Chapter 4

A month passed. I noticed that whenever Mr. Sullivan and I encountered each other, whether in the elevator or the lobby. He always avoided the path so that we wouldn't run into each other. If I'm ever assigned to deliver papers to his office, he just orders me to just put them on his table without even looking at me.

It's a favor for me because when I see him, my mind is disoriented. I think he's a strict boss. I noticed the look on his face. The way his eyebrows meet is a sign of annoyance. I don't know if it's because he's reading those files or because of me when he sees me.

I yawned. I was getting sleepy. It was past midnight. Madam Violeta made me work overtime again. I thought I would be able to take a long break this weekend, but I was wrong.

I put my cheek on my right hand. I looked at the computer monitor. I read the information there, checking to see if there was anything wrong or not.

My workmates left earlier. He finished his work. I'm the only one left on this floor. I wish I could get a ride home. It's a hassle to travel at night. There are only a few cars that can pass through our apartment. It's really just luck to find a car to get home. I'll walk even further if the ride I took isn't on the route to my apartment.

"When will I get rich?" I subconsciously asked myself. It's not a hassle when you have your own car. I'm only worrying about the parking lot.

I laughed at that thought. 'Celestine, seriously?'

I yawned again. I was really sleepy. My eyelids were slowly getting heavy. The silence of our entire office wasn't helping me to lose my sleep. The coffee on my table is empty. It's not effective. I'm still sleepy. Even if I pat my cheek hard, the sleepiness won't really go away.

"What are you doing?" said a voice from behind.

I stood up when I realized who the owner of the voice was. It was Mr. Sullivan.

"Sir", I bowed to show respect. Did he see me sleeping?

"Are you alone? Why aren't you coming home yet?" He asked me one question after another. I couldn't answer him. It was like I swallowed my own tongue. He looked around, looking to see if I was with anyone else.

"It's getting late." Mr. Sullivan continued. His voice was deep and full. I didn't know if he was mad at me, or he was just a strict boss.

"I'm just finishing up some files, Sir. It needs to be submitted by tomorrow morning."

"Are you done?"

"Er…not yet." I scratched my head. Maybe Mr. Sullivan thought I was a very inefficient employee.

"Are you the only one who does that?" He frowned. He was looking at me seriously and directly. He was waiting for me to answer, watching my every move.

"We each have our own tasks to do. My workmates have finished theirs. I'm the only one who hasn't finished yet," I replied, biting my lip. Embarrassed.

I saw Mr. Sullivan glanced at my lips and then looked away. His expression suddenly turned grim.

"Come with me" he said authoritatively.

"Sir?" Maybe I just misheard him.

"I said, come with me. To my office. Bring all those files you're finishing"

"But…" I couldn't finish what I was going to say. Mr. Sullivan had already left his post. I saw him take the elevator to his office.

I swallowed hard. What are we going to do there? Why do I need to take the files to his office if I can do it on my own?

Even though I hesitated, I picked up the files one by one from my table. I hurriedly boarded the elevator to get to Mr. Sullivan's office.

My legs were shaking as I walked to his office. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. It was cold here, but I was sweating because I was so nervous. I knocked softly on the door. Not even a second had passed when I heard him letting me in. I swallowed and took a deep breath before entering.

"Mr. Sullivan"

"Come here." He patted the tabletop. "Here, do what you need to finish the files today. I'll work at the coffee table. You can use my computer and table."

"I-I'll use the coffee table, Mr. Sullivan. I'm fine there," my heart beat faster. Why all of a sudden? I'm actually supposed to be working at the CEO's table? What the heck, right?

"Nonsense. Finish what you have to do. So you can go home and rest. I'll pass the files to Violeta when you're done." He said. At the same time, he picked up the laptop from the table. Mr. Sullivan came to the coffee table and started working seriously.

I had no choice but to follow his orders. Because if I disobey, I will be here until morning because of my stubbornness. I thanked him before sitting in the swivel chair. It was a very comfortable chair. Maybe this chair was too expensive? I wanted to lean back against the backrest, but I could fall asleep. I'm here to work, not to sleep.

I continued working on the files I hadn't finished yet. Occasionally I would glance at Mr. Sullivan. He was typing seriously on the keyboard of his laptop. Honestly. He's so serious. It's scary to look at him. But he's so handsome. You'll be mesmerized by his blue eyes. Not to mention his bulky body. He looks like he's been working out. The muscles aren't huge. They're just the right size. That you wouldn't be afraid to touch.

I swallowed hard as I stared at Mr. Sullivan's lips. They were red in contrast to the pale color of his skin. I then remembered his eyes, which had turned red. I still wonder to this day if what I saw was just my imagination.

I shook my head. I should have worked here. I wasn't thinking about him. If only he could read my thoughts, he might have already fired me.

"Have you eaten dinner? It's twelve thirty in the morning," he suddenly asked me.

I touched my stomach. I hadn't eaten dinner yet. But I wasn't hungry because I had a snack at four o'clock.

"Not yet, but I'm not hungry." My answer was modest.

"Tsk. You will get stomach ulcers. "

'His over-reacting.'

"I'm really okay, Sir", I waved my hand. To emphasize what I said. I'm not starving.

"Fine. If you say so, when you get hungry, tell me. I'll call Ares"

I nodded in agreement. I didn't say anything else, because I didn't know what to say.

Why is he so nice to me now? Feels unsual.

I started working seriously. I need to finish this, so I can go home. I can't breathe because I'm so nervous when he's near me. My heart feels like it's going to burst out from the excitement.

Maybe an hour had passed, I was almost done with what I was doing. I rested my cheek on my hand. My elbow was on the top of the table. I was proofreading to see if there were any changes I should make or if there were any missing parts.

This is the most unpleasant task of all. It makes me sleepy. Just like today, if earlier I lost my sleep because I was so nervous, now it feels like I'm being cradled. The air conditioner in Mr. Sullivan's office is also blowing cold air and the swivel chair is soft. All I need is a blanket and I can sleep peacefully.

I yawned.

'Celestine, wake up! How can you finish this? If you're like that?!' I said to myself. What can I do? My earthly body can't handle it anymore.

I glanced at Mr. Sullivan. He was still serious about what he was doing. He hadn't even changed the position of his seat. I didn't see any sleepiness in him either. He was still fine. Sleepiness proof.

Even though he's the CEO of the company, he still has to work overtime. He's so hardworking.

I looked at the computer monitor again. I started proofreading again. Earlier I could read the letters, but now it's jumbled up.

I'm really sleepy. I'm stretching to make it go away. I also touched my shoulder and massaged it a little. I need to wake up. It would be embarrassing for the CEO who was in the room with me if I was sleeping, while he was the one who was still working.

But I really can't do it anymore!

I took one more glance at Mr. Sullivan and then leaned against his table. I'm sorry, but I just can't take it anymore. I'm just going to sleep for a while.

I closed my eyes. It wasn't long before I fell completely asleep.