Running from Him by YH Yohi

Chapter 7 - Caught Her

Pari was busy emailing her senior regarding the progress of her research on office workers when her phone buzzed. Without looking away from the monitor, Pari answered her phone.

"Hello?"

"Missed me?" the deep voice sent shivers down her spine as Pari's insides tickled.

"What? Who is this?"

"Don't remember me? I'm hurt love"

Pari rolled her eyes "Mr. Arin"

"Yes love?"

"What. do. you. want?"

"Thanks for the warm greeting, aren't you going to ask where I was the past 3 days?"

"Not interested. Cut to the chase" Pari ordered, cheekily smiling at the man's oblivion.

"Let's meet"

Pari let out a long sigh, how annoying. 

" You know Mr. Arin it's hard to believe you attended Oxford, since you fail to understand the meaning of a simple word, NO!" 

Arin closed his eyes and kept the phone an arm's distance away as Pari screamed through the phone. 

"Come on love, I spent 2 weeks trying to talk to you, don't I deserve a reward?" Arin mischievously dragged the word reward.

"A reward you say? Um sure...how would you like a restraint order?" 

"Ouch" 

Pari tried to calm herself, massaging her forehead "why? why do you want to meet...and if you say marriage I swear to..."

Arin chuckled as he slowly strolled in his study, swirling the red wine "Fiery one, aren't you?"

"Mr. A.R.I.N" Pari replied threateningly

"To fulfil our agreement"

"Our agreement?"

"Yes, you promised me 10 dates Ms. Pari. You must keep up your end of the agreement"

"And if I don't?"

"There will be penalty"

"Are you serious? What is it?"

"10 more dates"

"What?" Was he being serious now?

"Or"

"Or?"

"Marriage would also do" Arin smirked anticipating an outburst, honestly he did enjoy annoying her after everything she did to him.

"Goodnight Mr.Arin. Sleep tight and LET the bed bugs bite some sense into you" And the line cut.

He drew the phone away from his ear as Pari screamed her pleasantries. As he did he glanced pic he saved as her contact. It was a pic of their first date on the boat. He slowly observed her, closely staring at every inch...her wide smile, unblemished neck, black hair glimmering under the dim candle, ear... wait. 

Arin zoomed in her ear, that earring was oddly familiar. Arin quickly ran to his room as he rummaged through his suit lying in a basket. He found the small diamond earring, it was the same as Pari's. 

Perhaps...Pari came to the office..no it can't be. 

Arin returned to the study and gulped the remaining wine shaking off his absurd thought. Absurd or so he thought.

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Pari had to work overtime again. Every since the meeting, the team's work increased. Though interns weren't obligated to stay. Yet she always waited till Mr.Namer left, who was always the last one to leave.  Mr. Namer was just too kind like a puppy and borderline a pushover which invoked maternal instincts in Pari. 

Her phone rang, Pari rolled her eyes, she was too tired to argue now, but to her surprise it was her senior from her actual job.

"Yes Sir...No sir, I'm about to leave...the capital?...right now...Yes sir I'll leave immediately"

It was already dark outside, she quickly dialed her driver's number, instructing him to pick her up in front of the building. She had told him to park outside the tech park,  a good 15min walk, as she didn't want to risk others seeing her car, but right now there was no time to spare. And besides she saw Arin's car leave 10mins ago.

As the car pulled up, she jumped in and left to the airport. In the rush, Pari had left your guard down. Little did she know someone was watching her. 

"Tarin...doesn't that car at the front look familiar" 

"Yes sir I suppose" Tarin replied handing over the papers Arin had left in the office.

"Where did you see it?" He asked very well knowing the answer

"Miss Pari has the same model, but that is a popular brand"

"True. But something is amiss here. Tarin tomorrow I want to know who got in that car just  now"

"Yes sir"

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"Just make these changes Mr. Namer"

"Yes sir" Namer got up to leave, but failed to balance the numerous files as it tumbled on the ground "Very sorry sir"

"No problem, how come you came alone today? Where is your assistant?"

"Intern sir" Namer corrected Arin but immediately regretted as Arin glared at him "Si...sick leave sir"

"Alright" Mr. Namer quickly left his office, this man was too scary.

The door opened after a swift knock as Mr. Tarin entered the office with a file.

"Mr. Arin"

"Tell me"

"We couldn't find anyone by the name Ms. Pari in the company register" 

"Of course, what was I even thinking?" Arin leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes, the past few days he kept thinking of her. Even when he was preoccupied with his work, the earring and the car yesterday, he felt she was near him but he was sure he was mistaken. Was he finally going insane?

"But sir I found this"

"What?"

"According to the register, yesterday, only 57 people were working overtime, including Mr. Namer"

"So?"

"From the CCTV footage, the woman was with Mr. Namer in the marketing floor before she left the building. Since she isn't registered as a regular employee and was assisting a normal employee, I believe she is an intern. These are all the details of the intern's in the marketing department."

"Did you have a look?"

"Yes sir, that's why I left you should have a look yourself" Tarin took his leave after handing the file.

"I wonder what's so interesting that I must see for myself" Arin mumbled.

Arin opened the file as his eyes widened, who knew it would be this easy. His shocked expression slowly turned to a smirk with an evil glint. His figure playfully graced an image in the file as he said...

"I guess the proverb 'it is the darkest under one's nose' is true after all, isn't it Ms. Riona?  "