Chapter 27: Vulnerable

**Michelle**

My parents stood just by the window, looking outside while I got into the house. They both had a grim expression on their faces.

“Who?" I asked, playing innocent.
“The person who dropped you off." My father completed.

“Oh, it's a cab." I lied smoothly.
“You liar, a car that luxurious can't be used as a cab, are you hiding something from us?"

"It's not a luxurious car, it's just a cab. If you were outside, you'd have seen that.” I told them in a plain voice.

Anger crossed my mother's eyes and my mother's face was the same, though she hadn't said a word since I come in.

Sometimes I wonder if she just feels like it's a waste of time talking to me or she simply just doesn't always want to talk.

"Are you saying we're blind?” my father asked.
An air of exasperation escaped my mouth as I ran my hands through my hair.

“I didn't say that. All I said was that it was no luxurious car. Can I go to my room now? I had a long day at work and I badly need to sleep.” I told them.

"Do you have a rich boyfriend somewhere you're hiding from us? Is it your boss in the office? Why are you even hiding him? Or you're just his wh*re?"

"I don't have time for this.” I said as I walk up the stairs without replying him.

I was caught by surprise when he didn't call my name, neither did he run after me.

~
“I heard from Avery who heard from Stephanie who asp heard from Stella that the CEO was so sick yesterday." Evelyn said on our way to the office.

“Really? It's not news though, he's human too and is bound to fall sick, right?" I asked without glancing her way.

"It's news when it concerns the CEO. It's even a privilege that we get to work in the same place he works, I mean the headquarter. The most interesting part about yesterday is that a lady came to take him away from the parking lot.” She said.

My heart practically missed a beat at the last line, my head whipped at her direction like a whiplash.

“W-what? I mean, who is she?” I managed to make my voice sound normal but she seemed to have caught on with my facade with the frown on her face.

"Why are you suddenly interested in that?" She asked, subtly glancing at me before looking back at the road.

“Nothing, I just wanted to know if you know who the lady is, but nevermind." I shrugged, forcing a nonchalant tone.

"I also don't know. The workers think the CEO has another girlfriend now.”

I swallowed thickly at that, what would happen if they find out that I was the one who was with him? I'd probably regret my stay here even more.

“Michelle, are you okay?" Evelyn asked with concern in her voice.

“Of course, how was your outing yesterday?" I changed the subject.

“It went better than I expected." She replied, pulling into the company's premises at that.

I smiled at her response but it soon faded away and i was once again in my head until Evelyn taped me once more.

“Are you sure you're fine? Are you sick?” The concern in her voice increased even more.

"I was thinking of something, but I'm fine, really. Oh! We're here.” I said, looking out the window.

“Yes we are, I was trying to tell you that when you zoned out."

“Sorry about that, I'm fine though." I smiled, simultaneously opening the door.

We both stepped out and she locked the car, we walked towards the building while talking about random things.

“See you later, at lunch maybe? Nevermind, I'll give you a call." She ran off suspiciously.

I frowned at what she just did, I shrugged it off after just standing for a while then turned around, only for me to crash into a wall- or a chest.

“Ouch." I rubbed my nose, it was starting to hurt with how hard I hit the wall. The familiar scent that entered my nostrils made me open my eyes and look up.

It was none other than Vincent, and the expression on his face- Oh sh*t! He looks so angry that his face was set in a stone one.

“Wh-” the word got stuck in my throat as he suddenly started drahhing me towards his personal elevator on the ground floor.

He pushed me in an entered behind me. He pushed me to a corner immediately, the next thing I felt was his head on my shoulder as he bent to my level.

My breath hitched as his head dropped on my shoulder, I was caught off guard by that. He inhaled deeply as though he was breathing in my scent.

“Vin-"
“Don't say anything, please." He mumbled, effectively shutting me up.

It was as though he was hugging me, it's just that his hands weren't on me.

It was quiet between us, no one said anything, neither did we move, not even when the elevator beeped that we've arrived at the top floor.

He eventually detached from me, his shoulder sunk down, he looks so tired, nothing like the Vincent I know.

“Thanks for that." He said.

He took in a deep breathe, adjusted his hair with his hand then walked out of the elevator as if nothing happened.

Is he really bipolar or this is just how he behaves?
I managed to put my hand in between the door and got out before the elevator's door closed up.

That was when I realized that being here is basically pointless since I didn't bring the cleaning materials along with me.

I huffed out in frustration, I was really going to go all the way downstairs again?

Blaming it all on Vincent, I walked towards his office without knocking but a voice behind me stopped me.

“Are you going to go in without knocking?" In Vincent's former secretary cubicle is Liam, the elevator guy.