,silly" She said inwardly,referring to her heart.
"The CEO is here" Derek said.
"Young,handsome and mean CEO" Dalton jibed.
"Good morning,sir" They all greeted in unison,and those who were seated already stood and greeted him respectfully.
As he made to sit on his private seat,his eyes met with Annika's,and he let out a short smile before turning to face the others.
Annika swallowed nothing,and just kept staring at him as the meeting started and he began talking.
[ MINUTES LATER ]
The meeting that lasted for close to an hour,just ended now,and everyone is retiring to his or her Office.
Dexter left where he was standing and went to meet Annika where she stood.
"Hey..." He said,smiling.
"Hi...." She said too,but totally avoiding his gaze.
"How are you today? I hope you feel better than yesterday?"He asked,calmly.
"I'm fine,thanks"Annika simply replied, and feigned a smile.
"You ate your fruits I hope"He said,staring at her face like never before.
"Yes,I did and thanks for the fruits,they did help a lot" She spoke freely this time.
"Glad to hear that" He smiled. They both stayed quiet for a while,just staring into space.
"Yea...about yesterday. I'm sorry about what happened yesterday,believe me, I didn't mean to kiss you,I...
"It's fine" Annika cut in,smiling akwardly.
How can he remind her of that again? Jeez!
"So,we are good,right?" He asked and she nodded.
"I will be in my Office" Dexter said.
"Bye" Annika replied and with that,they both left the meeting room,though separately.
Dexter feels so happy and at ease,now that he has taken his pills, which is seeing and talking to Annika.
"Dexter kissed Annika?" Dalton and Derek asked each other at the same time.
They were standing somewhere,watching them.
Both Derek and Dalton noticed the way Dexter and Annika were staring at each other during the meeting,and just knew something was going on between them.
"I knew it!" Dalton said,chuckling.
"Seriously,but why hasn't he told us?" Derek asked Dalton.
"Beats me" Dalton replied.
"Let's go,dude. We haven't submitted and are not even done with those files yet,remember?
"We'll go see him later,when we are less busy" Derek said.
They both left the meeting room too,heading straight to their Office.
[ DEXTER'S OFFICEE * MINUTES LATER ]
Not long after he got back to his Office when someone knocked on the door.
Dexter hissed and asked the person to come in.
Lira seductively started walking in,catwalking and smiling as well.
Immediately Dexter saw her,he smiled and shook his head.
"You asked me to see you in your Office,sir" She said,and bit her lips s*xily.
"I did. But it seems you want something hot right now,huh?" Dexter said,got up and moved closer to her.
Wait,did Dexter just say that?
So,she was right all along,that Dexter wanted to see her in his Office because of that!
Lira is super excited!
Dexter stood behind her,took his face closer to her neck and was about whispering something in her ears when Annika entered without knocking and saw them in that position.
With a heavy blow to her heart, Annika stopped on her track, staring at them both.
"Dex.... Dexter.....?!" She called slowly.
TBC