Red String (CAMREN)

Chapter 4

There came times when something invaded your mind that you didn't pay attention to your surroundings. That was what Lauren was feeling when honks blaring from the car behind, bringing her back to reality. In one swift she stepped on the pedal gas and drove off, glancing on the rear view mirror before turning her eyes back to the road in front of her. She didn't aware of a pair of eyes that has been watching her for a while now until she finally heard a voice, asking.

"Where did you go, Lo?" Asked Sofi who's been observing Lauren with arched eyebrows in curiosity.

Confused by the question, Lauren countered, "What do you mean?"

"You seemed lost in mind for a while there. So are you gonna tell me?"

Lauren turned her eyes to the girl before reverting it back to what was up front, running her hand in her hair. "Nothing, Sof. I was just thinking... about the car, that's all." She answered, hoping it was enough for the girl, because she couldn't just tell her that she was thinking about her English teacher, Ms. Camila. She did think about the car at first before her thoughts trained to the older brunette so technically she didn't lie to her, only leaving that one part out.

The brown eyed woman caught her attention, though Lauren still wasn't sure in what way. Probably because the English teacher wasn't exactly what Lauren pictured her to be—stiff, middle aged woman—Lauren watched how nice the woman was to Sofi. Maybe that was only because she was a teacher but no, that wasn't the case... probably it was due to the fact that her friend was hit by Lauren's car although it wasn't Lauren's fault to begin with but still... and probably it was because of her appearance that seemed to intrigued her. Lauren admitted that Ms. Camila was a very gorgeous woman. So it left Lauren wondered.

"That's such unexpected coincidence if you ask me." Commented Sofi with her eyes still directed on street lights.

"Coincidence..." Murmured Lauren quietly, internally asking herself.

After dropping Sofi back to the Cabello's mansion from their dinner outside, Lauren found herself laying on her bed in her unlighted bedroom, staring at constellation on the ceiling that she drew by herself with glow in the dark paint. One of her favorite views of her apartment. It could always give her the peace of mind and calmness—something she needed right at the moment.

This whole day has drained her. When she was at the office, she thought she could spend it working in peace, but no, the share holders requested for an impromptu meeting on the low price of stock markets of the company. Moreover, those people kept asking for Alejandro Cabello's whereabouts for the past two weeks or so that made him invisible at the company ground.

The situation was not getting better on Lauren's part when the share holders found out that Alejandro Cabello as company's president has given order to Lauren to run the company during his absence instead of giving it to the vice president, Enrique Garcia. They considered it as an act of recklessness for trusting the company's continuity to a 'young girl', as they liked to put it.

Lauren didn't want to admit it but their judgments of Lauren's credibility based on her age and gender disturbing her or even... insulting. She was young, yes, and still had to a lot to learn, that was why she spent her entire high school and college life to study, learn and help in Cabregui Energies—an automation and telecommunication company that Alejandro Cabello had built together with Michael Jauregui, her dad—but she knew Alejandro Cabello was not the type of man who could trust easily; people had to earn it to get it.

Lauren considered Alejandro Cabello as her mentor therefore his opinion on her was important for Lauren and if Alejandro has given Lauren the mandate to run the company, it meant that he trusted and acknowledged her credibility in the company.