Silver Lining

Chapter 17 - Rico Barnes

Clara's POV

"Hey, Clara! You're back! Aww... I miss you so much!" Charmaine's overtly-warm welcome cruelly reminded me that I was back at hell hole. I forced a smile at her and dragged myself to my desk as I know a dreadful amount of work would be piled on my table.

To my surprise, there wasn't any sight of new workload found on my desk. On the contrary, I found a stick of nicely wrapped cotton candy on my table. Baffled at the sight of the cotton candy, I thought maybe it was a corporate gift so I asked around if anyone else had received one too, but nobody did. That was when I stood still and an unsettling feeling began welling inside me as I thought to myself, "Wait a minute... No one here knows I like cotton candy, other than...Luciano?!"

I began to break into a cold sweat as I looked around for the sight of the dangerous man, but there was no sign of him in the office. I caved into my cubicle and got lost in fear.

"Clara! Why are you still sitting here? Get your ass to the meeting room now!" Mr Moss shouted at me across the office and that jerked me off my seat.

I looked around puzzlingly and saw people swarming towards the meeting room, I quickly got off my seat and asked Annie who passed by me, "Hey Annie, was this meeting informed beforehand? I didn't receive any email about it, what's this meeting about?"

Annie said, "Oh our company just hired a renowned creative director, it's a pretty last minute thing," Then she leant over to me and whispered, "In fact, it's really weird why someone so high end like him would request to work in our company."

I went into the meeting room and hurriedly scouted for a corner seat. My mind was still preoccupied with fear of Luciano haunting me, that I wasn't paying attention to anything that was said until Mr Smith announced a familiar name and everyone applauded, "Our company is very honoured to have him as part of this big family, let's put our hands together to welcome Mr Rico Barnes!"

I nearly choked at the name I heard and the familiar face I saw on stage. Rico Barnes?! Why of all people, why must it be him?! I slid down the chair as much as I could to avoid being seen by him. I didn't even dare to look at him as the sight of him would remind me of the embarrassing past back in senior high school.

Rico's POV

Today was my official first day of work in Smith Marketing, but it wasn't the job that I was looking forward to nor was it the reason why I applied for a position here. It was her that brought me here.

The search for her for years has finally come to an end. When I knew she was here, I also knew this was my only opportunity left to redeem my chance with her.

When I came to the office a few days ago for the interview, I was disappointed to hear that she was on leave, as I came here with much anticipation to see her. That was also when I realised how badly mistreated she was in this job when I saw the heaps of work piled on her table. I knew I had to do something for her.

As I stood on stage when Mr Smith welcomed me on board, my eyes scanned around the room for the sight of her, I was eager to get a glimpse of her.

Clara's POV

As soon as the meeting was over, I quickly crept out along with the herd of people exiting the room.

I crumbled at my seat when I got back at my cubicle as I thought to myself how ridiculous my life can get. I wasn't even done with the nightmare that Luciano scarred me, and now I have to face yet another nerve-wracking problem of having to hide away from Rico.

I don't know how long more can I hide away from him, I wished I could be invisible to him forever. I tried to calm myself down by running possibilities of him not recognising me since my looks have changed after many years. I wasn't the bespectacled short-haired Clara with braces anymore, so I guess it would be difficult for him to recognise me.

Just as I heaved a sigh of relief at the self-comforting deceive I reaffirmed to myself, a tap came on my shoulder and a familiar voice rang over my ears, "So how do you find the cotton candy?"

My heart yanked out as I turned around to none other than the very person I wanted to avoid - Rico Barnes!

He still looked as enchanting as before, with a pair of blue oceanic eyes that one can get easily lost in, his blonde hair combed back in short business casual hairstyle revealing an unobstructed view of his angelic face. He looked much more masculine with a stronger chiselled jawline than before and a muscular physique. Luciano was devilishly charming in his own ways, while Rico was like prince charming with a halo on him all the time. This was exactly the reason why I fell head over heels for him and embarrassed myself back in high school. I slapped myself mentally to prevent myself from falling into the same trap again.

"You... You...were the one who gave this to me?" I stuttered.

"Yea, I thought you still like cotton candy just like before, don't you?" Rico asked. I couldn't help feeling nervous with him looking intently at me even though it was heartening to know that it wasn't given by Luciano.

"Oh! I still do..." Before I could even complete my sentence of reply to Rico, Mr Moss interrupted me, "Oh Clara, I see, you've met your new superior already, well then there shall be no need for me to do an introduction." He turned around and gave Rico a wink then he sarcastically joked to me, "Glad that you finally got transferred to the creative department which you've always wanted to be in, I hope it's not because you were trying to run away from me, though."

I was still dumbfounded at the news I just heard. What?! Rico is now my new superior?!

Rico then gave him a pat on his shoulder and brushed him off with a commanding air of self-confidence, "We're good from here. Thanks for the concern." Mr Moss backed out at the tall towering figure before him when he sensed he was no match.

Rico's POV

After exiting the meeting room, I scanned around for Clara while making my way towards her cubicle.

When I reached her cubicle, instead of seeing a bespectacled short-haired beauty that I was expecting, a lady with a glorious tumble of long wavy locks stood up in front of me with no spectacles obscuring the view of her beautiful sparkling emerald eyes and that pretty face that I missed so much. She took my breath away just like the first time I met her.

Every ounce of me wanted to pull her towards my embrace as I got overwhelmed with the joy of reunion but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

When Mr Moss made a sarcastic remark, it fanned the alpha male instinct in me to protect and defend for her. I just couldn't help it, just like those days back in high school...