Chapter 42: The announcement

**Vincent**

I looked around the huge hall, watching as each employee stared at me, some looked excited while others were just normal.

I had the bandages on my head removed this morning, even though the doctor clearly advised that I wait till tomorrow, I wasn't going to keep going around with some silly thing on my head.

Besides, the injury was no longer hurting, though it's noticeable as its color differs from every other part of my skin.

I didn't know why I was waiting, the room was full but one person was missing, Michelle. I assessed the room slowly and couldn't see her.

Everyone was looking at me with anticipation written all over their faces, they just wanted me to say what they knew I called them for since it’s the season already.

Just when I cleared my throat, her small body squeezed in through the door and she slowly closed it behind her so that it didn't make any noise.

The corner of my lips lifted up in a little smirk and I eventually started. She stood at the back with her form pressed to the wall.

“I called this meeting to bring to your awareness the upcoming event which I'm sure most of you know about already, it's the annual ball for the company.” I said.

Hoots of excitement went round the room as almost everyone clapped and smiled in excitement.

“It'll take place in two weeks' time at the city's grand hotel, and we'd be using the event gallery for the ball.” I added.

"I'm sure everyone knows about how we do it. If you have questions on the process or any other thing, ask other employees, we didn't change anything for this year's, the theme would be communicated to you all later." I concluded.

“Have a nice day everyone." I climbed down from the podium and watched as everyone conversed with one another, but no one got out of the door before I did.

I got to the entrance where Michelle was still standing, her friend was talking to her but her eyes were on me till I got out of the door.

I guess it's going to be another dateless ball for me.

~

A knock on my office's door made me look up from the work I was doing, whoever it was didn't wait for my permission before pushing the door.

I knew it was either Liam or Michelle, those are the only two people who can come in here without waiting for my response, no other person dares do it.

“Hey." Michelle said as she walked over to me.
“Hi." I said back, watching as she sat on the chair opposite me.

“I see that you're now really healed. You've gotten your bandages out too.” She stated.

“Yeah…” I trailed off.
“So… the ball. How come you didn't say anything about it before.” She said,

I looked up from the paperwork I was doing and gave her my full attention, it's time for lunch anyways.

“We haven't really talked about that part yet, we do it here annually. I'm sure your friend has told you about it already. It's not that deep though.” I said.

“How is it not deep? Evelyn said some employees who go there as dates are married now. It must be a really romantic thing to do around here, at least to diffuse the seriousness around here.” She mumbled.

“What seriousness?” I asked, picking up my phone.
“Everyone is so serious around here, the ball is just like the perfect thing to do, I'll give it to you.” She said,

I kept down the phone after ordering pizza, the app said it should be here in minutes.

“Really? You think everyone around here is too serious or too professional?” I asked.

"Yes, there are a lot of serious faces everywhere, yeah.”
"Why don't you just go straight to the point and say you're talking to me, instead of going around the edges.” I raised up an eyebrow.

She let out a laugh that came in the form of a cough, she awkwardly used her hand to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud.

“I didn't mean it that way, but if you say that's what I was saying, it's on you then.” She shrugged.

I resisted the urge to laugh at her, the corner of my lips lifted up in a small smile though she stood up, still smirking slightly.

“I'm off, I just wanted to check up, I was on my way to have lunch with my friend, bye.”

"I just ordered pizza for us, I can't finish it alone, it's the large size I ordered." I told her.

“I already promised Evelyn that I was going to have lunch with her…” she trailed off, with that hand still on her face.

“Guess I'm just going to toss the leftovers away then.” I sighed, a little bit dramatically. God above! What's going on with me?

“Geez! You're so good at convincing someone." She plopped down back on the chair, letting her hand off her face.

“What the f*ck happened to your face?" I growled.
There were hand marks on her face, it was bright purple and really visible.

To think of it, she had her hair down when she came into the meeting hall this morning and they were long enough to cover her face.

When she came in here, she has been stylishly covering her face since she came in.

“What's that? Oh, this? I fell on my face, stupid me." She smiled in an attempt to divert that, pointing at her face.

“You're lying, Michelle." I said straightaway. How she looked shocked like a deer caught in headlights then tried to cover it up with a smile.

“I’m not. I fell on my face when I was trying to waltz around the house this morning." She stated, trying so hard to sound genuine.

“Why aren't you telling the truth?" I asked, dismissing what she said.

"You talk about how I called you a liar the other day and now you're doing the same to me?” She sounded hurt.