Chapter XIX

I asked Sir Sebastian to go to the restaurant called The Canteen Koh Samet for they served English breakfast there. After that, we decided to stroll around the beach.

I left my flip-flop and ran towards the lowest part of the sea. The sea breeze was making my hair fly along with its gentle blow. Along the horizon of the sea were ships that are sailing.

"I should have worn a bikini," I voiced out all of a sudden because of how the gentle blue water was inviting me to accept their invitation to swim in it.

I pivoted to check Sir Sebastian if he was still following me. He was sitting in the sand while watching me with his stoic expression. I waved at him. That surprised him but then he plastered a gentle small smile.

Not bad.

He was improving. He was not prone to sitting around and being grumpy all day long. I think he started changing ever since we came here to Bangkok for a business trip. I never thought that just a change of my attitude towards him, everything became different and not stiff. But he should have come with me to wade in the water though.

The water itself was enjoyable.

I approached him as he was staring at me intently. That same intense gaze he always showed off every time he had a chance to look at me. It was making me uncomfortable but I am acting like this was so nothing for me.

"Sir." He just raised his eyebrow as a treatment that he was asking a question without even uttering a word. I pursed my lips into a thin line. I just sighed because I am already used to his strange behavior. I would just let it slide since he was slowly becoming a tame lion. "Would you like to stroll around before we eat for early dinner?"

He nodded. I offered my hand to him so I could help to stand up. Sir Sebastian just arched his eyebrow, perplexed.

"I'll help you. Duh!" I rolled my eyes. I couldn't help it. Sir Sebastian lacked common sense sometimes.

He snickered. "I can manage, Ms. Merryweather. I don't need help." I scoffed when he stood up. "But thank you."

Narrowing my eyes at him, I huffed. I didn't utter a word when we walked side by side. My feet were touching the low part of the seashore. My eyes were glued to the west. The sun was about to set.

"I want to go on a date soon," I started, not looking at my boss.

In my peripheral vision, I saw him snapping his head. I spared him a glance before I quickly looked at him again. I blinked, tilting my head as I caught his face darkened. His stoic expression was visible on his face which made me confused.

"Why?" he asked in a dark menacing manner. His voice roared in a dangerous way which made me shiver for no reason.

I ignored his icy cold stare and voice. "My father wants me to get married soon." I laughed dryly. "Before he will set me up for a blind date, I need to be in a relationship soon." I sighed. "How fucked up, is it?" I asked as I tried to laugh it out like it was some sort of joke. Sir Sebastian just knitted his forehead. He must have not gotten the thought. "Don't worry. I'm just kidding. I love to defy my father even after all these years." I chuckled, remembering some specific memory from my father.

When I looked at him, his brow was already arching but there was a hint of amusement in there. It was something that grabbed his full attention on me.

"Why is that?"

"Who would want a controlling father who locks up your independence?" I remembered my father's enraged expression when I chose to pick not to handle his business. I cackled silently. "If he finds out that I was not in my job last year, he would force me to take me with him and manage his business. Good thing that you saved me back there, Sir Sebastian." I am thankful for that. It was a good thing that I became reckless so I managed to find another job after resigning last year.

"So, you are from a powerful, wealthy family pretending to be an ordinary commoner? Interesting."

I rolled my eyes. What was supposed to be interesting with that? "We're not that powerful. It's just that we are just well-known in a certain area but not nationwide or worldwide unlike you." I shrugged and didn't mind it. "I told him that I'll create my own business and be a CEO." I gasped when I remembered something. I turned at Sir Sebastian who was silently watching me. "How did you even know that I want to be a CEO before?"

That's right. I remembered it. I just found it weird as to how he knew about it. As far as I knew, I only declared that one a long time ago. Even so, I am still holding that promise, and one day, I would make it come true.

Sir Sebastian expressed a little shock. Then he huffed softly but didn't answer my question.

"Um..." Okay... I found it weird as to why he is not answering me. "Sir, if somehow, by any chance, have we met each other a long time ago? Not as a boss and employee, alright? But something like in the past." I don't know why I am even telling this in the first place but I am curious to know this.

His mouth slightly opened from the question. But then he curled his lips into a cynical smile.

"What makes you think like that?"

"Uh..." I rubbed my nape, pouting a little as I thought carefully about my words that I want to say the least. "I don't know... Well, I felt like you knew me beforehand. Not sure though." I shrugged.

What the heck am I even spouting right now? Why did I even think about this?

"As my employee, yes." He nodded.

I frowned. "No, not that." Feeling frustrated, I heaved out a sigh. "Somewhat like before I became your employee, sir..." I knew that I explained it so well but I am not sure if he was acting naive or not.

He titled his head a little, perplexed. His expression was unreadable and it was blank right now. "I am not sure what you are trying to mean, Cejay. I believe with you being my employee is my first encounter interacting with you. Perhaps, you mistook me from the words I said before. Is knowing that you wanted to be a CEO very alarming to you?"

My mouth hangs a little not because his words caught me off guard but he managed to speak more than two sentences. I felt like it was my obligation to smile at the end because of that.

Hesitant, I looked away. "I-It's just that..." I paused. Should I tell him? "I deliberately announced it when I was on my high school days to annoy my father. I just want to know if in any case, you're one of those few students who heard about it. Or if any case, you studied where I studied in high school, Granite Pin High School." It must be that he also studied there. But I am not sure if he was a senior back then.

I was on my phone talking to my father at that time. He kept on scolding me that making a fuss won't do good to be the heiress of his business. Like, screw him. I am not going to inherit his business. I am going to build something on my own.

My empire.

Sir Sebastian turned around so he couldn't see the horizon of the sea. He even put his hands on the pockets of his khaki pants. "I am sorry but I am not familiar with Granite Pin High School. I have never been there, Ms. Merryweather," he paused, directly speaking he already concluded that it was impossible.

"But how did you even know about it? Someone told you?" I'm curious. I couldn't pinpoint if I met him already in the past. Or who could be the one snitch on it?

I stood up and faced him. Sir Sebastian gave me a side glance and a curled smile. It was as if he found me amusing to think that I was making it a big deal.

Of course, it's a big deal!

That said was engraved in my heart and I was still holding on to become a CEO someday. I just need to save more and I will execute building my empire.

"You're an interesting one, Cejay. You have my full attention with your persona."

Uh... Thanks? Should I even say that? Is it a good thing that he was praising me? He was praising how I lashed out at him? Did I even lash out?

I opened my mouth to say something back when I heard someone calling from afar. I saw someone from the direction of the hotel we were staying in. It was a woman with an hourglass beach body, long sleek hair, and a beautiful, alluring face. She was wearing signature clothes of square pants and crop top, looking sexy. She was waving her hand at us.

No.

To be more precise, she was waving at... I followed her gaze.

At Sir Sebastian?

I saw how Sir Sebastian clicked his tongue in annoyance. I looked back again seeing her companion. Gasping softly, I couldn't believe spouting it.

"I-It's Mr. Cilantro..." I stated with a shock.

Are they on vacation as well?

The woman Mr. Cilantro was with hurried her steps. Giggling, she stopped right in front of Sebastian who had a grim expression. It meant that he didn't like having her around.

"Mr. Cilantro, good day," I greeted him. He smiled gently and greeted me back.

"Hi, Sebby! Long time no see." Her flirtatious smile and voice were enough for me to snap my head at her. Did she just call her... Sebby? With my action, the woman, who looked like my age, spared me a look with an arching eyebrow. "You're hanging out with a cheap woman?"

My jaw dropped from her remarks.