Ten Million Dollars Mission

c.15- The reminder

"Believe me or not, he likes you"

In the early morning, Mian stated her belief to her friend who was enjoying a cup of instant noodles at her desk. "Huh? What are you talking about?" L returned a confused response. "No, think about it, Larissa" Mian furrowed her brows, determined to point out her perspective.

"Which man would gift such expensive dress and purse, book an entire restaurant to have meal with you, and ask you to go on a meal date with him again? Only a man in love would do such things, Larissa. Boss has fallen for you" Mian asserted. Choking the woman on her noodles.

"Wow, wow. What's wrong?" Grasping the tissue, Mian handed it to her friend. "Are you okay?" "Yeah, just don't speak those words again out of the blue" L waved her hand. Wiping her mouth. "I am sorry for saying the truth, Miss Larissa" Mian rolled her eyes, being sarcastic.

"You will get in trouble if someone hears you. Joke between us is okay but once others get involved, you are done" L explained. Who wouldn't like to be told Adelio liked her? She enjoyed the talk, however, she had to stop this wingman from getting fired for gossiping about Boss.

"I know you care about me"

Mian frowned. "Still, what is life if we are not allowed to gossip?" She stated. Causing L to sigh helplessly. No one could help this woman for sure. "Miss Mian, how many times do I have to remind you to stop chatting during work hours?" The manager appeared.

Startling the two. "Maybe, she is a ghost" A whisper came up from Mian as L chuckled quietly. "Please concentrate on your work" The manager left with a warning. One hour to two, time passed. Lunch time arrived. L chose to hang out with Mian that noon. "A cup of water or coffee?"

Two options fell. Mian's choices caused her friend to sigh. "So, you are broke and you want me to treat you today" L understood the words quickly as it was the sentence Mian would use always to show how broke she was at the moment. "You are my best friend"

Mian grinned. The fact that they two had even developed inside jokes and sentences revealed how close they had become. "Only when I am paying, you say that" L pouted as her friend sheepishly smiled. "We both know how much I love you" "Oh, please stop it"

L shook her head.

Tickling the woman. When the two settled down at the table in a small restaurant, Luke happened to appear there. "My, my, is this fate?" Luke introduced his appearance. Annoying Mian on the other side. Must he have to show up everywhere like a freaking stalker? "Luke"

L beamed. "May I join?" The man requested. Although Mian wanted to decline so bad, she sealed her lips due to the fact that Luke still held the authority as the Boss's secretary. "Sure, sit with us" L permitted without hesitation. "Have you ordered?" Luke threw a query.

"Obviously" Mian responded, sharply. Her irritation upon his overfriendly personality tickled Luke somehow. He liked how annoyed she could become just by talking with him. "Where is the menu?" Luke neglected the woman's hiss. "Oh, you have to queue and order yourself"

L instructed. Earning a nod from Luke. "Then, a moment please" Excusing himself, he headed to the counter. "Why didn't you just tell him the seats were taken?" Mian complained under her breath once the man left. "He is not that annoying to have around, Mian. Don't be mean"

L proclaimed.

Making the woman roll her eyes. "Whatever. I hate how he always third wheel you two" A murmur escaped between her lips; tickling L. "Because of him, things are never awkward between me and Boss" L explained, and yet Mian refused to acknowledge it. "I don't care"

"You are just tough" L sighed. "It is pretty chilling today" Luke sat back down. "I regret not wearing a coat today even" L agreed with the man. She had a white shirt on only which let the breeze to enter. "Do I need to remind you these mornings to bring a coat?" Mian asked.

"Eh? It is okay. I can just set an alarm or note it down" L refused. She admitted how warm Mian was actually. Mian might speak harsh things sometimes or even insulted, but she was never that serious. Her true personality beneath was warm enough and it was L's favorite type.

"You two seem really close" Luke remarked. "The job interview was our fate to meet" L chuckled. "I remember that day clearly. I thought you were annoying for being that friendly" Mian disclosed. Causing Luke to laugh out loud. Based on her words, she sure found him annoying.

"Then you fell for me"

L teased. Earning an eye roll from Mian. "Adelio had the same impression on me as well" Luke brought his friend into the conversation. "We were teenagers back then. I asked him to play football with me but he responded I was annoying" The story stunned the two women.

Sounded like Adelio had communication problems since young age. "How did you befriend him?" L showed her curiosity. "Easy. I told him that he would never get a friend if he was that poor in communication" Luke laughed it off while Mian and L glanced at each other.

That indeed was not the best first meeting between two friends. "Since then, we got along strangely. He slowly accepted me and we became best friends" The man added. "That was pretty odd" L chuckled. "Not odd. It is the worst encounter" Mian scoffed. "I have to agree with you"

Luke nodded. "Thank you for waiting. Your noodles are ready" They three enjoyed their lunch; sharing funny experiences they went through in past. "Are you heading to café for work?" Mian queried her friend who was packing up earlier than usual. "Yes, I must save money"

L beamed.

"Don't overwork, Larissa. Money will flow in when it is time" Mian coaxed. A frown displayed. She disliked how worn out her friend was behind the smile. "No, I have my own problem that has to be solved with money" Sighing, L grabbed her purse. "Alright, you know it best"

Mian gave up in the end. "Bye~" Promptly, L rushed out of the company. It had been a month almost since she had entered this world. The progress was going well. She had to draw a plan to suck the money out of the target only. "You are back early" A voice rang in the room.

Startling L who had returned from work so that she flinched. "Oh, my goodness! Vio! What the fuck are you doing in my house?!" Surprised, L walked up near the man. "And I don't remember calling your name either" She doubted by the unanticipated appearance.

"I am here to remind you" Vio looked up from seat. Arms crossed as a scowl displayed upon. He had a mask on still. "About what?" L frowned. Placing the purse and file on the table casually. "Time will not wait for you, L. Don't forget to get the cash from Adelio"

Vio warned.

"What's with you? It is not common for you to show up and push me about it" L could not stop doubting the man. "I thought you would get drowned in this play" Vio disclosed. It was when L laughed out loud in amusement. Making him scowl. "I am serious, L" He asserted.

"Were you observing me the whole time?" L's right brow arched. "Obviously. You looked happy to spend time with Adelio Vincent. So, I thought you might need a reminder to get back to your sense" Vio reasoned. Only to tickle the woman more. "Pfft- you are hilarious, Vio!"

L remarked. Annoying the man. "Stop playing around, L" He scolded. "No, no, because why would you even think I would get too deep for this character? It is just a part of my plan, Vio. Seems like you were the one who got away with my acting skills" L's lips curved up into a smirk.

She had never felt anything for that Adelio Vincent for sure. All she knew was how much money she would be acquiring from him. And yet, there was Flavio who thought she had caught some feelings for Adelio. How funny! "W... Well" Vio stood up beneath a frown.

"As long as you know your goal"

He shrugged. "Are you going to leave now that you realized you were wrong?" L teased. Receiving a glare from the man. "I can't believe those men are in love with you" Vio scoffed. Confusing L. "Who else other than Adelio? The future four men whom I will be swindling?"

L raised a brow. Causing the man to sigh helplessly. "You are overconfident. It is not even healthy at this point" Vio muttered. "Being confident is a gift, Vio. That's the only way to survive in this kind of harsh world" L showed off. "Not even the medicine can cure your craziness"

Vio mumbled to himself. "What'd you say?" L frowned. "Nothing. Stay alert of the surrounding. There can be unexpected harm for overconfident woman like you" Before vanishing into thin air, Vio warned L. And yet, she laughed it off. "Observe me well, Vio!" She shouted.