Heart's Tempo (Wattys2014) [EDITING]

Chapter 16

With all the documents inside the envelope, Nisa walked out of the conference room and straight to the reception area. As soon as she approached the receptionist, a car key was handed over to her.

“A rental car?”

“Mr. Dowell asked me to get one for him.”

Nisa looked outside the glass doors and saw a black Subaru parked in front.

“Nisa, come on! Let’s go.” Henry said and took the keys from her. She looked at the time and it was almost three in the afternoon.

“Henry, wait. Where are we going?”

“Just get in the car and you’ll find out soon.”

“But the flight it’s…”

“Nisa, forget about that. I cancelled the meeting tomorrow so you better rebook that flight.”

“Henry! You’ are frustrating me!”

No reaction from Henry. He just had that content smile driving the car going to some place she didn’t know. A few minutes later, Henry parked outside a five star hotel, got out and gave the keys to the valet. Nisa simply followed Henry inside the hotel’s reception area where he asked for a reservation for two under his name.

“Really now, Henry? Reservation for two?”

“What? You want to share a room with me?”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.” Nisa stopped herself from interrogating Henry in front of the bellboy who led the way to their rooms. As soon as Henry got inside his room, Nisa started the questions.

“Nisa, I told you I cancelled the meeting already. I’m planning to stay here for a week.”

“Does Christalle know about this?”

“No.”

“So this means I’ll go back myself tonight.”

“Says who? I’m your boss and I’m saying you stay here, with me.”

“This is a paid vacation, right?”

“If that’s what you want, then a paid vacation it is.”

“Okay, second question. This is out of curiosity. I noticed that every time you meet Mr. Sakaguchi, he always asks this question – ‘not yet?’ and you always answer – ‘no, not yet.’ What’s up with that? Some secret you two have? And another thing, you wanted to say something to me before the meeting. Spill it, now. I just ran out of patience, Henry. So choose your words correctly.”

Henry nearly laughed at Nisa’s words. Sometimes he feels that Nisa was the real boss with the way she gives commands.

“Actually…” Henry stopped. He didn’t know if he had the courage to tell her now. But he didn’t want to say ‘not yet’ again to Mr. Sakaguchi the next time they see each other.

“Come on, I’m waiting…”

“Nisa, how many years have you been working for our company?”

“About five years, why? Did I just do something wrong? Are your brothers complaining about me again?”

“No, I told you, they’re never going to bother you again. They like you as a person but not as someone who works for us.”

“Great.”

“Nisa, I don’t know how to say this but…I have a feeling that you might bash my head in if…”

There it is again. Those eyes. Nisa saw those eyes before and there was no mistake.