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Chapter 30. A pleasant new acquaintance

The car phone rings and I don't know whether to answer or ignore it. I realize Alexander wants nothing to do with his previous driver, as he felt betrayed by him, but I do need to get some training. He's too busy and I don't want to bother him, over this insignificant things, so I'm going to ask him if there is anyone else I can speak with, to guide me through my new duties.
The moment the car phone stops, my cell phone rings and the name 'Mr. Ronald Anderson' flashes on the screen as I had it stored. I can't believe it! Is it possible for one to spy on my thoughts, or was I talking to myself out loud and there is a camera in the car, to which of course he has the access? I decide to answer the call and confront him, although I really don't have a clue of what he might want from me.
"Yes, Mr. Anderson."
"Smart girl for saving my phone number."
"Well, I do work for your son and as his driver I thought it would be good to save your number just in case."
"Yes indeed, I was calling you at the driver's phone, as you are Alexander's driver, but you didn't pick up. Obviously you don't even know how, proving how inadequate you are for this position. Anyway, I need you to pick up Alexander's key from my house where Miss Mingmei is and give it to him next time you see him."
"Of course, I will be right over if you could only please text me the address of your house."
" I already have, check your messages."
He hangs up the phone and indeed there is already a message with his address. Alexander did say that the first thing he would do, was to take the key from his father and that's exactly what he did. So, Miss. Robot moved to his father's house...Of course she would, I should have known. I only hoped she didn't tell him anything about me being Alexander's girlfriend, as it wasn't even true. He had only said that because he wanted to get rid of that girl. He doesn't really believe that we are now a couple just because we had sex. Does he?
I smile at the thought of changing my Facebook status into 'complicated'. I haven't checked out my page since that horrible night and I pick up the phone to check if Alexander has one, but I can't find him in the platform. My notifications were all red from friend requests notifications and messages. I quickly scroll down to my newsfeed, but I close the app when I realize my profile picture is still the one with me and Michael. Strangely I don't lose it and the only feeling I have is sadness as in that photo was the Michael I once thought I knew and loved more than anything.
I swipe my tears and drive to Mr. Ronald's address. I am greeted on the building's entrance by my name, as the security guard obviously was informed of my arrival along with a description of what I looked like, which was quite spooky. I knock on the door and this really beautiful middle aged woman answers the door and lets me in.
"Hello, I am Teresa, it's very nice to meet you." She tells me in a friendly way.
"Hi, I am Claire, Mr. Alexander's driver. I am here for his keys."
"Yes, I know, Ronny told me all about your relationship with Alex, so you don't need to be all formal with me."
She grabs me from the elbow and leads me to the island bar, that is in the middle of an enormous kitchen.
"Do you like coffee? I just made some for us. I am here in this apartment alone and bored all day and I wouldn't miss on the chance to get to know the woman who stole Alex's heart."
"Well, I assure you I stole nothing from your son. We are just friends and I also work for him."
"Son? No...You must surely know Alex's mother has passed away. I am his father's partner."
"No I don't, I am honestly telling you I don't know Alexander that well and I am sorry for the confusion, but it's better I'd get going now." I say feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"No, please stay a bit longer. I don't know whether you are indeed Alex's girlfriend or not, but I am hoping you are. You are so cute!" She says in a chirpy voice.
She is already pouring me a cup of coffee that smells absolutely delicious and I unconsciously take a seat on the stool, like the caffeine addict I am.
"So what part of England are you from?
"London"
"I absolutely adore London! We go there quite often. Sometimes Ronny takes me along with him when he goes there for business, but mostly I am here all alone."
"Have you two been living together for a long time?" The minute I ask her, I realize I am being so indiscreet and I blush a little.
"Well, uhm, let's see... it's been three years now, but we were together long before that. Alex doesn't even want to meet me. I have only seen him in pictures and I so want to meet him in person. His father promised me he tried his best, but he wouldn't accept his relationship with me and wouldn't be convinced to meet me."
I see the hurtful look in her eyes and I feel so sorry for her. It must be really hard on her, since she was his father's partner for all these years and his own son wouldn't recognize her as such and furthermore wouldn't want anything to do with her.
"I am sure it's not your fault Mrs. Teresa. I think it's because of his relationship with his father. The two of them seem to be having some issues, so don't take this personally."
"Well, look at you defending on him! That's good Claire and please don't ever call me Mrs. Teresa again, as you make me feel old." And by that we both smile."
We chat for some time, mostly she and I find myself learning so much about her, that I begin to shift awkwardly in my seat as I don't think it's my place to know. She is extremely sweet and looks like a genuinely nice person. I don't understand what a person like her would be doing with someone like Mr. Ronald. Her eyes gave away some sorrow that she tried to disguise with her smile, but I can see right through her. Obviously he is not a pleasant person to be around.
"Do you know that girl he brought here?"
"Miss Robot?" I falsely say and I grab my mouth, but when she bursts to laughter, I join her.
"You couldn't have put it better my dear. It's like she is programmed, emotionless and a bit of a psycho." She laughs even harder.
"Do you know the story behind that girl?" I ask her.
"Yes, I know everything. It was all Ronny's idea and not Mr. Yang's, sweetie."
"What?" I ask, left dumfounded from what I just heard.
"Yes, please don't tell Alex, but I feel terrible about this. I tried to convince him out of this insanity but he told me I knew nothing about business and that it would be better if I had kept my opinion to myself. This would benefit the company so much and strengthen it to the point he would become not only no. 1 in the market, but would leave any other rival, miles behind."
"Even so, it's their children's lives they would be using for what? Fame and money? God! Who does that?"
"Exactly what I said. Oh my God, I am so happy I met you. I know you'll be so good for Alex and maybe have an influence on his stubborn father, as I seem to be failing that, terribly."
"Where is she by the way?"
"She is locked in her room with her nanny since she came here. I mean, who has a nanny at this age? Tonight, we'll be all going to this fancy restaurant, as to Ronny's wishes." She says in boredom.
"Do you always do as Mr. Anderson says?"
"You make it sound so bad, but yes. I guess he is not one of those men that will take no for an answer. I can only imagine how boring tonight's dinner is going to be, but I wouldn't dare say no to it."
I almost feel sorry for her, but then I think that this is her option and she could have chosen differently, or escape from this one if she wanted to.
"You know there are always options and that you should only serve your own heart and not live your life according to someone's else's needs and wants."
"I know sweetheart but trust me I have placed everything on my balance scale. I just love him too much, so I can't afford to lose him."
And there it is. I can now see the sorrow unfolding live before me. She is dependent on him and I don't mean financially.
The time has passed without me even realizing it. I was here chatting with this woman, that I just met and I got carried away and lost track of time. It was already 12.30 and although Mr. Ronald's apartment was only minutes away from the company's building, I intended to go there earlier to see if I could have someone assigned to me, to help me with my training. I would speak to that girl Alicia, Alexander's assistant as she seemed to know just about everything there was to know about this company and she was very polite to me. I am thinking of her as Alexander's extension, so multitasking and capable of managing everything he asks of her.
"I am really sorry, as I am enjoying our conversation very much, but I really have to go. Alexander is waiting for me to drive him to lunch."
"Drive him to lunch, or join him to lunch?"
"Well, both I guess." And I honestly smile as I am obviously not the only one here, to see behind what's spoken.
I leave Teresa and I promise her we will meet again soon. I would also love to see her again, as she was so pleasant to be with. Why wouldn't Alexander agree to meet her? She is such a lovely person and it wasn't her fault that his father was such a cruel man, obviously dealing with a lot of issues of his own. Oh my God! If Alexander found out that both his father and Mr. Yang were lying about everything, he would completely lose any trace of tolerance left in him. Nothing of what he thought was true, as Mr. Yang was never to sign anything and the plan was all along for his daughter and Alexander to get married, as part of a sick agreement the two of them had and it wasn't because he was late that day that he didn't sign the contract, but because he never intended to.
I park the car and I am trying to calm myself down, because if he sees me like this, he will know something is up and won't stop questioning me about it.