Page 105 of Through You
“Yes, but it’s not every day that your best friend finally gets together with the girl he loves. You were never able to get over your first love, huh? It’s because you’re a hopeless romantic.”
“Alex, I’m going to punch you.”
He pats me on the shoulder. His voice loses its playful tone, and he gives me a genuine smile. “I’m happy for you, Artemis.”
“Thank you,” I reply. “Now get back to work.”
“Your wish is my command, Mr. Chief Executive Officer. By the way, try to stay inside your office as much as possible. The mosquito bite will attract too much attention.”
He winks at me, picks up his ice packs, and leaves.
At this moment, I wish my face didn’t appear in so many of the company’s ads. It’s nearly impossible for me to go unnoticed among my employees—everyone knows that I’m the CEO. They either scurry away in fear or they try hard to impress me with the most perfect version of themselves by giving one hundred percent to their jobs. I even suspect they hold their breath the moment they spot me. I had the intention of paying a visit this afternoon to the marketing department, where Claudia’s doing her internship, hoping to watch her from a distance for a little while. And now I know it won’t be possible—I have yet to reach the floor where her department is located, and I’ve already passed several members of staff who fell silent or looked petrified.
I don’t look that terrifying, do I? I’m younger than most of the staff. Why would they be afraid of me? I understand that I hold the highest position of authority in the company, but I’ve decreased the rate of layoffs since my father appointed me to the role. Job security is the most stable it’s ever been. So what is it, then? Do they see me as an iceberg?
I think back to that word Claudia uses, which doesn’t make much sense since she’s one of the very few people who knows I can be warm and kind. I give up. Since I’m near the finance department, I decide to pay Alex a visit. Maybe he can come up with an answer.
However, I stop when I spot his secretary, a young woman with a cherubic face, wavy hair, and a voluptuous figure. She’s applying lipstick and adjusting her hair before going into Alex’s office. I think that my best friend’s secretary has a crush on him.
Alex, you’re such a cliché. I go back to my office in defeat.
The sound of my cell phone ringing wakes me up. I squeeze and rub my eyes with my thumb and forefinger before opening them. My office is cloaked in darkness. How long was I asleep?
I stretch out my hand and reach for my phone, which keeps ringing insistently. I become fully awake when I notice Claudia’s name lighting up the screen. This is the first time she’s called me on this line.
“Hello?”
“Iceberrrrrrrg!” she shouts in my ear, forcing me to peel my head off the receiver, ever so slightly.
“Claudia?”
I hear female laughter, chatter, and music playing in the background.
“Iceberg, I think . . .” she whispers, as if divulging a state secret. “I’m drunk.” She giggles.
“Claudia, where are you?”
“Relax a little. Loosen up, Artemis. Aren’t you exhausted being tense aaaal l l the time?”
“Claudia.” I say her name in a harsh tone. “Where are you?”
“At . . .” She is slow to complete the sentence. “The street.”
“Which street?”
“The street where all the bars and clubs are.” A girl makes a comment about the lights in the background, and Claudia laughs.
“I tried to get into your club but I was told only VIPs are allowed.
I hate you. Why do you have a club if you don’t let people inside?
Bad Artemis.”
I stand up and collect my suit jacket from the side of my desk.
“I’m on my way. Don’t leave.”
She gives me an exaggerated snort. “Even when I stand still, everything keeps moving.”
