Do You Still Love Me?

"No," Katherine replied. Mr Olsen let the ask about Jake go. "He might have left before she arrived," he shrugged it off. "Give this to the manager after the meeting," Mr Olsen handed a sealed envelope to her. "Okay sir," was her response. "A driver is waiting downstairs," he said.

When Katherine got to Clane Limited, one of the workers led her to the assistant manager's office. "Good morning ma'am. I am Kelvin, the assistant manager," Kelvin introduced himself. "Morning. Katherine here," Katherine smiled. "Do you care for breakfast before we start the meeting?" Kelvin enquired. "No. I'm fine," Katherine replied. "Coffee?" Kelvin said. "Okay. I'm fine with coffee," Katherine said. "Alright," Kelvin made a call and within five minutes, Katherine was with a cup of coffee.

After the tour round the company with Katherine noting certain things, she handed the envelope Mr Olsen gave her to Kelvin. "This is for the manager," she said, " Our company will get back to you as soon as possible," she added and was set to leave when the manager came in. "Good day ma'am. I am Sam, the manager. I hope you had a great time touring our company," Sam said with a broad smile on his face. "Of course I did. I told your assistant already that we will get back to you as soon as possible," Katherine responded. "Alright. If you won't mind, our CEO wants to have a word or two with you," Sam said with his broad smile still on his face.

Katherine froze at the mention of meeting the CEO. She knew it was bound to happen but she wasn't sure if she was mentally prepared to meet Ren again. "Ma," Sam waved his hand in front of Katherine. She snapped out of her thought. "I'm sorry. I was considering if it is ok to meet the CEO now," Katherine smiled. "It's definitely ok. You have nothing to fear about," Sam said. "Ok. Lead the way," Katherine replied. With each step they took towards the CEO's office, Katherine's heart beat faster. She was afraid her emotion might take over her. "Calm down.Calm down. Remember not to mix emotions and business. They are different entities. Rise your chin, honey," she admonished herself. She held a long breathe and let it out slowly. After this she felt calm and was good to go.

Sam opened the door and got in the office with Katherine behind him. "Sir, you asked to Olsen Groups of Company's representative and here she is, Miss Adolf," Sam said. Ren looked up and froze when his eyes met with Katherine's. "Good day sir," Katherine stretched her hand out for a handshake. "Good day madam. You can have your seat," Ren took the hand in his, " Sam, you can leave," he said without taking his eyes off Katherine. After Sam left, Ren refused to let go of Katherine's hand. "Sir?" Katherine pointed at her hand which was still in Ren's. "Kat," Ren's lips trembled as he called her name. He felt as though he was dreaming. Ever since Katnerine blocked him out of her life, he has always wondered how he will react if they meet again. He has never imagined meeting her in this way. "It's Miss Adolf or Katherine," Katherine said withdrawing her hand from Ren's grip. "Please let go of my hand and go straight to the reason you want to see Olsen Groups of Company's representative," Katherine said.

She didn't want to maintain eye contact with Ren because all that was in his eyes were pain and hurt. She knew how fragile her heart is. She might begin to care for him again. "I called to have lunch with the representative," Ren said leaning back in his chair. "Okay," was Katherine's simple reply. "Miss Adolf, I miss you being my girlfriend. Mary is nothing but an asshole. All she cares about is herself. She has never for once asked how I was feeling. Instead, she makes me stress myself to the limit," Ren said. His voice tempo was raising and falling. One can tell how much pain he is trying to hold back. "I'm a business-minded lady. You should see a therapist else you might have a mental breakdown," Katherine bite her lower lips after giving her opinion. She hates that she still cares about Ren's wellbeing. "Urm, it's lunch time already," Katherine said in a bid to change the course of their discussion. "Sure. After you, ma'am," Ren stood. Katherine stood also and walked in the front out of the office. She tried to keep her walking balance as her heart was in turmoil. She faceplamed herself and assured herself that she can deal with this. As soon as they both stepped into the VIP elevator, Ren hugged Katherine from behind.

******

Mr Olsen was lazying around in his office. He has so much to do but was too lazy to have them done. He recalled that he perceived Jake's perfume in his office so he called him to confirm. "Hey! What's up, buddy?" Jake questioned cheerfully as soon as he picked Mr Olsen's call. He knew he has been discovered that he came visiting his office or Katherine gave him out. "Were you at my office overnight?" Mr Olsen questioned going straight to the reason he called. "Yes," Jake said, " Was it Katherine who told you?" he asked. "Katherine met you in the office?" Mr Olsen was surprised. Hmmm, so Katherine lied to me, he thought. "Yes," Jake responded. "I told you several times not to spend the night in my office without telling me," Mr Olsen said. "Yes but it was important," Jake smirked. "Bye for now. Till you come back. Just ensure you get me something," Mr Olsen said and ended the call.

Jake smiled after the call. He knew Dylan likes to behave like a big bro to him. He was done with the meeting he travelled for. He sighted a beautiful hair clip in a store so he stopped by to purchase one for Sophia. Talking about Sophia, he recalled he hasn't spoken to her in three days. He checked his wristwatch. He discovered they will on lunch so he dialed her number. "Hey shortie, how are you?" Jake asked immediately Sophia picked the call. "I'm fine an you? I don't even want to know how you feel. I've told you to stop calling me shortie," Sophia replied. She missed troubling Jake. "What do you wanna do? Fight my knees?" Jake questioned with a mischievous grin. "You know what? Bye," Sophia was pissed off. "Bye," Jake tried to reply but Sophia already ended the call. Jake held his laughter and texted Sophia. "Why end the call, shortie?"

Sophia was fuming with anger and at the same time smiling. Her colleague stared at her confused. "You guys recalled that I told you Sophia is hiding something, right?" Miranda said. Others nodded. "She is ready to tell us 'cause someone can't be a smiling angry baby at the same time," Miranda said. " I'm not hiding anything, guys," Sophia said. "We agree to your statement but we didn't accept it," William said, " I've noticed you. Sometimes, you will just stare at your phone and smile. Who is the lucky guy?" he asked. "Lucky guy? I'm not in a relationship," Sophia said.

"It's not as though I'm prying but you know I'm sitting beside you now. When your phone rang, it was a cute monkey calling and also, you mistakenly had the speaker on and we all heard a male voice," Drey said. "He is just a friend who is very annoying just like you," Sophia said. "Okay, if you say so," Miranda said.

Mr Olsen received a mail containing information about Katherine. He was surprised when he discovered she once dated the CEO of Clane Limited. He picked his phone and dialed Katherine's number. He knew how weak emotionally Katherine is. He can't afford to have emotions mixed with his business. Katherine picked up before the end of the last ring.

******

Katherine froze when she felt Ren's breathe on her neck. "Mr Ren, can you please get off me? Your behaviour is annoying," Katherine said letting out a breath she never knew she was holding. "Kat, it is just we here now," Ren said. "Yes and that is a more reason I want you to get off me and I want to get out of this elevator," Katherine said. Ren let go of her and leaned on the wall. "Do you still love me?" Ren's question hit her like a nuclear bomb. "No, I don't," Katherine replied with her head down. Her eyes were become teary. No matter how much she convinced herself that she no longer love Ren, she knew she still. Well, it is not her fault. They have been together since their high school days.

Ren almost lost his balance if not that he was leaning on the wall. He felt a sharp pain in his heart. He was heartbroken. He has always nurtured his heart that Katherine still loves him only to hear her now. "The love we shared all these years? It's all gone?" Ren questioned. "It's all gone. Just like it never happened," Katherine said. Ren couldn't help himself. Hearing Katherine's statement, he lost his balance and held tightly to his chest where the heart is as he sprawled on the floor of the elevator. "Ren! Ren! Ren!" Katherine called shaking him. Ren just looked like he has lost hope in everything. A tear dropped from his left eye and he closed his eyes.